lots of new stuff!

So, lately I have been couponing and things have been going great! Hell, I go to wags (walgreens), rite aid, CVS, ralphs, albertsons, target and kohls and get tons of everyday items for close to nothing, and sometimes free! I love it! I have learned so much from following a few blogs. First "totally target" is a great place to find wonderful deals and coupons for of course Target! My new deals this week are "free" kids boost essentials and very cheap glade candles! The candles will be perfect for christmas gifts! If you go onto coupons.com you can print coupons for glade candles, and then target has a new deal up until christmas, buy 5 candles ($2.99) and get a $5 gift card! Combine with a few of the candles you can walk away with cheap candles!!! Also, I was lucky enough to get a target mailer, so I received a few $3 off kids boost essentials. There is also a coupon for $3 off the kids boost on the website, so combine the 2 coupons together (a target and a manufacture print) you can get the for free since they are regular price $5.99!!! Other then that website I also check out the blog "chief family officer" which gives me deals and links to deals in southern california! To be honest I have saved so much money (paying off credit card dept is now stress free)! There are so many more deals out there and to be honest it can be very hard work, but I do enough research and know the websites to go to, so it makes it easy! Also, if you go to "iheartwags", "iheartcvs", and "iheartriteaid" you can see the upcoming ads before they are even out! Make it again to plan ahead!!! If you need any help feel free to check out the blogs mentioned or message me and I am always willing to help!

Other than the couponing, I ended up getting my settlement check (not a bunch of money, but enough) for a workers comp case I had been dealing with for almost 2 years now! It has been a stressful time, and to be honest, if I could quit my job and go work at a different school I would, but with the way the economy is I just deal with it and avoid certain coworkers! Well, I am now looking for jobs, possibly in Minnesota. I honestly just don't want to be in california any more (lots of other issues too), but again it gets hard. Hopefully in the near future it might happen!

Now, I have a question for all the mommies out there...do you ever feel like a walking uterus??? I know this is an odd question and I have basically begun using this phrase because this is how I have been feeling lately. I have a few people message me only asking about my son Ryder, or they say they miss HIM, or want to see HIM. Does anyone notice this or it just me??? I am just sick of people saying, "hope you can make it, we really miss Ryder and want to see him" or "how is Ryder" or the most recent, "another holiday without Ryder". Ok, so why can't people just say, "we really miss you guys" or "how are you guys" or "another holiday without you guys". I honestly feel like I didn't have a child to have people only miss him or only want to see him! I does make me feel like crap when people say this to me, whether they notice it or not, but I know when I talk to others I am very careful how I word certain things, so how come others aren't. It makes me not want to bring my child around these people. I know that may be harsh, but if they want to see my son, then they can A. Either babysit or B. Say they want to see all of us, not just Ryder, but Josh, Ryder and Me! Maybe I am over reacting, but this is why I feel like a walking uterus!

long overdue...

Everything has been good! Working a lot...trying to save enough money to be abel to go back to Minnesota for next summer and hopefully move there in a couple years! I guess I just really miss my family...I am such a family oriented person that it kills me to hear of all the great things everyone is doing...I feel like Cali isn't my home...I don't feel acceped by many people here, and I guess personally I have given up on even trying with most of them! I want my mom to be able to see her only grandson as much as possible and I cry all the time thinking she only gets to see him maybe once a year.
Speaking of Ryder...he turned 1 on October 4th! I can't believe it...its already been a year! It seemed like yesterday I was waking up and heading to the hospital! Since then Josh has become such a better dad. He helps me out a lot more, and even though we have our fights, we still try and work at life! I'm slowly trying to convince him to move to Minnesota, so hopefully I can win that argument! He said he would, but doesn't look forward to the humid summers, but hell, there are so many lakes, swimming is always an option!!!
I know there is more to update...first, my little sister is studying in Australia and will return on Dec. 19th, then she stays with me for a day and heads back to Minnesota...I am thinking about flying back with her that day, but I guess my mom has to work, so there would be no one to pick us up, so it looks like Ryder and I will be heading out later that day! My mom, dad and older sister are going to travel to Australia for Thanksgiving. My older sister is coming a few days earlier (they all have a layover in LA), so she is going to stay with me for a few days and visit her nephew...wow is she in a shock to see how much he has changed...I think the last time anyone saw him he was only 3 months old! Then everyone flys back the week after thanksgiving and my mom and dad might be staying with me for a couple of days. I'm really excited because my dad has never actually visited, sure he came out to check out the area before I actually moved here, but has never actually came to visit!
Other then that I have been couponing and saving a ton of money...I already have christmas present, and birthday presents for next year all done! It seems like the only thing that I need to really buy is groceries and I normally can get everything for under $100 a month! I have a stock pile of diapers, lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner and many more! I have learned so much from my wonderful 5000+ friends on BBC!!! It a forum of deals for bargain hunters and wow, have they taught me a ton!
Other than that everything has been great! I need to start posting about all the great deals I get...might help a few people out!
Well, off to bed...goodnight world!

been awhile

So been a while since I posted, but I have been BUSY!!!
The school year went good, and I ended up teaching summer school. School starts back up again on august 11th!

Ryder is now almost 10 months...he crawls all around, cruising on everything and now we are just waiting for him to start walking...he is growing up so fast...I take pictures of everything he does and videos too! I feel so bad that my parents and siblings can't see him grow up, but hopefully that will change soon! Ryder also has 8 teeth now and is always getting more...he is a great teether!

Josh and I are doing ok...we decided that when our lease is up, we might go our seperate ways if we can't work things out...we don't fight as much any more, we just are drifting apart and it sucks...really wish we could reconnect, but you never know what will happen.

I'm sure everything will work out in the end...

blah...tired

So Ryder had his 4 month shots yesterday and he has been moody all day! He turned 4 months on the 4th of february, but we couldn't get in until this week. He weighs 16lbs 4oz and is 25 1/4 in long! Getting to be a big boy! I get really excited when Josh has to pick him up. I work late tuesdays and thursdays and as I get home at 6:30 Ryder is screaming his head off, so mommy comes in and saves the day. That's why I love when Josh picka him up...I can come home and save the day! Lol
A few other things...I am trying to plan a trip for spring break. I would love to go see my sister in Mass. But I don't think we will have the money so I might end up taking a trip to death valley again with some friends! We went last year and it was great, even when I was 14 weeks pregnant!
Other things, well just working and spending as much time with Ryder as possible. I am planning on working summer school, but now they are saying that they may not have it this year, which would really bite because the extra money would be so much help! I am trying to get classes lined up to start in march, but not looking to good! I have to take a bunch of classes to finish my credential, so hoping I can get them straightened out. I guess this what happens when I wait until the last minute!
Well, about to fall asleep! Hope everyone has a good weekend of relaxation!

good time...

So, I am thrilled to say I finally found a daycare for Ryder. I am so thrilled everytime I drop him off he smiles and gets all happy, but then when I pick him up he gets so mad at me when I put him in the carseat, like he doesn't want to leave. It got me thinking...when he starts learning how to talk, what word is he going to learn first? Ya, he is with me on the weekends and vacation days, but from 7 to 4 everyday he is at daycare and around the other kids. Is he going to learn their names first? Does he even miss me? I'm sure he does, but then again he gets so mad when we leave. Only time will tell!
I am getting professional pictures of Ryder on monday and can't wait. I have never had professional pictures done because I take my own pictures, but I am excited. Came across a good deal and couldn't pass it up. I'm hoping it all works out good! I am sure I am going to end up spending more after the pictures are done, but that's fine!
Josh is also working 6 days of the week now, which is nice because we have extra money coming in, but then he is never here to help me. He expects me to get everything done and it just doesn't work that way with a 4 month old. Oh well, at least he is helping!

so tired of everything

So, things are going good so far. Josh and I are doing so much better. Times seemed so tough for awhile there, but with 2 weeks away from each other, it seems to have brought us closer together. we are still working on things and trying to be equal in everthing. Meaning we both have chores we do and both have certain responsibilties to take. Besides my normal teaching job I am doing a home hospital, which I have only one student, but that means that on my own time I have to meet with this student 5 hour out of the week. It sucks because I feel like that is 5 hours that I don't get to spend with Ryder, but we really need the money and we are trying so hard to save what we can, so every little bit helps. Also, starting at the beggining of febuary I will be working at nights from 3:15 to 6 :15, 2 days of the week, again, more time away from Ryder. I keep thinking that I am being such a bad mommy for not spending this time with him, but I keep telling myself, the weekends are so much more precious and also, I am saving for Ryders future so he will be able to do the things he wants. I think also this will be my last summer working summer school. I really want to have another baby by april of next year, so I'm trying my hardest to be prepared for all that is to come. Things are so much harder now that josh is also working a second job. I love the fact that he is working to help out more, but I sure do miss him. I love the fact that we both get off during the week around the same time, which gives us so much family time, but now fridays and saturdays seem so lonely.
Besides all that ryder is getting so big! He has to be nearly 15 lbs by now, but he is so tall it evens out! I can't imagine my life without him. All he does now is smile at everything! I love his little giggle, he cracks me up! He is also getting better with sleeping all night! He is such a good boy, going to be so strong and he is going to grow into such a handsome man! I love him so much!!!

Want to do it all!

So, i decided how nice it has been to have my family around. I love all my friends in California don't get me wrong, but I would love so much but to move closer to my family. I figured after next school year would be the best time. I am going to keep my eyes open for a job position in Minnesota. I am sure Josh will be willing to move as well. I hate to take him from his family, but isn't that what life is all about??? Everyone grows up and moves away. we eventually only see each other on the holidays and reunions. I guess eve if I get a job in the Cities, the housing is so much cheaper, I could raise my family in such a good community and I would only be yet a couple hours drive from my mom and dad. Josh and i have been thinking for a while to move, but I really have been wanting to wait 5 years at my job due to my student loans being paid for if I stay at the same school for 5 years. Lets see, quit with one year ahead and start over, or work one more year away from my family and get $15,000 paid off.... we don't even have to think about that one. I guess if we did move then I wouldn't feel so bad about the holidays. I guess I just feel obligated to fly to Minnesota every Christmas because I never see my family. I was extremely disappointed this year due to the fact that my grandma had changed the Christmas party from the 26th of December to the 19th of December, which meant that I saw no one from that side of my family. I could have flown out on the 18th of December has I known. Well, i guess to make up for this misfortune my mom has graciously put together a "meet the baby" shower for Tomorrow. I am extremely pumped because it will be all my aunts and cousins!!! Its exciting to know that my mom would go out of her way to do this!!!

Well, besides all that Ryder rolled over for the first time the other day!!! So exciting!!! He is nearly 14 lbs!!!! I couldn't believe it when I checked, unless my moms scale is wrong!!! LOL
Josh is back in California, I guess running around with all his friends in 70 degree weather, while I am in Minnesota where it has been the coldest all winter at -30 degrees...thats right, I said NEGATIVE!!!! You literally walk outside and instantly your frozen!!! LOL Cars can't even start in this temperature, unless they are in a garage, LOL