5 years and still in love...

This picture was taken July 4, 2004


Does it ever get old? Or can you still be in love with someone after being married for 5 years? Because I don't want to ever stop loving you.

The clock was ticking down. She told him "two weeks"....two weeks to propose that is. As each day passed, she would remind him of his time limit he had left. But she knew in her heart that even if the time limit had expired, she still loved him and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She would wait until he was ready, no matter how long it took.
He was the "one" for her.
Yes.
...She would wait.

My short story is a true story. It started out as joke with Joel. After a year of dating, I had decided to help Joel move things along. He was slow when it came to girls. I mean it took him 2 years just to ask for my number. I was not going to be an old maid any longer than I had to! It's funny now that I think about it. It's even funnier because I did not like Joel at all (until about a month into talking to with him did I really entertain the idea of liking him.) I thought he was "butt ugly" as someone reminded me not too long ago. But marrying Joel was the best thing I ever did. I had a lot of emotional hang ups, and his patience and love for me (though I was emotionally damaged) helped me to be a better person. He helped break down walls I was so afraid of letting crumble.

And so today Joel, I want to tell the world how much I really do love you. Marriage is not always easy, but who ever said it would be. We are two different people. We're bound to disagree on a few things. But through it all, you're still my knight in shining armor. You still make my heart melt. I love you so much. I couldn't have asked for a better husband; a better teammate; a better partner to dance with in this "dance" that we call life!

I love you with my whole heart!

Always and forever,
Angela



Our Wedding day: October 29, 2005

Shaving money off the grocery bill...

So about a week ago I came to the realization that our grocery budget is just getting WAY out of hand. I mean $100.00 for two adults and one breastfed baby should be enough for two weeks right? Well...I keep going over budget, and so I started doing some research and looking at how people save money by couponing. I happened upon two websites that have helped me here and here. Talk about pointing me in the right direction.

I have always shopped sales and stocked up when something was on sale that I use. I can't tell you when the last time I bought face wash (maybe like two years ago because I stockpiled).

So yesterday as I was perusing cuckoo, she mentioned a deal on huggies. Since I am trying to stock up on diapers when they are on sale (to help keep my grocery cost down) I decided to swoop up on this deal.

Here is the deal I got:

I bought two packs of Huggies pure and natural diapers at $8.99/ea and two Colgate toothpastes at $3.69 and $2.79, but they were buy one get one free, so I only had to pay for one. NOW, here is how I made a killer deal.

I used store coupons and manufacture coupons to shave $13.00 off my total. I combined Rite Aid's $4.00 off (a $20.00 purchase), with two Huggies *MC $3.00 off/ea, a Rite Aid **SC for Colgate for $1.00 off, AND a Rite Aid **SC for $2.00 off Huggies.

That made my out of pocket expense of $10.39....BUT it doesn't end there. The Huggies had a +UP reward of $2.00 each. +UP rewards are like a gift certificate to the store, so yes I did pay for it, in actuality they gave me some money back and its like I paid $6.39 for all my items.

Killer deal if you ask me. What would have made it even sweeter is if I also had a *MC from Colgate. that would have dropped the price of the toothpaste I bought from $2.69 (because I had $1.00 off already) to I dunno probably $1.69, depending on the value of the coupon.* Manufacturer's Coupon**Store Coupon

I think I'm gonna like this couponing thing! It sounds confusing at first, but once you get the hang of how to stack coupons...it's so worth the time you spend clipping them.

Until next post,

6 Weeks of joy

The last two weeks have been busy. We went to see my Mom up in Groveland. It was a relaxing weekend spent with family. While were were up there we decided to visit Yosemite National Park. What a lovely sight. I had never been there, and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was (although there were a lot of people there, it still was so pretty).

I found out that travelling with a newborn is not the easiest thing to do. The trip up there should have only taken 2.5 hours, but it took us almost 3.5 hours. We had to keep stopping and feeding/changing the baby. BUT THE DRIVE BACK......oh that was a nightmare. We got on the wrong highway coming out of Yosemite that took us out of the way, and so instead of getting home in a reasonable time of maybe 4 hours...it took us 8 hours. We stopped constantly for feedings/changings, and poor baby. By like 7:30pm all Josiah wanted was a little TLC...so we stopped in Modesto and ate and gave a little TLC to the baby. After that he didn't mind the last hour of drive in the car. Next time we go on a road trip, I'll be better prepared, and know what to expect.

Josiah also had his 1 Month DR. appointment. He now weights 8lbs 5oz. I couldn't believe that in a month he gained OVER 2LBS. This kiddie loves to eat. Next Dr. appointment he gets his vaccines. I am doing some research to see about an alternate schedule that way he doesn't get so many at once.

Until next post,

Josiah - 1 month flew by

1 Week


2 Weeks

3 weeks


1 month


My baby is already 1 month old. Where has the time gone? :( Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital? It seems that way.

A lot has happened in this past month. Josiah has gained weight; he had pictures taken; Sadie has accepted the baby; we finally bought a stroller; I turned 30; and Josiah has grown on us more and more with each passing day.

It's been an adjustment having Josiah. Some days are easier than others. Sometimes just getting a shower in is a luxury. I never realized how much time little ones take. If I can throw a load of laundry in too, I'm doing good! LOL....hopefully I can get into a better routine in the next few weeks. I don't want the house to go to the dogs. It seems like he is eating well (he was 6lb,11oz at birth, and the last Dr. appt he was 8lb,5oz) considering he has gained 2 pounds and 3 ounces in the last month. He really likes to eat.

One thing I love is our morning time chats. When Josiah wakes up, I feed him, and after that I will prop him up on a pillow, and we "chat". He is such a happy baby and always smiling. I am thankful for a healthy and happy baby. Although contrary to what others think, he does cry, see pic below.



In other news...
I just had my 30th birthday. There was no big shebang or anything. Just the routine. I did get my knives sharpened for my birthday....and oh am I ever happy. I did not realize how dull those knives were until I used the sharpened knives for the first time. It was like heaven!! Thank you Joel for being so thoughtful.

I FINALLY decided on a stroller, and I love it!!! It is so smooth and looks very nice. It even matches our car seat and was super affordable. Josiah is too small for the seat right now, but give him about 3 months and I bet he'll fit. I got to use it on Saturday at Ikea. So happy with it.

This weekend we're going to Noni's house (that's my Mom, she wants to be called Noni rather than Grandma). She hasn't seen him since the day he was born with the few exceptions of pictures and videos I send her via email. Thank you Lord for technology. I don't know how we ever survived without the internet...lol. She will be surprised at how big and chunky Josiah is.

I ventured out and made Chicken pot pies for the first time the other day. I hear they were good. I don't like them, so I didn't try them. I also made orange chicken too. I am grateful that I can stay home with my little boy and try out new recipes on the hubbs. Thank you Joel for your sacrifice.

Until next post,