Save Money at CVS

I've told a few of my friends about the money saving possibilities at CVS! I've been getting all our toiletries for "free" there just by using coupons, waiting for a "sale" and taking advantage of their "Extra Care Bonus Bucks" program. I keep track of the sale items by using Coupon Mom's website...it emails me a database of each week's sales and coupons to use at which store (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Giant, Walmart or Target) to equal a FREE 'purchase'!
http://couponmom.com/

The website where I learned how to "work" the program is below:

http://sensetosave.com/frugal-tools/

Also, don't forget, if you REALLY want to save money on groceries, venture over to Aldi stores on either Route 1 or in Woodbridge (near Potomac Mills). They don't carry name brands but their milk is only $2.97...compared to Giant's $4.59, that's a bargain!
http://www.aldi.us/us/html/product_range/grocery_selections_ENU_HTML.htm

Apple doesn't fall far from the Tree

My friend, Sarah-Sydney's mom-told me she wished she had a list of Sydney's words for the doctor to see at their 18 month appointment. I decided I'd make a list in preparation for OUR 18 month visit next Wednesday. This will be pretty boring, so my apologies to those who read my blog hoping to be thrilled (ha)! It also occured to me that it's only fitting for my daughter to be so talkative...look at her mother (hence, the title to this post)
People:

1. Mimi
2. Poppi
3. Papa
4. Matt
5. Tiaboo
6. Daddy
7. Mommy
8. Simon
9. Bumbi
10. Riley
11. Owen (O-weee)

Mealtime:

1. booty (veggie booty)
2. juice
3. Water
4. more
5. thank you
6. Apple
7. Cookie
8. Cracker
9. Toast
10. Peanut (for peanut butter)
11. milk

Playtime:

1. Bear
2. Airplane
3. People
4. Balloon
5. Dog
6. Pig-pink pig
7. Cow-moo
8. Horse-hee haw (should we tell her that's a donkey sound, not a horse? They look so similar!)
9. Train-choo choo
10. Up/Down
11. 1, 2, 3 (Quick note: Cassie learned to count at Aldi--we count outloud as we place our groceries in bags...1, 2, 3, etc. so now she counts as she puts things in her toybox)--occasionnally, she'll count up to 6, skip 7, then 8, 9, 10.
12. A, B, C, D
13. Sun
14. B-i-b-l-e
15. Sunshine
16. Moon
17. Tree
18. Flower
19. Car-Beep-beep
20. Dinosaur
21. Apple
22. Ball
23. Hat
24. Colors: Purple, Red, Pink, Blue, Green
25. Giraffe
26. Up, Down, Over (thanks Mimi for teaching her those!)

Songs or Phrases Cassie's familiar with:

1. Happy Happy Birthday
2. You are My Sunshine
3. Itsy Bitsy Spider
4. Cassie-Roo
5. Skidamarink
6. I've got the Joy, joy...WHERE? (that's her part)
7. B-I-B-L-E
8. Jesus Loves Me (Yes, Jesus loves Cassie)
9. Driving in the Car
10. A, B, C
11. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
12. Praise the Lord
13. Hands Up
14. "Some Me"--seems to be her catchall for wanting something

Sleep and Feelings

1. Night Night
2. Sleepy
3. Home
4. No (big shocker there)
5. Yes
6. Okay
7. Come on
8. Sit
9. See you (when you put on a coat)
10. Bye Bye

Body Parts:

1. nose
2. eyes
3. feet
4. socks
5. shoes
6. arms
7. Head
8. shoulders
9. knees
10. toes
11. Hiney (meaning: sit on your hiney--how do you spell that word?)

TV Friends (Mom's not proud of these)

1. Noddy
2. Barney
3. FiFi (and the Flowertots)
4. Pingu
5. Jay-Jay
6. Elmo
7. Nina/Star
8. Thomas the Train-Tommy
9. Sagwa
10. Tee Vee (means, turn the TV on, Mother)

We're pretty glad that Cassie is such a communicator...it's really kept her tantrums to a minimum. Lately though, she seems to cry when someone puts her down or leaves...seperation anxiety came late to our home!

My other "goal" for this next week is to record Cassie's food intake. I know she's a poor eater but I suspect our doctor will want to see exactly how much milk she's drinking versus 'real' food eaten. I have resolved NOT to make food an issue with Cassie, but I also don't want to be resistent to advice or guidance on how to help expand Cassie's palate.

What a Toddler needs, what a Toddler wants

I seem to be on a "put a song in my blog-title" kick...guess you can say I have a "song in my heart"...yeah, whatever.

I read this in my Focus on the Family "The First Two Years" book and thought it was good enough to share:
The "First Adolescence"-the second 12 months of life

First and foremost, keep in mind that above all else your toddler needs to know that she is loved, accepted, and "at home" with you and that you are on her side without reservations-even when you won't give her everything she wants. She needs kind and loving words and actions all day long, and she will come to you frequently for them.
Expect overtures of all sorts, often with arms outstretched, many times during the day as your toddler seeks:

• cuddling and hugs
• comforting after a bump or bruise
• reassurance after being frightened
• help with a problem, such as getting something out of reach or fixing a misbehaving toy
• your enthusiastic reaction to something she has brought to you
• a response to a simple question (or sounds that resemble a question)
• relief from being hungry, thirsty, or having a wet/dirty diaper
• an invitation to role-play (at her direction)--pretending to talk to her on the toy phone, for example
• confirmation that you are still "there" when she has not see you for a few minutes

Hey, 98.6 it's good to have you back again!

Does anyone know the song in my title? I grew up listening to my Dad's oldie music--this is a song from the 60's about a guy who has his health restored and is jubulant to be back to his normal self...and that's exactly how I feel! The flu really sucked the energy out of me but I am getting back into our routine and I'm loving life again!

We had a great day at church yesterday-8am service, Sunday school and nursery duty-followed by the most heavenly nap time known to man! Cassie slept from about 1pm-5...amazing! Tim and I were able to rest and do some reading/journalling. It was truly a divine gift! Then, we were even more blessed by a visit from Cassie's favorite Uncle Matt and Tiaboo. We ordered pizza for dinner and had a really sweet time watching Cassie play with the train set they brought her.

Here's a little 'list' of Cassie's most recent discoveries:

She requests songs by saying, "Mimi...B-I-B-I-B"...which means, "Mimi, sing the BIBLE song." We don't want to tell her that she's mispelling Bible...they'll tell her that in school! :)
"Tassie...You Sunshine" means, "Please sing for Cassie, You are my Sunshine" which is a special song Poppi and Mimi sing. The sweetest thing about that song is I have vivid memories of my Dad's Mom, Nana, singing that song to me and Beka. Precious to see MY baby enjoying it now!

She's FINALLY saying 'thank you' which sounds more like, "dank due." She's also added "dinosaur", "turtle" and...well, now that I think about it, I'd be listing way too much if I tried to list all her new words, so let's just agree that she's learning at a good, steady pace.

This morning, we had another "deposit" in the toilet...hooray! Lesson learned, when you ask Cassie if she wants to sit on the potty, DON'T believe her when she says "No". :)

Uh-oh...based on Cassie's current behavior (she's pulling at my pants, saying-"Come on") it looks like I won't have anymore "free time" to type...gotta go do my job (be the best Mom I can be and play with my baby--hey, that rhymes!).

Happy Presidents' Day, by the way!