I never thought it would be this hard.

I loved this...she kept the cheerio on her nose for a few minutes before she brushed it off.

Hanging tight onto her beloved squirt bottle.
She cant get the water out herself but she tried for a good 10 minutes the other day.

     There are some things that came with the territory of having a baby that I knew would be hard....sleepless nights, messy diapers, colic, having them in church, traveling with them. But one thing that I  NEVER thought would be this hard it trying to get maya to take a bottle or a sippy cup. I have been trying to get her to take a bottle since she was 2 months old and she still has never taken one to this day.  I have tried diligently for the last few months to get her to take a sippy cup and finally about a week ago, she took one for the first time even though it was only for a few minutes. I just always thought...if a baby is thirsty enough, she will drink. Not so.

     Now she is back on her kick of not using them ( it was such a short lived thing anyhow)...even though I have cut back nursing dramatically. In lieu of a sippy cup or bottle (due to dehydration) I have come up with the only way that works. A spray bottle. She thinks it is SO fun and is loving it! I do however feel weird when I am in public and I grab a squirt bottle out of my diaper bag to get her to drink something. Because with the first spray, she kinda flinches....but loves it and keeps her mouth open for more. Plus....who does that???

I used it at Applebees the other day and I got a few weird looks. The waitress asked me, "what in the world are you doing?" She had a one year old so after I explained she got a huge kick out of it. I just still feel awkward. Anyone else heard of a baby that wont take a sippy cup even if they are ridiculously thirsty? Any advice besides a squirt bottle?

Maya is a quirky baby-she often takes the road less traveled, which makes it hard to figure out, but it has also created so many funny memories. I love her to death and have found so much joy in being her mother. I can't imagine loving anything else this way. She makes every day bright and happy- even though her latest habits are getting in toilets and pulling trash out of the trash can. (I have since rearranged the position of the trash can.) 

Eight dollars! Can you believe it?

So I have heard for a while now about all these amazing deals you can get with using coupons and learning how to work it to your advantage. Honestly I thought, nah, that is way too much hassle-you cant be saving that much money that its worth it.

My friend Stacy has been doing it for a few months and we went to hang out with her and her family and she was going shopping with her sister and invited me to come along. They were so generous with sharing all their coupons with me and trying to explain it several times. ( I am still a bit confused but learning) 

So they got everything ready in my cart that I wanted that they had coupons for. It was time to check out and I made my first transaction...4 pkgs. of frozen Pizza Flatbread sandwiches that retail about $3.29 each. I got my debit card out and they rang it up. After coupons it was 24 cents!!!!! I was in shock! I was like....uh...I have a quarter in my purse and gave it to the cashier. I was so excited! Anyways, I got all this food for 8 dollars (retails over $60) and I am so proud. I just hope I can do it on my own now!

Hayley! Are you so proud of me???? I figured of all the people who would be.....it would be you. 

The non-cuddling cuddler

I had gotten up to exercise earlier this week and Maya happened to wake up about the same time (6:15) and though I had nursed her she still didn't go back to sleep- although she looked like she would drop off about any time. So I went to exercise and when I came back this is what I found. I guess she was in bed and kept poking Ryans head, then started kicking his head, (still no reaction) so she started slapping his head, and finally the winner was crawling up and scratching his face. So he got up with her and that is WAY too early for her to be up so within a half hour or so she was ready to go back to sleep. Ryan just started tickling her back and tummy and within 5 min. she was snuggled up with him and asleep in his arms. This is still a rare occasion so when I came back, ryan pointed to her and he slept in an extra 20 min and then had to rush to get ready so he could take full advantage of the cuddle time with our non cuddle sweetheart.