Arwen is 11 months old today!

Wow! My sweet baby girl Arwen Kinsley is 11 months old...Its hard to believe that in less than a month she will be a year old! She is growing up so fast!

Milestones this month:

• Has taken steps on her own (still not full fledged walking, but can step from one thing to another)
• Talking: bubba, dada, mama, duck, hi, out, uh-oh, dog, quack, oooh and lots more! Most of the time she is saying all kinds of random words/sounds, but you can definitely tell she is communicating.
• Went swimming for the first time
• Saw fireworks for the first time
• Eating anything & everything she can - she loves to eat!
• Stopped breastfeeding about a week ago and is now drinking regular milk at least three times/day
• Still sleeping great! At least 2x day for naps, and still all the way through the night each night :) Yay!
• Has 7 teeth - 4 on top, and 3 on bottom (still likes to bite - ouch!)
• She is very happy, laughing all the time
• She LOVES water - bath time, water table, pool time, the dog water...she loves to blow bubbles with her fact and splash! Its so cute!

I am sure I am forgetting some things...I started on her invites last week, and they are going to be so cute! I hope to get them ordered this week sometime!

Until next time, take care everyone!

What's new with us?

Last week was filled with playdates almost everyday, and with that came a sick bug that caught up with Destin, and then Arwen.

I know I have said it before, there is nothing worse than having a sick baby...and two sick babies! Yikes! But after a few late night calls to the Ask-a-nurse hotline, and trip to the Doctor - I am happy to say that the girls are both doing much better!

We were supposed to have our big, 4th annual BBQ/City Fireworks Display this past weekend...but due to the girls being sick we didn't want to take any chances of any one else getting sick, so we called it off - and have rescheduled it to Patrick's birthday in a couple weeks. Hopefully we can still get together at least once this summer. We ended up walking down just the four of us, to view the firework display. It was very good (as always, but very lonesome feeling without our friends and family there). This was the first year, they did not come.

Arwen officially stopped drinking breast milk last week...which surprisingly, we are both doing really well with it. Arwen is now driking regular milk...I know its a little early - but she was ready. And yes, its a little bittersweet feeling that my baby no longer "needs me". BUT we still manage to get lots of snuggle time in, even without the breast feeding bonding.

She will be 11 months old in a couple days...I cannot believe it! She has taken a few steps and wants to walk so badly. I am hoping to work on her birthday stuff sometime soon!

Destin is still her usual self - keeping busy with crafts, watching her fav new show, Spongebob (ugh!) and still learning to "share" with her baby sister. I just don't know how to make their bond more special. Destin just does not want her to be around, or play with her toys...its so heartbreaking.

Patrick played his first softball game yesterday - they won 1, and lost 1. The girls and I did not go, but we plan on going maybe in a couple weeks. He is also staying busy with work too (of course!).

I am still busy working on product reviews/giveaways with Frugal Fabulous Finds. I also just applied for a job at UCM (fingers crossed that I can get it!).

Other than that...not a whole lot to report. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and is doing well ;)

Product Review: One Week Parenting Miracle

A couple months ago I was approved to do a product review with a company called iChology.

What is iChology?
iChology is a pioneer in providing high quality Web Based Therapeutic Training. iChology has gathered some of the world’s foremost experts in the areas of marriage and family relations, parenting, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, addiction and many more.

iChology is dedicated to bringing you high quality video trainings to help you in every area of your life. iChology was founded on the principles of providing quality training at affordable prices from the comfort of your own home.


iChology Programs
There are currently two programs and one in the making at iChology. The first program is called One Week Parenting Miracle (the one I am doing this review about), the second is called Teen Miracle, and the third program (which is still being created) is called The Depression Miracle.


Each program is designed to deliver high-quality, interactive, step-by-step video lessons and guidebooks that teach the skills and application needed to succeed.

One Week Parenting Miracle - Description

The One Week Parenting Miracle is an in-home, self-paced video training course to help you improve any child's behavior in as little as One Week!

This parenting training is a compilation of everything Dr. Hyde has learned about Parenting over his 25 plus years in practice as a Clinical Therapist. He has literally helped thousands of parents just like you regain control of their homes by learning the techniques to become better parents.


“The One Week Parenting Miracle” claims to "work when nothing else has worked". This program is ideal for parents that have children who are not respectful, and/or disobedient in some way. Here is a list they provided:


•Engaged in a power struggle
•Oppositional or Defiant
•Unwilling to reasonably talk out the situation
•Unwilling to negotiate a Win-Win solution

•Unwilling to Respect others, or unwilling to mind and cooperate.
•Unwilling talk out or solve the problem rather they act out the problem.
•Physically or verbally explosive, aggressive, or violent
•Your present discipline currently isn’t working
•Too young or developmentally delayed to learn verbally.


What you will learn?
The most effective ways to discipline your child... The skills you need to increase positive behavior... The skills you need to decrease negative behavior... How to properly deal with temper tantrums... How to feel confident about building a healthy relationship with your child...


Parents are the best co-therapists – no one will know or love your child more than you do. Implementing therapeutic strategies on a daily consistent basis is extremely effective.




About Dr. Hyde
The One Week Parenting Miracle is a compilation of everything Dr. Randy Hyde has learned about Parenting over his 25+ years in practice as a Clinical Psychologist. He has helped thousands of parents regain control of their homes by learning the techniques to become better parents.

Dr. Hyde has established an extremely successful practice and on top of helping thousands of parents and children, he has also trained hundreds of interns who went on to become clinical psychologists, therapists, and counselors.

Our Situation
At this point in my life as a parent to a two year old, I am in desperate need for any kind of guidance when it comes to disciplining my child. I am not sure if it is lack of attention, jealously of her younger sister, or the simple fact that my little girl just does NOT want to listen...but she is extremely defiant.

Most of our friends and family don't believe me, but when she doesn't get her way, Destin throws huge tantrums - including screaming, yelling, crying, hitting, kicking, throwing, etc. When we go out in public, she does not listen or stay with us (which is a BIG safety issue). When I tell her NOT to do something, she does it anyway. And the list goes on...

I don't know if our situation is the way it is, because I am a pushover...but I feel that yelling, time outs and spanking her are not working to our advantage. She is not learning how to control herself, follow directions, and show exemplary behavior.

My Review
So with all that said above, I was really hoping to learn some AMAZING miracle to help me be a better parent as a whole.

I really enjoyed reading through the modules (which are clearly labeled, organized and easy to read). I also liked the mini videos (some only just a few minutes long) to reinforce or go into greater detail about the content.

My issue...lack of time! I am a stay at home mommy to two young children. My only time to myself is at the grocery store, or when the girls go to bed at night (and even then I am usually spending time with my husband).

I think that if I take the needed time and devotion to this issue, things would eventually get better. I think, in a way, you are transrfoming yourself as a parent and not really changing your child (as an outsider may think).

A big eye opener for me, was just hearing and reading the obvious. As an educator, and someone who has dealt with children long before I became a mom; I really felt I should already know these things. I know that positive attention/reinforcement increases positive/good behavior. And you know the saying, "it will get worse - before it gets better?"...that is what has been happening at our house.

Destin's behavior has just been getting worse, with no signs of improvement...and I think the main reason WHY is because I yell or get angry, and pretty much give her negative attention all the time. How I say something is more important, than what I am saying...

Hopefully, after a little bit of time and effort (mostly on my part) things will change for the better...and I am sure I will be on here to update everyone. Until then, here are some more details about this program and how you can access it.

How much does it cost?
You can sign up for $1 dollar today and have 100% full access to the program for seven days. On the eighth day, you will be charged 27 dollars. You will then be charged $27 dollars every month that you continue with the program and you can cancel at any time. You will not even need to speak to a human to cancel.

As a member you will have 100% access to all the content of Dr. Hyde’s program—video, evaluation questions, written content, workbook, and role plays.

So...a little steep! But I honestly don't know what a good price would be?

Where can I learn more?
If you would like more information about the One Week Parening Miracle, please click here. You can also find them on Facebook, and Twitter.

To learn more about iChology, you can visit their website or like them on Facebook.

Thank you to Business 2 Blogger, and iChology for allowing me to work with you on this product review!

Disclosure: I was provided with a One Week Parenting Miracle membership to conduct this review. As always, any compensation did not influence or dictate my honest review about this product and/or company.

Mail Call: June 20 - June 25

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Destin got some type of bug Thursday afternoon, which made us cancel our plans - including a BIG party scheduled for Saturday :( But the good news is, Saturday morning she was 100% again. I am not sure if what the Doc says is correct. Noone else got sick but her, and it the symptoms lasted less than 24 hours.

Not a whole lot to report for this week...but here it is:

Mon/Tues

USGS Earthquake Country booklet from California Earthquake Authority
2 x $10 Old Navy/Gap GCs from Shop it to Me – get link!
Wed
Sample of Miracle Worker anti aging eye cream from philosophy
Montayne Jeunesse box of goodies (PR+Giveaway for FFF)
Posh Pickle monogrammed dress for Destin (PR+Giveaway for FFF)

Thurs
Sample of Spiffies Teething & Cleaning Tooth Wipes

Friday
Personalized Custom Knit Baby hat (PR+Giveaway for FFF)
Body Milk Zinnia from Thailand (PR for FFF)

Saturday
Tony Hawk anti-drug posters x 2
Bacardi Rum t-shirt

Loving the playdates!

For the past two weeks, the girls and I have been scheduling playdates with some friends of ours - Stephen & Holly. What's really cool? They have two girls, Karly & Kynly, who are almost the exact same age as ours! What a perfect match, right?

Last week, we played at their house...then a couple days later, they came to ours.

And this week, we went to Paradise Park (sorry...no pics!) one day, and then Deanna Rose Farmstead the next. What a fun time :) I am looking forward to getting together with them more often this summer!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Not the best picture of daddy (Patrick)...but this is the most recent one I could find of him & the girls....I am trying to convince him to smile for pictures. I think he is starting to act more like his older brothers who don't like their pics taken :( The picture above is the card the girls & I made him via Shutterfly!

Mail Call: June 11 - 18

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and has a wonderful Father's Day! Here is this week's mail call...

• Birth announcements – 1 from my cousin & 1 from Patrick’s cousin
• Concert Oh t-shirt 
• Gripole magnets (Product Review for FFF) 
• Turning Point magazine 
• World Famous Multisizer (ring sizer from NetCarats, plus a 10% code which I will probably give away on FFF) 
• Pampers coupons 
• A box of spices from Spike (total of 10 of them - PR for FFF?)
• Toys R Us Birthday coupon for Arwen ($5.00 off of $25 or more) 
• Vegetarian magazine (July/August 2011) 
• Tag a long (PR & Giveaway for FFF) 
• Newton Fruit Thins from One2onenetwork.com (PR on FFF)
• “For me, for you, for later” Sesame Street kit about saving money from PNC bank

• Velveeta Cheesy Skillets House Party box
• Parents Magazine (July 2011)
• 31 Gifts Cooler Tote (PR & Giveaway for FFF)

I hope I didn't forget anything...I am having a hard time keeping track of when I got things on certain days...Have a wonderful weekend! Take care, Melissa

Destin is 28 months!

Destin is 28 months today! Wow! Hard to believe it was only 4 months ago that she turned 2 years old...

In that time, Destin has been learning how to be a big sister, her ABCs (she knows about half of them), her numbers, colors, and shapes. We are working on spelling out her name, alphabet letters, and following directions almost daily.

She really is showing how much she has grown up - talking in full length conversations, playing with the big kids and making new friends.

Here she is with her friend Karly above...it was so much fun to see Destin play with someone her own age. Karly is just a few months older than Destin :) And Karly's baby sister is about 2 months younger than Arwen :) This was the first time Arwen had ever played with another baby. I know, we need to get out more!

Hopefully this summer will bring more playdates, more trips outside, and of course more learning for both Destin and I. Being a parent is a learning process, and I continue to learn from Destin every single day. She tries my patience, and challenges me to the end, but my love for her is unconditional. I love my girls so much and I am so proud to be called their mama.

What's new with us?

Wow...it certainly has been awhile since I last wrote on my Shutterfly site for the girls & here on my blog, so I thought I would take a few minutes to update everyone...

Over the weekend, we went to the legends, and "window shopped" at Cabellas, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and some other stores. We also ate lunch at the Dinosaur place - Destin seemed to like it. But it way overpriced eat there and the food wasn't that good :(


We haven't been real busy - just the normal routine. Arwen is getting bigger everyday, and I just know she will be walking by the end of the month (if not earlier). And Destin just amazes me everyday with how much she is learning - she can recognize about half of her letters, knows all of her colors/shapes and we are working on numbers. She is so smart!



Jealousy has definitely kicked in, and since Arwen is on the go and into everything, Destin is not having a good time trying to figure out how to share her toys, old clothing and more.



Speaking of clothing...I don't know where, and I don't know why...but someone said that I posted that the girls did NOT need any more clothes. If I ever said that - I take it back!!! They are growing so fast, and their clothes only last for so long! So friends, and family - if you see something cute at a garage sale, or store and want to buy it for Destin & Arwen, by all means, PLEASE do! Destin is wearing 2T and Arwen is wearing 12 mos. Any new clothes (from a garage sale or store) would be welcomed with OPEN ARMS! Destin loves new clothes, and since money is tight we cannot always afford to go out and buy the girls clothes all the time. Thank you to the Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas & Grandpas that go above and beyond in this area :) We are so incredibly thankful for everything you all do for us!



We have a new family member - our gold fish. He/she (not sure which) is so cute! He loves to eat, and swim (of course!) and has a mustache. He is our seventh fish in the last month...they all did not last more than a few days...but I think this one is a keeper. He has been around for about 2 weeks and is still growing bigger everyday.



I have been staying busy with setting up playdates for the girls and I; and working at home with Frugal Fabulous Finds (a blog site that promotes deals, freebies, giveaways and product reviews).



I hope to start working on my other Shutterfly Share Site, Roach Family tree - where I am compiling pictures, stories, etc. for both Patrick and I (on both sides). I have been looking for a company to take our old pics (at a low price) and scan them into digital files. I think I may have narrowed my search down to a few places. I have probably over 2,000 photos. And I just don't have the time to scan all of them on my computer printer scanner. If you know of any cheap deals, or could help me find something cheap - let me know! We don't have a lot of money to spend, but I would LOVE to do this as my newest hobby :)


Patrick is busy working...and will soon be starting a Summer Softball League this coming up Father's Day weekend, every Sunday in Raymore. He will be playing with his brothers, dad and some friends. I am not sure how often the girls and I will go watch him play - we will just have to see what happens.



Its hard to believe we are half way through June almost...only about 1 month and a half before Arwen turns 1 year old! And Destin turns 28 months today! I will write a separate post for that :)



I hope everyone is doing well! Keep in touch! Comment on pictures and posts :)



Take care, Melissa

Mail Call: June 6 - June 10

I didn't do a very good job of keeping track of days this week...so I thought I would just list what I got:

• My 101 Free 4x6 prints from Shutterfly
• Coupons from Shopper's Voice (for filling out a consumer survey via mail)
• No Farms, No Food sticker from American Farmland Trust
• Momsrising.org sticker
• Simple & Delicious magazine (June/July)
• Tiny prints cards x 2
• 6 in 1 Screwdriver that I got from Onesaleaday.com (I think thats the right website)
• Switchbelt (PR & Giveaway for FFF)
• USPS Medium Sized boxes (set of 5) for FREE
• Zearly box of clothes (PR & Giveaway for FFF)
• Box of goodies for the girls from Gma & Gpa Sowerby

Instead of posting til Saturday, I will just go ahead and post til Friday :) since I don't get on here on during the weekends very often.

Mail Call: May 30 - June 4

Lots of goodies this week to share...hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Tues, May 30th

• Propel Kit – came w/ 3 freebie coupons, 2 Propel Water Bottles, a bag, and t-shirt (this was one of the first giveaways I did with Frugal Fabulous Finds)
• Black Diamond Granite Cleaner (PR via Tomoson for FFF)
• Razorpit Razor Blade Sharpener (PR & giveaway for FFF)
• Coupon for 1 free bag of Sunchips, Tostitos or Lay’s Chips 

Wed, June 1st 

• Book x 2 (When God Created My Toes by Dandi Daley Mackall)
• Biolage Sample

Thurs, June 2nd 

• Garnier Shampoo/Conditioner sample
• Huggies coupons
• Mixbook Photo book I created (PR & Giveaway for FFF)

Fri, June 3rd 

• Exuviance (6 week supply) for a PR & Giveaway for FFF 
• Flipsize box (full of clothes for the girls) for a PR & Giveaway for FFF

Saturday, June 4th

• I don't remember?