Amazon Mom = Amazing Savings!

I was pricing Pull-Ups on Amazon today and saw a blurb about Amazon Mom. I had to check it out, and I'm glad I did!




Here's how it works. Amazon already offers a 15% discount when you Subscribe and Save on items you use regularly. I've used this both on a repeating basis and with no intention of continuing the subscription. You can cancel or change your delivery frequency at any time.

With Amazon Mom, you get an additional 15% off on many baby items, including diapers, for a total of 30% savings. AND it's delivered free right to your door, with free two-day shipping! I love coupons, but I was able to order some Pull-Ups and Pampers Baby Dry Diapers for less than I would have paid at the store with coupons and shopping sales. And did I mention they will just show up at my door, and I don't have to listen to whiney kids in a shopping cart or chase a toddler all over the baby department?

As an added bonus, Amazon Mom gives you three months of a free Amazon Prime membership and lets you earn additional months with your baby purchases. I've used a free trial of Prime and like it, but I could never justify the annual subscription fee. Prime gives you free two-day shipping on anything shipped by Amazon, whether it's sold by Amazon themselves or a seller using Amazon fulfillment. Next-day shipping is available for just $3.99. No more waiting until I have $25.00 worth of little items to get so I receive free super-saver shipping, and it arrives oh so much faster.

(Isn't that little bear hat on the baby in the Amazon banner cute? I hope to crochet one for Gator this winter. One of many to-do projects!)

Preschool Premiere

Today, my big little girl started school. It's just preschool, but she's attending a program at the public school, and that makes it feel so much more like real school.

She was having second thoughts about it until she met her teacher and saw her classroom yesterday. Then she was so excited and couldn't wait to go back. I hoped she'd wake up easily because she was excited to go, but she's just like me in the mornings. NOT a morning person and she'll go back to sleep if at all possible.

I could tell she was a little unsure about things at times, but for the most part she was excited about this new experience. When it was finally time for her class to walk from the lobby to their classroom, she practically bolted through the door. Her teacher had to take her hand to hold her back. Some of the other kids were crying or reluctant to leave their parents. Mine couldn't wait. It made me a little sad that I was more emotional about this than she was, but I was also proud. I raised her to be an independent, capable young woman and she proved it today.

I'm proud that my sometimes tempermental little girl impressed the preschool screeners enough that she was selected to be a typical peer role model for the integrated preschool program. I'm excited for all the lessons she'll learn there, whether they are typical preschool experiences or the result of attending school with children with special needs.

I hope she's still excited to go after the novelty wears off. I need all the help I can get with her in the mornings!

Favorite sounds

Before I had children, my favorite sound to hear was a cat purring. It was such a peaceful and relaxing sound, and I still love hearing it.

After my daughter was born, the sound of my child laughing with delight became my favorite sound. I still love that sound oh so much, especially when it's a sweet little baby giggle.

There's another sound that I treasure and will miss when my baby is weaned. It's the peaceful, contented sound of my baby breathing restful breaths while taking soft rhythmic swallows. The attitude and sounds of pure contentment in my child helps me relax even after the most frustrating of days. Nursing gives us both an opportunity to step back from the world and relax and reconnect...at least when the baby is sleepy.

World Breastfeeding Week is coming up soon. This may be my last chance to celebrate it with a nursling and I'm a jumble of emotions when I think about the day my baby weans. And yes, he's my baby. At the same age, my daughter was a little girl, a toddler, etc. But her even more active little brother is probably my last baby and will remain my baby in my mind for some time.

Walking Tall

Summer 2008

Summer 2010

Shoe deal!

If you don't mind paying this way, this is a great opportunity to get shoes for cheap! Shoebuy gives free shipping, free returns, and they have more than just shoes. Offer expires July 4.

Gator's first shoes: We're in love.

When we went to get Gator new shoes, I fell in love with Stride Rite's current prewalker line. The Calf, Cygnet, Eaglet, and other shoes have a super-flexible rubberized sole that allows the foot to move naturally while offering more protection than a leather sole. It felt like a natural step between the Robeez Gator had been wearing and a more traditional shoe.

We opted for the Stride Rite Calf sandal since it's warm and muggy at this time of year. The sandals look fine with socks for cooler days, but he usually wear them sockless and enjoys the super-soft leather against his feet. He likes them so much that he'll randomly bring them to us to put on his feet. (I try to be barefoot around the house most of the time, but the kids seem to have other ideas...)

Gator loves the extra traction these shoes give him. They make it easier to climb up slides and scale other things not meant for climbing. Have I mentioned this boy is a climber? He's a better climber than his sister, and she frequently struggles as she tries to imitate him.

I believe it's very important for children to have properly fitting shoes, especially for their first pair or two. The local Stride Rite was out of Gator's size in all colors and styles of these prewalkers, so I ordered online. I frequently order shoes for Violet, Superdork, and myself online. There are so many sites that give free shipping and free returns and other discounts, and I like being able to try things on in the comfort of my home. As opposed to watching my kids demolish a store's product display in under a minute.

I do get a kickback if you purchase something from these sites with these links, but they are sites I use and recommend even if I didn't get anything out of it. But of course, if you are going to purchase from them, I'm so grateful if you help a mama out...

Most of our purchases come from Shoebuy, but we shop Endless and other sites too.

Click here to save 10% off your purchase!

Sproing!

Check out those curls!