Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, this holiday feels more subdued than usual. But I'm still excited to take my kiddos out Trick-or-Treating and let them experience all the joys that come along with this special day. They are what it's all about and I love seeing their little faces light up on special, treat-filled days. Their excitement is contagious and I love being able to experience holidays with them. Stephanie is at a fun age, and understands what Trick-or-Treating means and that she will knock on people's doors and they will give her candy. We've been practicing saying "Trick-or-Treat" and then saying "thank you." She's so excited that she's been asking whether it's time to go since she woke up this morning!

(Of course, the whole day seems special and magical right now, before the candy-fueled, off-the wall bouncing around sets in. And before the post-sugar temper tantrums. But right now I can pretend that this year those things won't happen. Nobody burst my bubble...)

I hope everyone stays safe and takes precautions, especially if you go out in areas that have suffered downed trees and power lines!

Cinderella and the cutest little Pumpkin say HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all my wonderful A Baby Makes Four readers.

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Nescafe Memento Review & Giveaway

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know how obsessed I am with coffee. Actually, I take that back. Even if you're a new reader you can probably click around to any post and find some reference to coffee. To say that I have an addiction to it is an understatement.

While I was at the BlogHer conference in August, I had a chance to try Nestle Nescafe Memento. I was a little skeptical because I didn't think there was any way that an instant coffee would do the trick for me. However, this is no run-of-the-mill instant coffee, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!

If you haven't heard of Nescafe, let me give you a little bit of background info. Nescafe Memento is
 "an expertly crafted line of foaming, single-serve cafe beverages" that rivals the taste of those expensive coffee drinks you find at coffee houses.

Seriously, these drinks are amazing! You open up one of the single serve packets, pour it into a mug, add hot water and you have an expensive tasting coffee drink right in your own home.

Nescafe Memento comes in three flavors: Cappuccino, Mocha and Caramel Latte. I've tried all three and they are all delicious, but I think the Mocha is my favorite. Each packet contains only 100 calories, and they are sweet enough that I find no need to add either sweeteners or milk/cream.

You can find them in the coffee aisle at your local grocery store, and they retail for $4.29/box of 8. Math isn't my strong suit, but...that is a LOT cheaper than going to a coffee shop.

I love sitting down in the afternoon while the kids are napping and enjoying one of these drinks. I find that it's so delicious that I don't feel the urge to snack, so I consider these good for the waist-line too! It's an inexpensive treat that feels like it cost a lot more than it really did!

If you're a coffee lover like I am, you have to try these. I know you might be skeptical about an instant coffee, but trust me...these are like no other instant brew I have tried. I think you'll love them as much as I do, and i'm excited to announce that i'm offering one lucky A Baby Makes Four reader the chance to win a box of Nescafe Memento!

You can enter by signing into the rafflecopter below and then doing each of the tasks it asks you to do in order to enter. Remember...you don't have to do all of them, but the more you do, the more chances you have to win. Good luck everyone!

* I was provided product for this review. All opinions are my own.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Random Photo Challenge: Halloween Edition!

Welcome to week two of Random Photo Challenge! My friend Liz over at Learning to Juggle posted today's challenge: Post and share your favorite Halloween themed picture.

I decided to post a picture of Stephanie's first and second Halloween:

2010: A Ladybug for her 1st Halloween!

2011: A BumbleBee for her 2nd Haloween....with a precious 2 week old baby brother :)

*I will be posting my weekend Week in My Life post tomorrow morning....if we have power that is. Hurricane Sandy looks like she might hit us hard! I hope everyone stays safe over the next few days!

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Week in My Life: Friday

Happy Saturday everyone! I'm posting yesterday's Week in My Life post late because yesterday was, well, kind of a fail. I apologize for the lack of pictures!

I didn't feel good, and so my wonderful husband got up with Joseph in the morning. I was able to sleep until 7, which felt amazing...for the first time in who knows how long I actually slept for 6.5 hours straight. I felt better once I had been up for a while and had my second (of 3!) cups of coffee.

Joseph sat down to look at a catalog while Mommy cleaned up from breakfast

Dan went to work at 9 and I put Joseph in for a morning nap. Instead of cleaning, organzing, etc (which is what I usually do when he sleeps in the morning) I sat on the computer and caught up on a ton of stuff that I was behind on. It felt good to finally do that!

When Joseph woke at 11, we headed to Stop and Shop to stock up on some hurricane essentials like bread and water. (We actually needed both of those things. We stopped off at CVS for batteries too, just in case.)

Then it was home for lunch and naps. Stephanie spent the day obsessively playing with her Valentine baby, who needed her own cup to drink from at lunch.

After lunch Stephanie asked to have one of the lollipops that she had gotten from my Aunt during our Thursday Halloween party. She had never had one before, so I made sure to document the occasion.

While the kids napped I worked on my November meal plan shopping list and read a little of my book. They woke up at 3:30 and we went to the park with Stephanie's best friend and her Mommy. While we were getting in the car, Stephanie was so excited to find a wish flower.

Saying goodbye after a fun park trip

The kids had a great time, and as we left I looked at the setting sun and thought about how much I love this time of year. It's cool and crisp, the trees are alight in gorgeous color, and the holiday season will be here soon. I love it all!

When we got home at 5, we went to Dan's office to pick him up. (Stephanie loves to do this, and begs to pick him up all day long. Even 10 minutes after he's left the house.) Then it was home for a "gourmet" dinner...progresso soup and pillsbury cresecent rolls.

Then Dan gave the kids baths (seriously...he's awesome. We take turns giving baths and he never complains about it) while I cleaned up the kitchen and dining room.

Then it was teeth, books and bed for the little ones. I decided to take the night off...no blogging, no FB, no online shopping or research for the holidays. I curled up on the couch with a glass of wine and my book and just relaxed. It was so nice, and I feel much better today, which I attribute to taking the time to relax. Now if only my kids could get rid of these awful colds that have them up all night long...

*As always, a big thanks to Melissa from Adventuroo for putting this project together! If you want to check out my Week in My Life posts from earlier in the week you can do that here: Monday Week in My Life, Tuesday Week in My Life, Wednesday Week in My Life, Thursday Week in My Life

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Week in My Life: Thursday

Welcome to day 4 of Week in My Life! I've been having a lot of fun with this project, but it's been exhausting to remember to take pictures constantly and to write every night.

I've noticed that my posts are heavily focused on our mornings. Today I decided I would shift my focus and do most of my documenting in the evening. Of course, nothing ever works out the way it's supposed to and both Joseph and I ended up feeling pretty cruddy. I'm not sure what was wrong with either of us. For him maybe teething? Or a virus? I think I might just be overtired and my body is working overtime fighting off the colds that have been going around our house for the past week. I just felt achy and tired and I couldn't completely put my finger on what was wrong. Luckily I've perked up a little tonight!

And now...what you've all been waiting for...our Thursday!

We woke at 6:45. My day started with coffee of course, while the kids had their milk. (And water. Stephanie was double fisting.)

Joseph sat down on his Dino and just hung out there for awhile.

We got dressed, I made breakfast, and we ate. Then it was time for the dishes.

Then it was school for Stephanie and some shopping/bonding time with my mom for Joseph and I. We stopped off at Dunkin Donuts first for a coffee. The guy asked me if he could give Joseph a munchkin. It was his first one, and though he wasn't sure what to do with it at first, he loved it!

After school we went to my sister's house for a Halloween get-together with my Aunt, Mom, Sister and niece. I made a pumpkin pie but it turned out all speckled.The spices didn't mix well, but it tasted good!

Joseph wants food!

The cousins love playing together!

After the party we went home and Joseph went for a nap. When he woke up, the crankiness started. It wasn't normal crankiness though...it seemed like he really didn't feel well. 

This was one of the few times my baby wasn't crying this afternoon.

 We spend the entire afternoon, from 4:00 on, rocking and cuddling in the chair.

Poor little guy!

 Stephanie was fantastic and alternated between playing independently and watching Caillou. Joseph was just so sad.

I did eventually put him down and he spent 5 minutes playing with his stacking cups.

When Dan came home at 5:20, I left Joseph with him and took Stephanie to CVS and the library. When we got home, I resumed cuddling with Joseph while Dan got dinner ready. (We were having leftover pasta and chili, so he reheated everything and set the table.)

 After dinner I put jammies on the kids while Dan did the dishes. (Did I mention how awesome he is?)

Once the kids were in their jammies, I snuggled with Joseph while he had his milk. Stephanie did a great job cleaning the living room for me.

Yup, he's still cleaning! I have the best husband.

After milk, I helped the kids brush their teeth.

Then it was some pre--bedtime snuggles.

Joseph went to bed and Stephanie and I read books.

Then it was bedtime for Stephanie.

She yelled at me for not closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep. We had to re-take the picture.

 Now it's wine time for the Mommy while I blog, and listen to the Big Bang Theory playing on the TV in the background.

*A big thanks to Melissa from Adventuroo for putting this project together! If you missed any of my other Week in My Life posts, you can check them out here: Monday Tuesday Wednesday 

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Week In My Life: Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! It's day 3 of "Week in My Life" and I was starting to feel like ours days are rather repetitive. I'm also really exhausted today, so I've decided to turn the blog over to a guest poster. And who better to document our day then the person responsible for my lack of sleep? 

Please welcome your Wednesday "Week in My Life" guest blogger...Joseph!

Hi everybody! My mommy asked me to write her blog for her today because she's tired. Why is she tired?? I have boundless energy and I think she should too!

Ok, lets get started. My day began at 2:45am. I woke up, but Mommy rushed right in to turn my sleep sheep back on and give me my pacifier. I woke her up several times after that too. (She wants to know why...is it teeth? Is it my cold? But I'll never tell...a boy has to have his secrets you know!)

Finally at 5:15 I refused to go back to sleep. Mommy begged Daddy to take me into the living room so she could get an hour of sleep. I'm not sure why mommy didn't want to snuggle with me herself. What's so exciting about sleep? But Daddy did a pretty good job.

At 7 Mommy came out and took over. Stephanie got up then too. Yay, I love playing with my big sister!

Stephanie took my teddy, and I wanted it back. When I cried, Mommy came to my rescue. I love my Mommy/

After we had some milk, we went into our room to play.

Stephanie is way up high on her bed. Sometimes I can manage to crawl up there too. Mommy says that makes her nervous. I don't know why.

Yay, I have my teddy back.

I love my Teddy and Blankie.

A few minutes later I realize Mommy is trying to get dressed and put on something called makeup in the bathroom. I rush right in to help.

When she kicks me out of the bathroom I run to wake up Daddy and Mommy has him get me dressed.

Then Daddy read me a book! I love Daddy.

 After the book, I realize Mommy is making breakfast. She is NOT fast enough for me.

I WANT FOOD NOW!

Finally we eat. Goodness it takes Mommy a long time to get everything ready.

While Mommy cleans up and gets stuff ready to leave the house, I learn a new trick. Aren't I so cool?

When Mommy is finally ready we head out the door to go to one of my absolute favorite places...Nana's house!

Nana's house is so much fun!

A little while later we go to the library for Stephanie's story time. I have just as much (if not more) fun then she does! I love dancing to the songs and listening to the stories.

After story time we go to the restaurant where my Nana works. My cool Aunties and cousin are there too. I love going to the restaurant because eating is my favorite thing to do.

After lunch it's back to Nana's house for a while longer. It's so much fun to cause trouble play with my sister and cousin! After Nana's house we head home. I fall asleep in the car, and when we get home Mommy tells me that that little snooze better not interrupt my nap!

I do look pretty tired don't I?

Mommy soon learns that I have no intention of napping. I'm supposed to be her guest blogger, how can I keep track of our day if I nap?? PLUS Mommy might get lonely. So I let her know how unhappy I am about being trapped in my crib. Loudly. For over an hour. She keeps coming in to soothe me and I love her company! We cuddle up and it's so cozy. But then she rudely puts me back in my crib. What the heck mom?  Finally I doze for 45 minutes.

When I wake up, Mommy gives me a world record bath. Right as we finish, Daddy comes home! YAY Daddy. I help him set the table and put out the dinner that Mommy made earlier while she gives Stephanie her bath. I'm a big helper. I get right under Daddy's legs so he doesn't forget i'm there.

After a super fast dinner we get in the car again. Where are we going??

After a long, long, long, long trip we pull up to the zoo! (*Editor's note: it was a 40 minute drive. Joseph exaggerates.) It turns out there are PUMPKINS at the zoo! All lit up! I love the lights and keep pointing to them and asking what they are. Sometimes mommy or daddy answer. Most of the time they are busy talking to Stephanie or oohing and ahhing at the pumpkins. I find that very rude. Sigh. I am the center of the universe, they should only be paying attention to me!

Heading into the zoo. I look a little tired. I wonder why??

Mommy liked the Titanic carving. I asked what the Titanic was, but nobody answered me. Sigh. It's not easy being 1...

After we walked through the trail we stopped for some fried dough. (Mommy says we call them dough boys in our house.) I only got a few bites...I wanted more then that. Not fair.

When we finished eating, we headed home. I fell asleep in the car, and Daddy carried me in. Mommy gave me big cuddles before putting me in my crib. Those are the best. She also asked me to please sleep all night. I haven't decided whether or not i'm going to oblige her...

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