Something for Nothing?

Well, not exactly, but pretty close. Call it getting something for doing something you would have done anyway.

I recently discovered swagbucks.com, an internet search engine that gives you free stuff to use their site. Yes, you have to give them some basic info about you, but I haven't received a single junk email as a result of signing up. I have, however, received a $5 Starbucks card for using them, and my grande hot cocoa was sweeter because it was free.

As a die-hard Google fan, I was skeptical. Imagine my joy when I discovered that Google and Ask.com are the underlying search engines; ie, you'll get the same results as if you search on Google. Vic gets a kick out of hearing me say that instead of googling something, I swagbucksed it.

So it's simple. You sign up, use swagbucks.com whenever you're searching for anything on the internet, earn a point from time to time, and redeem your points for free stuff. Nice, huh? Wanna sign up? Go here.

Melinda

(A little disclaimer: When you earn a swagbuck, I get a free swagbuck, up to 100 total, which means that I'm not completely unbiased -- seems only fair to admit it. Seriously, though, it's really cool and I would have told you all about it anyway.)

Peanut Pictures

Happy March! Wow, can you believe how quickly this winter is passing? Not that anyone around here is particularly upset about that. We're teaching Grace to soak up each sunny moment, and reminding ourselves to be thankful for the rain that helps things grow.

Speaking of things growing, our little peanut continues to do that. Here are her latest glamour shots...

Melinda

Miss Manners Would Have Something to Say About This

Tummy Time

We can't believe Grace is six months old! She had a checkup yesterday and the doctor says she's doing great. She's up to 15 1/2 pounds (still on the medium/low end for her age) and 27 1/2 inches (still on the really high end). All solid foods are quickly ptooeyed but she drinks 35-40 ounces of formula every day. She's sleeping 10-11 hours each night, with two naps each day (although she had a brief stint last week where she decided she didn't need an afternoon nap, with complete disregard for the fact that her mother needs her to nap). Anything within reach ends up covered in slobber. And she smiles, laughs, and chatters nonstop. Happy six month birthday, little girl!

The Peanut really dislikes being on her tummy, but it's great for building her neck, back, and arm muscles. The donut pillow helps prop her up so she can stand it a bit longer. This photo is about two minutes before meltdown.

Who Has Time to Crochet?

Hmm, well, me apparently. Although I'm somewhat surprised to have finished this sweater before Grace outgrew it or before spring came.


And yes, she is wearing it over her footy pajamas. That's what happens when mama is so pleased to have completed a project that she can't wait until the baby's dressed to show it off.

Melinda

Daddy/Daughter Date Day

As lovely and sweet as Grace is, there are times when it's nice to have a few moments to myself. And at such times, it's even nicer that Vic loves to take Grace for Daddy/Daughter Date Day. They go for coffee, hang out with friends, go shopping, and take walks.

Here's a photo shoot from one of their dates -- a wintery walk (with Grace in the backpack, of course).

Melinda

News from the Home Front

Who ever heard of waiting ten weeks for a response on a house offer?

Apparently, in the current housing market, if a home is up for short sale or foreclosure, it's buried in a pile of hundreds of such homes on the lender's desk. We put in an offer on this home November 1, and are still waiting to hear whether the offer is accepted, denied, or if they'll counter. The current owner is happy to have gotten an offer, but the lender has to approve also, and they'd probably like to get more of their money back. Given the interest rates right now, we'd really love to get a response and lock in a great rate on our loan.

On the upside, though, as a buyer in this market, the longer they wait to respond, the more housing prices decrease and the more reasonable our offer looks. (We're so thankful to be renting, rather than having to sell our current home before moving.)

Grace is tired of sleeping in our closet and would like her own room, I think.

Melinda