Our trip out west days 3 & 4

Sunday Morning we left the Ostendorf ranch, which was quite the adventure with the camper on their 7 mile muddy, curvy road.  (wish we got pictures of the process, but cameras got left behind) We did however get pictures of the camper after, so muddy.

On the way to Red Lodge we stopped at Little Big Horn National Park in Montana

We headed to Red Lodge MT to stay the night at the KOA, we got there around 5, so we had plenty of time to eat a wonderful meal, and have fire.

Monday morning we got going early so we could spend as much time in Yellowstone as possible.  We got our campsite at the KOA in Cody WY, and headed to Yellowstone National Park.

We came in the West enterance and did the upper loop Map of Yellowstone, came back out the West enterance to go back to Cody, WY for the night were we saw Paul, Marilyn, and Eva.

 Some of the animals we saw on the first day in Yellowsone

Mamouth Hot Springs

Multiple parts of the upper loop of the park.

Will be heading back to the park tomorrow.

Our trip out west day 1 & 2

Friday June 24th we headed to my parents, and got everything packed in the camper and headed to Aberdeen SD for the night.

Are we there yet?

First night, by the fire with Grandpa

Saturday morning we got up early and drove across South Dakota, through Wyoming (for 20miles) and up to Boyes Montana, to stay at the Ostendorf's ranch.  It's just beautiful out here.  Josh was excited because they were sorting cattle when we got there, and it reminded him of working with his grandpa Dave. 

See the deer on the hillside?

See the two deer by the trees

Bo going for a walk with daddy at dawn

This walk wore me out

What a wonderful time.  This afternoon we head across Montana to stay the night somewhere (we will see how long Bo lasts today) then off to Yellowstone  tomorrow.  We will be spending two days in Yellowstone then traveling through the Grand Teton's and off to Colorado.  I will update again when we get service.  

Bo turns 5months

The many faces of Bo

Bo didn't want to stay on her back for this picture, so neither did her monkey

Bo has started to:

Reach for things that she wants

Roll from back to tummy, and now she is just a little tumble weed

Smiling all the time

Giggles especially when Daddy blows on her cheeks

Put her arms out when you go to pick her up

She gets her knees up underneath her, but can't figure out her arms to start crawling (she gets very frustrated that she can't figure this out)

Grow some teeth (but they still haven't broken yet)

Some of Bo's favorite things so far are:

Rolling,

Holding anything soft 

Standing

Petting Pistol and Wrigley,

Mommy & Daddy

When people come to visit

Drooling,

Chewing on anything soft, 

Baby Einstein

and

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC

Things Bo still doesn't like:

Wet diapers,

Taking a break from eating to burp,

Bed time

Daddy Droc's first Father's day

We had a great father's day weekend. 

Friday night we had several of our friends over to hang out by the fire and play some bags.

(sorry no pictures) 

Then Josh asked me if he could hang out with Nip for father's day.  At first I was like you want to spend father's day with Nip and not your family.  Then he rephrased it with that he wanted to hang out all day Saturday at Nip's, so Saturday morning off he went and spent the whole day with his buddy.

So, Bo and I had some quality bonding time with Pistol and Wrigley. 

I think Pistol might like Bo, what do you think

 We love how much Bo loves her pets

Then on Father's day we went for a long walk and just enjoyed the weather and each others company.
(I took a picture or two, but they didn't turn out very well,  Sorry Honey)

Couponing

Last week I watched the TLC's extreme couponing marathon, and I got inspired. 

Granted these people are defiantly EXTREME, but I am willing to make a go at it, and at least saving our family some serious cash. 

Today's savings was $46.59. (That's‎164.35 in groceries for 117.76) would have been more if we had not lost 2 of our coupons, worth around $3.00. Not bad for our first time couponer.

My goal was to only get items we needed that we had coupons for, but we realized there were a few items we needed that we didn't have coupon's for, but we made sure that we got the ones on sale.  Maybe when I figure more of this out I can at least bring our grocery bill down by 50% instead of just 35%. 

Here are a few of my new favorite sites I found very helpful in learning more about couponing.

Hot Coupons World check out the How to Coupon tab

Jaime Kirlew couponing she's from TLc's extreme couponing

The Krazy Coupon Lady she constantly post deals and how to get them

Josh and I's favorite date has always been grocery shopping, and now we have a way to make it even more interesting. 

Finally caught it on tape!

Bo has been rolling from her back to her tummy for a little while now, but it has usually been at night and we have never actually seen her do it.  This morning though she she decided to show off for mommy.  So I grabbed the camera and started taking video, but then she became camera shy and wouldn't do it.  45min. later she was finally able to allow me to document this milestone on film.  Now she can't stop rolling, so EXCITED!  Our world just got a little more interesting, watch out Pistol and Wrigley.

So Close

Almost missed it

Thoughts...

I considered not writing this in the blog because I did not want anyone to know how I truly felt but then I decided that this blog has been very therputic to me and I needed to document how I am feeling in this moment.  With that being said, I DON'T want anyone to worry or treat me any differnt I just want you to UNDERSTAND what is going on in my head.

I have come to the conclusion that I have postpartum depression.  I have stuggling with it for a long time and have been to busy to allowed myself to accept it.  I kept telling myself I was fine and it would get better.  So I started doing research on it, and all I found were stories of women that wanted to harm themselves or their babies, thats NOT me I kept telling myself.  I would NEVER want to harm Bo or myself, I love her too much. I realize I had a real problem when life started to slow down at work and I would just close my office door and start crying for what seemed like no reason at all.  Then I would come home from work and want Josh to just take care of Bo.  That did not make me feel like a very good mother or wife.  I knew I had to do something different, so I finally went to the doctor today.  We have a wonderful doctor that actually takes the time to listen, and we have set up a plan.  I am starting to feel better just by allowing myself to talk about it and seeking out the support I needed.  

I am so luck to have these next 8 weeks off to start to get better and to truly enjoy our beautiful baby girl. I am also so luck to have such an amazing and understanding husband and family.  I know that so many of the things that I am feeling are normal for a new mom, but it really doesn't make it any easier.  I just want to feel "normal" again.

Thanks for reading

Bo Allison loves her new hat

I just made this short video from pictures hope you like it.

Cousins

Bo has got to spend so much time with her cousins already.  She has 7 cousins on the Theis side the oldest being 8, then there is there are 4 on the Cleveland side the oldest turning 3 this week.  We are so blessed to have so many of them live so close to us. We are also excited for her to finally meet Roxxie and Morgan (my sisters girls) and the rest of the Theis clan, at the end of the month at the Theis family reunion in Colorado.

We have enjoyed watching the older cousins interact and look forward to Bo being able to run and chase after them to, but for now she just watches them closely.  I think she is just mentally preparing for how she is going to hold her own with all of them.

The last couple of weeks we were blessed to be able to spend quaility time with 7 of Bo's cousins (and their parents too)  here are a few pictures of our time together.

We love you guys!

Loving the sunscreen hairdo

Loving how big he's getting

I can see these two are going to be great friends

Love this face

Let's GO!

Is this third?

Batter UP!

Hit me home MAX!

I think Avery and Josh are more interested in the TV

Story time with Uncle Josh

Max loves to hold Bo

Curtis and Angela trying to be like the kids Love it!

Great grip

I can't believe he is already 8 1/2

Best of friends

Hi baby Bo

5 of the Theis grand kids racing down the hill by our house, so fun to watch (Charlie, Jody, & Pistol are still on the top of the hill

Reading Cows in the Kitchen to Bo (One of her favorite books)

Bo's 4 month Dr. Appointment

Today we had Bo's 4 month doctor visit.

She got her next set of vacines, and we found out she has a double ear infection.

I still think that she is teething, my mom said that my sister use to get ear infects everytime she tried to get a new tooth, and the doctor didn't believe her either.

Our doctor bet me that she won't get them until she is 7 or 8 months. 

I guess we will have to wait and see who wins.

I also asked him about starting her on solids, and he said that it is recomended for breast feed babies to wait until 6 months.  However, if I wanted to start her on rice cereal I could.  I think I am going to  wait at least until the ear infects are gone before we start anything new.

Length

2 month apt.: 23in

Today: 24.5 in

Going from the 67.73%ile to the 51.92%ile

Weight

2 month apt.: 11lbs. 13oz. 

 Today: 14lbs 6.5oz.

Going from the 69.32%ile to the 61.53%ile

Head diameter
2 month apt.: 39cm
Today: 41.8cm

Going from the 50.76%ile to the 68.46%ile