Influenster

A few weeks ago I joined Influenster. It is a social website where you can find reviews on various products. On the site you can also review and recommend products you like and even ask questions from other users about a certain product before you purchase. They also send out boxes to the members with free products to try. They just require that you use your social media i.e. facebook, instagram, etc to share and review the free samples.
To get get the free product all you need to do is sign up (use the link above ), answer some questions, link your social media and then you are good to go. Then when a company has a product they want tried out they use the info to match the product with those who would actually use it.

I received my first Voxbox last week and it contained the new Dry Spray from Dove. One for me to try and one for Dave. I was actually pretty excited to try the spray out because I am always looking for an antiperspirant that works. I sweat a lot, like even if it is -10 out I still have very wet armpits. which can be so embarrassing. Thankfully I was introduced to prescription strength antiperspirant in college. Over the years I have stopped using it as much, just as needed. In recent years I have tried some of the clinical strength options, but was unimpressed. When the advertisements started for this new dry spray it peaked my interest. But I was unwilling to run out and spend $5.49 on a product that wasn't going to work.

And I am impressed, not only do I stay dry but it feels good on and smells nice too. The first day I tried it was Sunday and I had to give a lesson in Relief Society. I am always extra sweating on those days when I am nervous. I did still sweat a little the first day I wore it, but not like I normally would in a stressful situation. I will definitely keep this as part of my normal routine with the hopes that I may need to use my prescription strength antiperspirant less.

Dave on the other hand didn't really care for his. First of all he hated the smell. This is not a surprise since I already avoid any "fresh" scent guy products. Maybe he would have liked it better if it had more of the "sport" scent. Also he said it irritated his armpits and made them itchy. It may be because he actually doesn't actually sweat a lot. It is pretty normal for me to just buy a deodorant for him and not an antiperspirant. So he plans on tossing his once I have done my final review with Influenster.

 I received these products complimentary from #Target and Influenster for testing purposes.

3 months

The start of the new year also meant that Colin was now 3 months old. The month of December brought a dramatic improvement, maybe because he is finally getting enough calories to support his rapid growth. Currently I breastfeed and then offer him a 3oz bottle of formula which he almost always finishes. When I just give him a bottle he takes 6-7oz, wow that seems like so much. The increase has really helped and in two weeks he gained almost a full 2 lbs and finally made it on to the growth curve chart. I actually had to pack up his newborn clothes since they were finally getting too snug. Since he has caught up he is so much happier and overall good baby. It is amazing what some acid reflux medication and lots of food can do for everyone. He now mostly sleeps through the night. Usually he goes down after a finally feeding between 11:00 and midnight and then sleeps until 7:00 or 8:00am which is wonderful. During the day he is happy and rarely cries now unless he gets tired before I rock to sleep for naps. I love that he can just hang out with his toys and be content. I am using the E.A.S.Y schedule again and I love it. I always know what to expect and mostly know why he is crying depending on the time of day. Eat, Awake, Sleep, then You time. He is still his most fussy in the evenings and will sometimes refuse to nap, instead wanting to eat extra.

Christmas

This year we hosted Christmas eve at our place. We had a great time. We started off with some soup and salad for dinner and just visited with everyone. Then it was time for the Nativity. We were small in numbers but I think the young ones still enjoyed dressing up. Once we were done we started on the fish pond. This is a Christmas eve tradition in Dave's family so we wanted to continue it even though we were with my family this year. I think everyone especially the young kids enjoyed fishing for their Christmas eve present.

                                                 Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus

                                                             A Wiseman

After everyone left the boys were super excited to go to bed so Santa could come. We left him some milk and cookies and put out some carrots for the reindeer.

Christmas day we decided to take it easy and spend the day at home. The kids enjoyed playing with their new toys. And I took both Nathan and Brady to see the new Star Wars movie. Overall a really great Christmas!

December fun

Wow December went by fast. I guess we were just  having too much fun for me to blog at all. I have been finding it difficult to find time to blog with a new baby. Colin has been such a hands on baby that being able to take picture at all to document our fun has been hard, thankfully people are willing to share their pics, so here we go with a little catch up.

 For one of our advent activities the boys wrote letters to Santa. Luckily they actually asked for what Santa already got for them. Well sort of if motorcycle also means bike.

We attended the annual breakfast with Santa at Nathan's school. Nathan was excited to tell Santa that he wanted a tablet. But later informed me that wasn't the real Santa just one of his helpers. I guess the fake beard wasn't convincing, haha. Brady didn't want to go up to Santa but I convinced to go meet him which he did as long as he didn't have to sit on Santa's lap. He was too shy to tell Santa what he wanted so Nathan went over to describe the motorcycle and hawk eye toy Brady really wanted.

After breakfast we headed to Grandma Dickson's Annual cousin party and donated our toys to the firemen. This year they brought their brand new ladder truck and we all got to go on top for a picture.

Nathan wanted nothing to do with the truck  but we made him go up for the picture anyways and he cried the whole time because we were up too high. He must have gotten a fear of heights from his mom. Don't let the picture fool you he still had a great time.

 On Nathan's last day of school before Christmas break they had a winter performance and afterwards made gingerbread house. Luckily Colin was good enough for me to stay the whole time.

We were lucky this year to have Jeremy, Cameo, Logan, Lydia, and Daphne come for Christmas. The boys just love it when their cousins are around.
                                                      Reading a book with Papa.

                                                          Frosting sugar cookies!

                                              Playing with Papa's trains.

We joined them at the children's discovery museum for some exploring.