my first giveaway: BRAVE

so remember how I told you I had a surprise for you all? Well today is your lucky day! I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this year's #1 animated movie - BRAVE and so will one of my lucky readers!

You dont event realize how happy I was when I got the email. I  really wanted to see it when it first came out in the theaters, but never got the chance. Now you may be asking yourself why would a grown woman want to go see an animated movie so badly? Well, lets just say I may have a slight obsession with Disney Pixar movies. Like I love all the Toy Story's, Monsters Inc, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, Cars, and Ratatouille.....just to name a few ;)

So you could imagine my excitement when I not only found out that I would finally be able to see it, but I would be receiving the Ultimate Collector's Edition 5-Disc Set, which includes Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, and DVD!

Now side note, when hubs and I bought a new TV as our anniversary gift to ourselves last year, we went all out. And what I mean by that is yes, we got a 55in 3D LED tv. A little over the top, yes. Did we actually want the 3D part, no. But it came with the awesome deal we got on Black Friday. And to tell you the truth, we havent even watched one movie or show in 3D. So you could imagine my excitement when I put two & two together and realized I was going to be watching BRAVE in 3D!

Now, I couldnt contain myself, and I had to share my happiness with someone. So who did I pick? My lovely 6 year old niece of course! She had actually already seen the movie in theaters and loved it, but was just as excited as me to be able to watch it in 3D. So the date was set, popcorn was popped, halloween candy was accessible, and 3D glasses were in place.

If you havent yet seen Brave, its about the heroic journey of very opinionated young princess and adventurer Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald).

via Disney

Determined to follow her own path in life, Merida confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her own fate. Her actions, which includes turning to an eccentric witch for help, inadvertently unleashes chaos when she is granted an ill-fated wish.

She then has to use all her skills and resources, including her mischievous triplet brothers, to undo the evil curse.

via Disney

In the end this forces her to discover the true meaning of bravery.

The movie is a great addition to, and turn on, Disney's collection of princesses. It's a great movie to share with your little girl, to let her know princesses are more than just a pretty dress and crown. While also great to share with your younger boys, as they will get a kick out of the trouble-making lil brothers and bravery of Merida throughout.

Now, as I promised before, one of my lucky readers is going to be able to take home this awesome Brave - Ultimate Collector's Edition 5-Disc Set! Great if you're planning a family movie night sometime soon, or even just to get a jump start on some early Christmas shopping! I know a lil girl *ahem my niece* who would just love to find this wrapped up under the tree! All you have to do is follow the steps below and enter through the rafflecopter. The winner will be choosen on Friday morning and announced in Fridays Letters.
(note I will need the address of the winner by no later than the morning of Monday November 12, 2012, if I do not receive by then, I will need to choose another winner)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this film to review. All opinions are my own.

fridays letters

 

dear hubby, thank you for always making me laugh, being the cook in the house, and being such a good father to our son. you truly are amazing and I just thought you should know. dear matthew, you were the most adorable little pumpkin and giraffe (yes 2 costumes, post to come) I have ever seen for halloween. You may have fell asleep halfway through trick-or-treating, but dont worry your cousin Jenna made sure to ask for an extra piece of candy at each door for her aunt cousin. dear cma's, thank you so much for putting on one hell of a show last night with some major eye candy *timmcgraw*lukebryan*ericchurch*blakeshelton.* drool. dear city hall, i would like to vote early tomorrow and I would really appreciate it if you didnt have a long line for me to stand in. dear followers, my first giveway is coming up in just a couple days and man am I excited to give one of you lucky readers a 5 Disc Ultimate Collectors Edition _____ dvd. Like how I left that blank in there? Guess you'll have to come back to see which movie it is ;) dear bestbuy, thank you so much for your deal-of-the-day emails, as today Office 2011 is on sale for $69.99 plusalso when the 2013 edition comes out I get a free upgrade, SCORE! dear fellow photographers, i think i want a new lens, but have absolutely no clue which lens to buy. Im an amateur at this so the only lens i have is the one that came with my Nikon DSLR 3100, any suggestions? dear hubby, yes i know you still dont have your iPhone5, yes I know it is annoying, but 1) i cant do anything about it so stop annoying me and 2) youve literally gotten almost $150 worth of best buy giftcards from corporate for calling and complaining, so shut it! k thank you. dear matthew, youre still sick and I hate seeing you with your eyes all puffy and hearing how congested you are, were going to the doc this afternoon, but I just dont know what to do. i dont want to keep giving you antibiotics at such a young age, but I also want you to get better. lets please hope that the doc figures something out that we can do to make you feel better.
And because Ill never leave you without a cute picture.

Don't forget to link up with Ashley.

matthew: 2 months update

Written on Matthews 2 month birthday August 4, 2012

~*Baby Stats*~

 

weight: 12lbs 2oz

height: 23 1/2 in

diapers: size 1

clothing: 0-3 month

~*Sleep*~
You're starting to sleep longer stretches at a time, sometimes you even go 4-5 hours in the night. We still swaddle you to put you to sleep because you tend to wake yourself when your hands are free. We've noticed that you also tend to sleep longer if you've been outside during the day. Daddy seems to think this is because you get more oxygen by being outside. Not sure where he came up with this theory, but it sounds good, so we'll stick to it. You also love to fall asleep while being carried around in the baby bjorn by mommy. Other places you love to fall asleep include in anyones arms, on their chest, or in your swing. We've also started putting you on your tummy in your crib for naps. I think this helps you sleep a little longer too, but mommys still a little scared to let you sleep like this through the night. Only when Im awake do I let you do this. You look so cute when we let you sleep like this, you tend to stick your tushy in the air!

 

 

 
~*Feeding*~

You're gaining weight steadily, so we know you're a great eater! When you are breastfed you go about 2-2.5 hours in between feedings, but when you're bottle fed with formula its closer to 3-3.5 hours, if were lucky sometimes 4. This also helps daddy feel a little bit more involved since he can help feed you bottles. We kinda got a system going where we feed you a 4 oz bottle right before you go to bed around 8-8:30 and then you sleep till about 12am or 1am, and then mommy gets up and breastfeeds you, then again breastfeeds you at around 5am. It just seems to be much easier to do this than wake up and make a bottle for you. Daddy seems to think that youre not getting full from the breastmilk, but I have to keep reminding him that you indeed are, just it takes longer for formula to digest than breastmilk, which is why you have to feed more often if Im breastfeeding.

~*Firsts*~
You are actually smiling now. Daddy and I have been saying youve been smiling for a while now, but Aunt Denise kept saying it was gas. But were now sure it is definitely smiles! We've found that if we make the sound "whooo" like an owl, you smile real big!

 

 

Technically I guess you were 1 month for your first 4th of July, but Im going to include it here since I didnt have the pics until after your 1month post. We hung out at Gee-Gee & Poppys (thats my parents) during the day and had a bbq with the family. Then we went to a friends house that lived on the water where we got to see the firework show on the beach with a spectacular view. Although you couldnt really enjoy them, you actually jumped a little in with each *boom,* I cant wait until your old enough to "ooooohhh" and "aaaahhh" at the lights!

This month (7/14/12) your umbilical cord finally fell off! hallelujah! it felt like forever. The doctor actually had to use nitrate on it twice to help it finally come off.  But this meant we could finally give you your first "real" bath. And oh my, you loved this so much more than your fake lil sponge baths. You were actually smiling as daddy poured the warm water over you. Daddy really enjoyed it too. You can tell by the way he interacts with you while giving you a bath, that this will probably become something that the two of you enjoy doing together.

We also had your very first sleepover with your cousins this month. Both Andrew and Jenna slept over. You may not have been able to do anything but sleep on the air mattress between them as they watched a movie, but they both enjoyed it very much. I hope as you grow older you'll learn too love hanging out with them. They may be 11 & 5 years older than you, but they are already totally in love with you. Jenna promises to babysit you, she would right now if we let her, and Andrew says hes going to teach you to throw a football! He even got you your very first football!

~*Other Details*~
We've noticed that you're trying to hold your head up alot more. We all agreed that you have a very strong neck for such a lil baby and the doctor confirmed this as well at your appointment. We've been doing tummy time on mommy and daddys bed during the day. So this is probably whats strengthening those muscles. Sometimes you love it and your lil head bobbles around. Other times you get fussy after only a few seconds. This is normally when your tired. We've also started putting you on your activity mat. You dont reach for things yet, but you like to look at the lights and listen to the music. Besides these two activities, you enjoy being outside alot. We've started taking you for walks in your stroller, even if its just to Gee-gee and Poppys house 2 blocks away. You stare up into the sky like its this unbelievable greatness.

 

Some funny things this month, your cousin Jenna says that she loves when you cry. I asked her why and she said because she loves the sound of your cry. I asked her what it sounded like and she answered with "A' la, A' la, A' la." Surprisingly she is right. Even your crys sound like sweet lullabies. I know this wont stay like this forever, so Im enjoying while I can. Also, we've come to the realization that you dont really enjoy the car or your carseat. Well, i guess we cant really say that. As long as the car is moving your fine. But red lights? Definitely not for you. You freak out when the car is stopped. Which has made for some very difficult car rides.

Uncle Billy finally held you for the first time this month. He was too scared to in the beginning, with you being so small and fragile. We told him that we trust him completely with you, but he just wasnt comfortable. But now you can tell he loves you just as much as the rest of your family. He says he cant wait till youre old enough to "go fetch him a beer." lol.

 

matthew~
You are growing before my eyes. Every day that passes by, I see all the changes your are going through. Your smiles, coos, and every cries melt me. You are such a lucky boy to have so many wonderful people already loving you so much. Not only do you bring a smile to my face, but many others as well. You're learning new things everyday. Even if its just kicking or following my voice, every little bit amazes me. I want you stay this small forever and already long for the days that you were just a few days old. But that doesnt mean I dont look forward to the many new things ahead of us. You may grow old, but you will always be my baby boy.
<3 always
mommy

Sorry for the long post and major photo dump, but I already feel like I havent captured every sweet precious moment. Matthew will be 5 months this weekend, and these months are just flying by. I want to make sure I remember every sweet little detail.