Getting smart with smartphones

If you haven't figured it out already, I love finding deals. There's something exhilaration about making your preciously-earned money stretch as far as possible.

Nicolette and I have been using "dumb" phones forever, because we got really cheap phone service by sticking with these phones and we didn't get stuck in a contract.

Well, thanks to technology, smartphones are actually now cheaper than "dumb" phones. Nicolette and I currently pay $80 total for both of our phone plans on our dumb phones. For Christmas, we both got iPhone's (the 3G S version) on great deals from ebay. We are able to use the WiFi connection to make as many phone calls and text messages as we would like for free. As long as there is WiFi, we can make a free phone call.

I know what you're thinking, "what if you're stranded somewhere without WiFi? Well, for $10 we get what I call 100 emergency minutes (from Pure TalkUSA) for the month that roll over it we don't use them. Nicolette and I are around WiFi signals almost all of time so this works out very well for our situation 

A second line is only $5. So technically it would only cost $15 for both of us and we would save $65 a month or $780 a year!
All you need is the following:
1. an iPhone that uses a SIM card (like an AT&T phone; it does not need to be unlocked) that supports iOS4 or above
2. a Google voice number
3. Talkatone app installed
So far, it's been working great.
Start 2012 off right by getting out of your lousy, stinking, wallet-robbing contract and use that hard-earned cash on something worth while. It will only take a few months to pay back the break-the-contract-fee and the cost of the phone (unless you already have one).

Don't you wish he was your daddy?

Claire loves when we sing to her! 

My baby has changed! She is no longer a newborn anymore. She is becoming a great infant! She is so so smiley and happy! If I am on the phone while feeding her she will stop eating and start cooing and "talking" as if she is adding her two cents to the conversation. I think it is adorable! I love to hear her making noises in the monitor. 

It is so crazy to reflect on Christmas "break" a year ago. It was when we found out I was pregnant! It is so exciting to have her here with us this year! She makes me smile and laugh all day long! I know I say this a lot but I really can't get enough of this girl! 

Three Months Old

We sure love having Claire in our family! I have noticed a huge change in her in the last week or so. No only does she coo she has also picked up dinosaur language. :) She is making all sorts of crazy sounds and it is so fun to hear her! 

 Claire loves to play with her bug. She is getting so good at batting and grabbing things. 

 She also really likes the pig we have. The first time I hung it up for her to play with she started "talking" to it like the pig was her best friend. So so cute! How could this face not be an instant friend?

 This pictures isn't that great but it does show a couple of new things for Claire...

She loves the bumbo chair (for ten minutes anyway)

and we can officially put her hair in pigtails. 

 Claire, AKA baby owl, has joined us at the top of our tree. 

 Ready for the ward Christmas party. 

Another one with her piggies. :)  

 Claire is now in 10th percentile for height and weight. She finally made it over the 10 pound mark. YAY!  She has been gaining about a pound a month. The doctor isn't worried and she is a good little eater so hopefully she keeps gaining. 

This month she also got her first bad cold. (she still has a lingering cough too.) It was exhausting for me but it gave me a greater appreciation for how good she is normally. We are excited to have this little babe with us for Christmas!   

This was on her exact 3 month mark. Love this girl!