Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Having fun


Little man has recently taken a liking to his toys he got for Christmas. I guess that since he has now mastered sitting, they are more enjoyable!!




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Monday, May 30, 2011

Random's from the iPhone





I sure do love this little Princess. She is so excited about the fun times we have coming up. She has been such a busy little bee lately between ballet, gymnastics, art classes, swimming lessons, and school. I'm telling ya, her social calendar is much fuller than mine ever was!! It's beginning to wear me out, and we're just starting!!





This Little Man also has my heart. I just love rocking him to sleep and snuggling him all day. He just adores his big sister and gives her the best belly laughs.





We took a trip to the Zoo last week and for some reason this is the only pic I got. Not sure why she insisted on hugging the Buddah at the panda exhibit but I guess she felt it was something neat to climb on. :)




When I came home from work on Saturday, this is the scene I saw. Such precious kiddos!! Love them!!






We are more than ready for the beach. I just got these suits in for the kids and can't wait to see them on them. Love me some matching outfits for my precious loves!!

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

SUYL - desserts

If there is one thing I have gained from having children, it would definitely be a "sweet tooth"! I never really had a desire to eat sweet things before having kids but since, I seem to "need" a dessert or something sweet with every meal. At least with dinner. Anyways, here a few of my favorite recipes of all times.

First off is a Banana Fudge Pie. This is my go to for new mom's or when I am taking a fun dessert for a party. I just love it! My mom ran across the recipe probably more than 20 years ago and began making it for my dad at that time and I have carried on the tradition. It is by far my most favorite dessert ever and my request when it's birthday time.

Banana Fudge Pie

1 pie crust
3/4 c. chocolate chips
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. sugar
3 bananas

In small pan on stovetop, melt chips slowly,turn off heat and add eggs, sugar and stir. Add 1 cup of the Cool Whip and mix well. Pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees until top springs back or toothpick comes out clean. Cool pie, then add bananas (sliced) and Cool Whip. Keep refrigerated. I typically top with mini chips and a few more bananas too. Yum, yum, good!!

This next recipe is for Caramel Pie. I got it from one of my friends from nursing school and since making it for the first time and taking it to a family function, it has been much requested. Super easy and so yummy!!

Caramel Pie

1 graham cracker pie crust
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
2 Heath bars - crushed
cool whip


Cook a can of Eagle Brand Milk, unopened in boiling water ( low boil) for 3-4 hours. Cool completely in refrigerator up to 2 days and then it can then be spread into a prepared pie shell and covered in whip cream, or cool whip. Top with Heath bar pieces and serve. It is to die for!!

Be sure the can is completely immersed in water while it simmers or there is a danger of the can exploding.

Little Man's BIG news!!





This Little Man has 2 teeth!! I found the first one last Friday and then the other this past week. Both on the bottom and I'm still in shock. Big sister didn't get her first tooth until she was 17 months!!











First time eating big boy food. Homemade blueberry muffins!!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Just hangin

We have a very busy 2 weeks ahead of us and I am enjoying every minute with these 2 precious babies!!

One of them is becoming more of a needy little carrot top every day but clinging to your Mommy only lasts a little while so I'll just try to enjoy these moments.



Oh and for big sister, her social calendar is killing me these days! Since when did the life if a 3 year old become so exciting???

She is so sweet to Little Man and they are playing together more and more each day!!

Love it and this life!!

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

A big let down

Today Little Love and I headed to a local bookstore for breakfast with Belle. I bought our tickets almost a month ago and have really been looking forward to taking my little Princess. I found a sweet friend to switch shifts with me at work since breakfast was set to begin at 8:30.

I decided to wait and surprise Little Love when we arrived but spent the early morning hours before leaving giving her hints to what we were up to. We sang songs from the movie on the way there and I'm pretty sure she knew something special was going on.

When we arrived, we checked in with Miss Marjorie and headed to the Bistro to sit down for breakfast. We were handed a bag full of goodies to do while waiting on Princess Belle and that was when Little Love figured it out. She was so excited and ready to see Belle. We waited and waited, finished our breakfast and were told to head to the activity center. It really never hit me that something was off, although everyone had been wondering when Belle would come out.

Miss Marjorie said we always started story time with a song so we all sang " If You're Happy and You Know It" then, she broke the news. She said that Belle wasn't coming, that her carriage got stuck in the mud!! Are you kidding me. All the little Princesses were devastated and I think all the Mom's jaws dropped to the ground at the same time.

After a refund for the tickets I'd purchased we headed home. I was so sad for my Little Love. I know there will be many more disappointments in her life but I don't want to be the cause of them if I can help it.

Oh, and she's been in search of Belle all day while we were out. She wanted to help get her unstuck from the mud. :(



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Friday, May 20, 2011

7 month's young

This month you became very dependent on your Momma. You began crying when I would leave for work and you have become such a little Momma's baby. I do love it but I think your Daddy is having a hard time with you choosing me over him. I know it is just a matter of time until you and your sissy are probably both choosing Daddy over me since he seems to be the "fun" one so I am just trying to soak it all up!! We finally got to the doctor for Little Man's "6 month check-up" and we got a great report. He weighed in at 15 lb 15 ounces, was 26" long. We aren't having much luck with solids so far but he is still nursing like a champ and Dr. K wasn't concerned. He did say that if his appetite of solids didn't pick up soon we would need to make sure he was getting a daily dose of the iron drops. We are going to work hard to increase his solids because I am not so sure I will be able to get him to take the iron drops by mouth since he only takes a bottle on the weekends when I'm working.

You are in 9-12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. You have started rolling all over the place and I can't put yuo down for a second without the possibility of you moving across the floor.

You love your sissy and I think she has developed a new affliction for you now that you are able to "play" with her and laugh and coo at her. You have started making noises that sound a bit like Dada lately but I can't officially chart you are saying it thus far. :) I have been working with you like crazy to get Momma out of you to no avail.

We started working on some baby sign language this month and sister is being a big help in that category too. We are currently just working on 'more', 'milk', 'momma', and 'dadda'. This worked really well to help Little Love be able to express herself before she was able to talk so I am hoping for the same positive experience with Little Man.

I love you so much and can't believe how quickly that last 7 months have flown by!!

SUYL - Main Dishes

Today over at Kelly's Korner, she is talking about your favorite main dishes. I will say, I love cooking and I love that my family enjoys my cooking as much as they do. It didn't take long after Clay and I got married for me to fatten him up a bit!! I actually have a few "staples" that are my "go-to" dishes when I am making out my weekly menus. You also will know if you have read my blog lately that I have recently run across e-mealz and I just love the ease and variety that it has provided for my life.

I <3 Emealz

Anyways, below are just a couple of my family's most favorite meals.

Rotel Chicken

2-3 chicken breasts (I bake mine in the oven with a little Italian dressing for extra flavor)
12 ounces of cooked spaghetti noodles
8 ounces of sour cream
1 lb. Velveeta
1 can rotel

After cooking noodles and chicken, shred chicken meat and stir in pot with cubed Velveeta, sour cream, and can of rotel. Add noodles and stir on low until cheese is melted. I typically half this dish and will place a portion in an 8 x 8 pan and bake on 350 for approx 25 minutes or until slightly browned on top. I then place the other portion in a freezer container for another meal within the month.

White Bean Chicken Chili

2 can's great northern beans
1 can black beans
2-3 frozen chicken breasts
1 small can corn
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
8 ounces sour cream

Mix great northern beans, black beans, chicken, and corn in crock pot and place on low. Mix cream of chicken soup, taco seasoning and chicken broth in small bowl and pour in crock pot on top of other ingredients and stir. Cook on low for approx. 8 hours. Add sour cream just before serving.

I like to serve mine topped with cheese and with corn muffins on the side :)

Creamy Italian Chicken

2-3 chicken breasts
1 pkg. dry Italian seasoning
1/4 cup water
pkg. cream cheese
cream of chicken soup

Place chicken breast in crock pot and mix dry Italian seasoning with 1/2 cup water and pour over chicken. Cook for approx 6 hours on low or until chicken is cooked through. Mix softened cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in bowl and pour over cooked chicken. Cook for approx 1 more hour or until cheese melts. Serve over rice or noodles.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day 2011 was a super busy day. We woke up and headed to church and were actually able to stay for both Sunday School and church service since I had taken the evening off from work which was so nice. We typically head home after just Sunday School since I have to nap and don't get much time with the kids on Sunday's but it was nice to not have to rush around this week.

Brother Danny preached a great sermon about loyalty and God's plans for Mother's. It was so nice to be able to stand up with all the other mom's in the service that day for the third year and just feel my heart so full. There is no other job on this earth that I would choose over being a mother. Although it is super hard at times, the blessing far outweigh the difficulties and I just love the precious children God has entrusted me with more than life!

After church we headed to Abuelo's for some yummy mexican food. Little Man slept almost the whole time we were there but woke up just towards the end in time for a few pics with my iPhone. We then headed home for naps which no one wanted to take and then we were off again for Clay's graduation from The University of Memphis.

I will never forget the Mother's Day after losing Cooper and how difficult that one was. I longed for a baby to hold and I am just so thankful I have already been given 3 precious years with Little Love and 7 full month's with Little Man. I continue to pray for those of you that long for a baby and to be called "Mom" and I rejoice at the number of new lives he is currently blessing some of my closest friends with.

I just love being a mom to these 2 Earthly miracles and can't imagine my life without them!!














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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Her heart ...

I really think I could learn a lot from Little Love if I would allow myself to. She just has the most precious little heart and is always putting other's before herself. I am just in awe of how she loves others and how you can just see her little heart break when she realizes that she has hurt someones feelings.

When we were hunting for Easter Eggs at the local churches egg hunt she was helping all the other little kids find eggs. She would put 1 egg in her basket and then place one in the basket of the little kid next to her.

Anytime we go to the park or the zoo with friends, she will always pack snacks for her friends she is meeting with. She always makes sure that in all things she is serving others and for that I am so thankful. I just pray that God will help Clay and I lead her in His most perfect ways and protect her precious little heart for as long as possible.

I already feel my little Momma Hen protective mechanisms coming out when I see her get her feelings hurt or when she falls down when playing. I know it is going to be so much harder in the future to keep her protected and try and spare her feelings but I just have to trust that God will always have her in His hands and will protect her. She is only mine for a short period of time and I just want to enjoy her little preciousness as much as possible!!






my 2 little blessings! I thank God for their lives every single day!!

Monday, May 09, 2011

Blog slump ...

I'm totally in a blogging slump / funk. Not really in the mood to blog although there is so very much to blog about. Life is crazy busy as usual and again, my picture space on this mac book is full so Clay is working on it. Not really able to blog much without all the pics so I will just wait. I promise I'll be back soon and then I will try really hard to catch up. I think being behind as much as I am is about 90% of the reason why I am in a funk about it ...

Until next time :)

Friday, May 06, 2011

SUYL - Favorite Vacation Spots

Over at Kelly's Korner, she is talking about our favorite vacation destinations. I decided to repost one of my old posts from October of 2009 because sadly, that is the last time we went to the beach and it was at our most favorite spot, Watercolor Beach, Florida. It was by far the best vacation's Clay and I have ever taken. Super family friendly but it is also super serene and would be great for a 2nd Honeymoon. We enjoyed every single minute of our beach vacation from the house we stayed in, the food, the fun, the trading in of our car for bikes to ride for the week and even more. We are going back very soon this year, unfortunately not the exact spot but plan to do so soon. I recommend this location for anyone that loves the beach as much as we do!!


We just got back from a FABULOUS vacation to Watercolor, Florida. It is in Santa Rosa beach and was one of the most amazing vacation resorts I have ever stayed at. It was so quaint and they do such a great job at making you feel special while you are staying there. We rented a precious little carriage house that was connected to an amazing beach house and we just loved it. It was perfect for just the 3 of us and was just a short 2 minute bike ride to the beach. Yes, there were bikes left for us to use and we rented a carriage to attach to the back of Clay's bike for Lilliana to ride in. She loved it and would just sit there taking it all in!

Just as I imagined Little Love had a fantastic time on the beach and I think she loved the "ool" (pool) even more. It was all we could do to get her back to the house between 1:30 - 2:00 for her naps. Which, she would then sleep at least 3 hours everyday because she had been going since around 7:00 each morning. We typically got to the beach by 9:00 and had paid for our chairs and beach umbrella to be set up for us which was such a huge help. It was so nice not to have to tote all that stuff down to the beach but to just be able to walk down there and have everything ready for us. Clay and I typically tend to go to more private beaches than this so that is usually not an option for us. (Although this beach was not crowded AT ALL) It was the perfect time to go and we were so thankful for the beautiful weather. When we left Sunday morning it was cool and rainy in Memphis and the weather was not looking good for the following week in Florida. It was supposed to rain everyday but we only got rain on Monday.

Because of the rain, we decided to head out to the outlets on Monday and do a little shopping. Little Love is not the best shopper anymore and since we allowed her to watch DVD's the whole way down on Sunday all she wanted to do was watch Elmo and Abbey. That was all we heard about while we were attempting to shop so we weren't there long. All I purchased were a couple things for her from the Gymboree outlet and then we ate lunch. I think that was a new record for me because I typically don't get out of there without dropping at least a couple hundred dollars!

We had asked around on Monday to see where the popular places were to eat while we were there. One of the recommendations was for a restaurant called Great Southern Cafe. Oh my goodness, it was so INCREDIBLE!! I loved everything I ordered and even tried what Clay had chosen. We had fabulous service and I was so pleased that Little Love's food arrived when our salads came. That is one of the hardest things when we go out to eat these days, because unless I bring food from home for L, she really isn't all for waiting that long to eat a hot dog or grilled cheese. I think that is what sold me so much on this place but the food was also fantastic.

We also ate at a place called George's, then Crab Trap twice, Poppy's (wasn't very good and had bad service, our only bad experience but wouldn't recommend it), Another Broken Egg Cafe, Bud and Ally's, Pickle's Beachside Grill, and the Watercolor Beach Grill. Besides Southern, I would say my favorite was the Beachside Grill in our resort. It was so fabulous and I had the most amazing salad with crab cakes and shallot vinaigrette 2 days in a row. We also didn't even have to go anywhere to get it and were able to just stay at the pool which made my little love very happy :) Overall, we had a great experience as far as dining went and we were so glad that we had saved up so much cash before leaving because it made the trip so much more enjoyable. It was so nice to not have to worry about checking the bank account or worry about sharing meals, as we typically do when we go places like these. We were able to eat like Kings and Queens and thoroughly enjoy ourselves without any worries. It just made the trip that much more enjoyable and a great lesson learned!

We were supposed to head back on Thursday but decided to stay an extra day and left early Friday morning. We would have loved to stay even longer but I had a packed weekend that included Beth Moore Friday night and Saturday morning along with a long weekend of work and other things. I am pretty sure this is where we will go from here on out. Although it was a little more pricey, it was SO worth it and was one of the most relaxing vacations we have been on, even with an almost 2 year old!!




Clay and L on the beach outside "The Crab Trap"



After dinner, so happy with my little love :)



she was such a good car rider thanks to the DVD player!



getting ready for bed with Dada in her new Minnie Mouse jammies from GiGi



ready for a glorious day on the beach, sitting in her carriage attached to the back of Dada's bike :)



playing in the sand with her toys



she is such a beach baby!! she could have stayed out there all day long!



playing with Dada in the ocean



our little family on the beach



enjoying her grilled cheese from Pickle's



so precious, I could just eat her up!



another grilled cheese at the Watercolor Beachside Grill, she wouldn't let us take her new raft form her, so we just let her sit in it :)



my 2 loves :)



me and my little love in front of the precious mail area



a small photo shoot in the gardens



family pic in the gardens



on the beach with Dada



enjoying the sand bar on the last day



she kept blowing bubbles in her drink here and thought she was so funny!



floating in her raft



loving another day at the pool

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Big boy

We went to eat dinner on Monday night and let Little Man sit in a highchair for the first time. Sadly, he has to sit in his sister's old pink highchair cover but he doesn't seem to mind!!







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