Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Givin' Lovin'

I am having to come to terms with Carter growing up like crazy.  I really had a break down around his 1st birthday.  We took him to get his 1st hair cut and after that, O MY GOODNESS, he looked so much like a toddler instead of a baby and it just broke my heart.  Once I (kinda) got use to the new hair cut I tried to embrace the fact the my baby is turning into a toddler.  Yes, bitter sweet for sure!  My growing baby boy feeds himself, walking, and trying to talk.  I LOVE to hearing him trying to talk, it's hilarious!  When he says momma momma momma it for real makes my heart smile.  His little jumbled up words, that reads like this hnlkj sdflj;sd jskfs;djfe hsjhf, gives him such a personality already! He has so much to say!

Even tho my baby isn't a infant baby anymore I still find my self holding him like I just brought him home or grabbing a bottle every once in awhile to feed him milk before he goes to bed. (Hey no judging, it's not like he has a bottle all day everyday. You know I'm not the only one).  Even tho I have a hard time with all this growing up stuff I find myself loving it more and more everyday.  Like when I say smooches he gives you kisses with his mouth wide open, or when I say Eh, Eh, No, No he looks at me like I just crushed his dream (then it's already followed by his head in between his hands on the floor crying).  But my favorite, my all time favorite is give momma lovin' and he lays his little head on my shoulder or puts his head to my head, places his hand on my back, and has the biggest smile on his face.  That right there is why I get up in the morning.  The love of a child is pure, innocent and selfless.  He has no worry about the world, finances, or hate, he loves all, just like God loves all.  I know for a fact that as he keeps growing I will continue to make mistakes, and more of them, but what I hope he knows is that I will always love him.  My momma always told me, "you won't understand how much I love you until you have a child of your own." She is 100% correct.    
My Precious Carter Love...Will Always Be My Baby
Givin' Momma Smooches :)

Monday, September 19, 2011

Speechless

I wish I could explain how amazing it is to be a momma, but honestly I'm just speechless! And sometimes you don't need a story...
Those Eyes
He Wouldn't Take His Hand Out...
Cuddlin' With Momma & Puffs
Aunt Cassi & Carter Got Ahold Of Mommas' Camera
Mommas' Little Helper

Thursday, September 15, 2011

My New Passion

I lovvvvvve cooking! I'm a little shocked in myself that I am shouting that.  I have to say I have never really been a big cook.  Not because I didn't know how but more because I was kinda afraid.  Normally when you cook you are cooking for other people.  I was so scared that my food would be gross and nobody would want to eat it and then I would be known as the girl that can't cook.  Then I was afraid that everybody would always think..."poor Matt, I bet they are always having to eat frozen food" haha! Can you tell I have put a lot of time into what everybody would think about my cooking haha!

 My new passion came when I had Carter.  I had my mind made up that Matt and I were in control of what goes into his precious little body and I wanted to teach him healthy eating from the beginning.  But wait, that meant I need to start eating healthy.  I didn't want us to be the family where I made Matt and I one thing for dinner then Carter something totally different because it was more healthy.  What would that teach him? That def wouldn't teach him healthy eating.  So I really needed to change this.  I had to get over my fear of my cooking being gross. It all started with me making Carters baby food.  That became my new found hobby! Once Carter got a little older that's when it really kicked in.  I started making food that we could all eat.  Trust me, I havn't bought frozen chicken nuggets in a really really long time.  He is becoming a little more picky but I refuse to give in and feed him junk food everyday.  I thought because I have 2 full time jobs (yes, mommy and at a real estate office) I would never find the time to make him wonderful food to eat.  I was going to prove myself wrong...and I did! :)  I want to share with you how easy making baby food is.  I know I have shared my info in the past so please check it out because I give some great websites to check out but I will show you how I made applesauce that even I can't get enough of.  This is how easy...
5Apples
Slice them and put on the stove with just enough water to barely cover them
3 strips of lemon peel
Sprinkle a little cinnamon or you can even use cinnamon sticks
Once you are done boiling (long enough to poke a fork through) remove lemon peel and cinnamon sticks
Put apples in a food processor and add a little water and then blend to your desire.
And...YOU'RE DONE
How easy is this!?!
How about some more goodies...
Spinach Lasagna Rolls
9 Lasagna Noodles
10oz of Spinach...Drain GOOD after cooking
15oz of fat free Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese
1egg
1/2 tsp of Minced Garlic
1/2 tsp of Italian Seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
32 oz of Tomato Sauce or Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat oven at 350
Combine spinach, ricotta, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
Pour 1 cup (I did a little more) on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish
Place wax paper or a cutting board on counter and lay out lasagna noodles. Make sure your noodles are dry
Place 1/3 cup of spinach mixture on the middle of the noodle (I did a little more :)
Roll up and place the seam side onto the baking dish.

Once you get your rolls done poor as much tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese as desired on top of your rolls.  Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40min. 
I know I don't have the best pictures.  Keep in mind I am NOT a photographer :)

Twice Baked Potato Casserole
5lbs of Potatoes
10 pieces of Bacon
8oz of Cream Cream
Just a little bit of Butter (sometimes I don't measure)
1cup of Sour Cream
.25 cup of Chives, minced
2 1/2 cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven at 350
Peel and cut potatoes and boil.  Cook until tender.  Normally for about 20min. 
While those are cooking cook your 10 slices of bacon.  After cooking bacon crumble into piece.
Using a mixture starting mashing your potatoes.  I wanted mine to be a little chunky because it is a casserole.
After mixing for a minute start adding cream cheese, butter, and sour cream and mix until you have your desired consistency. 
Then add chives, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, half the bacon, salt and pepper.
Stir until well combined
Cook in a buttered 3 quart baking dish.  Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake until top is golden and potatoes are heated through. About 30 minutes. 
After cooking add the rest of your bacon.
This is it before it went in the oven.  I'm a bad blogger...I didn't get a picture before we all dug into it!

I hope you enjoy these delicious treats, I know I did and so did my guys!  I got all the wonderful recipes from pinterest.  Let me know how yours turned out. Happy Cooking! 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Every Second Counts

Well, I'm sure you have noticed a few changes here at my good ole blog! Yes, I went through a couple name changes and designs. I hope you like!
Now to get to the good stuff.  It's no surprise that I work two full time jobs, mommy and at a real estate office.  That was my whole reason on starting my little blog, and to clear the air on a few misconception on working mommas, but anyway.  Even tho mornings come early, and I mean early, it is still my favorite part of the day.  I don't go to bed till late because after my Carter love hits the sack I stay up and clean, get my things done, and get his stuff ready for the next day.  I get up before him and try to pull myself together quickly because I know the only time I get with him is when he wakes up and when I get off work.  Even tho mornings are busy, I don't just sit Carter in front of the tv so I can get ready.  He loves the bathroom, so I take advantage of that! It's also play time with me and him, even tho I'm putting my make up on.  We play lots of peek-a-boo in the mirror and he likes to hand me all of my brushes, clips, and headbands.  I turn the bathtub water on and he loves to play with the running water.  We sing lots of songs and have quite time rocking.  It's important that I take advantage of these few moments I get here and there because even tho he is little every second counts.  This morning, I didn't have a lot of time to take a whole lot of pictures but I took a few and I'm sorry because a couple of them are a tad blurry...I hope your morning are just as fun! What are some fun things you do? Maybe Carter would like them too :)
 He loves handing me everything
Bathtub toys are also great because he doesn't play with them through the day so they are almost like new when he sees them in the morning. 
He knows he's funny!

He loves playing with water

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A Laughing Matter

Hahahahahah! O the thought of me plus a day to go shopping, pre bundle of joy, makes me chuckle.  Only because I completely forgot what that is like! Trust me, I'm not complaining because I would much rather be crawling around on the floor all day but I actually have the chance to go shopping this weekend and I feel like it's a REALLY BIG DEAL! Before I wouldn't have thought anything about it but now I'm thinking about what to wear when I go haha!  If you knew me pre baby, you are probably getting a nice laugh. I was (still am) always talking about clothes, make up, how much I Love shoes and anything that sparkles.  The only thing I would ever read was Vogue and Cosmo and now when I get the chance it's Pottery Barn Kids.  It's funny how your priorities change.  My true love is spending time with my family.  Call me lame, but I never want to do anything else.  I hear all the time, "it's important you take time for yourself" and they are right but "myself" time is always being spent with my cute little family, and that's the way I want it.  I guess it's different because I have to work but I truly think either way I would still want my "me time" spent with my adorable little family...
Now back to this shopping thing! Yes, it's only Wednesday and I'm already thinking about what to buy! Sad isn't it?!? I can see it now...ruffles, stripes, a new skinny belt! I can't wait to get in that store and go a little crazy! Carter will be with me and that's okay he can give me his opinion.  I just pray I don't walk out of the stores (like how I made that plural?) with another pair of shoes or boots now that it's about to be fall.  I was talking to my best friend the other day and she made the best statement ever.  She explained to me why she always buys shoes and this goes for me too, "shoes look great no matter what ya look like"! O my isn't that the truth. 
I'm so happy bold colors are in for the season.  Of course you can never go wrong with black but I can't wait to walk out of the stores with a few of these...
          #1 Gotta Have...Red Jeans!
Need a new white ruffle shirt for work...and I want one like this
Colored tights can change a outfit sooo much and they are so cheap!
Really want & need a jacket like this...should've had this a long time ago
Ok, I know I said no shoes but I really do need a new pair of boots...I'm over my Peter Pan boots, and yes I will take these Tory Burch :)
A vest like this would be A-H-MAZING...adds great texture.
And sure I will buy a pair of these Saturday...pocket change! O Christian Louboutin, one day I will have you :)