Another adorable outfit...

Just wanted to post this picture of Parker real quick in this stinkin' cute outfit! The hat and onesie are from his Aunt Andrea (she got the hat at Childrens Place) and the courdroy overalls are from his Aunt Erika which she picked up at a store in Florida called Janie and Jack. I looked at their website and they have some of the cutest stuff I have seen for kids! She also got him a onesie to go with them but it's still a bit too big- in fact, the overalls are kinda big still but I was getting a bit impatient about seeing him in them. Their sale stuff is actually priced pretty reasonably priced too! Check them out! http://janieandjack.com/

Our little Snugglesaurus...

Even though I have finally broken down and bought a couple pairs of "transition" jeans, I have come to realize that it is SO MUCH more fun to shop for clothes for Parker! I also discovered that Costco has some great deals on adorable outfits like this one that I picked up recently ($6.99!!). Due to the lack of hard core bawl-fests and more grunting, groaning and overall Dinasour-like impersonations, we have decided that our son wants to grow up to be an actual Dinasour. He is also a little snuggler so when I saw this outfit, I had to buy it-it's perfect!
Sorry I don't have a picture of him awake in his new clothes but I think he is getting ready for a big 'ol growth spurt because the kid has been sleeping a ton the past couple days- in fact, this may be the only opportunity that I have for this to fit him.
(if you can't see the bib, it says "Snuglesaurus: ferociously cute")

He is smiling now! Melts my heart every time..

My Growing Boy..

I am probably due for an update post about Parker- He is getting so big, so fast! I love that he is starting to turn into this adorable little person- it's been so fun to watch. Sleeping has gotten so much better. Actually, we got the sleeping stuff going well about 2 weeks ago. We have gotten a nightly routine down pretty well and are starting to work out the daytime nap schedule which I'm pretty sure shouldn't be too hard to figure out. We get him in the bath at 8pm which he really likes- we really like giving him his bath too- he is just too cute in there! After his bath, he eats a good dinner then gets a clean diaper and a tight swaddle and its off to bed by 9. He has been sleeping for about 5 hours then wants to eat and get another clean diaper, and goes back down until around 6, then sleeps another few hours. He has had some rough nights with the good but I have a feeling that he is still just adjusting to his routine. Last night though, he slept from 9 until 4:30!! I wont count my chickens, but I am hoping that by the time I go back to work this will be consistant. I still feel like he's doing really well for 6 weeks old- we are so proud! He is starting to smile more, trying to hold on to his binky, is awake during the day more, holds his head up really well and looks around on his own and loves to snuggle. We just can't wait for what's to come!

Soup-er Food!

Since I have been home a lot more lately, we have been making some great dinners. Something about having a home-cooked meal while you habe a new baby just fits. We haven't become home-bodies by any means but a nice family meal is so great. I have been thinking about doing a blog with some of the recipes for the soups that we have been enjoying this winter but I wasn' t sure that anyone would be interested until I read my friend Andreas blog in which she asked for some recipes. That and when you are up at 2am nursing, you watch a lot of the food channel so for anyone who wants some good eats..here ya go! Let me know if there are any questions on any of these!

TACO SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

2lbs hamburger

1large onion

28 oz diced tomatoes(not drained)

16oz pinto beans (not drained)

16oz black beans (not drained)

1 envelope ranch dresing mix

10oz tomatoe and chilies

16oz kidney beans (not drained)

14oz shoepeg corn (not drained)- can use reg corn too

2 envelopes taco seasoning

shredded cheese

totilla chips (I like the strips)

sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Brown meat and onions, add all ingredients except cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips. If to thick add 1 cup water. simmer together (about 30-45 min) serve. Add cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips to taste.- YUM!

STEAK SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup margerine or butter

2/3 cups diced celery

1 cup chopped onion

1cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup flour

2 quarts water

2 1/2 cups beef stock

12 oz can chopped tomatoes

1 bag frozen mixed veggies

1/2 pound cooked steak or hamburger

DIRECTIONS:

On med. heat, melt butter, add carrots onions and celery and cook about 15 min. Add flour and make a roux. Add 1/2 the water and beef base, cook for 20 min then add rest of water and tomatoes. Cook for 20 min add meat and frozen veggies. cook until thickened up a bit then serve.

CHICKEN AND WILD RICE CHOWDER (One of my favorites!)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sliced carrots (2 stalks)

1 cup sliced cellery (2 stalks)

1 cip quartered mushrooms

3 Tbsp butter

3Tbsp flour

2 14oz cans chicken broth

Chicken - we use either 1/2 a costco roasted chicken (then save the rest for sandwiches) or a fried chicken breast and thigh - more if you like it extra.

3/4 cups COOKED wild rice

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 half and half (I like to use the fat free half and half- less guilty)

DIRECTIONS:

In a large soup pan, cook all the veggies in the butter over medium heat until tender then add in flour and stir until mixed well and veggies start to get soft. then add broth, chicken wild rice and pepper. Cook and stir until it starts to get slightly thicker. Stir in half and half, heat through and serve.

SPLIT PEA AND HAM SOUP

INGREDIENTS:
8 slices bacon (about 1/4 pound)
1/2 onion, chopped
2 carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 lb dried split peas
2 1/2 quarts water (plus additional if necessary)
1 smoked ham hock
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf

DIRECTIONS:

In a large heavy pot cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain.
Pour off all but about 1/4 cup bacon fat from kettle and cook onions and carrots, stirring, until softened.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adding 1 to 2 cups more water if soup becomes too thick, 2 hours.
Remove kettle from heat and transfer ham hock with a slotted spoon to a cutting board.
Discard fat and bones and chop meat.
Return meat to kettle and simmer soup, stirring, until heated through.
Discard bay leaf.
Just before serving, crumble bacon and sprinkle over soup.

For dessert....

RUSSIAN TEA COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mixed nuts (chopped)
powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth. Add almond and vanilla extracts. Slowly add flour and salt to butter mixture, and mix until incorporated. Mix in nuts.

scoop small amounts of dough (use a small spoon so the balls aren't too big- they should be able to be eaten in 2 bites) and then roll into balls (or use your hands to form 1" balls).

Bake for 10-12 minutes. (These cookies barely brown, so if they don't look done, it's okay!).

Roll in powdered sugar while still warm, and roll again in powdered sugar when cool.

I have recipes for Noodles Riviera and Stroganoff that I will give out by request only- Kyle is a bit possesive about those ones :)

ENJOY!!! Let me know if you try any of these and tell me what you think!

2008

I stole this post from my friend, Andrea. I thought that this was a great post for reflection on 2008 and I haven't done a post about that yet so here it goes...





1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

-Became an aunt, a mom and baked russian tea cookies (one of my favorites)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

-I usually don't make resolutions; I don't want to set myself up for failure. This year I think I will try to get in shape (I know, so original) and get the basement in order.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

-Oh yeah! My sister-in-law, Andrea had a boy: Ethan (my first nephew) and my friend Andrea had another boy: Jackson and my friend Cate had the only girl, Claire. There must be something in the water- I also knew a ton of women at work that became pregnant this year too.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

-No, and I hope the same goes this year.

5. What countries did you visit?

-None. Just stayed local.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
-More motivation to work out.



7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
-December 2. The day Parker came into the world. Litterally the best day of my life! I don't remember any other dates but I will always remember finding out we were pregnant and telling Kyle.



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
-Becoming a mother/birth.



9. What was your biggest failure?
-Not getting my yard work done this summer.



10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
-not really, just a lot of back pain from the pregnancy



11. What was the best thing you bought?
-my maternity jeans from the GAP. I have gotten my moneys worth from those things!



12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
-Kyle for sure! He was so supportive during the pregnancy- he took really great care of me and was an amazing coach during the delivery.



13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
-the election this year was pretty frusterating. that and we had some typical family drama that is always pretty upsetting to have go on.



14. Where did most of your money go?
-Baby stuff! I can't believe how much stuff you need for someone so little!



15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- Kyle and I becoming parents, telling all of our friends and family that all the prayers were finally answered, and seeing them all meet Parker for the first time.



16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
-my sister made an amazing slide show of Parker to "Please forgive me" by David Gray



17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer?
-Happier (the happiest ever, in fact) Fatter for sure and both richer and poorer



18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
-Yard work and spending time with friends



19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
-complaining about my back pain... It was pretty awful though.



20. How did you spend Christmas?
-With our families. Christmas Eve at my dad's and Christmas day at Kyle's families. It was a great Christmas!



21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
-For sure! With my new little man and I have absolutely fallen in love with Kyle as a father and motherhood



22. What was your favorite TV program?
-I watch way too much TV right now to have one favorite but I really like The Office, The Biggest Loser, Paranormal State, America's Most Wanted and Survior



23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
-Nope



24. What was the best book you read?
-Your pregnancy week by week and the Baby Bargain Book. I have also started to read the Twilight series now

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
-Eric Hutchinson ( I also met him this year!)

26. What did you want and get?
-A healthy baby boy and uncomplicated delivery

27. What did you want and not get?
-a winning lottery ticket :)

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
-I really liked the new Batman movie

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
-I turned 28 (oh man!) and spent it with Kyle- we went to greenbluff, a hockey game and ate at a new restaurant

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
-Not much this was such an eventfull year and it ended amazingly!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
-Comfortable maternity

32. What kept you sane?
-Kyle, pregnancy massages and Hagan Dazs' dark chocolate pomegranate ice cream bars

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
-President Obama

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
-The debates and election

35. Who did you miss?
-I did and still do miss my friends- I wish it was easier to stay in better contact!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
- My son!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
-Miracles happen!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
-Hold your own, know your name and go your own way.... (Jason Mraz)