Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

What’s for Dinner?

Southwestern Bean Skillet

My grandmother gave me a few different cook books before she passed away. Other than flipping through them a few times and feeling overwhelmed, I’ve never utilized them. Well, Mimi would be proud of me! I took on the the Better Crocker books she gave me and flipped through it a few weeks ago and planned out a menu for two weeks (not the whole two weeks came from the cook book, but several new recipes did). It was really quick and easy to make, and as a bonus, was really inexpensive too. It only takes about 10 or 15 minutes chop the fresh ingredients. And I bought everything for roughly $7! Ok, well without further ado I give you our new household hit, Southwestern Bean Skillet :)

This is the Betty Crocker image that caught my eye

 

1 cup corn (I just used a can)

2 Tbl chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp salt

1 small green bells pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 small onion, chopped (1/4/ cup)

1 can chili beans in sauce, undrained

1 can black beans, drained

2 medium tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

Shredded Mexican Cheese

 

(1) Mix all ingredients, except cheese and tomatoes, in 12 inches skillet. Heat to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 mintues.

(2) Uncover and simmer 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Stir in cheese and tomatoes until cheese is melted.

1 Serving: Calories 425 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 6g); Cholesterol 30mg; Sodium 1660mg; Total Carbohydrate 57g (Dietary Fiber 13g); Protein 24g Percent Daily Value*: Iron 30% Exchanges: 3 Starch; 2 Vegetable; 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 4
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

 

And because I was SO EXCITED about it, here was the process:

Fresh Chopped Cilantro

Chopped Green Bell Pepper (It was half the pepper)

 

Chopped Tomato (I only used one)

Chopped Onion (I used not even half)

1 each: corn, chili beans, and black beans

 

Simmering

 

I tweeked things a little bit and we have Better Croker Southwester Bean Skillet a-la-Erin :) I didn’t melt in the cheese and I added it to a flour tortilla and sour cream with the cheese on top. And I actually forgot the salt  The end result was SO GOOD! We ate 5 tortillas and still had PLENTY left over. It alone could easily feed three or four adults.

 

Kind of a Big Deal

Not to brag or anything, but I’m kind of a big deal now :) HAHAHAHAHA yeeeeahhhh… riiight! Anyway, after my whole little blog-revamp-debacle a few weeks ago I was on a “design high” and couldn’t get enough of it. SO! My good friends Ashley and Charish gave me some input and let me revamp their blogs too! So go check them out! (Just fair warning, I’m not a graphic design artist by ANY stretch of the definition, and don’t claim to be, so what you are about to view isn’t the worlds best work or anything, I’m just oddly proud of myself.) Finally, I just wouldn’t feel right not giving Angela a shout out for doing all the initial hard work of designing my blog to begin with over a year ago.

Ok, now go enjoy

and

with inspiration from

Kr8zY eIgHtS!!!

I had to take Collin to the doctor yesterday so a few days early…

TOTALLY CAN NOT believe that Collin is EIGHT MONTHS OLD! He’s so much closer to being a year old than being a newborn baby, it’s so sad :( He’s such a mover and a shaker, it’s ridiculous. I call him my little speed racer. I turn my head for a minute and he’s off and crawling. Little booger gets into everything now, it’s annoyingly adorable. Keeping him contained in the living room, is impossible anymore. He has figured out how to get by any makeshift barrier I seem to concoct. So lets see, what else has Collin been up to this month:

• Weights 18 lbs 10 oz. and was too squirmy to get a length reading (the nurse said he was shorter this month than last, soooo….)

• It’s like he practically skipped the 9 month clothes stage. (9 months fit him fine, but it just doesn’t make sense to by the clothes when he’s not going to be in them very long, sooo…)He’s gone from 6 months to 12 or 18 month clothes. Talk about a growth spurt!
• Is quite the wiggle worm. It’s a battle to change his diaper or his clothes. 9 times out of 10 he ends up crawling away with a bare butt in the air. And because I think it’s just too darn cute, I let him do it :)
• Eats three meals a day

• Still nurses 7-8 times a day
• He’s feeding himself all the time. He has to have something to feed himself at every meal. It could be anything, a banana, a pickle, toast, crackers, biter biscuits, green beans, lima beans,  cheerios, puffs (FINALLY!), anything he can get his hands on, will eventually make it to his mouth.

• Gets up at the butt crack of dawn! For a while it was 7:00 or 7:30, for the last few weeks it’s been 6:30 on the dot.
• Because he gets up so stinkin’ early, he is down for a nap at about 9 now, and is only sleeping for about an hour to an hour and a half.
• Takes a second nap, completely against his will. Around 2:00 for an other hour (two on a good day)
• Still will play in his crib with his stuffed animals for 15 or 20 minutes
• Would rather crawl to his exersaucer and play around it, than in it.
• Is a little motor-mouth, he talks constantly

And the big important stuff:

• Took him to the doctor because he had a runny nose and watery eyes for four days. Then started coughing. Come to find out he has his first ear infection, and it is a double ear infection :( He’s still pretty happy for the most part. Has a little less of an appetite, and can me a little whiny and clingy, but overall a good little boy

• When Devin gets home he gets excited and crawls to him saying “dadadadada”
• Had his Church Dedication

• Went swimming for the first time (this little boy LOVES LOVES LOVES the pool!) He sticks his face straight into the water and pulls it back up like “whoa! What was that!?!”

• GOT HIS FIRST TOOTH! This has been a long time coming. For the last two weeks or so he’s been a DROOLING MACHINE! We have to keep a bib on him constantly because he gets so wet from all the drool. (Still trying to get a picture! Little booger always sticks his tongue out when I try to get a picture!)
• Has figured out how to climb the stairs! He’s been pulling himself up for months. Then he was trying to kick his leg up, but couldn’t quite make it. Well, last week I noticed he had gotten his foot into one of the little cubbies in the entertainment center. Then the following Friday some friends were over and I actually watched him climb up the first stair as I was telling a girl about the foot in the entertainment center. Needless to say, it’s time for a gate at the bottom of the stairs now.
• Is cruising! He pulls himself up on one side of the couch or entertainment center and cruises to the other end. Everyone keeps telling me he’s going to be an early walker. We’ll see!
• Stands up by himself! For a while he would just let go of something and after a few seconds plop to his bottom. He’s figure out now that he can stand up almost from a crawling position. His hands are on the floor, he straightens his legs so his butt is in the air, and every so carefully yet wobbly stands up! Not for the longest time but will do it. We can stand up and he’ll stay too. It’s just one more thing that makes me realize how big he is getting.

• Said adios to his carrier car seat and is livin’ the life in a new convertible car seat :)

 

 

And as always I’ll leave you with some just-too-cute-pictures :)

 

Collin’s Cool New Trick

Devin got his new iPhone4 yesterday and we decided to play with the video camera before we put Collin to bed. He’s too cute, we hold him, say “ready?” and he’ll start making the noise.

***Keep in mind it was right before bed so he was very tired and fussy :)

 

 

New to the Blog Roll

Incase you were looking for a new blog to read (as I know many people are, or used to be) here’s a new one for you. My childhood friend Nicole has recently found my blog so I, of course, had to add her to the roll call. So go check out Real Life Narnia!

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedicated to God

Sunday, June 13, 2010 we had Collin’s Baby Dedication. If you feel like watching the video it there, otherwise these are a few pictures with our pastor and family afterwards.

 

 

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Well, his birthday was June 10th, but we’ve been so busy for the last few weeks I’m just getting around to writing about it. LAST YEAR on Devin’s birthday we got to see this:

Yup, it was really cool to find out we were having a “Collin” on his birthday. This year my mom offered to baby sit so we could go out to dinner. It was only the third time we’ve been out alone since Collin was born. We went to dinner at one of Devin’s favorite places, Ted’s Montana Grill, because he LOVES the bowl of half-sours they give you before dinner. Or in our Devin’s case, three bowls of half-sours. We spent a WHOLE hour at dinner. It wasn’t even 7:00 pm when we finished dinner. We felt so old and said tat we were enjoying the early bird special. Since it was just barely 7:00, we decided to go to the mall and do some shopping for us, and try to find Collin an outfit for his dedication that was coming up. We wondered the mall for an our or so and then headed back home. We didn’t find anything we liked for Collin, but I got a pair of shorts from Old Navy and Devin got some much needed t-shirts and sorts also. It wasn’t my birthday or anything, but I had a really good night with him, and hope he enjoyed the evening as much as I did. And yes, we did the typical parents-out-without-their-children and talked about Collin almost the entire time we were out.

Ta-Da!

I did it! I managed to redo my entire blog, in one day! After a few mishaps I was able to figure out some HTML and get the EXACT look I was going for! It was kind of rough and touch and go for a while. Words really can not express just how proud of myself I am! Just call me a little kid, it’s fine, I don’t care, because I DID IT!

Thanks to Devin for FINALLY putting Photoshop back on my computer, I could make the background and header all by myself :)

Ok, so just for the record, I’m kind of proud of myself. Real posting to continue soon!

Then End :)

CAUTION: Under Construction!!!

I thought that I would get creative and play around with redesigning my blog. In an attempt to “preview” my changes, I actually saved and applied them! Can we say “WHOOPS!”? So you’ll have to forgive me, until I can (A)figure out how to undo what I have done or (B)figure out how to execute my initial vision, the blog is going to be “Under Construction.” And you can’t judge me, because I have to do it while Collin is napping, so the odds are that it could take a while for me to look decent again :) So until then, enjoy my chaos!

BWAHahahahahah!

About a month ago I borrowed a dress from Angela for a wedding. I HONESTLY have meant to give it back to her like three different times since the wedding. INCLUDING the day I let her borrow my vacuum cleaner because hers crapped out on her. However, I seriously just kept forgetting. I decided, when I picked my vacuum cleaner back up from her, that I was going to wear it for Collin’s baby dedication (Another post to come later), then she could have it back. After posting pictures of the dedication on Facebook, I get a nice little blog post!

 

A conversation held via Facebook and text message between Angela and I tonight over a dress and a vacuum cleaner :) (Implemented because Michelle liked a dress)

 

Me: So, um, dress for vacuum…. how is that a fair trade?!?!

Angela: Whatever… it’s just something you want and something I want :)

Angela: I never claimed it was fair!

Me: Lol oh :) … Well guess what? I’ve already got both, so, I WIN!!! bwahahahah

Angela: Yes but I know the combo to your garage so I’ll just come and steal them both back. Even *bigger* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Angela: And if you lock your door I”ll just pick the lock, just so you’ll know :)

Angela: YOU CAN’T ESCAPE ME!

Me: LOL Hmmm… I’m changing the combo! You can have the dress back, when you finish Gilmore Girls and I get it back :)

Me: Buy you have to watch them and be able to carry on a conversation about it with me!

Angela: Uh… okay. Remember Dallas just started crawling. You know what that’s like. It’s hard for me to even take a shower much less watch and entire series! It’ll take forever and by then my house will be so full of cat hair we won’t be able to see to get out. So I guess this is it. Goodbye, my friend.

Me: lol so I get the dress and the vacuum! Sweet I DO win! :)

Angela: :(

Me: I GUESS you can have your dress back

Me: If it means THAT much to you :) and we can stay friends

Angela: Okay good. Because I like being your friend. It’s fun.

Me: Yeeeeeah it is :)

Because Collin is in Bed and Devin is Watching TV

THREE WAYS I AM STILL A KID:
1. I LOVE Disney
2. I like the “kid” cereals – Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Smaks 
3. I love playing Mario Kart

THREE WAYS I AM ALREADY OLD:
1. I’m a mommy, and it feels right 
2. I could be in bed by 9:00 every night ad be ok with it 
3. I’m happy with curling up on the couch reading a good book on a rainy day

  
THREE THINGS I WANT TO DO:
1. Visit Israel and Egypt  
2. Have season tickets to see the Braves
3. Be able to tan

THREE WAYS THAT I'M A STEREOTYPICAL "BOY": um….
1. I LOVE baseball
2.  I don’t do pink
3. I like playing with Legos

THREE WAYS THAT I'M A STEREOTYPICAL "GIRL":
1. I love having my nails done 
2. I love having my hair brushed
3. I love clothes

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. A new decorating style
2.  Making new meals
3.  Finishing my Maternity scrapbook

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair
2. My sense of humor 
3. My nails

THREE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My Temper
2. My stomach
3.  My legs

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Finish
2.  German
3.  a little bit of everything

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Losing Devin 
2.  Losing Collin
3. Losing my mom or brother

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Kissing and exchanging “I love you”’s with Devin 
2.  cuddling Collin and hearing him laugh
3.  Brushing my teeth

FOUR THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Christian family man 
2. Smell – type of cologne ( I LOVE Clinique Happy)
3. Sense of humor 
4. Thoughtfulness

THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T DO:
1. Wear pink
2. Like the Yankees 
3. Eat spicy food

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. Mommy
2. Wife
3. Teacher

TEN things you wish you could say to ten different people right now, you don't have to say who its too but you can if you wish:
1. Devin – do we have to watch this? 
2. Meg – I can’t wait to meet Matthew! Good luck! 
3. Collin – I LOVE you little man! You’re my favorite! 
4. Mom – Thank you for ALL your help
5. Dad – Miss you
6. Bradley – What’s your DoodleJump score?
7.  Angela – want to have a play date this week?
8.  Ashley – thanks for keeping an eye on my little man during church, he wuvs you!
9.  Charish – you’re my BFFL I WUV YOU MAN
10.  Charron – DUDE! CALL ME WOMAN!

NINE places you feel at home:
1. My home.
2. My mom’s 
3. My Aunt Lynne’s  
4. Angela’s
5. Ashley’s
6. Atlanta
7. Church
8. Nursing Collin in the rocking chair
9. Devin’s arms 

EIGHT ways to win your heart:
1. Send me cards 
2. Leave me little notes 
3. Take me to Atlanta to see the Braves 
4. Take me to LaNop 
5.  Love my family 
6. Enjoy spending time doing “nothing”
7. Watch A Walk to Remember or The Notebook repeatedly 
8. Take me to church  regularly

SEVEN people of the same sex who mean a lot to you:
1. Mom 
2. Mimi
3. Grandma
4. Angela
5. Friday Morning Moms 
6. My aunts 
7. My Cousins

SIX people of the opposite sex who mean a lot to you:
1. Devin 
2. Collin
3. Dad
4. Bradley
5. Papa
6. My uncles and cousins  

FIVE things that cross your mind a lot:
1. Why won’t Collin eat?
2. How long will Collin sleep for?
3. Must… get… out… of… the… house!!! 
4. How long until Devin gets home 
5. I am so blessed!

FOUR things you do before you fall asleep:
1. Kiss Devin and tell him I love him
2. go to the bathroom
3. Drink a glass of water 
4. Put on Blistex 

THREE songs that mean something to you:
1. I’ll Fly Away 
2. Love will Keep Us Alive – The Eagles 
3. When you say nothing at all – Allison Krauss 

TWO confessions:
1. I wonder where I would be if I hadn’t switched high schools THREE TIMES
2. I wouldn’t mind going back to work, after Collin is in school

ONE thing your thinking about right now:
How many Jon Stewart’s and Colbert’s are on the DVR anyway?

Lucky Seven!

SEVEN months old! Collin had a big and exciting month! So much so that I don’t even know where to begin! Lets see, at his six month appointment the doctor wanted to see him for a weight check a month later. Well, we had that appointment last Tuesday. In one month, Collin gained one pound and grew an inch and a quarter! He’s 18lbs and 28.25 inches long, which puts him in the 50th percentile for weight and 90th for height. To me, that’s great, he gained an entire pound and more than an inch in a month. But the doctor still wanted to see him back in an other month for another weight check. In the next month he wanted me to start supplementing him with formula. I’m having a hard time with this. It’s been a week and I haven’t been able to pull myself to do it. He nurses a lot more, eats three solid meals a day, and snacks on puffs a few times a day also. The appointment I made for the end of June is with another doctor to see what she has to say about his weight.

Ok now for the fun stuff!

• Has gone from nursing every three hours to pretty much whenever he wants it (to avoid using formula, at the moment)
• Has slept all-the-way-through the night ONCE, it of course, was on a morning when I had to get up early anyway.
• Usually only wakes up once in the middle of the night to nurse
• In bed at 8, up by 7:30
• Will fuss and rub his eyes when he’s tired
• Takes two naps a day, one around 10:00 or 11:00 for an hour to two hours. Then another around 3:00 or 4:00 for about an hour
• Will play in his crib when he wakes up from a nap and then call out “MUMA!” when he’s ready to get out (I LOVE THIS!)

• Will be standing up in the crib when I go in to get him
• Loves bath time

• Puts EVERYTHING in his mouth (still, except for the puffs!)
• Eats three meals a day
  • A fruit and oatmeal for breakfast
  • Either a fruit or a vegetable for lunch
  • Meat and vegetable for dinner
• LOVES: applesauce, prunes, pears, peaches, spaghetti and meat sauce and lasagna
• HATES: carrots

• Will eat: just about anything I put in front of him
• Wants to hold his food and feed himself
  • I’ve let him feed himself: biter biscuits, pickles, bananas

 

• ALWAYS has bumps and bruises because HE’S CRAWLING and PULLING UP constantly
  • Just this morning he crawled into the downstairs bathroom and has a knot on his forehead from the toilet, and then has a scrape on his face next to his mouth from falling on the drawer knob on the entertainment center

• Can stand up without holding on to anything for up to 15 seconds before he plots to his butt :)
• Has started to-try-to-cruise long the couch
  • He pulls up on one end of the couch, sees a cat on the other end and desperately wants to get to her
• LOVES Carly and the cats
• Gets tired of being held and just wants to sit or lay down sometimes
• Says mama and dada (and knows the difference now!)
• Babbles other things, constantly
• Has decided that he doesn’t like being changed, diaper or clothes. Pitches a fit something fierce most of the time now. He NEVER did that before!
• Plays with his toys on the floor for hours
• Loves to swing at the park

• Loves checking out new things, gets a very intense look on his face when he’s inspecting something
• Enjoys watching the Wonder Pets (so do Devin and I!)
• Likes that he can sit in a shopping cart and high chair rather than be in the carrier or sling
• Plays in the kitchen while I cook or clean

• Has been to his first wedding

• Has been to the ZOO!

• Is just the cutest sweetest little guy I know!