What's for Dinner? Hot Chicken Casserole

So once again, I'm cooking one of my mommy's recipes... She and my Nana are the best! 

This is what you need

Almost 1 whole rotisserie chicken

1/2 cup sauteed onion

4 TBS butter

1 can cream of chicken

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 oz jar pimento

4 oz jar mushrooms

3 oz jar Asian/Chinese noodles

1/2 to 1 whole sleeve ritz crackers

Preheat oven to 350 F

Pull chicken apart and add to large bowl.

Sautee onion in 2 TBS butter

Add next 5 ingredients (I like to make sure my pimento and mushrooms are diced finely bc my house is full of babies that don't like their veg)

Stir ingredients together and pour into 13x9 casserole dish (make sure its sprayed)

Crumble ritz on top of and add remaining butter (in 8 pieces) onto topping

Place into oven and cook for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with salad for complete meal.

Sorry, no pictures but trust me it's delish :)

What's for Dinner? Crock Pot Edition

I've always loved cooking in the crock pot - especially pot roast (as my mouth waters), but I've come to actually rely on my crock pot in the last 6 months because the following scenario doesn't work well. Take my advice.

Hungry baby + breastfeeding mama + hungry five year old + tired daddy = late dinner + cranky family.

TOTALLY.NOT.FUN.

For my first recipe, I'm not sharing my prize winning pot roast ... I'm going to share a soup recipe with healing powers. I love this soup because it's so colorful. Not only do I love to cook in the crock because it's low maintenance, but I love it because it fills your home with an aroma unlike any other. 

I feel really bad because I was in a hurry and didn't take any prep pictures but I snagged one before dinner while it was still in the crock.

"Everything but the Kitchen Sink" Vegetable Soup

White peas (any amount is fine)

1 large potato, skinned and diced

1-15 oz can of green beans, kitchen cut

1-15 oz can diced tomatoes, unflavored

1-15 oz canned limas, drained

 1-15 oz can whole kernel corn

1-8oz can carrots

1-16 oz bag frozen okra

3 slices bacon, cooked and drained

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

salt, pepper and onion powder to taste

Throw all ingredients, except potato, into the crock pot and cook on low all day. Add potato 3 hours before serving. Otherwise they will become mushy and fall apart. If time doesn't permit you to do that you may boil potatoes for 30 minutes and add right before serving, but it will not taste as yummy. You may even prep the day before and keep in the refrigerator overnight to allow further blending of flavors.

Serve with cheese grilled. (grilled cheese)

Happy Crockin' y'all :)

back to our daily grind.

As you can tell from my lack of blogging, we've been very busy. Very busy would be an understatement, actually. 

Maddie will be 6 months old next Wednesday. Can You Believe It?! and we've had a ton of appointments to attend for that dear soul.

Hannah started Kindergarten! 

I got rid of my Facebook.

I wish I could say that I had found a job, or we bought a new(er) car, or a house or something but nothing of the sort has happened. 

I've just been living my life as a taxi driver, cook and maid. Nowt that baby has finally settled into a routine this is our weekly schedule:

5 am: wake up at  to nurse baby and get Wes off to work

7 am: wake Hannah up and get ready for school

7:30 am: leave house for school

 8 am: drop Hannah off at school

8:30 am: feed baby breakfast at

 first nap by 9. 

10-10:30 am wake up and nurse baby again

12 pm lunchtime for mom and baby

12:30 pm nap time

2:15-2:30 pm nurse baby and leave house to pick up Hannah

3:30 pm school dismisses

4 pm return home/baby takes nap

6 pm dinner time and baby as well

7 pm tubby time for both girls

7:30pm nurse baby

8 pm bedtime for both girls

2 am baby wakes up to nurse 

 and we do it all over again.

On Mondays and Thursdays we stay in town and wait until Wes gets off work. Every other day he drives himself home. Such a big boy! 

I don't remember when my mother started me in the kitchen, I think I was like 9-10, but I definitely want to get Hannah started sooner than that so I'm thinking about starting a dinner blog or even a YouTube dinner vlog. I've been thinking about it for a while now, weighing my options, the pros and cons of having my children plastered all over the internet, but I seriously think I'm going to do it. so look out for it

and as always a little scripture to help you through your day:

Luke 11:2-3 " Jesus said, 'This is how you should pray:

Father, may your name be kept holy. 

May your Kingdom come soon.  

Give us each day the food we need.'"

the things my mother never told me.

hey ladies!! I'm participating in the Mommy Moments Blog Hop!!

 

To breastfeed or bottlefeed? that is the question...


that is definitely not a question to be taken lightly, but it does make your decision a lot easier if your child will actually switch back and forth from bottle to breast. Mine refuses. I'm gonna get right into the pros and cons because I'm not one for small talk. 


Pros of breastfeeding
a lot of down time with your baby. (up to 7 hours a day)
protects against infection/illness in mother baby
cost effective (there is also a con for this point as well).
you burn at least 500 calories a day, more if you have multiples.
helps the uterus contract faster after delivery.
their diapers don't stink as bad but you can definitely hear them when they happen.
no bottles to wash/formula to lug around
there is a delay in your period returning
protection against female cancers.
it tastes better than formula
Here's the best one yet -- FREE BOOB JOB!!!!!!


Cons of Breastfeeding
in the middle of the night, you're the only one that can feed your baby.
even though its cost effective you still have to buy clothing in which you can discreetly breastfeed, buy a nursing cover, buy breast pads, and a pump if you plan to go back to work.
you can rarely have a minute alone without your baby, unless they are willing to take a bottle filled with expressed breastmilk, once again, mine won't
people gawk at you in public
even though your spouse agrees with your decision, its a different ballgame in public, mine disowns me (or makes me go to the car)
you will constantly feel like you don't make enough milk - especially when they are going through their growth spurts at  7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less).
breastfed babies eat more frequently than formula fed babies. Mine is 4 months old and still nurses every 2.5 hours at best.
Whatever you eat gets into the babies system too, like caffeine which hinders baby's sleeping patterns. Certain vegetables, like lettuce will give your baby terrible gas pains. Some babies even have sensitivity to dairy so you have to limit the foods you eat.


If you choose to breastfeed (even with all those horrible cons - I hope you do) be patient with your baby because it will definitely take time. even though its the most natural thing in the world it is still very stressful and demanding on the mother. 


I would really appreciate it if those "prudes" out there would keep their "how undignified to talk about this in public" comments to themselves. if you want me to stop talking about breastfeeding or not breastfeed my child in public I will gladly accept donations of formula on your dime.




Also, breastfeed because it's in scritpture -
 “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” (Luke 11:27)


“I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you” (2 Macabees 7:27).


and many more
Don't forget ladies - World Breastfeeding Week is Aug 1-7 so let's do this thing! 

No Longer Preggie in Pink

you guessed it, Miss Madeleine Grace is here! 

Her due date was 4/6/11 but she arrived 3/28/11 via induction. 

She has flaxen hair and blue eyes

10 fingers, 10 toes

4 lbs 15 oz

18 1/2 inches long

induction started at 5:00 and she was born at 9:25

I asked for an epidural, but it didn't work

She is 8 days old today and is such a blessing

I finally got a picture of my angel with her eyes wide open ♥

Day 1 Challenge

Day 1. I have a four year old and already I'm thinking, I'm going to miss her at this age. Have you felt that way, and what age do you miss the most?

Of Course, I am most definitely going to miss Hannah at this age. She's so curious about (literally) the outside world and asks soo many questions, which lead to answers and more questions. She's so excited about the impending birth of her little sister. She still loves to give hugs and kisses (which is something our family never thought she was going to do) and is very adamant about people using their manners ;) . She's so innocent and naive and godly. Her version of the Bible stories they share in her K4 class crack me up. The only thing I'm worried about at this age is that she's used to being center of attention... Is she going to throw tantrums and act out with the new baby around or is she going to take on her big sissy role?

The age I miss the most was her 3-6 month stage. At this stage, Hannah was still very much an infant that needed to be rocked and cradled and snuggled and cuddled but she was becoming more dependent by sitting up and holding her own bottle (sometimes). I miss having a child who completely depended on me for every need. I miss the diaper changes, and the outfit changes when she spit up, sponge baths and the occasional midnight feeding. Day in and day out time goes by so slowly, but it doesn't seem like I gave birth to her 4 years ago. Well, almost 5 now. They have truly been the best 5 years of my life. 

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. A photo that makes you happy
Day 4. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. A YouTube video
Day 6. Your most embarrassing moment
Day 7. Do you believe in the "cry until she sleeps" method?
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What are some of your favorite MAC products, and what foundation/powder do you wear?
Day 11. Post a recipe.
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write a blog thanking someone who's made your heart come alive.
Day 14. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. What do you wish for?
Day 16. How old was Hannah when he started sleeping through the night and how did you do this? 
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you had your baby?
Day 19. Write about your significant other
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write about your most vivid childhood memory. Post a picture of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 22. What did you do today?
Day 23. Who's your celebrity look alike?
Day 24. What is God teaching you presently?
Day 25. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Who are your favorite bloggers?
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Your day, in great detail
Day 30. What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
Day 31. Your favorite quote

ups and downs

so here's the thing. When you get pregnant.. anything could happen. The saying is "every pregnancy is different for every woman" which I believe is more true than ever now! my pregnancy with this child is nothing like my pregnancy with Hannah.

I have forgotten a lot of the things that happened to me (chronologically) while I was pregnant with Hannah. I remember them happening, but I have no idea how far along in the pregnancy they happened. For instance, I have no idea when I started to NOT sleep through the night, or when I started having Braxton Hicks contractions, or when I started to feel really uncomfortable, OR even when I started nesting. I can't remember any of that -- that's why I would document symptoms every couple of weeks so I could remember and possibly, just maybe, compare to a third child.

So here we are folks, 36 weeks! Full term!! and boy do I feel it! I've gained a total of 21 lbs, my belly is measuring 38.5 inches (maybe more now because I measured a few days ago first thing in the morning) I'm definitely in nesting mode trying to de-clutter the house and get all her clothes washed and put away. My husband says I'm in Patsy-mode (my mom is OCD about cleanliness so I will take that as a compliment).

Building background Story -

Since every pregnancy is different I figured I'd go the full 40 weeks with this bebe, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I didn't think anything of it when I started to notice my Braxton Hicks. I'd rub on my tummy to make it go away (kinda like you would a charlie horse) and that was that. They didn't hurt, almost kinda like a really faint dull menstrual cramp or a growing pain or she was sitting right on my sciatic nerve or something. It would last for a minute then go away. No problem. I figured it was normal. I mean, I was in my third trimester, this is my second pregnancy... who knows when normal is to start having regular Braxton Hicks... (and when I say regular I mean a GOOD one every 30 minutes)

I leave school about 3:30 everyday, and she's always very active during that time. I mean, nonstop movment for the full hour-drive home. Hiccups, rolls, bladder kicks, you name it I get them for a full hour so when we scheduled my 36 week ultrasound for 3:30 I was so excited because I just knew we'd get some great last ultrasound pictures.. WRONG! she was knocked out the whole 30-minute session. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!???!?!? I bet you, that if I had downed a 20 oz coke things would have been different.

Also, my entire pregnancy this child has weighed either on schedule or a week ahead, but when they started to measure her today she was only weighed/measuring at 33 weeks!! well, 32 weeks and 5 days to be exact! My uterus has always measured right on schedule, but for some reason she basically QUIT growing for a short while. Strange.

I guess with the combination of her measuring so small and her not being as active as I claimed she usually was around this time of day they wanted to run a Non-Stress-Test (or NST for short) on me. I remember in Hannah's pregnancy I had one at 37 weeks, but I think that was just a normal routine NST. So they hook me up to the machine to measure her movements and what her heart would do right before, during, and after each movement... umm.... yeah, I starting contracting like every 3-5 minutes for at least a good minute and a half. This lasted for a good 30-45 minutes. her heart rate was all over the place dropping as low as 116 and going as high as 180 something. talk about cause for concern because every single time they've listened to her heart its been in the 150 range. EVERY TIME.

Soooooooooooo with all my contracting my doctor wanted to check me to see if I was dilated.. Which thank the Lord I'm not!! He's still a little worried and thinks I'm progressing a little too early. I've gotta go back Thursday for another NST and we'll go from there. I will make my 37 week appointment then.

He told me that even though he is a little worried, he's not worried enough to give me anything to stop my contractions just yet but that if they got more intense or more frequent (even in this slightest) to call him.

I know nothing is WRONG with her and I know she's perfectly healthy. I'm not worried in the least little bit that she's under any stress I just want her to stay in there as long as possible because I want an APRIL BABY!!!!!!!! (I'll write all about that in my Labor and Delivery Story once she gets here ;) )

Children will and always will have a mind of their own and will do things in their own time. She'll come when she's ready. We are more than ready to meet her and play with her and "teach her princess songs". Every morning feels like Chrismas Eve.. it's so not fair, but at the same time I will wait as long as I need to. If I go into early labor my doctor said he would stop the labor if he could. With all that being said, THIS CHILD CANNOT COME BEFORE THE 23rd!! it just can't happen. The stress level (on me) would be too high... I've got to finish this internship and graduate in May.


I love to complain, I would whine all day long about every little thing if  I thought it would make a difference, but actions speak louder than words so I keep my mouth shut unless I have something nice to say. With that being said, I try not to complain about my symptoms too much. I'm growing a human, I'm not going to feel normal. I'm also not going to be pregnant forever so why not just grit your teeth and bear it for the time being!?

After today's events I feel like I am allowed to complain a little bit -
I'm hungry all the time, but hardly have an appetite
I'm saddle sore throughout my entire pelvic region
I have to squat for everything
I can't even bend to kiss Hannah
I feel like my back is going to break in half if I bend to do anything
my hips pop when I walk
I probably get 5 hours of sleep a night
I get stuck in certain positions and Wes has to help me get "unstuck"
I'm starting to have to rely on everyone to do everything for me
back pain.
walking is excruciating.
sitting is good
standing is good.
rocking while sitting is awesome
trying to roll over in the bed is torture.

I think I'm done complaining. If I think of anything I will definitely let you know.
If you read this entire blog, go you!

Teacher's Make Too Much Money !!!!

Are you sick of high paid teachers? Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage.

That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM

with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.

Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 peryear. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children

X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!)

WHAT A DEAL!!!!

Added 2/21/11---WARNING...for all of you who are having a breakdown right now and don't realize it...this is SARCASM!!! 

great expectations.

Where would we be as a nation if no one held standards or expectations of success of it's citizens? As a country we expect our politicians to put aside their personal beliefs and to follow through with the desires of the constituents. If we vote you into office and you don't meet our expectations we are going to vote you out and that's that. But what do you expect from yourself? How high are your standards to be a better person?

I'm not one to follow the crowd so I usually don't make New Year's Resolutions. It used to be because I was too lazy to care, but now it's because I don't really see the point because year after year it's a basic standard I think everyone should possess.

I was always a believer, raised in a Baptist church, but on May 17, 2009 I made my public profession of faith. At first, I developed a voracious appetite for His Word. I was bound and determined to relate a 2000 year old book to my modern day life. I don't know exactly when it happened but I hit a big plateau, much like someone losing weight, I was no longer seeing my hard work pay off.... But why? Because I no longer expected anything from myself. I became complacent. I wanted the insurance policy but didn't want to make the monthly premiums. I didn't think of my journey, my relationship with God was supposed to be hard. I thought that since I finally accepted Him that these things would come naturally to me, and I think that's where most believers make the same mistakes that I made. They start to expect credit without doing the work.

 I'm not sure when I started to overcome my complacency but I now know that I am not the follower I need to be. I am not the homemaker I need to be with the washing and the cooking. I have no motivation to get out into the world and put my college degree to use. What I am motivated to do is to get my butt off the couch and make sure that my home is the sanctuary my husband and daughters need to rest their souls from the challenges of the outside world.

 A friend of mine told me the other day that she needed a break from taking a break. I am starting to agree with her. I have become so comfortable with expecting others to take care of me that it's starting to make me sick. I've played the victim card for way too long and it's time to get back into the swing of things. I've got a daughter coming in 13 weeks so it's time to get my act together. Yes, it's going to be a struggle because I'm going to be out of the house more and I'm going to have another tiny wonder depending on me for everything, but if I can complete one expectation of myself each and everyday then I know I will have made one step closer to my calling in life - being the best wife, mother, and homemaker I can be!

I would have graduated in December with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, but because of some failing grades, my graduation date has been moved to May 2011. By the time I graduate, it will have taken five years for me to earn this degree. Literally, a lot of money, time, and dedication has gone into my education. With that being said, and with teaching jobs being on the slim, I am not expecting a teaching job any time soon. Yes, I want to be able to put my education to use. Yes, I want to fulfill my life long dream of raising a productive citizen in the classroom setting. I have to look at my family first. God gave me a husband and a child before He gave me a teaching job and they will always be my priority. I expect myself to get a job (and so does my husband, bless his heart) but I am not going to become frustrated if it takes a while to get a teaching job.

My expectations
do NOT go to bed without all the dishes being washed and put away.
wash a load of laundry every night.
read a devotional with Hannah before saying our 'bed-night' prayers.
drinking only water. (I think this might be the hardest for me to do)

They might not look like much but these are not my New Year's Resolutions, these are my New Day's Expectations. If I can complete each of these expectations everyday then I know I will be one step closer to being the homemaker God intended for me to be.

I have been inaugurated into God's congress. I have fully accepted this assignment. If I don't fulfill my assignment why would God keep voting me into office. The only way I am going to have eternal success is if I follow His Word. I have to work hard and pay my premiums in order to have my insurance coverage. If I stop making my payments my policy is cancelled. No questions asked.

My prayer for you this year is of health 

joy and peace.