The thing that CHANGED my life (next to Paisley!...ha!)

Ok, ok...I know I have been the WORST blogger lately but life as a full time working mom is HECTIC! However, life has been made easier thanks to something I like to call...MEAL SWAP!! Several of my close friends who are in our community group have gotten together about once a month and done a meal swap. Each person makes one dish and makes a TON (8- 4 person servings to be exact). Then we all swap our meals and have dinner for 8 nights made and in the freezer!! (16 meals really for Jonathan and I since we can eat off of them for 2 nights). I am so thankful for these meals and the fact they allow me for more time with my hubs and this cutie patootie at night...So here is my last swap...




I got these disposable trays from Sam's in bulk. It is always a few hours of work but so worth it in the end!

This was my dish this past time- one of Jonathan's favorites... Mexican Noodle Casserole.

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup of chopped onions

1 can Rotel, drained

16oz. package of wide egg noodles

1 can of condensed tomato soup

1 can corn, drained

1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 1b. Velveeta cheese

Salt and pepper

Brown beef in a small amount of oil with onions. Drain and set aside. In separate bowl, mix tomato soup, cream of mushroom soup, and cubed Velveeta. Microwave until cheese is melted and mix together. Add cooked and drained noodles. Add together remaining ingredients and ground beef and stir until mixed thoroughly. Spread in casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes (thawed) or 1 hour (if frozen). Enjoy!

We label and date our creations and then meet at someones house on a Sunday to exchange. Genius, huh? Hope everyone has a great weekend- I can't wait to show off pics of my cutie in her Easter dress!!

Paisley is 3 months old!

This week you turned 3 months old! (Where does the time go?!)

I'm guessing you are about 12.5 pounds now. You are really filling out and I cannot begin to tell you how much we love your chubby cheeks and squishy thighs- Mommy loves kissing on those sweet cheeks! You are just now starting to wear some 3-6 month clothes and you are still in a size 1 diaper. You are really starting to hold you head up well and you LOVE to look around at new things.

You are developing such the personality. Your Lolly swears you already know how to pout to get what you want and I think Mommy and Daddy will agree there. You are definitely a morning person and are so fun and cute when you wake up with that big smile- it always starts my morning off right and makes it that much harder to leave you when I go to work.

You usually stay with your Lolly 3 days a week, your Mimi and Papaw one day, and your Mamaw the other day. I am so blessed you are getting such special time with your grandma and great grandparents- they love you lots!

These past month included lots of fun things including...

- Your first Christmas

- Daddy's first birthday with you

- Your 'boyfriend', Elliott's birth

Paisley, as always, we love you beyond words- our cup (still) runneth over!

P's Boyfriend is here!

Sweet Elliott has arrived!

January 5th, 2012

8 pounds, 11 ounces

(Isn't he just precious?! Tall, dark and handsome!)

We were so excited that he finally got here! His mama and I are very good friends and we've joked that Paisley and Elliott have been buddies since in the womb (and maybe we've even joked that we may just force them into an arranged marriage).
And what a special day this was- the lovebirds first meeting!

Don't they look so excited?

I'm so glad to get to share the joy of motherhood with my good friend Katherine! I anticipate many playdates, vacations, and comparing 'mom notes' in our future. Whether or not Paisley and Elliott fight like brother and sister...or end up getting married someday...we will love him all the same. Congrats Kat and Gary!

2 Month Old

Sweet Pea, you are now 2 months old! I can't believe it! Last Friday marked your 2 month birthday! You are really starting to develop and show personality. You can stabilize your head more and hold yourself up a little while being held. You are also really starting to smile and giggle a little which totally makes Daddy and Mommy melt!

At your 2 month appointment, you weighed 10 pounds, 10 ounces (45th percentile) and were 23 inches long (75th percentile). Everyone has been commenting how long you're getting! You are now in size 1 diapers and definitely filling out your 0-3 month clothes!

Here are some of our highlights from this month...

We helped host our dear friend, Katherine's baby shower! We already love baby Elliott and CAN'T WAIT for him to arrive! We hope you and Elliott love each other as your parents hope you do!

We had our first Thanksgiving as a family of 3. This year we really did have SO much to be thankful for-YOU!

You also got to meet Mr. Paul David and have her first date with them. Paul David's mommy Aunt Chase is one of mommy's dearest friends. This will always be a special picture as our first day as mom's together.

Then you got to meet the rest of your 'aunts'- my great friends Joy, Jenny, and Leslie.

Month 2 has been such a blessing. Time is going by WAY too fast. And yes, Mommy has been back to work for a few weeks now and I am surviving. I race to get you every day after work and cherish our evening 'talks' and snuggles. Paisley, We love you beyond words- Our cup runneth over!

Kati's Giveaway

Kati over at Kati's Get Away is having a Scentsy GIVEAWAY! I haven't jumped on the Scentsy bandwagon yet but I would love to try it out! Go check her out and leave her a comment for your chance to win (and check out cute Ryder while you're at it!)

Happy Weekend everyone and Go Hogs!

Happy 1 month Paisley!

Well I am a day late but you turned a month old yesterday! Your Daddy and I cannot believe it- time really does fly when you are loving every second of it! You are getting SO big now. At your doctor's appointment on October 28th, you were 8 pounds, 3.5 ounces so we imagine you are nearing 9 pounds now. Your newborn clothes are finally getting a little snug and you are starting to fill out your 0-3 month clothes now. You are sleeping really well- getting up only about once during the night which we are SO thankful for!

I go back to work in 2 weeks and I will miss our 24/7 togetherness but your Lolly is getting really excited about your upcoming time together. Perhaps my favorite thing about this past month is seeing you with your Daddy- he turns to mush around you and I often get skipped over for kisses when he comes home for work because he can't wait to get to you!

This week you have really started getting some personality- smiling when I come to pick you up and really focusing and thinking. We thank God every day that he chose us to be your parents and we can't wait to see what the next months bring. We love you beyond words- Our cups runneth over!

Week 2 as a Family of 3!

As of tomorrow we will have been a family of 3 for 3 weeks now and we can't imagine life any other way. Life as parents is AMAZING and we thank God for our princess every day. She is so fun and already growing so much! She is such a good baby (and thankfully a wonderful sleeper too!). Here are some of my favorite pictures/memories from this past week....

Our little cupcake- I love this picture!
She was so much more alert this week! I loved her looking me in the eyes more and seeing that 'thinking' face a lot more.
The diva in her hog attire. Last Saturday was our first game day and we were decked out in hog gear from head to toe.
Dad gaves us our first bottle and we took it down like a champ- yay!
Gramps, Lolly, and Abby have made several visits. They are kind of crazy about her ;)
Emily & Jeremy (and our soon-to-be BFF Lily) came by to see what is in store for them in a few months!
We got a quick visit from KK & Pops- yay!
Snuggle time with mommy!