Happy Half Birthday to You, Happy Half Birthday to You, Happy Half Birthday Dear Easton, Happy Half Birthday to you!!!!
I cannot believe you already 6 months -- which means, only 6 months until your 1st birthday! I better get my butt in gear and start planning for the big celebration -- as if I don't already have the date set and a list of ideas going! ;)
You continue to be a great eater. You started having breakfast this month and I think it's your favorite meal of the day - just like daddy! You scarf down oatmeal like it's your job and love it mixed with any type of fruit, especially bananas. You also had zucchini, acorn squash, plums, blueberries and peaches this month, and don't seem to prefer one over the other.
And for the record, you are back to sleeping through the night! As much as mommy misses those late night nursing sessions, she loves her sleep -- and so do you! On average, you sleep from 8:30pm-7am, but babble in your crib until about 7:30am when I come to the rescue. Mommy gets you changed and dressed and then we (yes, both of us) enjoy a nice nursing before heading off in different directions for the day. Aside form sleeping through the night, you love naps (I mean, who doesn't!) and are one to let us know when you are tired. You also are capable of giving yourself a bottle, which gives mommy a break.
You have perfected your ability to sit and have really begun reaching for things in front of you. While you haven't learned your reaching limits, you are determined to get the toy in front of you and sometimes lose your balance and face-plant into the floor. No worries, mommy and daddy come to the rescue and help you back into position. We have also been practicing crawling, but you look more like a carpet swimmer.
We celebrated Papa's 60th Birthday with a "Par Tee" for him and Uncle Tim at Grandma and Papa's house! This was a huge milestone for Papa and I know he was so proud to have you, and all your cousins there for the celebration. It's always fun to get together with the family and get the traditional 'boys shot'. It's so fun to see how you are all growing.
Carson, Wyatt, Easton and Zain
I seriously can't believe how fast you are growing. People always told me the time goes fast, but I really didn't believe them. So for now, I'm just focusing on YOU and giving you everything I've got.
Current Likes:
Naps
Oatmeal
Cooper is your new bff
Your swing (but only your outdoor one)
The tickle monster
And Current Dislikes
The indoor swing (although you love it at Miss Dawn's)
Having your diaper changed
Being tired
And here's your 6 month photos:
Each month with you gets better and better and continues to be the best month of my life. Keep the good times comin' little man.
If I recall correctly, I got this recipe from my cousin Cari, or maybe my little sister (heck, I can't remember) in an email recipe exchange. I was a little hesitant at first, as I'm not a huge cranberry fan but she was raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot. This recipe is super easy, and is actually better when cooked slow. For that reason, this is a great Sunday meal, however it's equally as good when cooked quicker. I'm tempted to try this in the crock pot. I'll let you know how it turns out if I do.
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 package Mrs. Grass dry onion soup mix
1/2 container french dressing
minced garlic, to your liking
Preheat over to 250 degrees. In a bowl, mix cranberry sauce, french dressing, garlic and onion soup mix. Place chicken in glass baking dish. Pour cranberry mix over chicken. Bake for 2.5 hours. Quicker baking directions - 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
I have to admit, this meal is better than it looks and sounds. Give it a try - it can't hurt! Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and veggies.
When I was pregnant, I was searching for super easy recipes to have on hand for when the baby (a.k.a. Easton) came. My awesome friend, Nicole, who also happened to be pregnant at the time, was telling me about a Chicken Pot Pie she makes. And who doesn't love Chicken Pot Pie?!? This has definitely become a regular on our menu - not only is it easy, but it's sooo good! I can't wait for the leftovers - yum!
Ingredients:
2 frozen pie crusts -- they come in packs of 2 and you can find them in the freezer section with desserts (I buy deep dish)
1 rotisserie chicken
2 cans mixed veggies, drained (can also use frozen or fresh if you prefer)
1 large can chicken gravy (I only had 2 smalls so I used 1.5)
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Remove pie crust from freezer. Keep one pie crust in the container and remove the other, laying the pie crust flat on counter to thaw (this will be the top) while you prepare everything else. Pull the chicken meat off the bones and shred into bite-size pieces. In a bowl, mix 2 cans frozen vegetables, chicken and gravy. Mix well so chicken and vegetables are covered with gravy. Pour into pie crust. Cover with additional pie crust and pinch sides to close. Using a knife, make a couple small slits in the top. Place on baking sheet while cooking to catch any spillage. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until pie crust is golden.
(I need to work on the presentation of this!)
While this isn't the most beautiful meal when it's served, I recommend slicing and then serving with a spoon.
Happy Monday! As much as I dread Mondays, I started off the day with this -- no complaining here!
I wasn't as producitve as I would have liked this weekend, but I was busy tending to a baby who wanted extra snuggles. We had Easton's 6 month check-up on Friday afternoon and he was feeling the effects over the weekend. Thankfully, the little guy is feeling much better and hopefully I can get to the 'reds' sooner than later.
Friday Work 1/2 day
Easton's 6 months check-up
Thirty One party at a neighbors
Saturday Help good friends/our new neighbors at their new house - our neighborhood welcomed a new family this weekend and it just so happens they are great friends of ours. Jen and I go way back -- we actually went to preschool together, and have been friends since I can remember! Not only do they have 2 little rascals, but Jen is pregnant, so I knew they could use extra hands moving in and getting settled. So, I loaded up the stroller with the pack n' play and diaper bag and walked on over, and it worked out perfectly with Easton's nap - little guy slept for nearly 3 hours while I helped them get settled.
Rick and Britt's wedding - Auntie Jessie is on babysitting duty and Easton can't wait! I was a little nervous leaving Easton for the night knowing he was feeling under the weather, but I knew Auntie Jessie would take great care of him and wouldn't mind lots of snuggles. Thanks Auntie Jessie for helping us out! And congrats BRICK!
Sunday Fall photo shoot - despite Easton feeling under the weather, I think we got a couple good ones. Can't wait to see them. Thanks Lexi. Spend the afternoon at Uncle Jim and Aunt Katie'sNana and Papa Choo-Choo's Meal plan/grocery shop
Easton's 6 month blog (I'll get to this soon - promise!) Go for a run - 3 miles (Go me!)
Not only was it was it a great weekend, but it's an exciting week in Detroit -- The Lions are on Monday Night Football with the Tigers playing a matinee ALCS game....Tues/Wed/Thurs home Tiger ALCS games annnnd we finish off the week with a Wings home game on Thursday night. It's good to be us!
It's been a long, busy week over here -- between a crazy week at work, my 29th birthday (spent at work alllll day and night) and Easton's half birthday, Friday took a little longer to get here than I would have liked, but I'm not complaining -- it' here and it's going to be a gorgeous weekend. I can't wait to enjoy it!
Friday
Work 1/2 day
Easton's 6 months check-up
Thirty One party at a neighbors
Saturday
Help good friends/our new neighbors at their new house
Rick and Britt's wedding - Auntie Jessie is on babysitting duty and Easton can't wait!
Sunday
Fall photo shoot
Spend the afternoon at Uncle Jim and Aunt Katie's
Meal plan/grocery shop
Easton's 6 month blog
A sneak-peek at Easton's 6 month photos: (this is the reaction I got when I told him Auntie Jessie was coming on Saturday!)
So, as mentioned in my previous post, I hosted dinner at my house this weekend in celebration of October birthdays. Being that I had plans during the day with my mom, dinner had to be easy. And when I think easy, one thing comes to mind - crock pot! I think I have mentioned in the past that I love recipes that don't require measuring and that is exactly how this recipe is. Now granted, most of the ingredients are in cans, but it's the type of recipe you can alter to your liking. This recipe was given to me by my mom, who got it from a friend of hers. I'm not sure what makes it "skinny" but it makes me want to eat it everyday!
Skinny Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 can refried beans (I use fat free)
2 cans black beans - drained and rinsed
1 can corn - drained
1 can diced chiles (I used the bigger can)
2 cups salsa
2-3 frozen chicken breasts
2-3 cans chicken broth (I used about 3/4 box -- it will depend how think you want it)
1 small can tomato paste
Minced garlic and cayenne pepper for flavor
Combine all ingredients together in crock pot (except tomato paste), adding the chicken broth last so you can determine how thick/thin you want the soup to be. Cook on low for 6 hours. Pull chicken out and shred with fork. Put back into crock pot and continue cooking for another 2 hours. At this time, if the soup is thinner than you like, add a small can of tomato paste - this will thicken it up. Top with shredded cheese and tortilla chips and sour cream.
This soup typically serves as the main course at our house, however since I was hosting a dinner party, I wanted a little something to go with it. That is when I found this Autumn Chopped Salad that I knew would be perfect! And the best part about it, it looked super easy! I altered it a little from her recipe, and again, didn't measure anything. See Molly's recipe for the original version. This salad would also be awesome served with grilled chicken as she did.
Combine lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle with poopy seed dressing to your liking.
I highly recommend not putting the dressing on the entire salad, and instead putting it on plated salads, as it preserves better. This salad (and soup) is great as leftovers (as pictured below). Enjoy!
Monday, already? So much for "Weekend Planning" motivation - I wasn't nearly as productive as I had hoped to be, but that didn't stop me from having a great weekend! Let's take a look....
Friday
Work
Hit up some garage sales on my way home
Quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some things to get me through the weekend
Laundry
Relax - not really sure I have a good sense of what this word means! I put it on the 'to-do' list ever week but never seem to get there
Make baby food - acorn squash and peaches, yum!
Saturday
Mom-to-Mom Sale with mom
Spend the day with mom being productive and getting things done around the house -- it's much more fun doing stuff when you have someone to do it with :) More on this later....
Quick trip to the grocery store for stuff to make for dinner - did this Friday instead
Host October birthdays (mine and Jillybean's) dinner with the ladies -- no worries Tara, we'll toast to your birthday too! Great night with the ladies, as usual. And dinner was a hit! They've all requested the recipe so I'll be uploading that tonight.
Sunday
Errands with Easton -- got some great deals on clothes for my growing baby boy
Meal plan
Grocery shop
Clean - a majority of this was done on Friday by the best mother in the world. Not only does she take awesome care of Easton, but she cleans and folds laundry too! :) :) :)
Laundry - washed and sorted old and new clothes for Easton to pack away in tubs
Spend quality time with Eastonwhile something cooks in the crock pot waiting for Bryan to get home
