baby food mania

I have been on a kick with trying to save money and all so I decided that I would make some baby food seeing as how expensive it can get. I was surprised at how easy it was and CHEAP. I just bought this cheap little 10 dollar grinder from Target and a bunch of fresh produce and it made a ton. I have enough for the next 6 weeks. I grinded peaches, plums, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans then froze them in ice cube trays. So now she gets fresh food in her chubby little tummy and I am saving some moo-la!Lucy and I making green beans (her feet are crackin' me up in the picture!)

DELISH!!

Okay, funny story. So I have had this recipe called Mexican Polenta Casserole in my recipe box since I started my recipe box like 5 years ago. I got it out of a magazine and even cut out the picture and taped it to the back. I have been wanting to cook it for about 2 years now. Everytime I start planning out my menu for the week it always catches my eye and I even put the ingredients on my list but I can never find the one ingredient called polenta and actually had no clue as to what it even was. SO....I googled it and found out it was basically just a prepared cornmeal ingredient type thing. Anyways I found it in the refrigerated section with all the weird cheeses. Here is the recipe I totally recommend it. It is so YUMMY and EASY!

Mexican Polenta Casserole

1 tube (18oz)prepared polenta

3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1 c green salsa

2 T chopped fresh cilantro

1tsp ground cumin

2/3 c heavy whipping cream

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can corn (drained)

6 scallions (aka green onions)

2 c grated monterey jack cheese (but you can use any kind of cheese)

Cut polenta in quarter inch slices (24). Mix chicken, salsa, cilantro, and cumin (I also added some hot sauce and chili powder to make more flavor). In a greased 9x13 arrange half of polentas, drizzle 1/3 c of cream over polenta. Top that with half of the beans and half of the corn. Spread half of the chicken mixture over that. Sprinkle half of scallions and half of cheese. Repeat layering. Bake covered for 45-55 minutes at 375°. Let stand for 10 minutes. ENJOY!

Bonding time

Lucy loves her daddy, it is so cute when he gets home she gets so excited. She loves to go on walks with him Saturday mornings and get breakfast for me while I am still sleeping (so sweet). So here are some things Lucy does with her daddy....

Lets her sip out his creme soda (he shouldn't be doing that).

Lucy plays Knight to e7 for the winning fork!

f(x) = 6x + 1

I am not sure what he is trying to teach her here.

They root for the Angels together!!

CAMPIN'

We went camping this past weekend something we haven't attempted since the little one arrived. It was so much fun! I love camping it is one of my favorite things to do and Lucy enjoyed almost every bit of it as well. When we got there she was so excited and was smiling the whole time.

Sleeping was a little rough and the ground was extremely harder than usual it seemed. But Lucy slept quite cozy nestled in my armpit...

We built a fire and roasted hot dogs and then in the morning we took a fun hike while Lucy slept in the carrier on Spud's back. It was perfect weather not too hot and not too cold.

Peek-a-boo!

Since it has been so long since I have posted anything, these are a few of the things we were up to this summer.



Feeding the ducks (Lucy fell asleep).

Hiking through the river with Carley and the Knapps.

The cousins from the Dunn side; Isaac, Colton, and Lucy.

a great find

So I borrowed this book called The Baby Whisperer from my sister-in-law and I have to say I love it. There are some cheesey weird things she says but all in all I am only half way and it has helped me a lot. I can tell what exactly Lucy needs depending on how her cry sounds. This will be my new gift to every baby shower I attend because even if your baby is perfect (like mine) it still teaches you things that can help you!

JUMPIN'

If you are wondering what you do with your time after your little one goes down for the night a little early...it's this. Yes taking pictures of us jumping in the air. And yes, it did seem more fun than cleaning the house (as you can see it needed to be done). Plus maybe I burned off some of those calories from the brownies and ice cream I ate right before.

La La Lucy

Just posin for the camera

All the cousins - Lyvie, Lucy, and Slade

1st time in her own bed

So I have been dreading putting Lucy in her own bed just because she has been sleeping in the bed with us and has gotten quite used to it. Her first nights at home I just couldn't bear to be that far away from her at night and I was afraid I might have created a problem. But she did it! Without even a wimper. It was almost too easy..kind of sad for me at least.

Then came Lucy in the baby carriage

After a year and some we decided that it was time to add on to our little family. On March 20, 2009 after 9 months and 16 hours of labor our little Lucy Adele came to us, all 8lbs and 12oz of her. I have never felt such love as I did for this little sweet one called Lucy. She was so precious and cuddly and perfect.

Then came marriage

After dating for 7 months we both knew we wanted to be together forever and ever and ever. So on December 30, 2006 Spud buried a tool chest in the snow and made me dig for his proposal. Then asked me a question it felt like I had been waiting for for months and of course I answered with an excited yes! On April 28, 2007 we sealed the deal for all eternity in the Manti Temple.

First came love

Spud and I met in Utah while he was going to school at BYU. We were both working at the beloved Costco. While I did take the initiative in talking to him I had no idea he would be the love of my life. Working late nights would get me and one of my best friends pretty bored so we decided to pick a guy at work and try to see if we could get them to like us enough to want to kiss us. Needless to say mine worked a little too well ;)