giggles and cries

When we were down out my parents last weekend my mom pulled out an old Bugs Bunny jack-in-the-box.  My sister's oldest son loved it, but none of her other kids expressed much interest in it.  Abigail thought it was funny and would giggle.  When Joe pulled out the camera she paid more attention to the camera, but still giggled at the end.  We did it over and over and over ... couldn't get enough of that little laugh!

On the other end of the spectrum, Joe recently discovered something that made her cry.  I hope you don't feel like we're bad parents for taking a video of it, but we thought it was funny and sad all at the same time. I apologize for the shaking, but I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep the camera steady! It took her a couple of minutes to calm down after we took the video.  Yes, we really do love our daughter!

Asian Turkey Meatballs

I've been enjoying recipes from this site lately, and here is one I just made and both of us loved it!

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Sesame Lime Dipping Sauce

Meatballs

1/4 C panko crumbs
1-1/4 lbs lean ground turkey
1 egg
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 scallions, chopped
1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil

Dipping Sauce
4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp water
1 chopped fresh scallion

Preheat oven to 500 F. Mix meatball ingredients together with your hands until combined well. Shape into meatballs (about 1/4 C each) and place onto cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.   Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Mix sauce in bowl.  Place meatballs over cooked rice and drizzle with dipping sauce, just a couple tablespoons. You probably won't use all the dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Here is a cute picture of Abigail my mom took this past weekend while we were down visiting.  She is doing much better traveling, and enjoying spending time with the grandparents.  We were also able to be there when Joe's brother got his mission call.  He's going to the Atlanta Georgia North Mission, and we are so excited for him!

fun with Uncle Brian

Sunday my brother Brian came up and we had a great time!  Abigail was good for most of the time, and Brian was able to get some great photos with his nice camera.

I woke up last Saturday, went to put in my contacts, and could not find them.  Guess that happens when you don't get a lot of sleep (Abigail thinks 2 am is playtime, oh well)!  I am not used to wearing glasses all the time, and miss contacts a ton!  Luckily I'll be getting some on Friday.  You never know how much you like things until you don't have them anymore!

Abigail loves to be without clothes.  Go figure!  Sometimes when she's upset, we'll just take off all her clothes and let her play.     

Abigail is sooo excited when Joe is home - it's time to play!  Joe is loving that she'll hold out her arms so he'll take her.  

How precious is this?  It is rare that she will look at the person holding her - it's everywhere but them, but I was able to capture this moment!

I don't know why but I think it's cute when she sticks her feet up in the air like this!  She does it all the time!  I also love it when she tries to fit her toes and her fist into her mouth at the same time.   

P.S. Thank you to all of you who responded to my last post.  I wanted to make sure it wasn't just me, and if there was a way around paying for more space.

blogger help

Hello fellow bloggers!  In my attempt to post some new pictures I received a message that I have reached my maximum amount of picture storage (something like that) and that I need to purchase more storage.  What do I do?  Do I have to buy more storage space?  Help!

Here are the few that I was able to upload.  The outfit was a gift from my mom, one that Joe was especially happy about because he loves the colors. The flower is also from my mom from a while ago (several years old), and I thought it was awesome!  Joe laughs because he thinks I'm a little crazy, and maybe I am, but I thought it went perfect with this outfit! 

She loves playing with the exercise ball, and I help her push it and it makes her laugh!  Hopefully more pictures to come!

no pinching in this house!

We are all wearing green today!  I don't know why but holidays seem more fun when you have kids.  I am looking forward to when Abigail gets a little bit bigger and we can do even more fun things!  I really want to dye some food green, make some cute decorations, and decorate sugar cookies. I am really looking forward to spring - it feels like it's right around the corner.  We've had our window open for a few minutes at night and I love that you can hear the birds chirping.  I'm ready for the ugly brown grass to go away, and for green to make its appearance.  I can't wait to see all the beautiful spring flowers! 

Joe really enjoys the time he gets to spend with Abigail, and she loves it too.  As soon as he walks in the door and she can see him, she is grinning in excitement and flapping her arms and legs for him to come play with her.

Some days it feels like she's going to be crawling anytime.  She can get her bottom up in the air and scoot, but her face is usually planted in the ground.  She can push herself up pretty well with her arms, especially when she's excited about something (waving our cell phone in front of her face works pretty well). I'm enjoying her not-so-mobile phase while I still can!

For some reason whenever I put Abigail into denim jeans, I feel like she gets older.  We don't have many that fit her well (she's got a teeny waist), but I love them!  One of my favorite time of days is early in the morning, when we bring her into the bed with us.  She is wide awake and ready to play but we need a few moments to wake up. She'll just lay there, and alternate who she is looking at, play with her feet, and grab everything in sight!

I love the way that she looks at me - it either melts my heart, makes me want to laugh, or cry in sympathy.  She has this awesome pouty face that she pulls whenever we are doing something she doesn't like, has this whine that says - hey, down here!  play with me!, and the cutest little laugh/giggle that makes me want to jump for joy!  I love this little girl!

a new toy

Many of you know that Joe and I were looking into getting an exersaucer/jumperoo for Abigail, and although it's been more of a process than we thought, we got one!  We decided to get the Baby Einstein, based on what other mothers told us, and we ventured out to get one.  We drove to Ogden but they didn't have one there.  I always think Ogden is closer than it is, but after an hour of driving and some slow traffic we were a little frustrated that there wasn't one.  We then went to Centerville, and they didn't have one. Turns out they're coming out with a new Baby Einstein, and we were bummed.  That was on Thursday.  Friday we went out to run some errands and I suggested we check Shopko, and guess what ... they had three!  I was very excited, and glad that I thought of it.  She played in it for a little while, overfilled her diaper into it (of course!), and I'm looking forward to getting her into it again today.  Thanks everyone for all your input!

Abigail really enjoys sitting up now, more than being on her back.  She will often be holding my finger with one hand and have a toy in her other hand. 

I've been trying to get a picture of her doing this for a little while now.  For some reason she loves sucking in her lower lip, and we find it to be hilarious!  We love all her little faces that she makes.  She will now hold out her arms when she wants to be picked up, or if someone else holds them out.  Joe kept doing this over and over the other night because he was so excited about it!  

We were playing with the camera, which she really enjoys, and this picture came out.  I thought it was pretty funny that per finger ended up slightly in my nose.  Don't worry, it didn't stay there long.  She loves playing with faces, putting her hands on your cheek and in your mouth!

The next couple of pictures show off her beautiful big blue eyes - eyes that I hope stay this color, but am guessing they probably won't.

Sour Cream

I used to hate sour cream - on tacos, on anything really.  Until I discovered how good it is mixed in with things.  I decided I would share some of those recipes with you.

The Ultimate Beef Stroganoff

put in crock pot:
2-3 pounds stew meat (I put in one package, however much that is)
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper
1 onion, sliced

mix in a bowl and pour over meat (I double this, I prefer more sauce than meat):
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups beef broth or stock
1 tablespoon ketchup

Cook in crockpot on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. When cooked make a simple roux by whisking 1/3 cup flour with enough apple juice (about 5-6 tablespoons) to make a thick but still pourable flour mixture (I double this if I double the sauce). Whisk the roux into the crockpot and add 4 ounces sliced mushrooms (I don't, I am not a fan of fungus).

Cook on high for 15-30 minutes. Then stir in 1/2 cup sour cream. Serve over pasta, rice or baked potatoes.

Cajun Chicken Stroganoff

1/2 lb dry wide egg noodles
1/2 lb. kilebasa, sliced
11/2 lb. chicken tenders
1/2 tsp. each cayenne, paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, dried basil leaves, dried thyme leaves, and dried oregano leaves
2 T all-purpose flour
1 T tomato paste
2 tsp. garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
sliced scallions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the noodles. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside. Saute kielbasa in 2 T. oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. 
Combine chicken with seasonings, tossing to coat, then dust with flour. Saute chicken in same suate pan in 2 T oil over medium-high heat until nearly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Push chicken to one side of pan. Add tomato paste and garlic; saute for one minute. Add chicken broth, Worcestershire, and reserved kielbasa. Bring to a simmer and reduce by half, about five minutes.
Off heat, stir in sour cream. Serve stroganoff over prepared egg noodles and garnish with scallions.

Fruit Dip

8 oz unsweetened crush pineapple with juice
3/4 C milk
1/2 C sour cream
4 oz instant coconut cream pudding mix

Put everything in blender and process one minute. Makes two cups. Serve with apples, strawberries, and bananas.

true blue in march madness

Abigail knows who she is going to be cheering for this March ... go Aggies!  I am glad she is finally big enough to wear her Aggie shirt!  We sure hope they do well, and maybe actually win a game this tournament?

It really is so crazy how quickly they grow and do new things! Abigail is starting to get stronger, and can sit up a little bit on her own. She's still a little bit unstable, but is enjoying looking at things from a new perspective. She still doesn't roll around much, but she moves a lot!  I love getting her from her crib, because I never know what position she's going to be in.  She has discovered her toes, and loves them! She loves pulling off her socks, and I'm excited for warmer weather so I can just leave them off!

 

Here she is in an outfit given by Grandma Chambers.  She sure looks cute!  I love all the pink.  I used to be so adamant against it, not sure why, but now I love it! The past few times I've taken her out I've forgotten to put bows in her hair, and she's been wearing 'gender neutral' colors, and has been mistaken for a boy!  At least people think she makes a cute boy, but really!  I really got to remember those bows ...   

And because I want to ... here is one more. She is curious about everything, and wants to taste everything.  She is good at grabbing onto my hair, and putting her hand in my mouth. She will be five months old this week and I can't believe how fast it has gone.