Giving Thanks - Part 3

15 – My job, I’m so thankful that get paid to do what I love – help people!
16 – My car, it may not be the SUV I miss and dream of – but my accord has never given me any huge issues in the last 2.5 years that I’ve had it!
17 – David’s job, although M-F 3p-1:45a is not an ideal schedule, we only have to find someone to watch Blake 3 days a week from 2-8, which is pretty awesome and affordable!
18 – Chocolate, I eat way too much of it, but YUM!
19 – David is such a great dad, he has soo much fun with Blake all day when I’m at work – and when I call to check in, I love to hear Blake cooing in the background!
20 – Online grad school! I cannot get over how cool it is that I will be able to reach my goal to become a family nurse practitioner online – Dec 2013 I will have FNP behind my name!
21 – Elliptical machines, if we didn’t have one – I would probably say that I haven’t worked out one bit since Blake has been born!
22 – Having all of our family within 30 miles
23 – That Walmart is open so late!
24 – Carbohydrates, and not feeling guilty eating them (since I’m not pregnant – I’m not a gestational diabetic anymore, yay!)
25 – I know I’ve said my husband a few times now, but today I’m thankful that he runs errands for me and does so many things on his days off for me while I’m working – makes my life soo much easier!!!
26 – Sleeping in, and not having to set an alarm!!!
27 – Christmas decorations – lights are up outside, and the tree is almost done!

2 Months Old!

Wow, seriously - if you don't have a child then you have no concept of how fast time can fly by. I never thought life could move this quickly! Seeing Blake's sweet face every day and watching him grow is so much fun!!! I remembered reading on a friend's facebook status a couple weeks ago that she jumps out of bed every morning (like it's Christmas) to see her newborn son - I couldn't agree more, especially since he is smiling and cooing back at David and I now. Being a mom is, by far, the best thing on the planet.

Today, Blake weighed 14 pounds and 13 ounces (98%) at his 2 month checkup, and was 25 inches long (95%). He got his rotavirus oral vaccine, Tdap vaccine, and second Hepatits B vaccine today. Poor little thing really hated being stuck, but he calmed him down in less than a minute; and with the Tylenol today - he's been fine ;)

We go back in a month for the pneumococcal and HiB vaccines (I'm doing a non-traditional vaccination schedule, after reading Dr. Sears' book "The Vaccine Book" - not eliminating any vaccines, just spreading them out).

Blake is still rolling from front to back, and now he has been standing up and only holding onto our fingers. Such a strong little man :) He usually only lasts a couple minutes on his feet, but it's so cute to see him stumble to hold himself up!

Onto the pictures of our little guy (the part people really want to see!)

Giving Thanks - Part 2

Nov 7 - Such a helpful mom that will drop everything for me to help me out. She is such a blessing to me! Don't know what I would do without her :)
Nov 8 - We were able to conceive little Blake without any difficulties. I know far too many people recently who either cannot get pregnant, have had miscarriages, or have sick babies - ugh, breaks my heart!
Nov 9 - Being able to type this blog with Blake sitting in my lap calmly. I know this won’t last forever, but it sure it nice to be able to get everything done that I need to without little hands on the keyboard!
Nov 10 - Friends, quality ones. I love having a few people in my life that would drop anything for me. I would do pretty much anything for others, so it’s finally nice to have it reciprocated for once :) {Special shout out to my good friend, Liz - my lunch date today!}
Nov 11 - Being alive on 11-11-11, how stinking cool is a date like that? Won’t happen again for another 100 years!
Nov 12 - Since yesterday (Veteran's Day) was filled with being thankful for the cool date of 11-11-11, today I’m thankful for my veteran. Not just because he’s my husband (that would be too easy) – but, he truly is the most humble man I know. He hates it when people ask for veterans to stand up (I have to force him to do it). He did not serve this country for any recognition at all, and that’s pretty awesome in my book. So, thank you for your service, sweetheart!
Nov 13 - We found an awesome church up here. Since we moved back to the Atlanta area, David and I had struggled with finding a service that met our needs after attending the phenomenal Church of the Highlands in Birmingham (seriously, after one Sunday there – you will know what I mean!). We really enjoy the newlyweds small group and Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, but it’s 35 minutes away now and we really didn’t crave the worship services like we used to in Birmingham. David’s best friend, Patrick, invited us to Mountain Lake Church in Cumming where the lead pastor actually knows Chris Hodges (lead pastor of Church of the Highlands) and he pretty much runs the church exactly the same! What a relief it is to finally have a church we cannot wait to attend! The only thing that would make it perfect, would be bringing our JFBC small group up to Cumming!!!
Nov 14 - Pediatricians who work with parents. I opted to do a non-traditional vaccination schedule after reading “The Vaccine Book” by Robert Sears, M.D. – I’m still giving Blake all his vaccinations, but not letting him get more than two shots at once, so his little body and nervous system can process things better.

Giving Thanks - Part 1

November is the month of one of the yummiest holidays, Thanksgiving. But, there is so much to be thankful for that I cannot fit it into one day!

Nov 1 - This one is easy - but not to be forgotten - GOD! I'm so unworthy to be forgiven and saved!
Nov 2 - Health, of everyone in my family. It's so important not to take for granted when we are healthy and feeling well!!!
Nov 3 - Blake, my precious 8 week old son (as of today!) - so healthy, happy, eating and sleeping great. I could go on FOREVER about him! SO blessed :)
Nov 4 - My c-section incision isn't coming apart like I thought, just a big blood blister! Thankful for doctor's offices that can fit me in last minute :)
Nov 5 - Having NOTHING on the calendar all day long so I can enjoy our little family for once!
Nov 6 - My loving husband who does a great job helping me around the house and yard. We re-planted the bushes that Molly destroyed this afternoon and we were a great team :)

Green Chili Enchiladas

I cannot believe I have not shared the most DIVINE recipe with you since my time as a blogger! Take a look at these mouth-watering babies ...

David's mom introduced me to this recipe from her cookbook that has tons of great recipes that you can throw in your freezer for use later :)

Ingredients
1 1/3 pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 1/4 cups finely chopped onion (frozen chopped onions work great)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 packet taco seasoning of your choice
Salt and pepper to taste
6-8 flour tortillas (if you use the smallest ones, you will need 8-12)
3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (2 cups for inside tortillas, 1 cup to top with)
1 10 3/4-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 4-ounce can diced, green chilies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 13 X 9 X 2 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Brown ground beef/turkey, and saute onions (if I'm using turkey I like to cook it with at least a cup of water to keep it moist, I drain it after the meat and onions are done cooking). Combine with taco seasoning, chili powder, salt and pepper. Spoon approximately 1/4 cup of meat into a tortilla, sprinkle enough cheese to cover, and roll like you are making an enchilada. Place seam side down into baking dish.

When tortillas are completed, combine soup, sour cream, and green chilies to make a sauce; pour over tortillas. If you are cooking now, place in oven for 20-25 minutes - the last 10 minutes sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top.

Makes 6-8 servings.

[If you are freezing, cover dish with foil, and freeze with remaining bag of cheese taped to it. To prepare for serving after freezing, thaw completely prior to cooking.]

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ENJOY!!!