Marketing Scheme????

A few weeks ago I bought a small container of Oxi Clean to clean some spots left by our little one. I opened the container and couldn't find the scoop. Come to find out there is a MAJOR design flaw in this product. The scoop is almost as tall as the vessel and they must put the scoop in and pour the detergent over it. It took me first trying to fish for it with a chop stick and then finally losing a bunch on the counter and floor to retrieve that thing. You can't even put the scoop back in after pulling it out. It might be a marketing scheme because I do like the product, but the scoop situation is enough to make me buy the bigger bucket next time I need some. Here is some photo evidence of the whole situation....

Love Bug

Little Miss Chloe had her first Halloween and thanks to Grandma she had the cutest costume. We didn't go trick or treating but we did have fun with our Life group getting free burritos! In other Chloe news...she got her 1st tooth on Tuesday! It has been quite a week, a 4 month old teether is a challenge, she can't hold things steady to her mouth quite yet. I am hoping not every tooth is this disruptive. She has also found her thumb, which we think is great because we only have to go in about once a night now. She is babbling more and is still so smiley!

4 Months...

Chloe turned 4 months on Wednesday and had her doctor's appointment on Thursday morning. Doc said she is doing great, weighed in at 14.1 lbs and 26 1/2 in. long. She's long and lean like her daddy. In fact many of her 3-6 month clothes don't quite fit right (sleeves to short, torso too short, pant legs short and to big in the waist). She also got the other half of the shots she had at 2 months. She didn't have much of a reaction at that time, but whew boy! She has been a fussy baby for the last 2 1/2 days. She even got her first fever and just laid in my arms and moaned for awhile. Last night she didn't sleep well at all, waking every couple of hours for a few minutes-quite a difference from her normal 10+hours of sleep. I am one tired mama tonight. I did manage to get a picture of her yesterday, though a smile was a bit hard to come by. She has been a bit better today. Last week she also started rolling over back to tummy. She even did the tummy to back, back to tummy roll. She is changing every day. Here are some pictures of her playing with her friend Gabi, and trying out her bumbo seat.

Hair Product Sale

Yesterday I happened by the JCPenney salon and saw an amazing sale on hair products, buy one get one for .88 cents. I use Redken, color extend which is a little pricey. I was able to get 2 large bottles for the price of one, it will last me a year! I think the sale goes through this week sometime, definitely worth calling your local store to see if they are running the same deal.

A new recipe?!

After my last post I became inspired to cook something new. I found this recipe on Our Best Bites, and it is really easy and super tasty!!! Some guests ate some leftovers and really liked it too. I thought the cider was a strange ingredient, but it being fall having cider around is fun and I do think it gave the soup more depth of flavor. Check out the link for pictures.

Tortellini Sausage Soup

3 links Italian sausage ( I got 2 from the deli for $1.90 and it was plenty)
4 cloves pressed garlic
1 onion, diced
½ c. water
2 cans chicken broth
½ c. apple cider (don't leave this out! I did once and it wasn't the same...)
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 medium zucchini, grated (great way to use your food processor if you have one)
8-10 oz. package cheese tortellini (check the freezer section of your grocery store; if you can find it there, it will almost always be way cheaper than fresh tortellini.)
2 Tbsp. dried parsley (yes, that's two tablespoons)

If you're using link sausage, remove the casings and crumble into a large soup pot. To remove the casings, you can use a sharp knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and then peel back the casing.

Begin cooking sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently. If your sausage is pretty fatty, you'll want to drain it when it's about halfway cooked. Meanwhile, chop onions and garlic
and add to the sausage. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, juice, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour. (until carrots are tender) Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 10 minutes or so. Add the tortellini nd cook until tender, and then serve with bread and freshly-grated Parmesan.

Another post about what to post about

It seems like life right now revolves around feeding and sleeping schedules. I feel a little be more comfortable with that being the season of life our family is in. It does leave me not quite knowing what to blog about. I don't have any new recipes as it seems like a miracle when I can cook something at all. I could write and write lots about how cute Chloe is and how she is growing up like crazy, and I am sure I will. I guess maybe I have to come to terms with even my blog being about this season of my life too, motherhood. Several things that I have been enjoying are my morning walks with my friend, M and her 5 month old little girl. We try to go 4 days a week and walk about 3 miles. We have been going in the park, but last week walked the mall because the weather has been just gross. I hope to get some creativity back in my life somehow. If Chloe would nap in her crib that would help. Correction: If I would take the time to train her to nap in her crib that would help. Every day I tell myself, today is going to be the day and then 3:00 comes around and she is dozing in my arms and I enjoy that cuddle time with her. She might nap great in her crib now for all I know. Maybe tomorrow??? :). If you read all of that thanks, these are the things on my mind. Here is a cute picture of Chloe sporting her sunglasses. I can't get enough of this sweet child.

Happiness

This weekend I got to co-host a baby shower with Carmen for Brooke & Jer and their sweet babies. It was so much fun to be in this stage of life with her. There was a time that neither of us thought it would be possible to have these sweet baby girls for various reasons. Here we are 2-3 years later I have Chloe, she has Q and another on the way. The Lord is good. I am so glad to know that 2-3 years from now all the newness of parenthood will have past, we will have gotten more sleep, and we can take our girls to the park and chat while they play. Here are some pictures from the weekend.