Wordless Wednesday

This is the new game she plays after ever bath!!

Heading Back (eventually)

I've always been a great student. I always finished all of my assignments, turned in my homework on time, got A's (or at least B's) on tests, got good grades on my report cards and now I am thinking about returning to all of it. Returning to reports, quizzes, exams and homework. I have always loved school - the social and learning part of it. I enjoyed high school so much and college; I loved college.

I have my B.A. in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Saint Xavier University Chicago. I originally wanted to be a teacher but something was pulling me in another direction of helping others. I took my first pysh. 100 class and was hooked. I loved it.

I eventually want to return to school but first I want to finish having kids. I plan on returning to the classroom to get my Masters degree when my last baby is at least one. I've researched a few good local schools and programs. I am torn between a few. A local university has a great professional counseling program. I have always want to work in the hospital systems and this program would give me a chance to do either that or work in a private practice, which also interests me. The bright side of this school and program is that it meets only once a week and will take only 3 years to complete. Once a week - usually on Thursday nights from 6 - 10pm. Come on, what mom wouldn't love this. I get to see my kiddos during the day and I know my hubby will be taking care of them at night. Plus, I'm sure at that point, I will welcome the 4(to 5) hour break! The other school I'm looking into is local also and a bit cheaper. The program I like there, would be their social work program. With this program I would be able to work in the hospital system too. The down fall is it meets, basically whenever. The class can be any day or time. For a mom with kids - it's really a turn off. I am still weighing my options and looking into other programs. For now it's a dream but eventually it will be reality and I can't wait!

Today, I love being a mommy and a wife but I can't wait to return to the class room and get my Masters degree. I know it's what my heart desires. I feel a little piece of me is not quite complete without going back to school. It's the same way I feel about having more babies. I know my life is not complete with just one!

I'm Sure Everyone Does This

I don't know if Eric and I are the only ones who do this but we have all the names we love for our future kids written down on a piece of paper. I'm so OCD, that it's nice to think about and then decide on them in advance. Besides it super fun! I know some people might change their minds before and during pregnancy. Not me! I'm so into planning, that whats on the list are the names we can play with and decide upon. I had the name "Claire" picked out for over a year before getting pregnant!

These are the names we picked (and love):

Girls:

Tess Camille (Camille is after my mom - Camie)

Ellie Christine (Christine is after Eric's mom)

Savannah Lou (Lou is after Eric's grandma)

Boys:

Colton Arthur  (Arthur is after Eric's grandpa)
Landon or Lincoln Henry (Henry is after Eric's grandpa)

Nolan Andrew (Andrew is after my grandpa)

Claire Waving and Saying "Hello"

Here's a cute video of Claire!

Recipe Sunday

This weeks recipe is one of my father-in-law's. It was one of my favorite recipes he made and then this last week, I had to give it a try myself - it was so easy and so yummy. It tasted just like his!! If you love a moist breaded chicken, this recipe is for you! Give it a try, it will be one you use over and over again!

This weeks recipe: Breaded Chicken


Here's what you need:

Skinless, boneless chicken breast
Saltine crackers
2 eggs
Buttery flavored Crisco
Garlic powered
Seasoning Salt
Chicken Broth

Here's what you do:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Breakup the crackers and place in a bowl with garlic powder and seasoning salt. In another bowl put the two eggs. Dip the cleaned chicken breast in the egg and then roll it in the cracker crumbles. Place Crisco into a frying pan and brown the coated chicken breast on medium high. Once the chicken breast are browned, place them in a cake pan and pour chicken broth all over them and in the pan. Place in the oven for an hour.

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"You Dazzle Girl"

Ashley from "For the Love of Shoes....and A Baby, Too" gave me the "You Dazzle Girl"  award! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Ashley! 

There are no rules, so I pass this blog award on to these wonderful blogs:

1. Holly from Ready To Be A Mom

2. Natalie from Hope Springs Eternal

3. Ashley from For the Love of Shoes....and A Baby, Too

4. After the Alter

5. Heather from 3 Under 3

6. Bree from My Baby Butterfly Ella

7. Twice Blessed

Everyone should check out these blogs. I love following each and everyone!

9 Years Ago Today

On March 27th 2001 (about 2:30pm - just before 7th hour) Eric and I started dating (via note)!

Happy 9 Years of Being Together!

The story of how we met, I will write soon. For now, enjoy some pictures of us from the last 9 years!

It's Finally Time (update)

Since Claire has had a milk protein allergy since she was 2 months old, I had to cut out all dairy from my diet(since I am still breastfeeding). For the last couple of months, I have been adding a little bit of  dairy back into what I eat. It's been wonderful. A few times I didn't even think about what I was eating. Once was at a wedding and if I was worried about not eating dairy, I would have starved for the evening - so I ate what was available. The second time was at a recently St. Patty's day party - I had a corn beef and cabbage pocket, which contained cheese and I ate my weight in sugar cookies. Both times Claire has been fine! No blood in her stool, no diarrhea, no rashes, no vomiting, no green or black poop, no refusing to breast feed - nothing, absolutely, positively no change!

SO...

Tonight I will go somewhere, where I haven't been in over 6 months. I will be stepping foot into one of my favorite ice cream shops. I will be heading to Cold Stone Creamery tonight after a delicious, scrumptious dinner of Mexican food from one of our favorite local restaurants! I am so nervous excited and I am just praying and hoping that Claire will be okay and this little "adventure" of mine will do her no harm! Wish me luck! I will update about my experience when I return! 

*Claire's doctor gave me the okay to start reintroducing dairy back into my diet when she turned 8 months old. She wanted me to do an every 3 day trail - eat ice cream, wait 3 days, and then do it again. So far she's been handling it very well!

* Update* The ice cream I had was just heavenly, unbelievably good, scrumptious, and delicious! I got Cold Stone's Strawberry Blonde - Strawberry ice cream, strawberries, carmel, whip cream, and graham crackers!  Claire took it wonderful (so far, fingers crossed). She pooped this morning and it was fine looking - nothing strange about it! We will keep watching her and then we will try more dairy again!! I'm so excited but staying cautious!  

"Catch Me If You Can"

"Catch me if you can" should be Claire's new motto! She has officially been crawling for almost two weeks now. Let me tell you, life has certainly changed. She is everywhere and into everything, everything! It's crazy how one day can change so much. She went from laying on her blanket, to rolling all over her blanket, to sitting up on her blanket, and now to, "who needs a blanket - I'm too busy moving to stay on my blanket!" Life is certainly busier but it's so much fun! I'm loving it!

She's into everything that can hurt her. She loves our glass and wood coffee table, the laptop cord, the tile kitchen floor. It's crazy. You put her down and instantly she moves in the direction of one of those things! Her new favorite room is the kitchen - at first she couldn't crawl very well in it because she would just start sliding everywhere due to tile flooring. Now, she's a pro and loves it in there! Baby cabinet proofing is a must! She looks at herself in the stove, she hangs on to the cabinet door handles, she loves touching the fridge. I think her goal is to make it all the way across the kitchen (but she rarely does because Eric and I stop her and bring her back to the living room - where the action will start all over again!)

She is now always crawling after our two dachshunds - Penny and Lucy. She LOVES them so much and surprisingly they love her too. You would think they would keep their distance after she has grabbed handfuls of hair out of our long hair dachshund, she pokes their eyes, and sticks her finger up their noses. No matter what, they always return for more bullying! Either they are in major need of attention or they actually like her picking on them!

It's hard to believe that my little baby is a crawler (talker, hand clapper, waver, etc...) The time has gone by so quickly but every day has been so fun and exciting. Everyday you wake up, something new is bound to happen! The only thing I am not looking forward too is all the bumps, bruises, and scrapes that are going to happen, when you enter this stage of your child's life! I guess I better stock up on band-aids!

Hello Cupcake Giveaway

What I would do with "Bertie" if I won this contest:

"Bertie" would come in very handy in a little under 4 months. In 3 1/2 months is my daughter, Claire's first birthday party! From cakes, cupcakes, to cookies "Bertie" would be very busy! As of right now, my mind is full of fun ideas for Claire's first birthday party. I am almost 100%  sure we are going to have a picnic theme party. Full of red and white table cloths, watermelons, hamburgers and hot dogs, bugs, bubbles, and more! "Bertie" would play a big part in making Claire's first birthday a big success! No mom should be without a handy dandy mixer, that is able to makes scrumptious desserts at any time!!

Check out the contest/giveaway here!

Wordless Wednesday

Our honeymoon in Mexico, almost 3 1/2 years ago!

One Little Monkey

Well, as you can see, it was time to lower Miss. Monkey butt's crib mattress! This is how I found her Friday during her "nap" time (obviously there wasn't much napping going on!) She was so proud of herself. Every time she would fall over, she would do a little "grunt" and then pick herself right back up. She is one determined little fart! It's pretty cute when she stands up facing the wall and will proceed to have a whole conversation with the wall itself. Babies are too funny!

Speaking of cribs, Claire's new (non-drop down side) crib should be arriving any day! I am super excited to get Claire into a crib that I feel is safer, one that I don't have to worry about! We got it at BRU for a very good price! Another perk of the new crib is that the toddler bed guard rails are included! Woohoo, for saving a little extra dough! Here is what Claire's new convertible crib looks like:

My Photography

My nephew, Eli

Penny lane loving the outside

One of the trees in my backyard

Penny after her attack

Vineyard in California

Elijah at the beach in CA

Gum Wall in SLO

Indiana

Eli, looking at the pigs

Wild kitty at a farm in Indiana

Spring as sprung in my backyard

ICLW

I am participating in my first official - ICLW (International Comment Leaving Week)! WooHoo!

I am so excited to get started finding new and interesting blogs, leaving comments, and making new blogger friends along the way!

If you're new to my blog, WELCOME! I'm so happy you decided to stop by - I hope this won't be the last time you do! I look forward to interacting with each and everyone of you in the very new future!

Have an awesome week and let the commenting begin!!