Red Potato & Corn Chowder

My husband found a similar recipe somewhere on the internet when he was preparing to do a version of the Daniel Fast. I tweaked the recipe to make it more flavorful, and this was a hit at our house! Clete's words were "we've got to add this to the menu" and we all know when the husband approves it usually counts for a win!

ingredients

(1) 32 oz. carton organic vegetable broth

2 lbs. baby red potatoes, diced

1 small onion, finely chopped

4 stalks of celery, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk

1 tbl. black pepper

1 tbl. Creole seasoning

dash of garlic salt

parsley for garnish

instructions

1. Rinse potatoes and then dice.

2. Combine vegetable broth, potatoes, onion, garlic, celery, 

and seasonings in a large pot and bring to a boil on stove.

3. Once potatoes are tender, remove two cups of only 

potatoes and blend with milk in a food processor.

4. Pour blended mixture back into pot on the stove and stir.

5. Let simmer 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are completely soft.

6. Garnish with parsley and serve.

notes
This would also be great with shredded chicken breast added.

9 months old

Mac is 9 months old today! Where has time gone? What happened to our sweet 9+lb baby? It'll be just 3 more months and he will be turning a year old. (Ahh, mommy has got to get to planning!) Time is flying by!

These past 9 months have been so much fun! It's now hard to imagine life without Mac. He is a pure bundle of joy! Mac is now crawling and getting into everything. He's very curious, and ALL BOY! He's getting quick at moving, and has started to pull up. He will try to pull up on anything he can. He still likes sitting and jumping in his bouncy, but his new favorite toy is his big truck Santa brought him. He would ride around in it for hours if we'd just continue to push him. He loves to eat, and sit in his high chair. He's eating baby food twice a day and also a little table food. The boy still loves his bottles though! He got some sippy cups in his stocking and likes drinking water from them. He also loves his puffs and yogurt melts for snacks. Mac still adores his daddy, but he also loves his mama. He loves watching Mickey Mouse, and the biggest smile comes across his face when he sees Mickey. Mac loves to laugh. His belly laughs are the best! He is talking lots and making all kinds of noises and screams, but we're still waiting on real words. He likes to play, and loves anything he can get in his mouth. Mac has recently upgraded to a big boy convertible car seat, and he loves it! He is sleeping around 11 hours at night, and still has 6 teeth but I think he's trying to cut some new ones. He is wearing size 4 diapers, and his clothes size varies between 6-12 mos and 12-18 mos right now. He's a happy boy, but can throw a mean fit when he's mad.

Mac,

It's hard to believe that you're already 9 months old. These past 9 months have been the best months of mommy and daddy's life. This past month has been very exciting since you've started to crawl. You are moving all over the place, and getting into everything. You have the best personality, and are such a happy boy! We love you more than you'll ever know, and we love watching you grow. Mommy prays for abundant blessings over your life, and for God's perfect plan. You are our bundle of joy! We love you to the moon, and are so thankful that you're our little nugget!
xoxo,
Mommy

Your Best is Good Enough.

I've only been a mother for a short almost 9 months, but I've learned a whole lot more in these 9 months that I ever thought I would. You see, I have always wanted to be a mother. I knew without a doubt growing up that I wanted babies of my own. It was no question between Clete and I that one day we would have a family. Becoming a mama is the most difficult and the best task I've ever been given. I'm perfectly satisfied with having the label, Mac's Mom. It has the perfect ring to it! ;) However, being a mama this day in age is often overwhelming. Everyone has to put in their two cents on Facebook, or voice their opinion on why they think it's better to breastfeed or use cloth diapers, etc. But let me tell you, don't compare yourself to others because your best if good enough.

There aren't too many things that make me more upset than when I hear women judging how other mothers choose to do things. If anyone should know how us mamas need encouragement and support it should be another mother. I believe we as women should lift each other up and encourage one another. A mom should be the very last person to criticize another mom for how she does things for her family. Some of us breastfeed and some of us use formula; and then there are also those of us like myself that wanted to breastfeed and even tried to but encountered problems so we chose formula because it was what seemed best for our babies. Some of us choose regular diapers, and others of us choose cloth diapers. Some of us opt for pain meds during the birth process, and others of us go all natural, but either way we're all brave. Some of us co-sleep, and others of us let the baby cry it out; some of us stay home with our babies and others of us send them to daycare while we also have a career. Some of us let our babies eat food out of a jar or pouch, and others of us make everything our baby eats. No matter how you may do things, know that your best is good enough mama.

Your best is good enough. Don't you let anyone, not one single person tell you anything different. Your best is good enough, always remember that. Whatever works for me and my family may not work you, and that's okay. My way only needs to work for me. Every baby is completely different. There are no two babies that are alike. It's all about finding whatever works for you and your little one. Your happy medium only has to work for you, no one else. So the next time your little one looks up at you with their sweet smile let it be a reminder that your best is good enough. You will always be super mom in your child eyes!

New Year, New Goals!

Happy New Year, friends! We are welcoming 2015 with open arms, and can't wait to see what all is in store for us in the year that lies ahead. Just like most of you, the new year brings about new goals and resolutions for me. I sat down during my time off over Christmas and made a list of my goals for 2015. I have several different goals, but my ultimate goal is to be able to mark each of these off my list before we bring 2015 to a close. I may elaborate on this list of goals in a later post, but for now I'm just going to list them out. I know what they mean, and that's what really matters. 

Goals for 2015

1. Grow closer to the Lord.

2. Save more, spend less.

3. Eat healthier (clean). 

4. Be more active.

5. Blog more regularly.  

6. Stress less. 

7. Not sweat the small stuff.

8. Better life balance.

9. Be a better wife & mom.

10. Unplug for a day.

11. Go on a "parents only" weekend.

12. Become more involved in our church.

13. Eat out less.

14. Not let our ironing pile up.

15. Start jogging.

16. Be a good example for Mac.  

             

I've put my goals out there and shared, so I'd love to hear some feedback from you. What are your goals for the new year? 

iPhone pic NYE 2K15 | Boulevard Lanes | Edmond, OK 

From our family to yours, we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2015! May this year be even better than the last. CHEERS to the New Year!

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A Look Back at 2014.

It is BIZARRE to me that we're about to ring in a brand new year! Where in the heck does time go? I mean it wasn't that long ago when we rang in 2014. This past year has truly been the best year ever! We got the biggest blessing of our lives this past April when we welcomed our little man into the world. Mac has been the best thing that's happened to us, and watching him grow and develop over the past 8+ months has brought us nothing but joy! We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, and also celebrated the milestone of being together for a decade! We celebrated birthdays, engagements, graduations, and also marriages of friends. 2014 has brought about Mac's firsts of the holidays, along with many other milestones for him! This past year has been full of many happy and joyful times. We are very blessed to get to live this life we've been given!

While we've had lots of good times throughout the year, this past year has been trying too. We have taken on the biggest responsibility we'll ever be given in my opinion which is the responsibility of being a parent. While parenthood is often fun and rewarding, it's also hard at times and we're still trying to figure it all out. We also experienced a few bumps in our marriage (adjusting to having another person in the house), but no matter what may be going on we both know we love each other and that we'll never give up on us. We're a team and we'll work threw the rough times together. I also have personally struggled with trying to find a balance between work, family, and fun. I received a promotion after returning from maternity leave and now have more responsibilities at the office. I sometimes have late nights, and it's often difficult to find the right balance between all that's going on.

Let's just be honest here, life isn't always easy. You have to take the bad days along with the good ones, and make the most of the life you're given. That's we try to do in our home. Overall, we get to live a damn good life! We have been blessed beyond measure in 2014, and we'll put this year behind us as the best year yet. We are thankful to the Lord above for this beautiful life he's given us, and we can't wait to see what's in store for us in 2015!

Happy New Year, friends! Cheers!

Mac's First Christmas

I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas! We had a great Christmas. This Christmas was extra special since it was Mac's first Christmas with us. He is at a really fun age, and it was so much fun to watch him interact with all the festivities.

iPhone photo taken at LifeChurch.tv South Tulsa

It's a family tradition for us to go to church on Christmas Eve. This year we went to the 4PM service, and after church we went back to my parents' house for presents and dinner. Mac got lots of new toys; a baby laptop, cell phone, drum, train, race car, and some Mickey Mouse stuff. He got some new cute clothes too, and he'll be the most stylish lil' boy in town. Of course, the paper and bows were the biggest hit for Mac and what he enjoyed the most!

After presents, we had dinner and then it was time for Mac to head to bed. Us adults {Clete & myself, my sister & her husband, and my mom & dad} stayed up to play dominoes which has become a tradition over the years. Santa also came and left Mac some things for Christmas morning!

Mac was up bright and early Christmas morning {just like any other day} so everyone got up to see him with his things from Santa Claus. Santa brought him a jean anywhere chair with his name, a big stuffed Mickey Mouse, Scout the learning dog, and a new Ford Raptor Truck that we can push him around in. He also got some new sippy cups, Desitin, baby lotion, boogie wipes, and puffs in his stocking. He was an extra good boy this year, so Santa brought him lots of goodies!

After Mac checked out all of his goodies, we then had breakfast casseroles and mimosas. After breakfast, we got around and that afternoon my DeeDee came with my brother in-law's mom and grandma to have Christmas dinner. My Dad and Mom prepared a delicious dinner of beef tenderloin, baked potatoes, salad, and rolls. We had a variety of sweet treats for dessert. Mac had potatoes with some of his food after his nap, and then it was time to play some more. He LOVES being pushed around in his new truck! As long as he's being pushed around, he's perfectly content.

The weekend before Christmas, Uncle Thomas and Aunt Kelsey came to stay with us and we did our Christmas with them. Mac got some fun things, and loved having them to play with. We all enjoyed having them at our house for the weekend.

Mac had a great Christmas, and so did we. It brought us pure joy to watch Mac be so excited and happy! We had a wonderful first Christmas with Mac, and we are the most thankful for the best gift of all, our savior who was born on the very first Christmas Day.

Mac's Dedication

On Sunday, December 7th (my sister's 24th birthday) we dedicated our baby boy to the Lord. We were surrounded by our church, family, and friends as we celebrated this special event in Mac's life. They often say it takes a village to raise a child, and I do believe that. In just the short 8 months we've been parents we have learned that we cannot do it alone. It's refreshing to know that there are others supporting us, encouraging us, and lifting us up in prayer on this journey of parenthood.

Jeremiah 29:11 is scripture I often refer to these days, and that's also the verse that I pray over Mac's life.  11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Mac was glad that his Aunt KK shared her birthday with him for his special day. It was a special day for our little family, and we are blessed to have been able to share it with so many people we love. We are so lucky to get to live this life we've been given, and are thankful everyday to the Lord above for all of his blessings.