Married 1 year

Jeff and I had our 1st wedding anniversary yesterday and we celebrated by spending the weekend in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin...alone!  We chose Lake Geneva mainly because it's only a little over an hour away and it would be our first time leaving Bella for more than a couple of hours.   The first night I cried my eyes out at dinner.  I felt so guilty and did not want her wondering why we weren't around.  I worried that she would feel abandoned.  A short phone call to my mother-in-law quickly put me at ease. 

This was a short but much needed getaway!  No matter where we are Jeff and I always have so much fun together.  Here are a few pics from our trip...

We caught a total of 13!

And this is only part of the reason why we couldn't wait to get back home! 

I can't wait to see Ethan and Jaelyn!!

It's a Social Parade!

It's a Social Parade - Wednesday Link-up is a weekly link-up hosted by

Smart and Trendy Moms . They created it for socializing and to get new followers, fans, subscribers, readers without feeling overwhelmed. Every week will be a new link-up that will focus on one of the ways you connect with people through your blog! They will rotate through gaining followers, fans, Networked blogs and more. Link-up and focus on one thing at a time. Its about fun one follower, fan and reader at a time!


Go To Smart and Trendy Moms to Link Up!

Will She Like Applesauce?

The answer was clear...No!  She was okay with squash but allergic to peas so we moved on to applesauce.  She isn't too fond of it.  See for yourself.

24 hrs Off of Mommy Duty...My Mother's Day Gift

We all know this isn't completely true!  My gift was 24 hrs off of mommy duty.  My husband agreed to take care of everything from 8pm yesterday to 8pm tonight.  Well, I woke up for a bottle feeding at 5am...I was just afraid he wouldn't do it right and she'd up the rest of the morning.  I guess there isn't really a "right" way...just MY way! :)  I did, however, get to sleep in till 9:30am!!! It was surreal!  I kinda just staired at the ceiling thinking how wonderful it was.  I'm sure I will be putting in plenty of "mommy time" today..but that's ok, it's what I live for...and it's the thought that counts!
This is what I woke up to!

My Little Giggle Monster

I must say, we have a pretty good routine going on around here.  My husband gets home around 6:00pm, dinner is on the table by 6:30 and Bella is yawning and rubbing her eyes absolutely ready for bed by 7:45.  My husband will usually take her upstairs and get her changed while I make her bottle.  I turn off the lights, sit in the rocker, feed her, burp her, put her in the crib and she is out within minutes! Lovely!  Last night wasn't any different until it came down to feeding time.  I put the bottle in her mouth and the giggles started.  She couldn't stop!  It was the strangest thing! I did my best to keep a serious face but we all know how hard that was!  So after a solid 10 minutes of this madness I decided to bring her back downstairs with me.  We watched The Office for a little bit and the yawns started again.  I began feeding her right there and she began dozing off.  I carried her upstairs continuing to feed her...still sleepy (yay!).   Then I sat back in the chair...and the giggles started again!! Ahhhh!!!  Will she ever go to sleep?  When does my day end?  Grrr!!  But I can't help but smile.  I love that little laugh! 
So I gave up and just put her in her crib without feeding her.  She was asleep in 30 seconds! ha ha ha
I woke her up before I went to bed to give her a bottle.  I was terrified she would start giggling again!

 

Cinco de Mayo! Ahhh...another excuse to eat and get drunk!

Did You Know? Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the historical battle of 1862 between Mexico and France, not to be confused with Mexico’s Independence Day, September 15th. This holiday is a symbol of Mexican pride and unity.  Here is a little healthy something I will be making for dinner tonight... I will leave all the calories in my Margharitas! 

Ingredients:
1 small zucchini, diced

1 small yellow squash, diced

1/2 pound extra-lean ground beef

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 (1.25-oz.) taco fresco seasoning

1 (8-oz.) can no-salt-added tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon lime juice

8 romaine lettuce leaves


Toppings: diced tomato, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped red onion, crumbled queso fresco*


Preparation
1. Sauté first 3 ingredients in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in seasoning until blended; cook 1 minute.

2. Reduce heat to low; stir in tomato sauce, and cook, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro and lime juice.

3. Serve meat mixture in romaine lettuce leaves with desired toppings.

*2% reduced-fat shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese may be substituted.


Nutritional Information
Calories:93 (0.0% from fat)
Fat:4.5g (sat 1.3g,mono 2.4g,poly 0.4g)
Protein:6.7g
Carbohydrate:6.2g
Fiber:1g
Cholesterol:10mg
Iron:1mg
Sodium:227mg
Calcium:14mg  

Happy Hour @ Starbucks!!!

It's Happy Hour time at Starbucks! Between May 7 and May 16, enjoy a half-price Frappuccino® blended beverage at participating Starbucks in the afternoon – 3 to 5 p.m. 
 Go here for the details!

 Thanks to Janae at Frugal Finds for Frugal Minds I am letting you in on this cool new scoop!  Starbucks introducing the new however-you-want-it Frappuccino, which means you can customize your very own Frappuccino blended beverage.



1. Choose your milk: nonfat, 2%, or soy?


2. Pick your coffee: Extra coffee? a shot of espresso? Decaf?


3. Lower your calories: make it light or hold the whip...


4. Add a little fun: some drizzle, chocolate chips, or whipped cream

I am on pretty strict diet, or I should say new way of eating and living, but Fraps are definitely going to be my summertime weakness!!

Bella's 1st Cereal Experience

So I started Bella on rice cereal on Saturday. She did such a great job at swallowing each spoonful. She enjoyed the new experience for awhile but then gave up. I tried again on Saturday, making the cereal a bit thicker, and she couldn't get enough! So cute!
I spent Saturday and Sunday looking for signs of allergies or constipation and didn't really get either. She didn't poop on Sunday, which is not like her, but she made up for it today! lol
This first pic is my favorite!!

When Will My Hair Stop Falling Out?!

OMG! This hair loss after pregnancy is really getting old! Bella is 5 months old and I feel like my hair is falling out now more than ever! I'm talking clumps and clumps and hair all over my house! Not only is it scary but it's gross! I can't keep up with the cleaning...it's everywhere!
According to the American Pregnancy Association, hair loss after pregnancy should diminish after months 3-4! Well??? I'm going to start really freaking out soon! Thank God my hair has always been fairly thick. I just don't know when I should really start to panic!

Button Blog Swap

Today is the first ever Button Blog Swap hosted by Blogger Chix Designs!  Wish I was home earlier to participate...better late than never, I guess.  I love new buttons! I can't wait to catch up with everyone!