Rosebud: A Blossoming Flower!

Time has flown by since we moved here to Aberdeen in the end of September. Rose had basically just turned one, was sucking a pacifier, only crawling, and barely saying any words. Now it's just 3 months later and our little Rosebud is blossoming into a beautiful toddler flower haha! Ok so I guess that's where my analogy breaks down, so I'll stop trying to use it :)

I did a post on her turning one, but realized that I had forgotten to post pictures of her little birthday party in Pennsylvania, so I wanted to share a few of those.

This is how I found her after her nap :)

Ballerina?

Kisses!

Well - it's hard to believe, but Rose is 16 MONTHS OLD now!

Even thought life has been so busy here, I want to make sure I document some of Rose's progression from baby to toddler so that I don't' forget how amazing the change was.

Here are a few areas she has changed in the last 3 months:
*Bye-Bye Pacifier! It was just about two weeks after we had been here, she had basically just given up her bottle in PA before we left and  was waiting to pull the paci until we got here and everything wasn't so new. Well, I only brought about 5-6 pacifiers and one day when we were walking with the stroller, Rose threw her pacifier out on the ground without my realizing it. I said to Tim, we'll I guess that's it. she cried a bit for a day or two going to bed, then it was over. I can't believe it! She immediate started seeming older!

* FIRST STEPS at Lloyds bank in Aberdeen just a week after our arrival(13 months).

* At 14 months she was saying: up(u), down(d), book(bu), apple(she would eat an entire apple core and all while we were taking long walks!), ya, that(dat), this(dis), dada, mama, uh oh, all done (ah duh)

* She started taking 3-4 steps consistently(prior to that she was much happier crawling and cruising) on November 12 (15 months)

* Now at 16 months she is also saying: up please (up, peas), dance(dac), juice(juc), Cheese(chee), Hat(at) - she love to put anything on her head and say, "at"

* SHE LOVES TO SLEEP! If we don't lay her down at 6 or 6:30 pm she is a mess! And she will sleep until 8/8:30am. Fortunately Maddy has been walking out of their room quietly when she wakes up around 6:45 or 7am and Rose keeps on snoozing away which really helps us get the morning going and me to get my workout in!

* Down to one nap - she will usually sleep from 12p -3p.

* She is a little climber, but is much more careful than Maddy and usually asks for help to get dow (down).

* She is happy to play by herself (in that fun mischievous stage of taking things out of cupboards and hiding them other places in the house - not so fun when I really need that mixing bowl to make dinner - haha!

* She also loves to follow Maddy around and just do whatever she is doing. They really have started to play well together. I have learned that sometimes when I hear a frustrated squeal from the other room when I'm doing dishes, that I need to let them work it out. And they seem to have found a "peaceable" way to play together ---most of the the time :0)

*She nods her head vigorously when we ask her a question that the answer is "yes" and shakes it no too! It's so fun to see her express her opinion.

* She has a great attention span! THAT she did not get from me - Thanks Tim!

*Even though she is still itty bitty - she eats a ton. I swear she eats all day long!

Just met with their doctor for the first time here(very nice lady!)
Weight: 8kg (17.6 lbs) 9%
Height:  74.5cm (29 inches) 9%

LOVE this sweet girl. She is so calm, mild natured, easy going, happy, and loving!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday- Shepherd's Pie - Last time I made it I froze half of the base so that I could make it quickly this time. Yay!

Tuesday- Chicken Roulade and roasted carrots - never got to make this last week because we had leftover chili and ended up doing a pizza night because there was a buy one get one free deal :)
     *Last time I made this, I made it with pasta and just added some of the extra cranberry's, nuts, and  spinach to the pasta. It was yummy! This time I'm just doing baked carrots to trim down the calories.

Wednesday -Baked Chicken, crispy broccoli(drizzled  with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and baked at 425 for about 7 minutes
Thursday- Chicken Quesadillas - I am usually able to use the leftovers from the baked chicken above to make the next two meals!
Friday- White Chicken Chili, crispy bread

Madison You're THREE!!!

Dearest Madison,
It's hard to believe, but just a few short weeks ago, you turned 3 while in Scotland. I honestly can't believe it! It really seems like yesterday that your Dad and I met you for the first time on that cold winter morning in Chicago! Here are our first few moments with you. It was like time stood still.

Our lives became fuller and more meaningful that day Maddy! 

We thank the Lord for you. 

Soon you started to grow up and even make lifelong friends (maybe husband?) right Kim and Sam?! :0) Your personality and zest for life became evident. 

I love this precious picture of you and your Daddy napping together. I treasure those moments!

 Before we knew it, a year had flown by and you were toddling around like you owned the place

(and still do might I add :)

 

And you were only 1 1/2 when your little sister Rose was born. You were so brave and such a great big sister, even though you were so little yourself!

And ZIP - there went another year. You turned two and had a My Little Pony party with some of your favorite buddies in Chicago.

 I remember distinctly the fun you had running around the house playing with your friends on your big day. It made your Dad and I so happy!

 You and your sister bonded quickly, although not always seamlessly ;) You always took such good care of her and were very protective of her - that is unless you were the one doing the damage ;() 

Soon we started packing to leave Chicago to move to PA for a month, only to move to Scotland for 3 years! What a big transition! There were a few tough times, but all in all in time you handled it beautifully and bounced right back to your happy self! Your Dad and I were amazed!

~~~~~~~~

Now here we are and you just turned 3!

You asked specifically for a Disney princess party and the little girl in me was happy to oblige! 

Star wand cookies

  You can name every princess now and have seen every Disney princess there is to see I think.

 You think yourself a little princess and your Mommy and Daddy King and Queen - I certainly don't mind that when you bow and say "Thank you your Majesty" when your Dad or I get you something :)

 You were so antsy waiting for your friends to arrive to your party...

 You sang, "Bippity Boppity Boo" to your party food, pretending that they themselves were turning into princesses. Could you please not grow up any more sweetie? 

I just can't get enough of these precious moments!

 It's only been 3 short months that we have been in a new COUNTRY and yet you have managed to make little friends already -that's when I'm grateful for your happy outgoing personality.

 Your friend Rebekah, who you look up to like a big sister, gave you her "well-loved" Belle dress for you to have now that she's outgrown it and you almost wear it every day!

 You were in tears when you friends had to go home... but I love that about you. 

You feel things with such passion.

 Your Dad and I have enjoyed three wonderful years with you and we are so thankful that you are part of our lives! You make us smile, giggle, dance, sing, play, and just plain enjoy the little moments of life more. You are precious in the eyes of the Lord and in ours too! 

Your sister adores you and loves nothing more than to toddle around after you. I love to see that you are such wonderful friends already! 

You are becoming such lovely young lady and we just can't wait to see all of the amazing things God has in store for you! 

Menu Plan Monday + BEST Cornbread!

Monday- Beef stuffed peppers (389 calories per pepper- More nutritional info here.)

Tuesday - Salmon with Lemon and Dill (320 Calories per fillet), Salad with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette (43 calories)

Wednesday - Red chili and cornbread. I got this Chili recipe of my Friend Suzanne's blog called, Frugal Rock - love her and her blog! Thanks Suz, I've been needing a good chili recipe!

*I serve this chili with the most amazing cornbread ever. One of my college professor's wives gave it to me way back in 2000. Every time I serve it people go nuts! It's a souped up jiffy mix recipe and we can't even get jiffy mix over here. I have to order it off of Amazon UK - that's how good this stuff is - I have to have it :) But I will say this - it makes a HUGE amount of cornbread 9x13 and THICK! So I usually make a whole batch and freeze half of the batter for the next time I make chili :)

-Oh and it's absolutely terrible for you. BUT it's SO worth the calories! So with my calorie counting, I'll only be having one piece with my chili.


THE BEST Cornbread: 
3 small boxes of jiffy cornbread mix    
1 stick of melted butter    
5 eggs                                          
1 (12 oz) can of evaporated milk
1 cup of sugar

* Beat eggs and mix in sugar. Add milk, stir well. Add melted butter and jiffy mix, stir well. Put in a 9x13 pan and bake (at 350) until golden brown (about 45 min). It makes A LOT of corn bread. So I usually freeze half of the batter in a tupperware container and bake only half in a 8x8 pan ;)

Thursday - Cream of Broccoli Soup (309 calories), crispy bred

Friday-  Chicken Roulade and roasted carrots


I'm linked up with Orgjunkie

MPM, Christmas, and Weight Loss

Well, the Christmas weekend was such a blast. We just relaxed and made some new traditions as a family. Saturday we made Sugar cookies. I love this recipe for the cookies and this recipe for the frosting. Yum! Although, I still hate rolling and cutting out sugar cookies. I read like 5 different posts on little tricks to make it easier, but it still kind of annoys me. But Tim LOVES them and the girls really enjoy making them with me(aka: eating all of the raw dough and frosting :) SO in the long run it was worth it! Here's some pics of us baking :)

I made Paula Dean's Baked French Toast  for Christmas morning and it was pretty amazing.

I also made this yummy Bacon Cheese Dip that a friend had given me the recipe for years ago and that was delicious! We just relaxed Christmas eve and snacked on appetizers.

"Warm Bacon Cheese Spread"

1 round loaf sourdough bread (1lb)

1 package(8oz) cream cheese softened

12 oz sour cream

2 cups(8oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

3/4 lb sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup chopped green onions

assorted crackers

Directions:

1. Cut the top fourth of the loaf of bread; carefully hollow out the bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell. Cut the removed bread and top of loaf into cubes; set aside.

2. In a mixing  owl, beat the cream cheese. Add the sour cream, cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce until combined; stir in the bacon and onions.

3. Spoon into the bread shell. Wrap in a piece of heavy-duty foil (about 24inx17in).

4. Bake at 325 fro 1 hour or until heated through. Serve with crackers and reserved bread cubes

Yields 4 cups

On Weight loss...
We have eaten very well (and badly) basically since Thanksgiving, and it was so amazing and worth it, but now we are trying to eat lighter for the New Year. Mainly me, but Tim is always supportive acting like he needs to lose a few...sweetie! But all that to say, I am going to start to *try* to include calorie counts next to my recipes mainly for planning on my part. I am back to counting calories, being sure to exercise 5 days a week, and weighing in once a week. I'm determined to finally lose this baby weight (after all, my "baby" is almost 16 months old- gasp ;)

Monday - Broiled Tilapia,  broiled  olive oil and salt and pepper broccoli  (225 calories) I know  I said I was going to make this last week, but my local grocery store didn't have the fish I wanted let time I ordered, so I just postponed it. But his week - it's happening :)

Tuesday- Chicken Parmesan (couldn't find calls, but on a healthy website and no pasta) with green salad

Wednesday - P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps (580 cals, but that's without the sauces only 160 calories a serving!)

Thursday - Baked Honey Mustard Chicken (232 Calories), Grilled Asparagus

Friday - Spaghetti and Meatballs (291 Calories), Salad


I'm linked up with orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday

One of these days I'll actually get to go back and rate some of the new recipes that I have tried. There have been some amazing ones and some terrible ones-ha! But for now, here's another week.

Monday- Baked Chicken because we're having company over and it's easy, yummy and looks impressive ;)

Tuesday- Chicken Noodle Soup -Let me just start by saying, there is no science to this one. I just take the leftover chicken bones and pieces from the above baked chicken, and boil it in about 4-5 cups of water, 3 carrots, 1 onion, 3 stalks of celery, two more chicken breasts, salt and pepper and let it simmer away for a few hours. It must be the seasonings from the cavity of the above baked chicken, but this broth tastes amazing! I just strain it(settling aside the yummy carrots, onion and celery), cut up the chicken breasts, and add back those veggies, and put some cooked noodles or rice in. We love it especially on a cold day!

Wednesday- Baked Mac and Cheese -Tim's birthday was Sunday and he wanted a burger out that day, but then after it was all over, he  requested Mac and Cheese this week :)

Thursday- Chicken fajitas

Friday-Broiled Parmesan Tilapia - I'm giving this one a second go. My first attempt was not successful, but it sounds so good so I'm trying it again!

Check out orgjunkie for more menu ideas!

Aberdeen Update

Tim is writing a quarterly update letter while we are here in Aberdeen. If you are interested in reading it you can follow this link to download the letter.

Motherhood is Application

A friend of mine passed this article(Motherhood is Application) on to me from John Piper's "Desiring God" website.  I am so glad that I took the few minutes to read it. It was just the encouragement and conviction my soul needed today. Especially since both of my girls were hanging onto my legs yesterday crying to be held while I REALLY just wanted to finish the pile of dishes on the counter. 

Here's a little snippet to whet your appetite:

" Imagine yourself in your kitchen trying to make dinner for a group of little kids who are tired and should have eaten a half hour ago. Imagine that things are going wrong beyond that — maybe you are out of something you assumed you had, children are fussing with one another, and maybe your littlest is still at the age where they come stand on your feet and pull on your pant leg. Bonus points if you are wearing maternity pants and this little person is actually capable of pulling your pants down. You are hot, you are tired, and you are sick of it.
This is no time for a gospel presentation. There isn’t time. There isn’t anyone to lead the discussion around the felt board, because you are still scrambling to figure out dinner. This isn’t a time for a gospel presentation because it is a time for gospel application."

Merry Christmas!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

We can't send out as many cards as usual this year,so I wanted to post our card and say Merry Christmas to you all! Praying that Christ blesses you and your family this year!