Fishies

Judson has been attacking the poor fishies that hang from his cute mobile on his crib. In fact he has been snatching them off of the mobile and attempting to eat them. He also has yanked the mobile off of his crib twice now... so I decided to take this matter into my own hands, lol

Voila... I give you the new, safe mobile where the fishies can swing freely from Judson's grabbing hands! Keep in mind I need to work on the bow a little but I thought it turned out pretty cute!

Today

Today I turn 27 years old

and My brother Stephen turns 24.

Happy Birthday Little Brother! I love you.

Our Christmas

Let's go outside and play mama!

Playing with Judson and Hartleigh at the Brun's Christmas party

Meeting Santa for the first time

An army of my homemade brown sugar buttercream cupcakes

Judson's first year being a part of our family's Christmas Eve story reading

Christmas morning!

All packed up and ready to go to my parents house (KayKay and Poppy)

My honey and I enjoying stocking time at my parents house- always so much fun!

Judson playing with his sweet cousin Zachary at MeMe and Pop's house (Jimbo's parents)

and after getting all those new toys- he still crawls to the table where my ceramic Santa and Rudolph sits!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!

I know we sure did!

Enchiladas

Hands down... the BEST chicken enchiladas my husband and I have ever had! Here is what you need and what to do in order to try Campbell's delicious Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

6 flour tortillas (6-inch), warmed

1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 green onion, sliced (about 2 tablespoons)

Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl.

Stir 1 cup soup mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl.

Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side up in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with iceberg salad mixed with carrots and red cabbage and a red wine viniagrette. For dessert serve prepared refrigerated flan.
P.S. I added a little more chicken and the soup to make more mixture therefore it made more enchiladas for lunch the next day ;)

(my enchilada's going into the oven)

First photo from Cambellskitchen.com

Pretty Piggy

Never fails... evertime I browse through the isles at TJ Maxx I find some sort of neat little something to bring home and be giddy over for a little while. This time I found the prettiest piggy-bank! $4.99-thats it! Made me wonder why these banks are "pigs" and not something a little prettier like a puppy or a flower. I know they have really branched out with the creativity when it comes to different types of banks in the past few years, but what made them choose a pig for the original bank? If you are interested... go here! Prettiest little piggy I ever did see! lol

On A Whim

After many mornings of not having time to fix my overly thick hair and becoming very frustrated with my mop of a hairdo- I decided that I wanted to get a shorter haircut. Yesterday, to my husband's surprise (and mine too) I decided I simply wanted it all off cut off, so I did just that this morning! Yes mam I did... lol and I am still trying to decide how I feel about that decision. I got to The Sanctuary Salon 20 minutes early... plenty enough time to contemplate the cut (more like chop) I was about to aquire.. hence the photo with longer hair. I went in and saw Lauren and Jenni and in an hour and a half I came out feeling like I lost 10 lbs.!

Yo Baby!

YoBaby=Happy Baby!

Have you heard of Stonyfield Farm's Yobaby 3 in 1 meals? Well... Judson has and he LOVES them!!! You can find them in the yogurt section at most grocery stores I assume but I discovered it at our local Wal-Mart. Honestly, they sound disgusting but after you open them they actually smell pleasant and Judson made yum yum noises after every bite! They are for children 6 mo. and up and they are 100% Organic.

"Delicious new YoBaby Meals give you an easy way to give your baby or toddler the nutrition of three important food groups — dairy, fruit, and vegetables.

YoBaby Meals is scrumptious whole-milk yogurt with an ounce of fruit and vegetable purée on the bottom. Each Meals serving provides more than a third of your little one’s daily needs for protein and calcium, plus other essential nutrients like zinc and vitamin A. And babies absolutely love the taste.

YoBaby Meals comes in three delicious flavors:Pear & green beans, Peach & squash ,Apple & sweet potato"

December's Book of the Month

My mother has always read my family (me, my brother, sister, and father) a story every Christmas Eve since I can remember and even though I am about to be 27 years old.. and our family has accumulated a son-in-law, grandson, future daughter-in-law, and a boyfriend.. my mother still reads the story on Christmas Eve and we all love it! Since I was a little girl I have dreamed of one day having that day where I would be nestled by the Christmas tree reading an adventurous Christmas story to my four children (1 down, 3 to go!) and husband. We would sip on hot cocoa and the children would lay around sleepy eyed and excited about the following morning in their pajamas while I read aloud. Ahhh... I know. I know. My mom's story is quite short- takes about 15 minutes to read the entire story, but I found the neatest book that is pretty long and if you are like me and enjoy reading... this book could be read to your family over the entire month of December, not just on Christmas Eve.

"The Christmas Chronicles" As told by Jeff Guinn is 735 pages of Christmas magic. This collection includes all three of Jeff Guinn's Christmas Chronicles novels: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, a tale that combines historical fact with legend to tell the true story of Mr. Claus. How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, a story in which the first lady of Christmas herself tells the story of how she and a very brave group of people once saved a treasured holiday from being lost forever.

The Great Santa Search, a tale that takes readers on a sleigh ride through the history of Christmas in America that lands smack-dab in 2006, as a reality TV show threatens to destroy the true spirit of Christmas.

Guinn is also the author of "Santa's North Pole Cookbook" that is really awesome because children in America know Santa's favorite treat as being milk and cookies, but this book tells all of the wonderful treats Santa likes to eat from all over the world! Santa describes each recipe and what makes it special at the holidays, along with his recollections of the country of origin.The cookbook offers an array of foods, beverages and desserts for breakfasts, dinners and parties. There are even a few recipes enjoyed by historical figures!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Ohh... I love this time of year! This past weekend reminded me of how much and why I love it so so much! Between it being the first year that we have a child, giant stuffed rudolphs from MiMi and Pop, Judson getting to play with his sweet cousin Zachary, fun Christmas sweater parties, my husband helping me cook even while he watches football, cute/tacky decorations that you can only get away with during the holidays, enjoying friends and family, COLD weather (which I LOVE), watching my daddy play with my son underneath the Christmas tree, and going to our church for the Christmas program... I would say it was a pretty eventful weekend that got me very excited for whats to come over the next few weeks leading to my favorite day of the year! By the way, if you live in the area or are visiting you should join us at First Baptist North Mobile Church for "The Amazing Back-Story of Christmas"!

Holiday Party Foods

So... we all have holiday parties this month and I wanted to share a few recipes that I have tried and have been crowd pleasers! These recipes are quick and easy allowing you to make something fantastic as well leave you plenty of time to get dolled up for the party! ;)

Creamy Crab and Red Pepper Spread
By: Kraft

What you need:
2 green onions, thinly sliced, divided
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese
1 can (6 oz.) lump crabmeat, drained
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped red peppers
1 Tbsp. GREY POUPON Dijon Mustard
RITZ Reduced Fat Crackers
** For this recipe I added a little garlic powder and a dab of tabasco sauce and it really made the flavor pop!
What to do:
REMOVE 2 Tbsp. onions; set aside. Mix remaining onions with all remaining ingredients except crackers.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour.
SPRINKLE with reserved onions. Serve with crackers.

Chocolate Delight
By: Mount Vernon Methodist Church

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What you need:
1 Pack Pecan Sandy Cookies
1 1/2 Sticks melted butter
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
2 c. cool whip
2 lg. instant chocolate pudding
6 c. milk
What to do:
Spread crunched pecan sandies mixed with melted butter into 13x9 pan.
Bake 15 min and then cool completely.
In bowl mix cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add cool whip; spread over crust.
Mix pudding and milk and pour over 2nd layer. Place in fridge.
Top with cool whip and then crumble heath bar over top or use heath bar tidbits.
 
Cream Cheese Bites
By: Mama
 
Put 1 can crescent rolls in bottom of 9x13 pan.
Mix (2) 8 oz. cream cheese, 1 c. sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla, until creamy.
Spread over rolls.
Place 1 can crescent rolls over top.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake until golden brown. Let cool before cutting.
DELICIOUS!

Christmas Crawler

T’was the first week of December,

When all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, (except for the dishwasher running and us watching “House”;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

And I had just put up the Christmas tree that day

With all my pretty ornaments placed here and there…..

This was the day that Judson Bailey decided to take off!

He had been rocking back and forth on his hands and knees for weeks and had made a few attempts and we knew it was only a matter of time before he began to really crawl, but I did not suspect the day would be the day I put the tree up! Holy moly that boy can move! He was like a monster! First he went straight for my beautiful candy cane ornaments then for the outlet plugs where the lights were plugged in… from there on out I’m not too sure what all happened! I think the tree almost came over. I could not believe that this child of mine who had sat for so long staring up at me with those angelic eyes was now this little fast moving creature grabbing as fast as he could and screeching when I pulled him away! I think I even broke a sweat with tearing him away from his beloved tree, lol!

As of last night- he looked like he was trying to start walking! I am very afraid! haha

We are now child-proofing the house to say the least!

Something about Sisters

There is something about sisters. The way they keep your secrets safe, the way you can cry on their shoulder and they can make even the worst seem better, the way you can be arguing with one another and then look at eachother and burst out laughing! Sisters are the most wonderful thing in the world. There was a time when my sister was the most annoying person in the world to me and I HATED sharing a room with her, got so annoyed with how she wanted to follow me around, and never thought there would be a day when she would be the best friend I ever had. TODAY, she is that friend... my best friend. I looked at her today and saw just how beautiful she is and how much I am thankful for her. She is my breath of fresh air and lol...the person I am trying to call right now to see if she wants to come watch a movie and stay the night! Lulu- I love you and am so proud of the woman you have become.

Thankful

I am thankful for...

Waking up to this every morning. (Jimbo and Judson)

Getting to drink these! Star Buck's White Chocolate Mocha's!

Good friends who make me laugh :) (Me with my best friends the night Judson was born)

The ones who love me exactly the way I am (Me with my brother and sister on Christmas Eve)

Having a good job (me with the DREAM Program students at the Medical School)

This semester coming to an end! (Photo of stairs leaving Humanities Bldg. on USA campus)

And above ALL... having a God who forgives me, loves me unconditionally, and who has blessed me with so many wonderful things!
Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!!

What does a teacher make?

As a future educator, most of the time I hear negative comments about how little I will be making once I become a teacher and how so and so decided they could not ever be a teacher because the pay was not good enough.. you get the picture. I mostly hear negative comments and they are all about the pay. Although I believe that educators don't make as much money as they should, money is not the reason for my wanting to be a teacher. One of my teachers sent me along with her other students this story and I love it!
_______________________________________________
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.


One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.

He argued: "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: "Those who can: do. Those who can't: teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Susan," he said. "Be honest. What do you make?"

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness, replied, "You want to know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best. I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence. I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home. You want to know what I make?" "I make kids wonder." "I make them question." "I make them criticize." "I make them apologize and mean it." "I make them write." "I make them read, read, read." "I make them spell "definitely &beautiful" over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again." "I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final drafts in English." "I elevate them to experience music and art and joy in the performance, so their lives are rich, full of kindness and culture, and they take pride in themselves and their accomplishments." "I make them understand that if you have the brains, then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you pay them no attention." "You want to know what I make? I make a difference."

Susan turned to the CEO, "What do you make?"

I Wish For...

Photograph By: Miranda Owens Photography

From December 3 through December 11 please visit http://www.fossil.com/ to vote for Judson's picture in the "I Wish For ..." Photo Contest! You can only vote once per computer per day. Take a look by clicking  here.