Happy Friday!!!

Happy Friday!!! What a beautiful week this has been. We have had some really nice Spring weather. It has been great to leave the windows open and to take AnnaLynne outside. I absolutely love this weather. Although I like the change in the seasons, it is nice to say goodbye to the winter and all the snow.

ONE

This past Sunday, AnnaLynne and I had a play date with my friend Jenn and her little girl Caroline. Jenn and I work together, but she is still out on maternity leave, so I don't get to see her everyday. It is nice to get our little girls together to play when we can, although it is not always as often as I would like. Caroline is about 3 months older than AnnaLynne, as she just had her first birthday. Can't wait for the summer to get these girls together more often!!!

 

TWO

We went to the park this week on Wednesday and met up with my friend Meghan and her little guy Noah. Noah is older than AnnaLynne, but it is still nice to have the kids out together. We headed up to the park in Warren after I got out of work. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and although my mom had AnnaLynne out for a walk earlier in the day, I felt it was still really nice when I got home so we headed up to the park. The park is not far from our house and it has 3 different sections for the various ages in kids. I will definitely post better pictures next time. This time I focused on AnnaLynne going on the swing for the first time. I even was able to get a quick video.

THREE

Watermelon!!!! AnnaLynne tried watermelon for the first time this past week and absolutely loved it. I am trying to look for some new foods that she can eat, being that she has no teeth. She though the watermelon was so good and I couldn't keep it on her tray!!!

FOUR

Recipes!!! So I have been checking out some new lighter recipes now that the weather is getting warmer. With the spring here and summer right around the corner, I love all the produce that is in season. Here is a recipe, I'm planning on trying soon!!

  1 ripe mango cut into small cubes

  2 medium to large strawberries diced

  3 raspberries quartered

  2 thin slices of red onion diced

  5 fresh mint leaves chopped

  10 fresh basil leaves chopped

  1 tsp lime juice

  1 pinch of kosher salt

  4-6 Tilapia fillets, depending on how many you are feeding

  Kosher Salt, garlic powder, onion powder and dried parsley

Mix the mango, strawberries, raspberries, onion, mint, basil, lime juice and salt together. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.

When ready to make dinner, sprinkle both side of the tilapia with a bit of kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with a bit of non-stick cooking spray. Cook each fillet about 4 minutes a side, based on thickness. You’ll know it’s time to flip them when the ends start to turn white.

Top the cooked tilapia fillets with a scoop of the salsa.

                                

FIVE

Swimwear!! I picked up these great finds on Zulily the past week for AnnaLynne for the summer. I love that the bottoms are swim diapers. I read a lot of reviews on reusable swim diapers and iPlay got great reviews. If you can't find them on Zulily they have some in Target and on the iPlay website as well. If you have a chance to check them out, I totally would!!! You will not be disappointed.  Below are just a few that we  ordered, but they have so many more on their website, both for girls and boys.

 

Happy Friday!!! This week I am linking up with Darci, April, Christina and Natasha's blogs

for their Five on Friday!

I'm also linking up with  The Farmer's Wife and September Farm for "Oh Hey Friday"



Oh Hey Friday

Five for Friday!!!

Happy Friday!!! What a great week this has been!! It has been so nice to be home with AnnaLynne while school is closed for spring break. Although I did have to go back to work today for a half day to make up a snow day, the rest of the week was fun.

ONE

We celebrated AnnaLynne's first Easter this past Sunday and it was really nice. The weather was absolutely beautiful, we were even able to get some outdoor pictures taken. We celebrated Easter at my Aunt and Uncle's which we do every year. It was so nice to get together with family and for AnnaLynne to play with her cousins. My aunt did a wonderful job with dinner as she does every year. Before we went for dinner though AnnaLynne opened up her first of 3 Easter baskets and she loved all the toys inside. We think she loved the remote control the best. We decided to get her, her own remote control and cell phone as she is always putting our in her mouth.

 

 

1. Cell Phone    2. Secure Buddy    3. Easter Hunters   4. Night Before Easter  

5. Remote Control   6. Easter Bunny NJ

TWO

Playtime!!! AnnaLynne had an enormous amount of playtime this week with Mommy, which was nice since usually I am at work. She got these new squirters from her Aunt Erin and cousin Nate for Easter. They are so cute and she loves putting them in her mouth. I have to say they are possibly a good teething toy as well.

Squirters

THREE

Garlic Chicken. I tried this new chicken this week which was absolutely adorable. My sister belongs to this group Frontier Co-op which is absolutely wonderful for organic products. They have food, baby items, household items, etc. If you have the privilege to join this I would highly recommend it, the prices are good and its all organic. We have so many products from here and the company is just wonderful!!!

Chicken

FOUR

I have been looking for a couple new pieces of spring clothing to update my wardrobe. I usually stick to basic pieces like cardigans, t's, jeans, etc. I try to find things that I can interchange between work and weekends. I saw Old Navy had some cute spring pieces as well as the gap. Plus Old Navy is running a great sale.

                                                              

FIVE

I am in search of a good travel bed for AnnaLynne for the summer. We are spending a week at the beach in July and then another week in the Outer Banks in August. If anyone has any suggestions I am interested. She does not like the pack in play, and she will be one in July so something that is not to small would be awesome!!!

Happy Friday!!! This week I am linking up with Darci, April, Christina and Natasha's blogs

for their Five on Friday!

I'm also linking up with  The Farmer's Wife and September Farm for "Oh Hey Friday"







Oh Hey Friday

Photo Shoot

We were so lucky to have a great friend do pictures of AnnaLynne and our family. We were thinking spring with our colors, although the weather outside was not cooperating and thinking spring.  Kristen did an amazing job taking all of the photos and keeping AnnaLynne's attention. All of the photos came out beautiful, it is impossible to pick a favorite. Although AnnaLynne didn't smile in all the pictures, Kristen did an wonderful job capturing our little cutie.  If you live in the New Jersey area you should totally check her out, you will not be disappointed. I can't believe how big AnnaLynne is getting!!!

Please check out Kristen Boylan Photography.

 

Five On Friday!! First day of Spring

Happy Friday!!! This has been a very crazy week for us. Tom has been on a business trip in San Francisco since Monday and is supposed to come home today, but with the snow coming, who knows what will happen. I am just ready for the snow to be over with and the spring to be here. We keep getting teased here in the Northeast with some warm days and then it goes back to being cold. I guess this is just what happens when you live in New Jersey.
 

ONE

St. Patrick's Day!! We had a really nice St. Patrick's Day. AnnaLynne spent the day with my mom and sister, since I was working but then I met up with them at my moms for dinner. We had my mom's traditional corned beef and cabbage, which is just amazing!!! I was then able to get a couple shots of AnnaLynne and Nate on the couch. Trying to get an 7 month old and a four year old to sit together and smile, can be quite difficult, but they finally did it.

TWO

We had the privilege Sunday to have one of my oldest friends since third grade do pictures for us of AnnaLynne. She is an amazing photographer and if you live in New Jersey or around the area, you should definitely check out Kristen Boylan Photography. You will not be disappointed!!! Here is just a sneak peak of what she did for us.

THREE

So I am always looking for new recipes to try. I feel like though sometimes it needs to be easy, especially after coming home from a full day of working and try to get everything set for AnnaLynne and get dinner on the table. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. Trust me you will love it, plus I love that everything is all in one dish so less mess and clean up later.

 

Loaded Chicken and Potatoes Casserole

Ingredients

1 lb boneless chicken breasts, cubed

6-8 medium skin on red potatoes, cut in cubes

⅓ c olive oil

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp paprika

2 Tbsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp hot sauce

2 c fiesta blend cheese  ( I used just plain cheddar)

1 c crumbled bacon

1 c diced green onion

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Spray a 9X13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and hot sauce.
4. Add the cubed potatoes and chicken and stir to coat.
5. Carefully scoop the potatoes and chicken into the prepared baking dish.
6. Bake the potatoes and chicken for 55-60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes, until cooked through, crispy, and browned on the outside.
7. While the potatoes are cooking, fry your bacon (about half a pound).
8. Once the potatoes and chicken are fully cooked, remove from the oven.
9. Top the cooked potatoes with the cheese, bacon, and green onion.
10. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

FOUR

SPRING!!! With Spring coming and Summer right after that, I decided to get AnnaLynne some spring clothes to add to her wardrobe. I guess you can say that I am tired of the winter and the dark clothing. Carter's and Kohl's was having a great sale on kids clothes and I did a major stock up. If you are looking for some new things for your little ones I suggest checking them both out!!

                                                              

FIVE

I've been trying to drink more water lately. I've seen so many recipes for detox water, and I have to say I have been enjoying this week the lemon, cucumber, and mint recipe. Again I saw these on Pinterest, so if you are interested check out Detox Water recipes.

Well Happy Friday!!! Have a great weekend!!!

I'm linking up with The Farmer's Wife and September Farm for "Oh Hey Friday"


Oh Hey Friday

I'm also linking up with Darci, April, Christina and Natasha's blogs for their Five on Friday!

7 Month letter!!

Dear AnnaLynne,

You are SEVEN months old!! Mommy is actually on time this month with your letter. You have had an amazing month so far and you are growing up way too quickly. I am amazed at how much you have changed over the months and the little personality you have developed. Spending time with you is just priceless and Daddy and I just can't get enough.

This month we celebrated Valentine's Day. Although we didn't do anything fancy, we did go to the mall and out to Olive Garden for dinner. All of the waitresses loved you and were talking about how cute you are. I have to say you are an extremely cute baby!!! We read to you the Night Before Valentine's Day and you liked it. We read it on Valentine's Day though because you were sleepy the night before. Daddy got you 3 beautiful pink roses and a little monkey with a heart that you love to chew on.

 

We tried some new combinations of food this month and I have got you to start liking carrots. We mix it with applesauce and you can't get enough of them. We also started Mum Mum's and Yogurt. You are really enjoying both of them. One of your favorite combinations is yogurt with mangos. Mommy is still making all of your food, which I do enjoy doing, plus I know everything that you are eating which makes me happy.
 

You are moving around so much more now!! You are not quite crawling yet but you do the army crawl, to get what you want. I think it will be super soon when you start crawling and boy are we going to be in trouble.

 

You are still enjoying your crib and are sleeping more and more in there. We even put you in there for naps on the weekends. Mommy and Daddy are even able to get more sleep now that you are sleeping in the crib. We usually put you in no later than 8:30 and you usually sleep until 7:30, with one waking during the night.

Below are some of your favorites this month!! Please stop growing up so quickly!!
 

Happy 6 Months Baby Girl!!!

Love You,

Mommy

6 Month Letter!!!

Dear AnnaLynne,

You are SIX months old!! Mommy is very late this month with you post. Things have been so hectic and I just want to spend the time with you, and not sitting at the computer. You are doing a wonderful job with Mommy being at work. You love staying with GiGi!!

 

You are doing a great job with eating!!! You love to eat applesauce, pears, bananas, sugar snap peas, sweet potatoes, parsnips and peaches. We have tried Avocado again and now you don't like it at all. I don't know what happened!! It is amazing in a month how much you are eating. You also love your banana holder. It's very messy but you absolutely enjoy eating from it.

You started this new screaming thing this month, not quite sure we like that part. You do it though when you are happy or sad. You can get very loud as well when you are doing it. You are making more sounds and talking up a storm in your baby language It is going to be amazing when you actually start talking. We can't wait.

 

You are enjoying your crib more as well. Although it's hard to keep you in there all night, you will take naps in there and will sleep in there for part of the night. Usually until 2 you will stay in your bed and then you come and sleep with Mommy and Daddy. We have plans though to stop that. Hopefully you will get better at sleeping in your own bed.

I can't wait to see what the next month will bring!!  Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!!!

Happy 6 Months Baby Girl!!!

Love You,

Mommy

5 Month Letter!!!

Dear AnnaLynne,

You are FIVE months old!! This has been a crazy and eventful month for you. You got to celebrate Thanksgiving and you turned 5 months on Christmas Eve!!! I can't believe how fast time is flying. Mommy went back to work this month, but luckily we got to have your Aunt Erin watch you, until GiGi felt better from her fall. Your dad even got to stay home with you before the holidays!! You are one lucky girl who has so many people who love you.

 

This has been an amazing moth for you!! You started on solids. You were so cute eating your first food AVOCADO!!! You absolutely loved the food, as the month went on we just kept adding new foods for you to try and you have loved them all. You weren't the biggest fan of carrots at first, but I think they are growing on you. I can't wait for you to try more and more.

You have started rolling over this month which was so exciting!! You just love being on your belly. You seem to be so much happier now that you aren't on your back all the time and can spread out and play more with your toys. We started putting you in the exercauser more and you seem to like it for a short period of time. I think with time, you will enjoy it so much more. You enjoy playing on the floor though with your toys, and love when mommy and daddy play too.

Your bedtime routine is going really well and Aunt Erin has put you on a great schedule for the daytime and you responded so well. Sorry it took Mommy so long to get on the ball with this. Thank goodness for your Aunt. It is called the EASY plan. Eat, sleep, play and you (meaning mommy and daddy). The plan works in a one and half hour rotation. At bedtime, we don't follow the plan because you sleep so much more. Mommy and daddy are so happy that you like this plan and you seem to be so much happier. With Mommy going back to work, this plan has really worked out.

I can't wait to see what the next month will bring!! It will be exciting though because you will be celebrating your first CHRISTMAS!!! Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!!!

Happy 5 Months Baby Girl!!!

Love You,

Mommy