Warm and cold and really good soup

Last week we had some interesting weather.  I was in the 70's Sunday and Monday so we went for lots of walks in our new stroller

still bundled up even though it was pretty warm it was not sunny for this walk like it was for some of the others

Then it started to rain and rain and rain, and it got colder and colder and colder.  By Thursday there was snow in the forecast.  We ended up only getting sleet and freezing rain, but if you drove in just about any direction a little ways there was snow, it was weird, we were in a small pocket with no snow at all.

staying inside and snuggling up with lots of blankets on cold rainy days

So on one of our really cold days I made this soup.  It was really good!

Southwestern Chicken Soup

• 1 package fajita seasoning
• 1 lb cooked shredded chicken
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 1 green bell pepper chopped
• 1 8 oz cream cheese cubed
• 2 cups grated cheddar (I used a little less)
• 2 cans chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• handfull chopped cilantro

Put all ingredients into the crockpot or dutch oven except cilantro.  Cook on high (crockpot- 1-2 hours) or medium low (dutch oven- 30 minutes) until hot and ingredients are combined.  Stir in cilantro before serving.

Cloth Diapers

So we are a month into our cloth diapering experience and I love it.  A lot of people have asked me what diapers I like and what I don't recommend so far, so here is what I think.

Through all the illness we have had lately I have been using disposables at night because she wakes more frequently (we got a bunch from the hospital and some as a gift) and we have been sleeping in the living room because it is closer to the kitchen to clean all the nebulizer parts and pump parts as needed.

Anyhow.  We registered for and purchased a variety of brands and styles of cloth diapers so we could see what we thought and I have started to learn what I like.  So here is my analysis....this is my opinion and reflects how the diapers work with my child as a newborn.

GroVia all-in-one newborn diapers (we got 2 of these):
These are the cutest diapers and fit really well for the first few weeks, but she is already outgrowing them and probably won't be able to wear them anymore.  These are a little pricey to only last 2 or 3 weeks on a fairly average sized baby.  On the flip side most of the other fancy (not just prefold) diapers were WAY too big those first few weeks so they were handy.  They have started to leak most every time she wears them this past week so that is why I have decided to retire them.

Thirsties all-in-one:
We got one of these in the size 1 and it is great.  Has fit on the smallest adjustments since the beginning and will fit for a while.  My favorite all-in-one so far.

Besides the GroVia and the Thirsties AIO the only other diapers we could use those first few weeks were prefolds, everything else was too big, especially the one size diapers and the small/size 1 were too big too.

Flip Diaper system:
These are cool and I really love the inserts.  These are a one size diaper and they really have a lot of adjustments so they can fit pretty well.  We started using these this week (week 4) and they fit taken up all the way in every direction.  That gives me hope that they will fit for a long time.  These have a lot of stretch and seal well around the legs so we have not seen any leakage.  The inserts adjust as well and do a great job of wicking the moisture through the insert so it stays very dry against her bottom.  These are very bulky on her right now but that does not surprise me in a one size diaper.  These were also very affordable.  We got a "weekender" set that came with 2 covers and 4 inserts for a great price.

Swaddlebees pocket diapers:
I don't like these, we have 2 of these.  They may work for some, but they just don't seal up around my babies tiny legs and thus everything leaks out.  I will try these again when she gets bigger.

Best Bottom:
We got one of these in cow print that is so cute.  This is an all in 2 diaper like the flip with a cover and an insert.  These inserts snap in which I imagine will be great when she is on the move more.  I will admit that I don't really use the right inserts with the right diapers all the time....I just use whatever insert is on the top of the stack or just a folded prefold as an insert.  This diaper is great because it is very heavy duty.  It has a lot of adjustments so I think it will fit for a long time, though it just got where it fit as tight as it will go this week.

Thirsties duo wrap:
Thirsties has a lot of diaper options.  They have the all-in-one, the duo diaper which is a pocket diaper and the duo wrap, plus they make just plain old diaper covers.  We have 3 of the duo wrap in size 1 and I LOVE THESE.  The first few weeks these were too big to use with an insert, but fit over a prefold as a cover prefect.  Now I can use them as a cove over a prefold or I can throw and insert in them.  They have leg gussets that prevent leaking wonderfully and they have quite a bit of adjustments.  We will definitely get more of these when it is time to get some bigger sized diapers. These are also very reasonably priced

Bumgenius AIO:
We have one of these in the small size and it is very bulky right now but I think would make a great overnight diaper once Madeline starts sleeping longer spells at night because it has 2 inserts built in that wick the moisture through well like the flip inserts.  This diaper is also really cute and will probably not seem as bulky when she gets a touch bigger.

These are all the diapers we have tried so far (we do have 2 fuzzibunz and 2 covers for prefolds..no idea what brand.. that were hand me downs, we haven't used them yet because they are kind of big)

The all-in-one diapers are great  for on the go and seem like they would be great to leave for a sitter because it is just like a disposable, one use and you put it in the wash, you don't have to worry about showing someone how the diaper works like with prefolds or any insert/pocket diaper.  The pocket diapers really aren't for me right now.  I can see how they can be great when babies are a little bigger because you can stuff them with extra inserts.  The all-in-twos with the inserts are my favorites right now, I love that you can just change the insert and keep using the covers for a few uses, really saves on wash.  We have a lot of prefolds and I use them the regular way with a snappi or as inserts, they are handy and the ones we have are very absorbent (I have no idea what brand they are because they were a hand-me-down from my sister).

So this is what I think so far of the diapers I have tried and this is how they work for me on a small baby.  My opinions and likes/dislikes will probably change as she grows and gets to moving a lot.

Monster cookies

Made these cookies the other day.  I had a bag of M&M's in the pantry and wanted peanut butter cookies.  I found this recipe on pinterest and modified it just a little.  They turned out amazing....Myles loved them and ate several and he is not a big sweets fan.  Here is the recipe:

YOU NEED:

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup regular sugar
1 stick butter
3 eggs---you know your eggs are fresh when they are just a little dirty
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's (I think I might try peanut butter M&M's next time)

TO MAKE:
1. preheat oven to 350
2. spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray
3. combine butter, peanut butter and sugars in mixer
4. beat in eggs and vanilla
5. mix in flour, oats and baking soda
6. fold in chocolate chips and M&Ms
7. scoop spoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheet (I used ice cream scoop, made 22 good sized cookies), flatten out the dough a little once on cookie sheet
8. bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown around the edges

Running out of food

So before the baby came I froze a bunch of meals.  The week after she arrived my mom was here so she cooked for us each day.  Since then my sister has brought us a few meals and we have worked through the frozen meals.  It was very easy to get supper on the table.  Last night we used the last of our frozen meals.  Now I am sad, with a sick baby it is hard to cook because she does not want to be put down and with her trouble breathing I am not as comfortable wearing her in the wrap.  So what will we eat now.  Luckily it is the weekend so Myles can cook for us or hold the baby while I cook.  Most days lately he does not get in from riding until pretty late, too late to try and cook a proper meal.  We eat pretty good here, all of our meals are homemade and cooked from scratch so the cooking process takes longer.  We love to cook so that is not so bad.  We will just see how it goes for the next few days and what it is we actually get to eat.  I am looking forward to full health for all of us so we can get settled into a routine and I won't have to worry so much about what we will eat each evening.

On another note, this was Madeline's first trip outside to visit with the horses (this was before she got sick).  Hopefully she loves horses and much as her parents do.  This horse will probably be her first horse unless her daddy finds her another one he likes better for her.

A family of 3

We are now a family of 3.  We welcomed baby Madeline Ann into our lives December 8th and have cherished every moment with her.  She is such a good baby who sleeps and eats like a champ.  We have definitely had  a few challenges since she arrived.  Her birth did not go exactly like I had hoped (though do they ever?) and the recovery was thus longer than anticipated.  I developed mastitis on Christmas eve and spent Christmas day very sick with a high fever from the infection.  New years eve Madeline had to go to the doctor and was diagnosed with RSV which has been so sad, but hopefully she will recover quickly.  Despite these health challenges we are so excited to have her here and are so blessed to now be a family of 3.