Raspberry Black Bean Dip

I LOVE this Dip and thought it was appropriate to post since we are approaching Super Bowl Weekend!

• (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, thinly sliced
• 1/2 onion, diced - I leave these out
• 1 (8 ounce) jar raspberry salsa - I get this at the fresh market
• 2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. 1 Layer ingredients in a square 9x9 greased baking dish as follows, starting with black beans on the bottom and ending with cheese on top:.
2. 2 black beans, thinly sliced cream cheese, onion, salsa, and then top with cheese.
3. 3 Bake 350 degrees uncovered for 30 minutes until bubbly!

My Nephew

So I am having so much fun with my new model! Giving Caroline and Crawford a little Break...Not too much though! I have many more to come...here is a taste of our latest session!

 

 

She's Happy as long as he is near by...

As long as Crawford is in her sight! She is as Happy as can be!

It's amazing how fast they bond! I know it won't always be this way! I know there are days a head of fighting over toys! But right now in this moment...I love watching the two of them! Her eyes wide open as soon as she see's him and the way he talks babyish to her! His voice gets so high and he talks to her like he is an adult! My favorite moments are when he doesn't think I am watching and he has his hand around her or the kisses he gives her when no one is looking!

Never Grow Up

Friday night Jacob, Crawford, Caroline and I sat on the couch watching TV. We were watching Wipe Out. Crawford sat on the couch with his arm wrapped around me laughing the biggest Belly laughs (as my friend Meredith calls them). He cuddled with me and told me how much he loved me. As I looked at him....he looked so grown up!! Not sure where the time goes!! I said to him Crawford you have to stop growing so fast and he said but Mommy I have to grow up so I can fly like a super hero! I said well just don't grow so fast and he said OK! I really think we just blinked he grew up! I have so many friends having babies right now and all I can say is hold on tight because it goes by so fast!!!

This is Crawford with his serious face!

Love this song by Taylor Swift bout never growing up!

Payback

Crawford one day caroline will pay you back for all the pushing, pulling and silly things you do to her! So watch out!

 

Couch to 5K

So here is my plan and I start tomorrow! Anyone want to join! 3 days a week..I can handle that!

The Plan - click to see 9 weeks from website coolrunning.com

This Week for me Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for Workout 1, 2 & 3

Week	Workout 1	Workout 2	Workout 3
1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

 

I am going to Walk and rest the others

Good link for Stretching

 

Photography Tip

Updated....Photography Tips

Favorite Things

Nuk Paci & Pediped Shoes! Can't go wrong with either one of these!

Love Pediped shoes...they never fall off and I mean NEVER! They may be a little more expensive than you want to spend but they are totally worth it! Caroline will not keep socks on so I have to keep her shoes on all day long. These are very soft! I love them! She is wearing 0-6 months right now...so it's about time for me to get the next size!

Nuk Paci is another one of my favorites! We can't survive without the Paci....if I lay Caroline in the crib she will cry until I find her a paci! We usually keep 5 or 6 in their so she can always locate her ...but usually by day 5 all are out of the crib from when she wakes up and takes one with her! I have replenish the crib with paci's!

My Friend Meredith led me to this Cradle Cap Care! It's from Walmart! I borrowed hers because I could not find it! However it works great! Caroline has horrible Cradle Cap!(I always end up saying Cradle Crap)!

This works wonders...We have only used twice and it's almost cleared up! She has so much hair so it makes here hair really greasy looking and it takes 2 washes to get it looking right but it's totally worth buying! I found it on Amazon here Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap

don't mind Caroline Messy Bed Hair in this picture!

Fresh Food Feeder

These are the best things ever!!! I can't tell you how much I LOVE THEM! I am paranoid when it comes to giving Caroline real food ever since Crawford Choked! She loves fruit and these things are so great for that! I just cut up fresh fruit and put it in this mesh net feeders and she sucks and sucks and sucks....and screams for more!! She starts shaking as soon as she see's them! They do make a mess, she usually ends up with fruit juice all over her. I also put Ice cubes in there...for her gums....she ends up soaking wet...so I do this when I know we are not going anywhere but she loves it and I know it feels good to her!

One Lucky Little Girl and her Baby Bracelet

It took me 27 Years to get a David Yurman bracelt! Caroline.....it only took 8 months! She already has her pop pop wrapped around her finger!!!!

I am sure when she is older I am going to have to borrow things from her!! :-)

 

5 Year Anniversery

I was looking back at post of Crawford this time last year and found my Anniversary post from last year! Since it is today....I thought it was appropriate to post it again! It's hard to believe 5 Years have gone by or even harder to believe 11 Years since we started dating. 1 dog and 2 kids later and here we are! A lot has changed since January 21st, 2006!

Jacob's parents watched the kids while we went to dinner! We actually got to chew our food instead of the normal swallow it whole! After dinner we took a romantic trip to babies r us and Michaels and then we were going to the movie but drove by and had missed the early one! :-) We couldn't wait until 9! Man...times have changed...back in 2006 we would have been out and about and now in 2011 with 2 kids and a dog we were back before 9! I wouldn't change anything! I will take sleep over a movie any day!! :-)

Wedding Post 2009

Petunia Pickle Diaper Bag

I think I have found my new favorite Diaper Bag! I go through as many Diaper bags as I do strollers!

I just have to find the perfect one!

I got the one below, sorry it's the only picture i could find online and I don't feel like taking one of it! Lilly doesn't carry this one anymore but I do love it!

It's just a little big and does not really fit in my stroller!

It's great though and I still plan on using it when I need a big bag and It can be used for so much more than a diaper bag!

I think it would make a great pool bag!

I

This next one I had for Crawford from Pottery barn. I liked it as well...but it had his monogram on it so I didn't use for Caroline. We can still use it for an overnight bag if we need it!

As a diaper bag it is not the easiest to get things out of. It was kind of deep. I don't think they carry it anymore

This bag I also had for Crawford and Loved it! It took me forever to find it. I saw one I liked and It look me forever to find their website. It is such a good price for all that you get with it. It's only 48.00 and you get all 5 pieces below!

It zips up..which neither bag above do! I like that so nothing falls out! It came with a changing pad, bottle carrier, small bag and organizer! I had it monogramed or I would use it with Caroline.

I am still thinking of ordering one for Caroline to use sometimes!!! I think i have a diaper bag problem!!!

Kicker and David Designs

This is my most recent bag and I love it! It is so practical!!! It is pricey but so worth it! Now I cheated and found my on ebay only because I already have so many diaper bags...I could justify paying full price for one and why would you if you could find it for less. But i would totally splurge and pay full price for this one if I had to!

I saw on babytalk.com, under give-a-way's you can register to win a petunia pickle bag! I registered! You should also!

I love this bag for many reasons! You wear it as a back pack, it straps on a stroller. Our Joovey stroller does not have handles like our Peg Perego did so I have to hold the diaper bag or if I put it in the basket...Crawford usually stands on it! Now I can hang this one on the stroller. It has 4 compartments for bottles, the changing pad folds out! There are many more things I like about this bag and so far it's my favorite diaper bag yet!

Petunia Pickle Diaper Bag

I saw this diaper bag on Pottery Barn...I like it b/c it looks like a purse.

pottery.com also carriers Petunia Pickle Bags!

see below for the patterns they carry!

Favorite Snack

For Caroline the Snack of choice is a Mum Mum....I just heard about these things a few months ago. I wish I had these things with Crawford! Not only does she love them...I love them because they give me time to do things...like eat my dinner and they don't make a mess like Puff's! If Caroline even see's the package...her arms start reaching!

 

 

 

Crawford's snack of choice! A RED APPLE with the skin off please Mommy! (that's what he usually says to me).

He loves to eat apples! When he was a baby just starting to eat real food, I gave him the tiniest slice of an apple and it got stuck in his throat and he got choked. My mom ended up saving him...Me, Well I panicked. So every time I even see any apple I think back to the first bite he had! But he loves them now!!

 

We have a new Addition

Jacob and I are finally an Aunt and Uncle to a precious baby boy! Coleman Ryan Elrod!

I actually got to be present for the delivery at the last minute to document it with pictures!! (From behind the scenes)!

He is precious and we are all so excited! Especially Crawford!!! Now I have someone else to take millions of pictures of and I can't wait!!

 

Can I just say there is nothing sweeter in the world than hearing a baby cry for the first time!!! It's amazing and priceless!!

 

The Mini

I love my New Birthday present I got from my mom this weekend!

The Happy Everything Mini! It's just the prefect size!

We of course put the birthday hat on for my birthday celebration! I turned 31! We had a great weekend and I took absolutely NO pictures and I think my mom took 2! I will have to get a pretend one with the kids tomorrow! :-) Jacob's mom fix us a wonderful dinner and desert! It was so nice to have dinner at their house where we could just relax and not worry about the kids! Sometimes or should I say most times it can be stressful going out to eat!! :-)

Anyway I just love this plate! It's just so fun and festive!

My favorite attachments right now are the football, bunny and heart!

I have my eyes on this wreath next!!

It's so cute!!

Actually they have so many cute things you should go take a look!

http://www.cotoncolorspottery.com

If your local....Note Worthy and Gazoodles sale them and just so you know Note Worthy is just a little less for the attachments!

Great Book about defeating Mommy Stress

Let's face it...being a mommy is the most joyous job but it comes with stress! I love my new job as a stay at home more than anything in the world but I am the first to admit at times is just stressful!

I have been reading the book " The Bathtub is overflowing but I feel drained" How to defeat Mommy Stress! by Lysa Terkeurst! ( I highly recommend it)

1st...I must say...I have been reading it when I have time...those of you with children know that time is hard to come by!

The first quote in the book is "The world is full of women blindsided by the unceasing demands of motherhood, still flabbergasted by how a job can be terrific and torturous"! ~Anna Quindlen

Being a Mother is Hard, being a working mom is hard and being a stay at mom home is hard! Coming from doing both, I think they are just as equally as hard....just completely different obstacles! Being a Mom is the hardest job their is but still the most rewarding!

It's stressful to know you are shaping your children's life, their future, their goals, personality, morals, values and so much more, and even scary as Lysa says you are also shaping generations...your grandchildren, great grandchildren and others you will never meet by instilling in your child what he will pass down to his children and so forth!

It's a huge responsibility and when I sit down and think about it makes me nervous! They say your child's personality forms in first 3 Years! Wow! That's quick!

At any rate...I highly recommend this book!

Running Journey Update

Wednesday I am starting running....my plan is to try to run 10 minutes and walk 3 mins twice.

I have a little worksheet I am working from that a friend gave me! I have really not worked our or ran in years so this is going to be new for me! 10 minutes to some may not seem like much but to me it seems like an hour! I'll let you know how it goes and join me if you want!

Giveaway

http://familyelrod.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

Favorite Things

We Love Fridge Magnets! They keep the kids, both ages occupied while I am in the kitchen!

Pay NO attention to Crawford's non matching PJ's!!

These are the ones we have! They have several different ones! I love them b/c they are for all ages!

Fridge Magnets

When we needed new car seats for Caroline so we decided to buy them from a friend that was selling them.

They were perfect except for the covers were a little worn. So we ordered a cover for one and I love it.

I picked out the fabric from Fabrics.com and had it shipped directly to Andrea at http://www.designerbabycovers.com/

She makes covers especially for Britax Marathon, Roundabout, Roundabout-50 and Decathalon Models

I didn't want to choose a girly color in case we had another child...so I chose the blue and green which I love!

Girls can sit in boy colors but boys just can't sit in PINK!

Andrea did a great job and was so fast!

Inchbug Bottle Lables

I just ordered these for Caroline since she has started pre-school. There great because you don't have to write her name on the bottle everyday! There great for even just play dates!

We had these for Crawford as well. They are great to put around bottles and sippycups!