Picnic at the Park

This year, Caroline's actual birthday fell on a Thursday. So, since I knew daddy would have to go to work, I tried to plan something special for us girls to do during the day. I decided a little picnic at the park and some play time would be just the perfect way to celebrate Caroline's 1st birthday before her birthday party! I've included lots of pictures below of our time at the park! Enjoy!

This day was filled with lots of moments...

Yummy moments...

Not so sure what's happening moments???

 Sweet moments

Silly moments

Sisterly love moments

Sisterly choking moments

Mad moments

Happy and sad moments

 Crawling moments

Enough is enough with the camera moments

Crazy moments

Excited moments (above and below)

Caroline's serious stare you down moments

My sweet baby's growing up moments

And overall the day was filled with...Lots of FUN moments!

Birthday party update will be up soon! Stay tuned in! :)

Happy Birthday, Baby! One Year Recap!

One year and a couple of days ago....

this little angel....

became apart of our family,

and our lives changed forever!

I cannot believe she's already a year old. In some ways, it delights my heart and in many other ways it breaks it. She's growing up, and it's all bittersweet. So, here's a little reminder where we started and how she's grown.

One Year Recap

1 Month:

2 Months:

3 Months:

4 Months:

5 Months:

6 Months:

7 Months:

8 Months:

9 Months:

10 Months:

11 Months:

One Year:

Birthday party and one year update coming soon!

My 11 Month Old!

Wow! This month has been full of new things. It seems like Caroline is just growing and developing rapidly and I just want to FREEZE time to soak it in. She's just getting more and more fun and full of personality. Soon enough, she'll be a ONE YEAR OLD :(. It seems like just yesterday I had this precious little thing. Oh wait, did I say little. HAHA. Well, she's anything but little. Baby girl is a BIG girl. She's got thunder thighs for sure. She is a giant. Last time we went to the doctor she was 99% for her height, weight, and her head. Let's just say she's got lots to LOVE!

Eating: 3 meals a day + 3 bottles (usually 6 oz with an 8 oz at night)
She still eats some baby food and some table food. We're working more towards table food at this point, though.

Sleeping: 11 or so hours at night
We put her down around 7:30 and she usually sleeps until around 7 AM

Naps- 2 a day about 3 to 3 1/2 hours total
She usually takes about 1 hour- 1 1/2 hours per nap. She goes to sleep very easily. She's usually out in 5 to 10 minutes.

Development:
She has started crawling in small increments! YAY! She just gets tired and then lays on her belly after a few scoots forward :).

She has also started pulling up on her bed :).

And, she can walk around the ottoman while holding on!

SG's 2 1/2

My baby isn't a "baby" anymore. The cute pudgy cheeks and busted can of biscuit arms are gone. As I glance at her, from time to time, I find myself thinking more and more, "She looks like a little girl." She's growing up and it's bitter sweet. It seems like she learns something new each and everyday and I find myself struggling to keep up. While having two little girls who are 19 months apart is a joy, it's also a challenge. I feel like time is just flying by like a dream. It's hard to believe my baby is 2 1/2. What a difference half a year can make. It's been amazing to watch her learn and grow.


Favorite things she's saying:

The other day SG got upset because Sissy was in her favorite swing (the "pint" *pink* one) and so she started whining. I asked her if she wanted to swing too and she nodded her head yes. As I was removing Caroline from the swing SG looked at her and said, "I sorry, Sissy. I sorry."

We told SG we were going to a horse show and she said, "I toming (coming) horse, I toming." She also likes to tell Trey and I "Tome in, Mommy (or Daddy)," when she opens and closes the door. It's a game to her.

She likes to tell me, "Hand me that."

She's a very polite child and likes to say, "No welcome, or no thanks."

SG has become very opinionated about her ensemble lately. When I want her to wear something she doesn't want to wear she says, "I not ont it (translation: I not want it).

"Yucky snake"....Our church is currently located in a daycare that has a salt water aquarium located at the check in desk for preschool. The other day SG saw an eel and said "Eew...Yucky snake." Trey and I totally cracked up!

"1,2,3,2,5....Tome (come) find me!" Yes, that is a 2 in place of a 4. For some reason, SG can recognize the number 4, but when she is counting consecutively she says "2." It drives me bonkers, but it's cute.

"I wike (like) it."

"So beautiful"

"Oh my doodness (goodness)!"

"I stuck!" When she can't get down from somewhere.

Favorite Things She's Doing:

She is currently in a "princess" phase and LOVES dressing like a princess whenever she can get away with it.

SG is also really into "singing" lately. She loves singing parts of songs that she knows. Some of her favorites are "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," "You are My Sunshine," "Hickory Dickory Dock," "The Blue Mermaid," "Jesus Loves Me," "The ABC Song," and theme songs of her favorite shows.

She knows all her shapes, colors, numbers 1-10, and ABC's up to letter J (because that's all we've learned so far ;)). She absolutely loves learning and that makes my teacher's heart melt :).

Other News...
We're not potty trained just yet. We started and then we ALL got sick and so I gave up! We will revisit this not so fun task soon, though.

We are having quite a few tantrums these days. It's very frustrating, but I guess that's why they call it "terrible" twos? Can anybody else out there relate? Ahhhhh! Nevertheless, there is one thing that is absolutely hilarious that we make her do. Since SG does well responding to literal terms we tell her to "Close her mouth" because she knows what that means. So, she closes her mouth and cries and screams. Ha! There are times that I have to turn around so that she doesn't see me holding in my laughter.

SG just recently started Mother's Day Out! We are both so excited about it! It gives us both a tiny break from each other while SG gets the opportunity to learn from another adult and socialize with other children in a structured environment. While the break is great, it is a little bitter sweet. She's just growing up so fast!

10 Months

So, I'm a little late posting a 10 month update! Oh well, better late than never, right? We've had a pretty rough last couple of weeks. First, Caroline came down with a sinus infection. Unfortunately, it took several days to get antibiotics because the doctor didn't want to listen to the momma, and she said it was a "virus." A few days later, we found out it was a sinus infection (my original assumption) and finally got meds. So, as little one was getting better, SG came down with an ear infection. I also felt like I was coming down with a sinus infection, so I went to the doctor, as well. Gotta love those copays! Needless to say, it was a downward spiral from there for me. The night I started taking meds I noticed an usually tight sensation in my lungs, which turned into the most awful muscle spasm I have ever had. It felt like I was being STABBED every time I took a breath. So, back to the doctor I went. The pain relaxer prescribed for me worked! However,  two days later I woke up with the worst migraine I have ever had (mind you, I've only had two in my whole life, this being the second one). I went back to the doctor and since my symptoms continued to just worsen they sent me to the ER for more tests. It turns out, I might have been allergic to the antibiotic I was taking. Therefore, the muscle spasm, migraine, and fever I was experiencing were my body's way of rejecting it! Thank God we are finally all starting to feel better. It's been hard taking care of two sick babies, and myself for that matter. While Caroline is sugary sweet, when she's not feeling well it's a total and utter nightmare. She constantly wants to be held and just cries all the time. SG is a little more manageable. So much so, you can't always tell she is sick. I'm just so thankful things are starting to get a little better. I've listed a few things baby girl is doing. We're getting pretty close to 11 months, so expect another update soon!

Eating:
3 meals a day- Baby food/ table food- She usually eats about two 4 oz jars of baby food put a little bit of table food (1/4 or less green beans, peas, blueberries, or grapes).
She loves eating crackers or pretzels in between meals

Sleeping:
Two naps- 1 hour- 2 hours
***I lay her down around 9:45 and she usually sleeps until about 11. Then, I lay her back down at 2ish and she sleeps until 3:30ish or later.
11 hours at night - We put her down around 7:30 and she usually wakes up around 7 AM

Development:
We're not crawling yet, but this baby girl can roll all day long. I honestly think she doesn't have much of an interest because she can get to most things by rolling to them. These past few days she has gotten up on all fours a couple of times and rocked. So, maybe it's in our future???

She can stand while holding onto furniture, but she's not "cruising" just yet.

C can hold onto my hands and take steps!

She babbles all the time. She's currently saying "Mama, dada, baba, gaga, etc."

I feel like her little personality has just really bloomed lately. She is smiling more and more and laughing a lot more than she used to. Caroline is much more serious and reserved than SG, and we love her for it. She really studies the world around her and is a little more cautious when it comes to handing out smiles to strangers. Speaking of strangers, she is getting a little better at how she handles them lately. She's warming up more to people and not having as many "freak out" moments.

One thing I am a little concerned about is baby girl isn't clapping, waving, or blowing kisses just yet. However, I'm sure she is just fine. I just don't think she's that interested yet. She likes holding onto my hands while I clap, but just not doing it herself.



Oh, how we love this child. It amazing how you can have two different children and love them equally as much. I love the differences and similarities between the two. I love how sweet and tender C can be. She is for sure my cuddle bug, and momma loves it! I love how she leans into you with her eyes slightly closed and loving with her sweet little mouth open wide receiving the fullness of a hug or a kiss. It brings joy to my heart when you're holding her and she finds some way to be "holding you." She always finds a way to hold my thumb in her hand when I am carrying her. It's little things like this that I want to cherish and remember.  Happy 10 months, baby girl!

Sweet baby!

She loves to grab everything...including the camera!

Everything goes in the mouth these days...

Sometimes, we see this face...

Or, this face if she's not so happy! 

But, most of the time, we see this sweet smile.

Up on all 4's!

Sweet giggles!

BBQ Kitchen Sink Nachos

Since Pinterest has come along, meal planning has been a lot easier around the Gunter household! I'm a visual learner, and I absolutely love connecting to various blogs through Pinterest and seeing the step by step recipe instructions with photos accompanying them. It's so nice to actually see the process and what the end result is supposed to look like. So, needless to say, I've been a little inspired to put together one of these kind of recipes on my own!

Have you ever gotten BBQ take out and wanted to do something just a little different with the leftovers the next day? The pondering of this very question is what led my husband and myself to come up with this very dish! It's got all the flavor of your typical BBQ entree with a little twist! It's what us Gunters call BBQ Kitchen Sink Nachos because it's got a little bit of every GOOD in it!

The truth is...You don't have to be much of a cook to make this. If you can heat up a few items in a pan, shred chicken, and build layers with your bare hands....Then, this is your meal! And, it's great for get togethers because it makes a pretty big portion. I think this meal would be perfect for a lazy evening, or a football party.

To get started, you'll need a little of this: Chicken (leftover BBQ chicken or a Rotisserie Chicken), bacon, sweet or red onion (I prefer to use red with this recipe, but I already had a sweet onion on hand), baked beans (already prepared), Mexican shredded cheese, BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays), tortilla chips, and queso dip. Don't forget to say hello to my "Little helper," in the background, too!

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and cut 3-4 slices of bacon into 1 inch pieces and get them pan! Cook over medium high until nice, dark, and crispy.

Step 2: While your bacon is cooking go ahead and chop up that sweet or red onion!

I recently found a tutorial for chopping onions by Jamie Oliver on youtube here! It is amazing what a difference a small technique can do for your chopping and time management skills! I've used this little technique with cutting other veggies or fruits that are similar in shape.

Step 4: Now, check on your bacon and see if it's crispy enough for you. It's all preference, but I like mine nice and crispy. Like this:

Step 5: Once your bacon is cooked to your liking, set it aside and toss in your onions into the leftover bacon grease, and saute until tender and golden.

Step 6: While those onions are sweating, go ahead and prepare your baked beans if you haven't already. Now, if you have leftovers they should already be prepared. But, if you purchased a small can of Busch's Baked Beans, for instance, you'll need to dress them up a little. Nothing fancy. I just add a little ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, and a heaping tablespoon or two of light brown sugar! Mix that all together, heat for about 2-3 minutes, or until nice and bubbly, in the microwave. And, my dear, your yummy baked beans are ready! I like them sweet that's for sure. It tends to add a little extra element with all of the smoky ingredients we're using. 

Step 7: If you have purchased a rotisserie chicken, this is where you'll need to shred it up. In other words, remove the chicken from the bones and chop it up. I use a Pampered Chef handheld chopper to create smaller chopped pieces. I like the texture of the smaller pieces. It's all up to what you prefer, though. If you have leftover chicken just set it aside in a bowl for the next step.

Step 8: Now, take your chicken and lather it up with some of that yummy BBQ sauce! I squirt about a tablespoon worth on my chicken. Then, take a spoon and mix it all together.

Step 8: By now, all of the ingredients that compose the layers of this dish should be ready to go! Now, all you have to do is place the chips (I used the scoops this time because it was BOGO at Publix, but I prefer the regular triangular tortilla chips) on a large cookie pan and start layering. I put the ingredients on in the following order: chips, chicken, baked beans (as much as you see fit- I don't use the whole can's worth), onions, bacon, and the whole bag of cheese!

Step 9: Then, I take my BBQ sauce and use it to decorate the top! You can add as much as you would like!

Step 10: Stick it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and everything is nice and bubbly!

It should come out looking like the picture above! Yum! Look at the Ooey Gooey Goodness! 

Step 11: This is where I usually heat up a little bit of queso that I have in my frig. You know, the kind you get at the store that you heat in the microwave. However, I forgot that we used it for another meal a few days before and I was out. I HIGHLY recommend using it. 

Step 12: Get out some plates and serve immediately while it's nice and hot. If you want to step it up a notch with some cool plating skills just place a serving on a plate and drizzle it with BBQ sauce in the design of your choice! 

BBQ Kitchen Sink Nachos

Ingredients:

1 Rotisserie Chicken or about 1 lb of left over BBQ chicken

1 bag of tortilla chips

1/2 or 1 whole sweet or red onion (it's really up to you)

1 small can of baked beans (prepared)

 3-4 slices of bacon
1 bag shredded Mexican Cheese
1 small container Queso (microwavable from your local store)
Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce (I used original)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute bacon until crispy. While bacon is cooking, chop the onion and prepare the baked beans. After removing bacon, saute the onion until tender and golden in bacon grease or butter.  Shred chicken and chop to your liking. Stir 1-2 TBSP BBQ in with the shredded chicken. Place tortilla chips on a large cookie sheet and layer the ingredients in the following order: chips, chicken, baked beans (I usually do not use the entire can, more like 1/4 to 1/2), onions, bacon, cheese, and drizzled BBQ sauce on top. Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and ingredients are bubbling. Heat queso according to directions on the container. Drizzle queso on top. Serve immediately.

***If you choose to eat this for leftovers the next day, just stick it back in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake until warm and crisp. 

Enjoy!

Melinda