Good Friday at the Zoo

On Good Friday, Emmalee, Grandad (my dad0, and I had a fun trip to the zoo.  The weatherman predicted some scattered showers, but decided to take the chance and go. 

I'm so glad we did!  It was cloudy in the morning but warmed up for the afternoon.  It was a wonderful, beautiful day to be outside! 

This girl was spoiled rotten by her Grandad all day. 

Not so sure about the petting zoo!

I could just squeeze those precious cheeks!

We had to make a wish in the Wishing Well!

We watched the jaguars for a long time. This a mom & baby.  The baby kept trying to play with the mom, but the mom was trying to clean it.  We were very entertained watching their interaction.

Emmalee LOVED seeing the parrots.

This animal is absolutely beautiful.

The elephants are one of Emmalee (and my) favorite animals! 

Me and my girl!!!

Oh, I just love these creatures.

We couldn't leave without riding the carousel. 

One of Those "Guilt" Days

Are you a working mother?  I am .  Emmalee will be 2 years old in less than 2 weeks and I went back to work when she was 10 weeks old.  I'm used to it.  I love my job, and she loves her "Nonny" (aka Ms. Donna) and all of her friends at Nonny's house.

But I would be lying if I told you that there are not days where I feel guilty, because there are.  Even after almost 2 years, I still have a day here and there when I feel guilty for working.

Sometimes, I feel like Emmalee is missing out.  She doesn't get to have fun lunch dates, or do swim lessons, or gymnastics, or playdates.  Sure she could...on the weekends.  But our weekends always seem busy already with birthday parties, or baby showers, or family events.  Sometimes I feel like my working cuts out stuff for her.

Then I get pictures of my little girls playing baby dolls with her friends, and singing, and I hear her laughing when I go to the door to pick her up, and that guilt fades away.

My baby girl gets to have play dates every day.

My baby girl gets to have a special lunch dates all the time.

My little girl is having the best time with her friends every single day.

And on days where we get to have special time together, like Good Friday at the zoo, it just makes them that much more precious. 

So if you're a working mom, remember this:  There will be good days, and bad days; sad days and "guilt" days, but you will always be their momma, and NOTHING can take that away from you!  You're a GREAT mom!

12 Week Update

Well I you don't follow me on Twitter or Facebook, then you may not have seen this news yet! 

We are super-duper excited about Baby #2, although it was quite unexpected.  If you have followed my blog for awhile, you may remember that it took 2 years of TTC (trying to conceive) with Emmalee.  So to see this pop up...

...completely unexpectedly, we were shocked...a very delightful, joyful shock - but a shock nonetheless.  So Baby #2 is due on October 2nd, although my doctor suspects we may have a September baby.  Emmalee is so excited and loves to talk about the baby.  If you ask her what's in mommy's belly, she will say "Emmie's baby."  Let's see if she feels the same way at 2 am when the baby actually gets here!

So here is the first official Baby Bump Update for Williams Baby #2!!!

 

How far along? 12 Weeks - almost finished with the 1st trimester!  WOOHOO!!

Size of baby: a little over 2" long - about the size of a lime. 

Total weight gain:2 pounds

Gender: ???

Movement:Not yet, but I can't wait until I do.

Sleep: Ok.  I am pretty tired so I usually go to bed not long after we put Emmalee down - between 9 - 9:30 every night. But I'm already up once or twice during the night to go to the bathroom.

Maternity clothes: Some. My "regular" clothes are pretty tight already, so I either wear maternity or use my bellybands.

Symptoms: All of them!  Nausea, bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, headaches, fatigue, sore breasts, growing belly, food craving and aversions...the list goes on and on!!!  I will say that the nausea is finally beginning to fade and I could not be more thankful, but the rest of the list is in full swing.

Cravings:Every day is completely different. Yesterday all I wanted was a greek salad.  Today, I want Pei Wei, and who knows what I'll crave tomorrow.

What I miss: Feeling good.  I had a great pregnancy with Emmalee and always felt good.  This pregnancy is completely different.  I just don't feel "good". 

Best moment from the past week:Getting my fetal doppler in the mail and hearing the baby's heartbeat.

What I’m looking forward to: Hopefully beginning to feel better as I enter the 2nd trimester.

I will say my belly is definitely out there already.  Its true what they say - you definitely get bigger faster when its your 2nd.  

Favorite Picture Ideas

Today on Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Life", she is talking about favorite picture ideas.  And in my opinion, there is nothing better than simply capturing life!  Not poses, not portraits, but life...the smiles, the laughter, the true emotion of seeing someone truly live in the moment.

When Brant and I got married, we had a wonderful photographer names Julie Robles. (now don't judge that I didn't use my sister because 1, she was my matron of honor and 2, she hadn't started her photography business yet!)  But Julie was wonderful and did amazing work.  But my most favorite pictures that she took were right after the wedding ceremony had ended.  As soon as we walked out of the santuary, she pulled Brant and I aside, and took us into the courtyard.  She said "You have 5 minutes to just think about what just happened.  You're married!  So I want you to take this 5 minutes with each other, and just reflect."  And so we did, but the moments she captured between us are, in my opinion, priceless.  

Scrap-Happy Weekend

We had a really great weekend, did you?  Friday night was the start of college baseball alt DBU.  It was the inaugural game to open the new Horner Ballpark.  It is really beautiful.  I'll try post pictures soon.  With the start of baseball season of course, come the start of my widown-ness!  HA!  I joke, but sometimes that is what it feels like. 

Brant's position at DBU requires that he is at all of the baseball games.  Since the majority of games are weekend, I definitely feel that I am often a single mom during baseball season.  But my husband loves his job, and that it what matters to me! 

With the two of us girls left at home on Saturday, we invited Aunt Cookie and Kate over to play.  It was so great having Kate around because Emmalee adores her.  The two of them played, and played, so Aunt Cookie had a chance to work on some new marketing tools, and I got to scrapbook!!!! I feel like I haven't scrapbooked in ages, but I have got to get caught up on Emmalee's book. 

Here's a few of the pages I got done this weekend.

You might recognize some of these pictures from my post the other day about our day at the park.  I LOVE the way this page turned out!

A Day at the Park

A few weekend ago, Brant's family came for a visit.  We had a great weekend, but Sunday afternoon was certainly a memorable day.  After church, we decided that the day was too beautiful to stay inside.  So we grabbed some sandwiches and made our way to the local elementary school where they have a great playground.  We enjoyed a great afternoon of conversation, which Aeson and Emmalee played until their hearts were content.

WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD!

Menu Monday

Ah, its another week and another menu full of exciting culinary concoctions.  Well, maybe that a bit of an exaggeration, but I am trying a brand new recipe this week.I always love trying new things.

Monday:
I am so excited to try this Spicy Sausage Pasta from Lindsey's blog.  It looks so fantastic!  And just FYI - I did ask Lindsey if it was too spicy for lil' one, and she said "no."  She used a mild rotel and both her itty bitties ate it!  I am so ready to try this...can you tell?


Tuesday: 
Lemon Pepper Chicken with homemade mac'n'cheese and roasted brocolli

Wednesday:
Chicken Cacciatore subs (this is always one of my favs!)  I've blogged the recipe before here. 

Thursday:
"Breakfast for dinner" night! Country omelets!  The "county" part is diced ham, bacon, onion, green onion, and lots of cheese topped with some homemade salsa!

Friday: 
Dallas Baptist University's Baseball Opening Night!!!

This is a huge night because its DBU's reveal of the brand new Horner Ballpark.  Since Brant is working, he will obviously be there, so Emmalee and I will happily sitting in our new season-seats!  Row 101 seats 7 & 8!  Unless of course, Emmalee decides that running around the field house is more fun, ha! 

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Up next, a post about the new, fabulous recipe I tried on Saturday!  Its a must-have in your recipe repertoire!

A Growing Girl

I still can't believe my sweet little girl is getting so.  I feel like she's getting a little more independent every day.  I feel like time is flashing before my eyes, and I don't like it.

I want to freeze her.  To bottle her up so I can remember each and every moment of her childhood.  I want her to stay this way forever.

She loves being outside.  Wagon rides is probably one of her most favorite things - ever!  A baby doll or two usually makes the trip with us, and of course she loves to bring Dax along.  

Girl can eat!  I don't think there is anything the child won't eat....notice the plate: sausage, macaroni, green beans, a roll, and she devoured the entire piece of corn on the cob.   And to be honest, I love it!  But her favorite food - ice cream!  The child would eat an entire carton if I let her!

Books, books and more book!  She adores reading.  One of her favorite things is sitting in the rocking chair with a pile of books.  She will read every single one of them.  

I adore this picture.  This puppy has no idea how much she loved him, or maybe he does.  Her first words in the morning are usually for Dax.  If she is laying in our bed, she wants Dax.  When I pick her up everyday from Ms. Donna's, she asks to go home and see Dax.  Oh how she loves him, but I promise you that he loves her just as much.

Em is definitely a little homemaker!  She loves her kitchen and dishes, and playing "momma" to her babies.   I am amazed at the "little stuff" she picks up.  She loves to "tasty" her food (aka season) her food.  She sprinkles all sorts of stuff on it to make it just right.  Wonder where she saw that?  When I walk by her play stove she'll tell me "watch out, it's hot."  I love it - I love that she hears me and understands.  I love that she wants to cook like momma, that she wants to "protect" like momma, that she wants to take care of her babies like momma. 

And here is the attitude - sassy is the word that comes to mind.  As sweet as this angelic face is, it is equally as sassy and ornery...I guess that's my way of knowing she's mine. 

She is my Emmalee Caroline: a momma's girl, but she begs for her Daddy every minute he isn't home; she loves her dolls, her pets, and her food; she has a heart the size of Texas and attitude to match; and she keeps us on our toes, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Can someone please explain to my why they grow up so fast?  There is no way she will be 2 in a few short months...I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday.

Menu Monday

This week is going to be super crazy, so I wanted a fast easy menu this week, and that's exactly what we have!

Click Here to see all flavors

Monday - Crockpot Red Beans & Rice with Hickory Smoked Sausage

Tuesday - Baked Bacon, Cheddar breaded chicken and sauteed green beans.I make the chicken with these new Kraft helpers and I LOVE them!  They are so easy to use and I just back my chicken at 400 for about 30 minutes.  They have all sorts of different flavors, but the Cheddar Jack Bacon is my fav!!! They make dinner fast, and easy, and are usually around $3, but last my week my Kroger had BOGO FREE! So I got 2 for $3! Can't beat the price!
 
Wednesday - Tacos and nachos! One of life's easiest dinners!

Thursday - Leftovers!  Brant is actually working this night, so I'm sure I'll have left over beans & Rice, or something.

Friday - Pizza at the church

This weekend our church is hosting Disciple Now (DNow), and we have a group of 6 9th grade boys coming to our house.  So Friday night the church is serving everyone pizza, so that's where we'll be.  I have to share a special thanks to several of my tw'iends (Twitter friends) for diving me some good breakfast casserole recipes.  I needed something big but filling for these boys on Saturday morning, and I think I've got just the thing to hit the spot.  I'll let you know how it goes! 

Well I hope you all have wonderful weeks ahead of you - I know I do. 

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

I LOVE soups, and I LOVE easy recipes, and I LOVE my Crockpot, so this recipe is probably one of my favorites because its all three:  soup, easy, and Crockpot-perfect!

CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

• 1 lb FROZEN chicken breasts
• 1 bag frozen corn
• 1 can black beans - rinsed
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can of green chillies
•  1 medium onion chopped
• 1 can red enchilada sauce
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 cup of water. 
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 2 TBSP chopped cilantro
• 1 TBSP cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder (add more or less to add more or less "kick")
• salt & pepper to taste.

Directions:
Place your  FROZEN chicken breasts on the bottom of your crockpot.  Toss in ALL of the ingredients.  Stir is up (but make sure the chicken remains on the bottom).  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Once its finished, shred the chicken with a fork.

I top mine with shredded cheese, sour cream, and some tortilla chips.  It delicious!

WARNING:  this does has a little kick to it, so taste before you give to your little ones.  I made Emmalee Caroline chicken soup instead of this because  I didn't want it to be too spicy for her.  

Hope you enjoy!

Is this really the 1st Post of 2013?

Is this really my first post of 2013?  Y'all, one of my New Years resolutions was to blog more.  I'm doing great, huh?  Guess that resolution already flew out of the window.  But I guess its never too late to get back on the horse and keep tottin' along! 

But here's a glimpse into what is going on in the Williams' House right now.

• We had a fabulous Christmas.  Santa brought Emmalee a kitchen, puzzles, and an entire space to call her own - a playroom!  It was even a White Christmas in North Texas - a VERY rare occurrence!

I was so excited to find this little wooden kitchen made in 1957 on Craigslist for only $40. Then we added the sink, some hooks on the side for pots and pans, and repainted it to match the colors of the playroom.  I just love the way it turned out!

• New Year's Eve Emmalee spent the night with her Granda while Momma & Daddy went out with friends and had a fabulous night. 
• We went to see Madagascar Ice at the Gaylord Texas and it was so much fun.  

• Our Daddy was out of town ALL last week, and Emmalee started to get very sick Thursday night into Friday.  I took her to the doctor and found out that she had the flu.  It was awful, but our happy girl is finally feeling better.  

 

• And now we're gearing up for some home renovations that I am so excited about!  We're updating both bathrooms, the kitchen, and our landscaping!   So yes, you will soon see lots of renovation posts, as well as budgeting posts since I have a tight budget to keep! 

So that's the gist of life right now.  I WILL keep my New Year's resolution to blog more - I promise.  Especially since Em is almost 2- I cannot believe that my baby is almost 2 and I have no earthly idea where time went! 

But I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year with your families. 

2012 Christmas Card

I have to admit that I LOVE our 2012 Christmas cards.  I was "testing out" one of the boutique print styles my printer offers and they, as always, surpassed my expectations! And of course having an amazing photographer is half the battle, but "my" photographer is always fantastic (and yes, it just happens to be my sister). So hats off to Amanda Rooney Photography for her amazing work.

So, without further ado, the

Williams Family 2012 Christmas Card! 

Up-Close of the front

Up-Close of the back

This year's caption was 

"May you REJOICE in His blessings during this season of

Christmas and throughout the new year." 

Sending love from 

The Williams, Brant, Ashley, & Emmalee Caroline. 2012

I am one of those people that puts so much meaning into the "sayings" or "greetings" on my cards.  Last year walked about the "wonder of the 1st Christmas" because it was Emmalee Caroline's first Christmas. Here are a few links to our previous cards, if you want to see them:  2011 Card; 2010 Card.  But this year, we have been blessed beyond our imagination.  The Lord has answered prayer after prayer: wonderful jobs, an incredible care provider for Emmalee, paying off credit cards, allowing some house renovations, incredible friendships, and the list goes on and on.  So if there is one thing that I wish for others, it is His blessings.   I pray that no matter the circumstance, His blseesings always shine through and that we are reminded of His sacrifice each and ever day. 

Award Winning Chili

Yes, its true!  This chili really is award-winning!  The funny part of the award is that I had never made chili before, but our church was having a church-wide chili cook-off  so my dear friend Jalah and I put this together.  And this was the winner! 

I get so excited when the weather starts to turn cold so I can make it.  Its one of my favorites - on the stove top or in the crockpot - its just delicious!  You can spice it up or mellow it out, but the basic ingredients are still the same.

So without further ado, here is my award-winning chili recipe!

Single batch - serves 4-6 people
2lbs ground beef
1 package of of frozen onion/bell pepper mix
1 TBSP minced garlic
1 medium onion, largely chopped
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes (drained)
1 can crushed tomatos
1 small can tomato sauce
2 cans red kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
1 jar salsa verde
chili powder (4 TBSP)
cumin (3 TBSP)
garlic salt (2 TBSP)
onion powder (2 TBSP)
cayenne pepper (2 tsp)
paprika (2 tsp)

Brown your meat with the minced garlic and drain excess grease.  Then add in your spices.  The measurements above are approximates.  You can always use more or less depending on what you like.  Stir your spices in really good with the meat and let it sit for about 10 minutes.  Then add all other ingredients.  Simmer for about an hour.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Top with some shredded cheese and dig in!

TOP SECRET:  It the MOST delicious if you let it sit for several hours, or overnight, then reheat.  You can also throw it all in a crockpot and let it cook on low for about 6-8 hours!

Hope you enjoy!

A Day of Thanks

I love Thanksgiving.  There is nothing better than spending the day in praise over what we have been blessed with.

I am so very thankful for this man.  A husband who loves me unconditionally and is an incredible father to his treasured daughter.  I can honestly say that the Lord made him just for me.  He is my knight in shining armor, my best friend, and the love of my life.

I am thankful that each day I get to see this beautiful smiling face. She is the apple of my eye and I cannot imagine life without her.  She is sweet, sassy, spunky, and everything in between.  I love her more each and every day. 

I am thankful for a savior that redeemed me and washed my sins away.

I am simply thankful.  The Lord has blessed us more than we can ever have imagined and today, tomorrow, and always I will give Him thanks. 

Open Your Eyes

Sweet Emmalee,
Too often in life we shut our eyes.  We shut out our eyes to keep out the things we don't to see: the bad, the struggles, the nasty games and politics.  But all too often, we also shut our eyes on our faith - we only see what we want to instead of seeing everything the Lord has for us.  So always open your eyes.

Beth Moore once said that all too often the Lord's miracles go on around us every day, but we never see them because our eyes of belief are never open.  So I want  you to always have your eyes open.  The Lord's plan for you is so amazing and His miracles are there for you to see, so don't allow them to fall by the wayside. 

So open your eyes and always keep them open.  Don't shut yourself off from the things of this world.  Look for His miracles because they are all around you.  Open your eyes and see his magnificence, His splendor, and His glory.