The CrockPot...my new best friend

Before having kids I LOVED cooking! It was a time for me to come home, enjoy some quiet, accomplish a task, and make my husband happy in the end! I was/am not much for elaborate cooking, but rather simple, healthier(minus recipes that sometimes call for an ungodly amount of dairy...but in the South that's how we love it!), and generally easy options. 

Well...then the girls came along! At first it was easy to find time to cook because they took an evening nap. Now that they may only catnap, and Maddie seems to hate me leaving the room from 4:30-bedtime...cooking has lost its luster! 

In comes the crock-pot...life-changer...It takes throwing in some ingredients, turning the knob, and you have a great smelling house, and a delicious meal! 

Here are some of my favorite crock-pot (also gluten-free) recipes:

Cranberry-Dijon Roast: crockpot365.blogspot.com

I was hesitant at first with this recipe...but overall we like it!

• 3 - 4 pounds meat (pot roast)
• 1 (14-ounce) can cranberry sauce 
• 1 small onion, finely diced, or 1 heaping tablespoon of onion powder
• 8 cloves garlic, smashed (I didn't use this much garlic!)
• 2 tablespoons Gluten free soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons prepared dijon mustard

Throw it all in! Cook on low 7-10 hours. (Take about 7 in my pot). 

Sante-Fe Chicken skinnytaste.com

• 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth (I've put in less, because I didn't like it being runny) 
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste

Throw it all in! Cook on low about 10 hours. With an hour remaining shred the chicken. We usually eat it with lettuce, and make a taco salad. 

Herb-Garlic Chicken with Potatoes

whole chicken

1/4-1/2 cup olive oil

2 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 T oregano

1 T basil

1 t rosemary

salt

pepper

1. Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken on plate; set aside.

1. In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and paper. With basting/pastry brush, spread mixture all over chicken. Transfer chicken to crock-pot. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.

• 5-8 red potatoes, quartered

• ¼- ½ cup of olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 shakes dried oregano

• 5 shakes dried basil

• Hand full rosemary, crushed

• Salt

• Pepper

1. In a large Ziploc bag or large bowl, add potatoes, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices; mix. Transfer potatoes to Crock-Pot, and pour over bird. Cook with chicken as directed above

5 Months!

5 Months!

The girls turned 5 months on the 9th. I wanted to wait to post until after we went in for a weight check. I have felt challenged by the Lord to pray boldly and with expectation. I often pray knowing that God will do as he pleases, but not always expecting him to answer. So the past few weeks I have prayed for the girls to be 11 and 12 lbs. That would mean that would each gain over a pound in 1 month! It would be big! Well...
Kate:

-11 lbs even!!!
-0-3 month clothes, but those are getting too short...3-6 are a big jump in size!
-size 1 diaper
-starting to really grab hold of things better and reach for what you want
-still love to "talk"
-you laugh at random things...every time I take your arm out of a shirt you giggle...it's so cute! 
-your head control is slowly improving :) 
-you still roll belly to back, but just show a little effort to go back to belly except in your crib at night! 
-you move ALL over your crib at night, but almost always end up in the same spot against the side
-you have been very content lately to just sit and observe! I thank you for that! ;) 
-Eat 5 times a day...I could merge two feedings, but for now I want to offer you food as often as possible
-Bedtime bottle at 7:00, down by about 7:30...you sometimes wake earlier than Maddie, but usually 7:15


Maddie:

-12lbs 2oz!!!
-moving into 3-6 month clothes, especially for the length
-size 2 diapers
-you are a toy hog! If you see Kate with a toy, you do all you can to get it from her! 
-you have been super fussy the past week...just not content...you get easily frustrated...can't really tell what is going on! 
-Your hand and fingers are constantly in your mouth...with your recent fussiness I wonder if it's teeth...
-A thumb sucker getting to sleep...Dr. Fourmy and Dr. Bowen will have a good patient!;)
-you can gorilla sit for a short time, and have started to reach for toys while "sitting"
-rolling belly to back...and really, really close to back to belly (it's the desire for toys that motivates you!)
-you hardly move in your sleep...and I never hear a peep from you (knock on wood)
--Eat 5 times a day...I could merge two feedings, but for now I want to offer you food as often as possible
-Bedtime bottle at 7:00, down by about 7:30...then wake at 7:15

Sleep:
I am SO grateful that the girls sleep about 12 hours a night! It makes for a happier mom and dad! But...naps are about to wear me out! I HATE nap time! haha Most parents can't wait for naps to get a "break." Well...my girls aren't the biggest fans of naps. The morning nap is good 85% of the time...It's all the "45-minute intruder problem." Their morning nap is usually 1hr-1hr 1/2. Their afternoon nap...well is almost always a disaster! ;( Last week I put them down 15 minutes later and it seemed to be the "perfect" solution, because they napped great for about 4 days. Then I didn't change a thing and chaos hit! It's really hard to let them "cry it out" with twins. They don't typically wake each other up, but sometimes do...then you are stuck having to decide how to intervene. I can handle fussiness and crying...but does true "crying it out" mean letting them scream/cry to the point of sounding like they can't breath...this momma can't take that...I've tried...we all end up crying! :) I was praying/hoping it was a 4 month thing and would improve...now I'm stuck to find a "solution." I'm trying to take it for what it is, but some days it's too much. They really are on a great routine and do really well...it's just these darn naps! 

Feeding:
Feeding has been GREAT! The lightbulb finally went off, and they both want to eat! They are taking 25-30oz a day! Both girls get Prevacid twice a day, and we hope to eventually wean them off of it down the road. They have been taking Enfacare still to get the extra calories (22cal/oz). But with their great weight gain the pediatrician said to offer them a few times a day some of the frozen breastmilk I have remaining...if they take it great...if not give them formula. I was THRILLED to here this! I have a freezer full...and that was ALOT of hours! Plus it will be good for them...the bad news is it goes "bad" here in the next month...So hoping for the best! 

A year ago we thought/hoped we were pregnant with one little boy...hahaha God has a sense of humor and blessed us with two precious girls....I wouldn't change it for anything. They bring such joy to our days...even the tough days! 

Iphone dump

I now understand what people mean when they say, "The days are long, but the years are short." Some days seem like time passes SO slowly, yet I can't believe Kate and Maddie are almost 5 months old! 

Lily dog takes advantage of cuddle time when the babies are asleep

Trying out the BOB. Kate looks big to me here...but still SO little!

Maddie LOVES the Jumperoo!

New bathtime strategy! Keeps both babies happy! (Until one decides to relieve themselves!)

Fighting over toys already! :)

Much needed girl time with best friends and mexican!

Maddie Brown who I was blessed to teach 2 years and influenced naming our Madeline Grace! 

Sweet visit from the Browns!

Dad time after waking early from a nap

Much needed walk, then outside time! COME ON SPRING!

Happy, happy babies that bring SO much joy!!