Author: Oh Happy Daze

- Oh Happy Daze

Happy anniversary to us!

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband – I can’t believe that our perfect day was two years ago! I am so glad I made photography a priority when I was planning our wedding. I love looking at our pictures – they perfectly capture that day. If you’re looking for a fabulous photography team in Southeastern Virginia check out Andi Grant Photography.

Just so you can walk down memory lane with me…

Yay, ok thanks for re-visiting our wedding day with me. If you want to see more my mom blogged about it in detail here. I remember blogging about it as well, but I can’t for the life of me find the post! Maybe it was a dream?!

Think it’s too soon for a second honeymoon? Chris and I talk about how much we loved Kauai at least once a week (made possible by my generous in-laws). So much fun!

For our first anniversary (last year) we took a photo in front of the same ‘arch-thing’ from our wedding. My dad built it by the way… unbelievable! I wish there was some way to preserve it better but it is kind of giant. Not really any good place to keep it besides outside in my parents back, back, back yard. That’s why photos are so important!!!

We will have to wait until this weekend to take our “two” photo… you know, logistics have changed with toting a baby around and everything.

I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our family over the next years.

- Oh Happy Daze

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

I Know, I know… I am equally surprised that I’m posting a recipe on my blog. And one that I have actually made, to boot!

I’m not sure how or why but something changed when I had Charlotte. Well, lots of things changed actually, but I have noticed a few new things about myself that I am really starting to like.

First off, I suddenly have very little interest in spending money on myself. This came as a big shocker to me! What?! Polka-dot rain boots on clearance? Just kept walking right on past. New fall nail polish color? Nah, I’ve got plenty of other colors at home. New curly hair miracle product? That’s alright, I’m ok with my frizz. My priorities have definitely shifted. I also know that if I want to be able to go back to work only part-time then Chris and I really need to reign in our spending. Don’t worry, we are big savers too, but until now we have been able to splurge on extras (like yummy DD coffee <3 ) without really worrying about the bottom line. In the long run, I’d much rather give up things for myself so that I am able to be home with Charlotte, as I’m sure every parent does. So… that means trying to cook more meals at home.

Secondly (is that a word?!), I have become quite the homemaker over the past few weeks. Now that I am finally feeling better I have started to enjoy doing more around the house. Up until now I was usually too exhausted after a 10 hour work day to do any substantial house work. I would typically just come home, eat dinner, watch some tv, then crash for the night (especially when pregnant). Fridays were my day off and the day I would typically try to get things done around the house, but that usually resulted in me feeling completely overwhelmed with my long to-do list. Or I would start a project that would somehow result in creating even more of a mess.

Let me just steam this work shirt for Chris… hmmmm the steamer isn’t working… commence hour long attempt to de-calcify the steamer…that doesn’t work so I track down some tools and take it apart… find nothing… put it back together… get out the iron… ironing board crashes down on my toe… I get out the clippers and trim my toe nails… then paint them… then organize the drawer that the clippers are in… find something that belongs in another room… take it to that room… probably the kitchen where I decide I need a snack. WHAT?! It’s 5:00. oops, I didn’t cook dinner. or, um, finish any task today for that matter.

It’s all very “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” now that I think about it.

Now, the cleaning and organizing I’m still working on but I HAVE been cooking dinner quite a bit. And if you know me at all then you know that this is quite a feat! I never cook. Except for the occasional mac & cheese and spaghetti when we are desperate.

ok, all of that to say –> I’ve been cooking. here is a recipe that is yummy. you should try it.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Cooking time: Not really sure… let the crock pot do the thinking. (man, writing a recipe is difficult)
Serves: at least 6? at least. Chris and I have been eating this meal for several days now (and Chris eats about 4 tacos per meal, I eat about 2).
Ingredients
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts – frozen or thawed. (side note: I bought Tyson frozen boneless skinless chicken breast from Walmart and was pleasantly surprised that they were individually frozen. At first I was like “what the heck?” but it actually made it easier to thaw without getting chicken juice everywhere – You just stick the number of breasts in a warm water ‘bath’ (which also cuts out the whole ‘microwave defrost’ thing), then open up each individual packet and get cookin’. Also, this recipe is so flexible – you could easily add more chicken breasts and increase the amounts of the other ingredients to cook for a larger group.
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning – (I used an awesome recipe for homemade seasoning that I found here. It was SUPER easy to throw together and cuts back on the preservatives found in the packaged kind. If I can do it, you can do it). If you choose to make your own taco seasoning using the recipe on the link, use 1/2 of it for this recipe.
  • 1/2 jar of salsa – spicy level of your choosing (I used what was left of an already opened jar in the fridge since we were out of chips anyway)
  • Whatever fixins you like for your tacos – tortillas, cheese, sour cream, guacamole , lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
  1. Set your crock pot to high and put the chicken at the bottom. Then throw the taco seasoning and salsa on top, covering the chicken.
  2. Set it and forget it! 6 hours if chicken is frozen, about 4 if it is thawed. I cooked the chicken from frozen and I’m pretty sure it was done way before the 6 hours (especially since I put it on high) – you are probably better at this than me so use your best judgement depending on how quickly you want it to be done… or use a meat thermometer 🙂 Also, even though I cooked it for a really long time, it was still very juicy. Also, I didn’t really “set it and forget it” – I turned the chicken breasts over about 3 hours into it, just for good measure, but I don’t know that this was necessary.
  3. Take two forks and shred the chicken – mix into the awesome juices at the bottom of the crock pot and assemble your tacos!

- Oh Happy Daze

Attempted ‘photo-shoot’ with cousins.

Last week my sister and I took our kiddos to the park (that sounds so strange….our kiddos…. gah, I HAVE A CHILD!). Anyway, we thought it would be fun to try and get a few photos of the cousins together. It was…. difficult, to say the least. Trying to convince a 5 year old, an almost three year old, and a newborn to maintain happy faces and keep them wrangled  together in one spot when the glory of the playground swings were calling to them turned out to be pretty much impossible. We did manage to get a few cute ones… and if nothing else, documented ‘life’.

 

 

 

 

and then the window of opportunity closed…

The reward? Play time for the boys

 

and making faces at mommy for Charlotte.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Aunt Melissa for taking these photos!

(I realized I was in very few pictures with my nugget…Tragic!!)

Even if you didn’t have time to ‘pretty yourself up’ or shower, even,  it’s important to document mommy too, not just baby 🙂

- Oh Happy Daze

Mommy lessons

Over the past 6 weeks I’ve been on the crash course to ‘mommyhood’ … not that there is any other course – there’s really no other way but to be thrown into it. Thank goodness for other mommies out there who are always willing to answer questions and give advice.

A few things I’ve learned so far:

1. There is always some parent, somewhere who has gone through what you are going through.

Lesson? Ask for help; your’e silly if you don’t.

2. Reflux sucks. For baby. For mommy. For sleeping dog and daddy. But mostly for baby, who screams and screams when nursing and when in any position other than upright… and even then screams some more.  (That’s a little dramatic… she doesn’t scream all the time. And even then, her cries are still little blessings each day).

Lesson? A crying baby doesn’t mean you are a bad mom and your baby probably won’t hold that against you when she’s older… probably.

Haha, I’m actually really glad my husband took these photos. I mean, it was a struggle for me not to delete them right away when I saw them, but they’ve sort of grown on me. A true glimpse into parenting a newborn. I’m sure all of you mommies out there have experienced some moments of exasperation like this.

 

3. Not all babies love their carseat. I’ve heard that lots of babies love their carseats and will fall asleep during car rides. Not Charlotte. I’m thinking it relates to #2 above; regardless, it’s a tad stressful when you are driving and your daughter is crying so hard she goes into the ‘stop breathing, no sound coming out’ mode. Breaks your heart.

Lesson? Nothing lasts forever. Neither the car ride, nor this stage of baby craziness.

(A miracle… she’s asleep and cozy in her carseat!)

4. Sometimes baby breathing is very shallow, almost nonexistent, which makes you panic and pick them up, which scares them out of their sound sleep and you spend the next hour trying to get them back to sleep.

Lesson? Chill. Out.

5. Sometimes baby is a NOISY sleeper. Grunting, moaning, coughing, hiccuping, whimpering. It’s OKAY to not follow through with your ‘plan’ to have baby co-sleep in the same room with you and instead to move her to her own crib. If each peep she makes keeps you awake and in ‘supersonic listening mode’ all night, then it’s not worth it.

Lesson? A mommy who gets at least some restful sleep will be a happy mommy.

Happy mommy = happy baby.

6. Blogging about your life is very cathartic. I’d recommend it. Putting things down into words helps you maintain perspective.

Lesson? This blog is more for my own sanity than it is for keeping family and friends updated, though that is super important to me – I don’t want you to feel like you are second fiddle! I love having a way to keep you all updated on our little family 🙂

There are many more lessons I’ve learned over the past 6 weeks, but tummy time is over now so that’s all for now 🙂