Charlotte: 18 Months

And just like that, we have a full-blown toddler. The past year and a half has gone by so quickly. I can't believe Charlotte has been here with us for that long. She brings joy to our lives every day and sometimes I just can't comprehend how blessed we are to have her. She can be the sweetest child with the best kisses and "I wuv yous" and then just ever so often she has an off day where I think she is a little possessed! But, those are few and far between! We love you so much, Charlotte Hazel!

My big girl at her 18 month checkup! She got an A++ on her good behavior! 

Visiting Charleston 

Exploring the beach and oh so happy!

She's a daredevil for sure! 

Celebrating Daddy's 30th Birthday 

Check out my luscious curls! :)

Weight: 28 lbs  (94%)
Height: 34 inches (93%)
Diaper Size:  Size 6!!!!
Clothing Size: 2T and even some of those run tight! 

Eye Color: Blue!!
Favorite Toy:  She got a kitchen for Christmas and we finally put it together. She definitely stays busy playing with that. You also won't see her walking around the house without her Bitty Baby tucked underneath her arm! 
Hair: Oh her hair. She really has the cutest hair and the best little curls, just not much on the top of her head. We are still using headbands with bows. I can't wait for the day I can CLIP a bow into her hair! 
Teeth: If my counting is correct, she has 12 teeth that have popped through! 
Sleeping Habits: She is still loving her sleep! Typically night is 6:30/7:00pm-7:30am. She takes 1 nap a day now. Typically, 1.5-3 hours depending on whether she is at school or at home. 
Milestones: She went pee-pee on the potty, goes down the slide on her own, can say sentences and multiple words together, knows most of her body parts, can sing "Baa Baa Black Sheep", "Twinkle, Twinkle", "Let it Go" and "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed", she folds her hands together for prayers and says "Amen" (the sweetest). I could go on and on! :) 
Words: She has 50+ words in her vocabulary now, but like any toddler, her favorite one is "No"! Along with "Eeew" for diapers or any piece of tissue, paper towel, etc. Our favorite word is when she says, "Not Nice" and bats her hand. They do this at school when another child has done something mean or bad. Instead of acting with their hands or hitting, they say, "Not Nice". It is just super cute how she says it! 
Looking forward to: visiting cousins in Miami, Gaga's 60th Birthday in Savannah and spending the weekend with Papa and Grammy while Mommy and Daddy go to a wedding in March! 
Adventures this Month: We visited Charleston for vacation, celebrated daddy's 30th birthday and we have been to the beach several times this month and Charlotte has fallen in love. The weather is super nice (and cool, too)! We have also ventured to the Jacksonville Zoo several time and enjoy spending mornings there! 

We will see you again at our 2 year check up! BIG TEARS..... ;( 

Zucchini Spaghetti and Shipt

Zucchini Spaghetti is one of our new go-to meals! I got this tool at a Pampered Chef party a couple of months ago and we finally broke it out to try a few weeks ago! The recipe is super easy and probably takes less time than boiling water for noodles.  We also like the sautéed veggie noodles as a side for steak or chicken. Even little Charlotte enjoyed a couple of bites! 

If you haven't heard of it yet, you should also check out Shipt! It is a new grocery delivery service and is super helpful, especially on Sundays when you want to relax and enjoy the day! While I was putting C down for her nap, I "shopped" for items in the app. All of the items are from Publix and you can take advantage of sale items and BOGO items, too. I haven't done a true price comparison, but from my research there is about a 5-10% markup on items. You also pay a monthly subscription fee of $14/month. All orders over $35 have free delivery, which is really easy to achieve! On each item you add to your cart, you can add a note, like large onion or green bananas. If they have a questions on an item, they will call or text to clarify! So far, we have been really happy with the service! Sign up for Shipt here and receive a $10 credit for signing up! I plan on doing a more thorough review in the future! Stay tuned! 

Zucchini Spaghetti

• 8 medium sized zucchini 
• 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• minced garlic 
• 2 jars spaghetti sauce 
• 1 can tomato paste 
• coconut oil 
• salt and pepper 

- Brown turkey with minced garlic 

- Once cooked, add in sauce and paste and simmer 

-Slice zucchini into small strips or use the Pampered Chef Veggie Strip Maker

-Add 1 tsp. coconut oil to pan

-Add sliced zucchini strips and add salt and pepper 

-Saute for 8-10 minutes until desired softness. 

-Drain excess water 

-Top with sauce and enjoy

                                               

                                                        Toddler approved!

5 Minute Valentines

Well, I cannot believe it, but Charlotte is old enough to finally exchange Valentines! These were kind of an after thought as I was out shopping on Monday for a blessing bag event that I did with some girlfriends and realized I didn't have a plan for Valentines. I was at the Dollar Store and decided I could grab some quick items while I shopped for the bag items! Charlotte has 9 other children in her class and 3 teachers, so that made it pretty easy to shop for. I added some Pampered Chef Prep Cups and a Starbucks gift card to make the Teacher Valentines a little more special! 

I was able to get the cellophane bags, raffia, animal crackers, smarties and lollipops all at the Dollar Store! What a deal! Then, this is the part that literally took me "5 minutes". I literally packed up Kyle and Charlotte in the car and sent on them on their way to work and school and had these labels printed, cut and ready to go on the bags before my 9:15 yoga class! Talk about success! 

I use My Avery to make all of my Christmas card labels, but you can also just print directly onto paper to make tags! And, if you don't have a  Fiskers Round 'n Round Squeeze Punch, add it to your Amazon cart right now! I use it all the time for cutting circles and it was the best $16 I've spent for crafting. You can make tags, cupcake toppers, you name it! 

My supplies for the Valentines! So easy!

You may want to trim the excess paper or use a paper cutter to getter a closer cut on the tags. 

So cute!

Ready to hand out to all of her friends!

Charlotte gave her Valentines out today as we have decided to have a fun morning at the Zoo tomorrow! Happy Valentine's Day from our clan to yours! 

Quinoa & Turkey Taco Bake

Lately I have been on a crock pot kick, but this week I came up short for meal planning, so I decided to turn to the ever so faithful Pinterest for some inspiration. Kyle had a craving for corned beef and cabbage, but to his dismay, the recipe took over 8 hours to cook and we just didn't have that kind of time, so it was a Quinoa & Turkey Taco Bake!

This recipe was a little more involved only because there were a few steps, but so easy and really delicious. I always put my own spin on recipes that I find or improvise with what I have in the pantry. Not only would this be a great potluck meal, it is also great for lunches during the week. The best part?  It is remotely healthy! We loosely follow the 21 day fix meal plan (with the addition of Oreo thins and wine) and I am happy to report this is 21 day fix approved, as well as husband and toddler approved! Yay!

Quinoa & Turkey Taco Bake

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey
• 1 cup quinoa (uncooked) 
• 4 oz. tomato sauce 
• 1 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
• 2.5 tbsp. chili powder
• 2.5 tsp. cumin 
• 3 garlic cloves (minced) 
• 1/2 cup chopped onion 
• 4 oz. petite diced tomatoes (canned)
• 1/2 chopped jalapeno 
• greek yogurt and chopped green onion 

-Prepare 1 cup quinoa as directed on package and set aside 

-Brown turkey with garlic and then add cumin, chili powder, jalapeño and diced tomato

-Add cooked quinoa, tomato sauce and 1/3 cup cheddar cheese 

-Stir well and transfer to a greased baking dish 

-Top with remaining cheese (1 cup) 

-Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. 

-Top with greek yogurt and green onions. 

Enjoy! 

Patience is a Virtue

We've hit the age or stage (I guess you could call it) of toddler chaos. Where everything is "Nooo" and the only time we are happy is if we are running around and climbing the furniture and pretty much trying to give mommy and daddy a heart attack. I knew it was coming, but of course just like any other mom, I thought, my baby won't do those things! She would be perfect! Don't get me wrong, she is perfect and I love her more than words, but boy some days are down right challenging. Being a parent is hard. Being a mom is even harder. Patience is the hardest!

How could I ever be upset with this sweet face?

We spent lots of time traveling during the holidays and I find it ironic, because others will ask, "How was your vacation?" or "Enjoy your vacation!". I smile politely and nod my head, but deep down inside I want to say, "Are you crazy?!!?" Traveling with an almost 2 year old isn't vacation, it's well....interesting. The best way to describe it is that you are basically doing your "mom job" in a foreign place without your tools, toys, tricks, etc. which immediately makes it more complicated. You are also trying to "baby proof" a new location and make sure they don't fall down the stairs and break their neck! It's stressful, but we have to do it! We love seeing our family and that is what comes with the territory.  And then, a couple of days later it is time to come home and get re-organized, do laundry and get ready for the week ahead. I'm tired just thinking about it!  I'm still trying to devise a plan that will make packing, traveling and unpacking a little more easy. Maybe a personal assistant? Yea right.

Then, you throw an independent, exploring toddler into the mix and that really makes things interesting! Charlotte likes to push the envelope and test our limits, sometimes I really think she should have been a boy. She's tough and rambunctious and can't sit still, not even to watch a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She loves to explore through my makeup bag and pull everything out of my cabinets. She takes every book off the shelf as soon as I get them picked up and onto the shelf. And, I get frustrated. Frustrated that things are a mess, not organized, not the way I want them. But then she is sweet, just the sweetest! She hugs me and kisses me and pats my face. She looks at me and I know that I am her world. She pats my back to help me "go to sleep" and watches me in awe when I do my hair or put on makeup. And then the guilt sets in. How could I get upset with a little human being that is so sweet and kissing me, but 5 minutes prior was throwing herself on the floor because I took away the chap stick! I think, gosh, I am a horrible mother! She always redeems herself or maybe I finally relax the closer it gets to bedtime because I know I will get to sit in peace and quiet for more than 5 minutes straight once she is tucked in bed. If you are a mom, you know bedtime is an exciting time, especially if your child sleeps through the night.

Redeeming bedtime snuggles and smiles!

I've shared all this to say... We are human, it is ok to be frustrated, it is ok to have bad days (there will be bad days and there will be awesome days), parenting is hard, being a mom is hard, raising a toddler is interesting and trying and you will question yourself (I know I do). This year, I will continue to pray for patience in my life. With Charlotte, with my husband, with friends and with my clients!! It is one of the hardest things, but so so important! Meanwhile, I'm taking any and all tips to make it through toddlerhood with a strong-willed child! :)

Healthy Broccoli Tots

As a mom I am always trying to find new ways for Charlotte to get her veggies. We are very lucky that she is an amazing eater and quite the little piggy! She loves her carbs (pasta, bread, crackers, etc), but when it comes to meats and veggies she can be a little picky because of texture. I actually saw this recipe on Pinterest for 21 day fix recipes and thought it would be perfect Charlotte and then Kyle and I could enjoy too! :)

I actually had some leftover broccoli florets in the fridge and figured I should probably use them before they went bad!

Healthy Broccoli Tots 

• 12 oz. broccoli florets 
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar or mozzarella (I used mozzarella)
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
• salt and pepper 

-Steam your broccoli in pot and then drain and rinse. Pat dry with paper towel to remove excess water. 

-Add 2 cups of the broccoli to your food processor ( I used our Vitamix) 

- In a bowl, combine the egg whites, cheese, breadcrumbs and S&P. Once the broccoli is finely chopped, add the broccoli to the bowl. Mix well

- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper ( Very important! I doubled this recipe and ran out of parchment on the other baking sheet. Even with cooking spray, the result was not the same) 

- Roll into balls or use a mini ice cream scoop or melon baller and place on baking sheet. 

-Cook for 8-10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes! 

They turned out great! Husband and toddler approved! Charlotte was already done with dinner but she saw me sampling and asked for a taste and asked for more! :) 

Steamed Broccoli

Egg Whites, Breadcrumbs, Cheese and S&P

Blend until finely chopped

Add broccoli to the bowl 

Drop onto parchment lined baking sheets

Turn after 8-10 minutes of baking! Nice and crispy!

The final product! Yummy! 

Mediterranean Egg Cups

I have been making "egg cups" or "egg muffins" for a while now! They simplify your morning, not only in cooking your breakfast, but also in clean up!

I think egg cups are best when you experiment with what you like. I've made very healthy egg cups with only red peppers and spinach and very yummy egg cups with croissants, sausage and cheese! Think about what flavors you like and just improvise! Here is a recipe that I came up with that we are really enjoying!

Mediterranean Egg Cups 

• 12 eggs (beaten in a large mixing bowl) 
• 1 red pepper (diced) 
• 1 lg. onion (diced) 
• 1 package sliced baby bella mushrooms 
• 1 package crumbled feta 
• Cooking Spray ( I prefer TJ's Coconut Oil Spray) 
• Salt & Pepper 

1. -Dice red pepper, onion and mushrooms. Spray non-stick frying pan and sauté veggies. I think this step is really important because it brings out the flavor. Once translucent and soft, set aside and let cool. 
2. -Whisk together 12 eggs and add salt and pepper. 
3. -Add cooled veggie mixture and feta cheese 
4. -Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and divide the egg mixture evenly. 
5. -Cook at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes! 

This recipe makes 12 egg cups. A serving is equivalent to 2 egg cups. So, this is a perfect recipe to make in the beginning of the week and then eat throughout the week. You can always double this recipe if you have a larger family! I usually microwave mine for 45-60 seconds before eating! These are toddler and husband approved! 

Yummy!

Enjoy!