Crockpot Potato Soup

   EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP

1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns {I used Ore Ida}

3 14oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese {don’t use fat free. It WON’T melt!!!}

In a crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese. Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat. About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted. Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, or whatever else you think would be good!!

 

Recipe from Pearls, handcuffs, and Happy Hour

Currently...

Loving.... snuggles and smiles from my baby girl, the fact that I have had the last 12 weeks off from work, we get to visit family and friends this weekend, longer stretches of sleep at night (sometimes 7 hrs!) cooler weather, walks with the stroller  

Excited for...  family time, to be reunited with my husband again on Friday, adult conversations

Worried... Going back to work, being a single mom for 3 more days this week, packing everything we all will need for 6 days, daycare (germs, other kids, being neglected) separation from my child, driving 500 miles with an infant (3 hrs of which..by myself!)

Creating.... (or lack thereof!) How is it, that I had the last 12 weeks off to be productive, but didn't get a damn thing accomplished!  Getting caught up on the blog!

Hating... maternity leave is coming to an end, Pat being gone for his yearly week of training, cold nights/mornings, having to set an alarm clock again, expensive car repairs, hospital/ NICU bills, growth spurts/ eating every 2 hrs

Wondering... When Mallory will continually sleep through the night? How my first day back at work will be? (and how many emails I will have!)

Craving... Soup, breakfast sweets (donuts, danish, cinnamon rolls) cherry slices, Nutella wraps  

Hoping... Transition goes well the next 3 weeks, that I don't forget something major

Watching.... From Netflix in the past month: What to Expect when Your Expecting, The Lorax, The Babymakers, Chloe, Piranha DD, Project X, The Dictator

DVR: Breaking Amish, Jersey Housewives, 19 Kids, Amazing Race, Dexter, Guliana and Bill  

Listening... The baby swing and it's 6 songs it has on repeat, coos/noises from Mallory, construction workers building

Looking forward to... my baby being 3 months old and all the new things she does, 4 generations of women getting together, seeing my grandparents new place/ and the work that has been done on their old place, my dad and brother meeting Mallory for the first time, Danielle's wedding

Mallory (2 Months)

 

2 Months Old!! 9.17.12

 

 

2 Month Appointment 9.18.12

 

Weight: 9lbs (15%)

Height: 21" (7%)

Head: 14.75 (20%)

 

 

 

You finally registered on the "curve" since you were so small at birth, so it took awhile for you to catch up. But now you are on the lower percent of the scale.

 

 

Here you are checking yourself out in the mirror. You are such a girl! :)

 

In came the tray of shots. This is when mommy started to tear up (and they haven't even been administered yet!) You received 5 shots total. 3 injections (one shot is a 2 in 1) and the Rotovirus was administered orally

 

Such a sad peanut..and I can't blame you at all. You were good for about 7 hrs and then needed a dose of baby tylenol to get you through the night. The next morning you were doing much better, but your poor legs are very hard at the injection sight.

 

 

 

You had your first "baby date" with Graham on 9.15 You really enjoyed the company and kept staring at him the whole time! (he was more interested in the dangly toys) ha ha!!

 

 

 

You also became a very messy baby this month.  It's probably part my fault for not getting you into size 1 diapers sooner. But you have been blowing through 2-3 outfits a week easily. This one was by far the worst one you have had.

 

 

At 2 months...

 

- You are in newborn diapers

 

- We finally got you into 3 month clothing but you can still wear some NB size 

 

- You have now been spitting up pretty regularly and even in our bed one night (mom even had to put a rag down one night..and go right back to sleep)

 

- Granny and Grampy came to visit you for the first time over Labor Day weekend

 

- You got your first cold 9.2.12 You were full of boogies and we spent a lot of time in the bathroom steaming them out. You dislike the snot sucker..but realize you feel so much better once your nose is clear.

 

- We had to buy a second refridgerator for all of your milk! Who knew that mom would be such a milk machine!

 

- You are now big enough for your swing! You seem to love the movement, and it gives us a break to cook/eat dinner, etc.. while you chill. You like the side to side facing out into the living room best (so you can see the tv!)

 

- We started using the baby gym more.  You seem to like looking at it, and occasionally bat at the toys. We also put your light bar on your monkey bouncer.

 

-We started tummy time and the ped wants you to do 30 minutes a day. You might get 5-7 minutes in at a time (and really hate it after 5 minutes or so!) You grunt and cry and start to suck on your hands for comfort.

 

- You developed a "mild case" of  baby acne over the last 3 weeks. I'm hoping it clears up soon

 

- You have become much more noisy and love to smile.  (Especially at 3 am after feeding and getting your diaper changed)

 

- You visited mom's co workers at work.  They all loved you, and took turns passing you around

 

- You went to another wedding..your 2nd

 

- You are still feeding every 3 hrs. You did have a growth spurt and wanted to eat every 2 hrs for awhile.  But this spurt also led to you sleeping more then 3 hrs at a time.  You have made it anywhere from 4-5.5 hrs some nights!