Charli's First Cold:

Charli has been a bit under the weather for over a week now. It all started after she got her 6 month shots and her first Flu Vaccine. I expected the fever after her shots (which lasted 2 days), and then we had a day of feeling really good before everything else hit... She has had the worst cough (that just breaks my heart), a runny nose, and is super congested. Although sometimes you would never know she was sick or in pain, because she is still the happiest baby I have ever met (we are truly blessed)! But it was made official today that she has her first real cold.

Our first time at the Doctor for a 'sick visit'

Our happy  sick little girl

Playing peek-a-boo while we waited for our Doctor

And of course mommy is getting sick now... Really hoping this does not turn into anything worst for Charli or myself. Just praying we can have a healthy little girl very soon! 

Throwback Thursday: Belly to Baby

I think it is really neat that I was able to capture these pictures to always have to look back on and give to Charli one day! So crazy that exactly 28 weeks ago today, Charli was nestled in my tummy! Our baby girl is 28 weeks old today and I couldn't imagine life without her!

28 weeks pregnant

28 weeks old

Happy Thursday! (On a side note, we are getting closer to daddy being home! YAY!)

Weekend Update

We had a really nice weekend, that started out in Carmel on a beautiful Friday afternoon as a family! We walked around and did a little shopping, and then decided to grab a cocktail for Happy Hour! (why not right? It was a Friday, almost 5, OK it was 4 PM, but close enough! ;)) So we went to this really adorable restaurant Vesuvio! (I had been before with a couple of my girlfriends for a girls night) It has a rooftop bar, that is super nice and quaint, and we thought it would be perfect since it was a beautiful 70 degree day! And it was perfect! We also caught a beautiful sunset pulling into our house!

Saturday morning we woke up to a tiny little tooth that is slowly making its presence!! Woohoo!! Charli has been teething for over 3 months now, and the bottom center right tooth has broke through! Poor thing has become sick again because of this dang tooth, but I am so happy to see it poking through finally! (I have been trying to take a picture of it, but Charli thinks it is a game when I start opening her mouth! She sticks her tongue out!)
We decided to do something fun on Saturday, so our friends Joe, Gina, and their two little girls, and us, hopped in the car and drove to Santa Cruz! We did the Beach Boardwalk, and it ended up being such an awesome day! Steven and I did Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk back in June when his brother (who is also in the Navy and stationed in Italy) flew in to spend a week with us, and I was 9 months pregnant. So needless to say, I was waddling, eating ice cream, and complaining because I was hot and my back hurt! :) haha! But we still had a blast then too! But this time, I was able to ride the roller coaster! I must admit, I was kind of terrified about it (I'm afraid of heights, and I just get super nervous with those kinds of things! haha), but my friend Gina made me, and it was the best decision of the afternoon! Neither of us had been on a roller coaster in a very long time, and we had a blast! (My cheeks were hurting because I was screaming/laughing/smiling the whole time!) The guys took Charli and Hannah on the Carousel (it was Charli's first time on a Carousel, or any sort of "ride" for that matter!) Hannah did not want to get off, and I think Charli had a good time too... might have been a bit confused as to what was going on, but still had fun! ;) All in all, it was an awesome day, and great decision to go!

Just a little flashback! This was from our trip in June! 

We had a little Arcade fun too!

OK, and we ate ice cream this time too! ;) (You can't pass up soft served!)

Our tickets for the roller coaster!! 

HAHAHA! This picture is priceless!

Sunday morning we had to say goodbye to daddy for the first time :( he had a business trip for school that he had to go to... this is the first time he has left Charli (and two years for me). Needless to say I was very sad, and am hoping this week goes by super fast so he can come home! :) On a side note, Charli did get rice cereal for the very first time this morning! She seemed to like it!

We miss you daddy and love you bunches!

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend!

Recipe: Breakfast Smoothie, Energy Balls, and Thai Peanut Chicken

It was one of those days again... I did a little cooking! ;)

This morning, I was in the mood for a smoothie, but wanted to do something different. I came up with a Breakfast Smoothie, that was so delicious, very filling, and of course... Gluten Free! :)

I added 1 cup ice, 1 cup milk, 1 spoon full of vanilla yogurt, 1/4 cup oats (for me gluten free rolled oats), 1 cup frozen strawberries, and 1 banana. Blend!

It was so yummy! I may experiment with adding honey, or vanilla extract, or even a little chocolate to the next one! 

I have been wanting to make these no-bake energy bites that I have seen on Pinterest, so today was that day!! 

This is what I did...

Ingredients:

1 cup dry oats 

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Place in refrigerator for half an hour to chill!

Roll into balls, and place in air tight container! Voila! (Keep refrigerated!)

Seriously delicious! 

So on to dinner for this evening... I was inspired to do a little cooking! My friend Kari posted a recipe that her family loves, that she was making for dinner... Thai Peanut Chicken (sounded AMAZING!). I was thinking of making it tomorrow, but the hubby wanted it tonight too! haha! So here it goes! 

Ingredients:

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can be frozen!!)

3/4 cup salsa

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 TBSP. lime juice

1 TBSP. soy sauce (Gluten free for us of  course!)

1 TBSP. Brown Sugar

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/3 cup coconut milk

cilantro for garnish

chopped peanuts for garnish

In a small bowl mix together, salsa, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.

Place the chicken in the crock pot, and pour the mixture over the chicken. Cook on low 4-5 hours!

Remove chicken and shred. Return to crock pot, Add coconut milk and place setting to warm for 15-20 minutes! 

We served it over rice, and it was seriously amazing!! Thanks Kari! ;)

Oh Happy Day...

Today was just one of those Feel Good kind of days... Maybe because I have a beautiful family that I get to wake up to every morning, or possibly because it has been beautiful, sunny, 70 degree weather here in Monterey... I think those are both the case... and maybe, just maybe its also because my husband got his orders today for our next duty station!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! So as I mentioned in my last post, we are in our home stretch living here in Monterey... only 5 more months left. And today was the day that we found out where the Navy will be sending us next... We are headed to the beautiful Charleston, SC! I could not be happier! And yes, when Steven called me this morning to tell me we got our #1 choice, I might have grabbed Charli and started dancing around the house in our PJ's! Not only will it be an amazing move for the location (we will only be 3 hours away from my family and all of my friends), but it will be an amazing step in Steven's career! He will be the XO of the Naval Operational Support Center! I am so proud of him and everything he has accomplished in his 15 years serving our Country, and am beyond excited for him, and this next chapter as a Naval Officer! Charleston, here we come!!!!

On another note, the one down side to our day was Charli getting all of her 6 month shots and her first flu shot... :( Steven makes me stand by Charli and comfort her during her shots, and it is the hardest thing to do. My heart breaks every time... No mother wants to see their baby in pain (even if we know it is for the good, and know it is going to make them healthy). So as always, those last 2 shots are the ones that get her... and I. The look on her face as her bottom lip comes out, her eyes close up, and the tears start streaming down her face... and all you hear is the cry. I of course start crying and I know there is nothing I can do except tell her everything is alright. Daddy then comes in and 'saves the day' as he likes to call it, comforting, and kissing her. But Charli is such a little champ, and immediately stops crying... mommy on the other hand... does not. haha! But we are doing good, and Charli went right to bed as soon as we got home, and I am praying that she does not get sick and that she feels good tomorrow (I know her little chunky legs will be sore, but I hope that's all!)

Weekend Update: Beach, BBQ, Football, Friends, and a little Hike

What a great weekend we had, filled with beautiful sunny days, making memories as a family and with friends, and soaking up our last 5 months in California! (Yes, we only have 5 more months here... our 2 years have gone by super fast!)

So we had a wonderful 4 day weekend. Friday, Steven played golf with some friends, and Charli and I met him up at the club for happy hour and got a beautiful sunset to go along with it! (I will miss the California sunsets!). We woke up Saturday morning and went to breakfast at the cutest little cafe (From Scratch) in Carmel, which was recommended by my friend Kate! (Great recommendation! Cutest place ever). Saturday afternoon we packed up and headed to the beach with lots of our friends and did a little BBQ on the beach, which was such a fun time, and a perfect evening for it!

Bayonet & Blackhorse Golf and Country Club

Sunday, we went over to our friends Kris and Katy's house for some awesome homemade pizza, football, and wine! What I didn't know, is that we were going to get welcomed by a family of deer! And caught a beautiful sunset on the drive home!

Monday morning we woke up and went for a hike with our friends at Jack's Peak! It was such a fun morning, and a beautiful hike!  

Bogey also got to join in on the family hike! 

Charli's first hike!

Dads and the babes!

Man, so thirsty!

Charli and Maddie! BFFs!

Then Steven and I packed up our beach bag and headed out to the beach to soak up some more of this wonderful Monterey sunshine! And it was Charli's first time in the sand! And to all my Floridian family and friends who have never experienced the west coast... Yes, this is what walking to the beach looks like! AMAZING right!!

Love those sandy baby feet!

Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend as well!! Not looking forward to tomorrow... Charli gets her 6 month shots and her flu shot :(