Tator Tot Casserole!

I've been trying to find some more "kid-friendly" easy meals to make

to expand Abigail's tastebuds a little bit, and came across this yummy casserole!

(found in The Doula's Cookbook for New Moms by Lisa Jost)

what you need:

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion (we use onion powder instead)

1 can cream of chicken soup (or you could use cream of mushroom)

1 bag (16 oz) of frozen mixed veggies

1 bag (32 oz) frozen Tator Tot potatoes

salt and pepper

preheat oven to 350.

Brown your beef, with the onion or onion powder.

I also add salt and pepper while browning.

Place the cooked beef into a 9x13 dish.

Pour the frozen veggies on top of the beef.

Pour the soup (I used cream of chicken) on top of the veggies and beef.

Top with Tator Tots and pop it in the oven!

Bake uncovered for about 1 hour until warm and the tots are a little browned!

ENJOY!!!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up here:

Art Show

Last night was Abigail's Art show at her Mother's Day Out!

She's been coming home the last week or so covered in paint, so I've been waiting anxiously to see her masterpieces!!

She was SO excited to show Daddy "My Art!"

and also proud to show her baby sister too! (how sweet is that?)

one of her precious teachers, Mrs. Allison

needless to say...I'm a PROUD mama.

to mother His daughter

I posted this (below) last year, but the Lord brought me back to it today.

I now have a second daughter in the picture,

and I SO desire to teach her and guide her as HIS daughter...

--------------------------------

I have never found as much joy in something as I have in being a mother.

I feel honored and privileged to have a little one. Especially a little girl. I hope for a boy someday too but I love being mommy to a pretty little curly headed baby girl. I love the pink and the flowers. I love the bows and the shoes. I love that she already loves to watch in the mirror as I brush her hair after her bath. And on that note, I love the moment I had with her the other night where she took the comb in her hand and tried to "brush" mommy's hair too...what a special mother daughter moment I cant really explain!

I cannot even comprehend the joys and moments I have waiting ahead to share with my little girl.

Along with all the ribbons and bows of being a girl come the insecurities and doubts that the world and our enemy throw at us as girls, even from such a tender little age.

The Lord is just beginning to scratch the surface with me on this but I am burdened lately to begin the journey of understanding something...that as a mommy I have a responsibility (that I am honored to hold) to show my daughter what a woman is. That its more than just the pretty things. Just writing that statement gives me a little anxiety but also makes me excited. I feel amazed that God would pick me, with all my gunk and wounds and insecurities, to lead a little girl in the way she should go as a person, a girl, a woman, and possibly a wife and mother herself someday. whew.

It makes me nervous for this reason: I have so much still in me, so much to be healed and so much to learn. So much confidence still to gain as a woman. I think though that He is beginning to reveal to me that it is possible to actually be the woman he created me to be, the woman that my heart so longs to be. I'm not there yet by any means, but I know He is allowing me to step into the path that will take me there.

To become the woman, the wife, the mother, the daughter, the friend, that I truly desire...I must first remember that I myself am a daughter above all else. A daughter of a King. Of a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and who has treasures and plans for me beyond my wildest imaginations. I am His princess...that's what the daughter of a King is, isn't it?

In all my fear and anxiety about raising my daughter to be a little woman, I must remember that she also is a daughter of a King. Of a Father who loves her more than I can know, which is just unfathomable to me, given how much I love her myself.

I guess the point of all this for me is to declare before you that I feel an urgency to step into the role that God has for me as a woman. I'm not there yet. It will take lots of grace and patience but I have heard Him speak to me that this is the time for me to begin to understand all that He has for me as His daughter. And so then... I will be able to pass this journey of grace and understanding on to my daughter. I want her to know that she can feel secure. That she will always be loved unconditionally and that she is perfect in His sight, and in mine too. When the world begins to judge her, as it surely will, by her ribbons and bows... I want her to know that those things don't matter.

Because she is a daughter who is loved.

Baby woman, tiny in stature now

But your heart is a treasure

Little princess come follow behind me now

I am reaching for you

(Abigail), God has answered my prayers

(Abigail), God will conquer my fears

To mother a daughter, to look you in the eye

To know that I had everything, to walk with you in life

To give you to Jesus that He would impart

The wisdom that I'm longing for to mother your heart

(Abigail), God has answered my prayers

There will be others to lead and to guide you girl

But only one you'll call Mother, the honor is all mine

To show you what a woman's like

I'm so glad you're mine

Tenderness of God is twirling around

In our living room tonight

Lighten up your daddy's eyes

And know that he just wants to freeze you in time

(Abigail), God has answered my prayers

(Abigail), God will conquer my fears

To mother a daughter, to look you in the eye

To know that I had everything, to walk with you in life

To give you to Jesus that He would impart

The wisdom that I'm longing for to mother your heart

(Abigail), God has answered my prayers

"Elliana's Song" by Watermark

"You know you're a Mommy when..."

I come up with these sayings all the time in my head.

Like the other day I thought to myself: "you know you're a mommy when you have no clue there is spit up in your hair until you look in the mirror...HOURS later."

(yes, true story)

SO I asked y'all to finish this sentence:

"You know you're a mommy when..."

You know you're a Mommy when...

you have diapers and wipes in your purse even when you aren't with your little ones.

you actually TELL someone to spit something in your hand.

And then you wait open-handed in front of them and are happy when they spit it out.

you lick your thumb to wipe something off their face.

you look at them and see nothing but perfection.

you hide candy in your closet so you don't have to share.

you take a picture of yourself and your little one a million times to get it just right.

You know you're a Mommy when...

you take your little one into a warm bath with you just so he will poop.

And then you do it again and again to keep him regular.

your purse is filled with (used) Boogie wipes, random cheerios, goldfish, raisins, etc.

your little one pees on your shirt and you don't even bother to change.

you think their eyes are the most beautiful ones you have ever seen.

your Netflix recently watched list is nothing but cartoons.

one of the best moments of your life was when #1 met #2.

You know you're a Mommy when...

you dread being separated from your two rowdy toddlers to go to the hospital to deliver your next precious baby.

you find yourself singing the theme song to a disney movie out loud to yourself in public,

only to realize you are by yourself...in public.

you realize you are cutting your OWN food into tiny pieces.

you are sitting on the couch watching cartoons, feeding a baby doll, and talking on a toy phone just to see your baby smile.

you take a picture of a "choo choo" on your road trip because you know your little one will love looking at it when she scrolls through the pictures on your phone.

You know you're a Mommy when...

you have to change 4 times in an hour because you keep getting thrown up on, and you aren't grossed out because you feel so bad for your sweet sick baby.

you get excited about the littlest things.

you find a dirty diaper in the back of your car, forgetting you changed him back there in a restaurant parking lot last week.

part of your life is dedicated to the ever-important paci, and you will drop all you are doing to find one when it is needed.

You know you're a Mommy when...

all you can think about it having a night to yourself... until you do.

Then all you can think about is them.

you have to throw a nursing blanket over yourself before answering the door.

you'd rather wipe snot on your favorite jeans with your bare hands than let it run down their face when you have no tissue.

you are out without your kids and find a paci in your coat pocket.

you allow your little one to carry her "lovie" in your family pictures so she wont throw a fit...

but it turns out to be your favorite picture of all.

I had SO much fun reading tweets and FB comments with your way to finish that sentence.

I think ALL us mamas can relate to just about every one!!

THANKS for contributing yall. :)

(Thanks to Emily, Ashley, Misty, Jennifer, Jessi, Amanda, Lesley, Kassie, Nicole, Amanda, Kelli, Beth, Amy, Katie, Natalie, and Kristina for sharing...

it seriously made my day to read all yalls sentences!!)

now YOU finish the sentence!

"milk and cookies" lactation cookies!

I'm sharing my recipe for lactation cookies...

I like to call it "Milk and Cookies"...get it?! :)

It has several ingredients in it that are beneficial for a breastfeeding mama, to help with milk supply... including oatmeal, flaxseed, and Brewer's Yeast.

and oh yeah, they are YUMMY too!!

If you are a new mama, if you need to take something to a new mama,

or if you just need a new cookie recipe, these are great.

And if your husband wants to eat some, you can assure him that

no, he will not start lactating. :)

You will need:

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

4 T water

2 T flaxseed meal

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

2 cups flour

1 t baking soda

2 T Brewer's Yeast

3 cups thick cut oats

1 cup chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)

(FYI this makes a ton of cookies - I usually half it for myself)

preheat oven to 375

First, mix together softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar.

Use mixer until creamy.

mix the flaxseed and the water together in a small bowl and put it aside to let it set.

add eggs to sugar mixture.

then pour in the flaxseed and vanilla.

Mix well.

Then add the flour, soda, and brewers yeast.

stir with a spoon at first, and then mix until well blended.

now the fun part!

Add the oats and chocolate chips and stir it all in!

Bake at 375 for about 12-14 minutes (depending on your oven).

{OR if you are like me and LOVE cookie dough,

substitute the eggs for a Tablespoon or so of milk,

and eat your heart out. :) }

Enjoy, and Happy Lactating!! :)

(or happy cookie eating!!)

PS: I think Im gonna go make these right now...

i may have just drooled a little bit writing this out.

sharing some sweetness today over here: