ERGO

I am loving my new Ergo carrier. Thanks for recommending it Rachel! For months, I've been watching Craigs list for these carriers. The only time I've found them is under the WTB section :(

With a family vacation next week to Colorado (YIPPEE!) and some gift card money, I took the plunge. These carriers are supposed to carry the baby's weight on your hips and legs vs compressing your spine. * LIKE
Retailing for $105...ERGO is a brand worth filing in the back of your mind under "if-i-EVERY see-it-on-a-garage-sale...!"

Salsa Chicken

This week's recipe winner! Delicious!

1 whole chicken - cut up and skinned.
1 can of black beans
1 jar of salsa

1 Large Crock-pot + 6 hours + 1/2 pkg of cheddar cheese
= easy & tasty!

I drain off some of the liquid after 6 hrs. I reserve half of the salsa to add right before I top with cheddar cheese. Eat over rice and throw a salad on the table and you are set!

When I use the 50 cents per lb leg quarters from Walmart...this meal can serve 6 for less than $10. Pictures will be posted tomorrow.

Clark's NEW Friend

Meeting his new friend. Clark tried to wake Mason up with all kinds of high pitched excited shrieking...but it didn't work. Maybe next time, he'll be awake enough to play!

Clark also tested out Mason's "crawling grounds". He liked the wood floors.

Favorite Thing...

i LOVE these blankets. If you were standing in my house right now and saw the order I just purchased you'd think i was obsessed with these blankets.

They are perfect because they are lightweight, ideal for swaddling due to their large size, and a great nursing cover. Did I mention that even teething babies love to chew on them.

Brand: Aden and Anais
Cost: With a large enough order you can buy 4 for around $22. Fabulous!

Another pro is that they come in sets of four. Clark is not attached to any one particular blanket.

I love this girl set below!

Mason just got this set today!

I'm stocked with baby gifts again.

One $5.50 blanket + pre-printed note + gift bag = A gift that doesn't break the bank, yet is still fabulous.

Welcome Baby Mason

This week, our dear friends adopted a baby. Our emotions have been all over the place.

We literally feel like Mason's crazy aunt and uncle.

Both of us this weekend have at random times...

had tears streaming down our face
screamed with excitement
jumped up and down
held our breath
Paced
clapped our hands
not stop smiling

What a journey. It's too long of a story to write here, but you can visit www.unexpectedhope.com for more details.

Yesterday was a down day. We were home, but wishing we were still in the hospital with the Barkers.

Here's what i did to pass the time:

Gift bags for the Barkers to give to the nursing staff and doctors. My amazing sisters-in-luv did this for me when we had clark. It was a huge blessing to me.

Barker's printed off a family picture with a personal note thanking the staff for treating them so well as adoptive parents. Beautiful.


We made 13 of these mini bags

...and another perk is that we get to enjoy the leftovers!