Weekly Cheese #3

Oh my goodness!

I was looking through photos of when Eloise was just a wee one. She is getting so big, soon she will be off on her own and not need me anymore! Well..not so soon, but still...look how little she was at just a couple of days old. Here she is pictured with her Grandpa Tom and cousin Olivia.

Go Blue! Maybe....

The weather: rainy, cold, windy.

That is all I have to say about the football game we are going to later today. Instead of being pumped up to be in Michigan Stadium with my dad and hubby, I am worried if my butt is going to get wet and freeze and why I can't find my favorite pair of mittens.

I guess this is true football weather for tried and true football fans, but I guess I am a fair weather fan...literally. I'd rather be in my dad's living room watching it on his 50-inch plasma screen with the warmth of the fire place!

But, I need to look on the bright side. I only get to go to Ann Arbor to watch a game once a year...so I better make the most of it. I have about 5 layers of clothing I am planning to wear along with a waterproof shell, and a blanket to sit on. Plus, if I get really, REALLY cold I know that Ted will let me cuddle in close to him...well, at least during the commercial time outs! :)

Go Blue!

(and Fire up Chips!!!!!)

My Fluff

I thought I would take a few minutes to tell you about my fluff. (E's diapers) Many people comment on them while we are out and about, and when I go to Mom's group, lots of other Mommas are curious about the cost, the fit, the washing, etc.

(Eloise in her 1st bumGenuis! ever)

My new favorite website that sells diapers is Kelly's Closet. Not only do they have every type of reusable diaper available, they have the history behind the companies, and lots of articles about which ones real mom's prefer at their blog The Cloth Diaper Whisperer. I have bought 8 diapers (various kinds) through the website, and I love that they have periodic specials where you can get $5 off and free shipping (that's the only time I buy, b/c cloth diapering can be expensive if you let it).

(Eloise in another bumGenius! It is so fun to match them with outfits!)

In Eloise's collection, we have:

5 bumGenius! Organic All-in-One One-Size Diapers - (snap closures)
12 bum Genius! 3.0 One-Size Pocket Diapers
6 Smartipants One-Size Pocket Diapers
1 Blueberry Deluxe One-Size Pocket Diaper - (snap closures)
1 Rumparooz G2 One-Size Diaper with Snaps

(bumGenius! organics w/ snaps...so bright! so pretty!)

So, altogether we have 25 diapers...which in my opinion is the perfect amount.

We have a lot of bumGenius! diapers because that is what I registered for at my baby showers. I bought Smartipants because a friend bought them and thought they were worth a try. And, last I bought a Blueberry and Rumparooz diaper because they have crazy cute patterns. But, they were a splurge, and those are the only patterned diapers Relly will probably ever have.

(Eloise in her Blueberry diaper)

Our favorite diaper, by far, is the bumGenius! Pocket Diaper. It is the most absorbent, has lots of room to double stuff for night time, and they seem to be the most comfortable on my little Sqeeze. Ted would say that the bumGenius! organics are his favorite, because they have snaps and they are trimmer around the booty area...but I prefer the pocket-style diaper because I think it pulls more moisture away from Eloise's baby-behind.

The Smartipants are good during the daytime, but they seem to leak at night. The leg holes are not tight enough...so maybe when she gets bigger they will fit better.

The Blueberry and Rumparooz work perfect just like the bumGenius! pocket's, I just can't afford more than two! haha!

This has been a long post, so stay tuned for washing...(really, it is way easier and less disgusting than you may think!)

More Yummy Food

The other night, thanks to my Real Simple magazine subscription (compliments to Mom Polleys), Ted and I had something pretty tasty for dinner. Not that every night isn't tasty, this was just EXTRA tasty.

I made a Potato, Leek and Feta Tart. The recipe can be found here. Just look how yummy this is! And, just to prove that Ted liked it even though there is no meat in it...we finished it for lunch today! :)

mmm. mmm.

Weekly Cheese #2

Eloise is a big, big smiler! She will take time out of any day to give you a big grin. The trick: smile at her first...she will always return the favor! She hasn't quite figured out giggling, but we know her first laugh is on it's way.

First Bonfire!

Last night, when I got home from the Library, Ted remembered that we had signed up to attend a hayride/bonfire get-together that someone from church was having out at their house. Immediately, I got really excited, because this would be Cheesy's 1st bonfire! (I love 1st's)

We got her all bundled up, and then we bundled ourselves, and we drove out into the country. we arrived 35 min. late (because I was working) so the hay ride had already left. But, no worries, because we just hung out with those who stayed behind at the bonfire.

I got to thinking later, and it was probably good that we missed the hay ride because it was 45 minutes long and COLD!

Daddy, Mommy and Eloise hung out by the fire and chatted with friends. Then, when the wagons returned we had a huge cookout of hot dogs, s'mores, hot chocolate and hot cider. It was deliciously fall!

Soup and Hickeys (!)

Well, if the title of this blog doesn't catch your attention, I don't know what will!

Let me explain;

The Soup:

Last night Ted made a DELICIOUS potato soup for my mom (who is in town) and I. The recipe is from Mom Polleys, who got it from Mrs. Friske. For those of you that don't really understand why Mrs. Friske is important...let me have a little side-bar and fill you in.

Mrs. Friske is of Friske's Farm, south of Charlevoix. It is where Ted and I pick apples every year. It is where you cane get the most tasty Reuben sandwich and the best apple donuts you will ever taste. Basically, all of their food is fantastic and last night, we got to have Mrs. Friske's Potato Soup in our OWN HOME! mmmm...it was so good!

Her secret in her own words, "It's the buttermilk!" haha...so I am not going to tell you it is healthy...but we substituted turkey bacon for the bacon...that has to count for something right??

So, here is the recipe so you can have it in your own home:

Mrs. Friske's Homemade Potato Soup

3 T. butter

1 c. white onion, chopped

1 c. celery, sliced

10 strips bacon, cut into 1/2'' pieces (or turkey bacon)

8 Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 3/4'' chunks
4 cups water

2 c. buttermilk

3 T. flour

1/2 c. sour cream

s + p

1. Heat the butter in a large sauce pan on MH heat. Saute the onions and celery in butter, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add bacon and potatoes and the 4 cups of water. Boil until the potatoes are tender.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, whisk the buttermilk, flour and sour cream until smooth.

3. When potatoes are tender, scoop out 1/4 c. of the water from the saucepan and slowly drizzle into the butter cream mixture while whisking it the whole time. (This prevents lumps from forming). Then repeat this process with another 1/4 c. of potato water.

4. Next, slowly drizzle the buttermilk mixture into the large saucepan, stirring the potato soup the whole time. (Once again this prevents lumps from forming.)

5. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer soup until you are ready to eat! The longer you simmer, the yummier it gets!

Now...to the funny part of the post...the hickey! (kind of a funny word in itself)

The Hickey:

On Thursday, Eloise was hanging out on the couch (sitting up, of course...well propping up, to be honest) and I went over to pick her up because we were going to go to our bedroom, because it was time for her to eat.

In the 5 seconds that it takes to walk from the couch to our bed, Relly had latched onto my shoulder and gave it a few hard sucks. It tickled and I was laughing at her and she smiled back.

Well, when I was done feeding her, I went into the bathroom to finish getting ready for something, and behold! Her sucking was more than just a laughing matter. She has left her mark, literally. It was so funny that I had to have a picture of it. Ted said that he better watch out so he doesn't end up with a Relly-sized hickey!

I guess she might have been hungrier than I thought! :)

Have a good weekend!

Weekly Cheese #1

Mommy and Relly love to play games of all kinds! On days that we get to hang out we talk, giggle and play with some of Eloise's favorite toys. It's hard for Mommy to not kiss her every second of everyday!!