Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Hello there!

Long time, no blog!  We are having major internet issues at home and work is crazy...and I have a baby.  A super cute one if I do say so myself =)

But, I have a really good recipe to share today.  Thank you Pinterest, I found this here and changed it up just a bit.  I realize its getting a little warm for soup, but its never to warm for easy!

You will need the following:

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained (rinsing = less sodium)
1 can diced tomatoes, no salt added
10 oz frozen corn (use frozen instead of canned for less sodium)
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped (doesn't matter what color, I had a green one so that's what I used)
10 oz can of enchilada sauce
1 can Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/2 cups skim milk
5-6 frozen chicken breast strips (or 2-3 frozen chicken breasts)


After your onion and green pepper are chopped, combine them with the beans, tomatoes and corn in a slow cooker liner in your crock pot.

Place frozen chicken on top of veggies.

In a mixing bowl, combine enchilada sauce and cream of chicken soup.

Mix in milk until smooth.

Pour mixture into crock pot.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.  Shred chicken (I just do it while it is still in the crock pot...its pretty tender so it just falls apart).

Top with low fat shredded cheese or sour cream, or better yet - avocado slices for some added healthy fats!

ENJOY!

3 Months

Here she is...3 months old!!

She is getting so big!

She is doing really well with holding her head up, and loves to sit up...with us holding her of course.

She is such a happy, easy going baby - we are very blessed and very thankful for that...but she has her moments!  Usually just when she is hungry (she is not shy about that) or when she is really tired.  Or, when I make her sit in this chair and take pictures for longer than she wants to...

One of the biggest changes in Sawyer's life this month is that I went back to work.  But, I am VERY fortunate to have a job that I can take her with me.  I have been taking her to work a few days a week.

She doesn't really hold her bottle on her own, I put her hands there and she stayed there for a minute or so...long enough to snap a picture!  She is so good at work, she hangs out on her play mat and smiles for everyone when they come in my office...

She has also gone to work with Barry a few times.

And has spent a lot of quality time with her grandmas on the other days - which we are also very thankful for!  When she is at home, she still loves to hang out on her play mat...

And take lots of naps...anywhere and every where.

The other major change in Sawyer's life this month...she sleeps through the night!!  Right around 9 weeks she did it a couple times...then stopped.  She started again at 11 weeks and hasn't looked back...its AMAZING!  She is amazing.

She goes to bed around 8 every night and sleeps till about 6.  Lucky for Barry, she got her sleeping habits from me =)

But they still take their share of naps together...such a daddy's girl already.

As much as Barry and I love having Sawyer around and have pretty much adjusted to being a family of 3, I cannot say the same for Lori.  She is in serious denial that there is a new person in the house!  She doesn't pay much attention to Sawyer, a few sniffs here and there.  But otherwise, Lori pretends to not even see her!

Another highlight from the last month...first Valentine's Day...

And just some other pictures of this sweet smile I can't get enough of!

It's hard to believe that she has gone from this at the beginning of February...

To this now...

That's her serious face.  She has moved up to size one diapers and is now in all 0-3 and 3 month clothes.  My baby isn't a new born anymore!  She has recently discovered that she can blow bubbles and is constantly doing that, and talking.  She is starting to discover her voice more and more and makes all sorts of crazy noises - she has earned herself the nickname of Squeaker because she sounds like a little mouse.  She is soooo close to laughing...I can't wait!  Right now its more of a gasp with a huge smile on her face.

The other AWESOME thing that happened is Sawyer's life is that her Aunt Brie got accepted into A&M...we are sooo proud!!

Sawyer is more and more fun with every day and I can't possible imagine loving her more than I do right now.  My favorite part of the day is going to get her out of her bed in the morning and seeing her smile at me.  She wakes up in a good mood usually - unlike her mother.  I'm working on it.  Kinda.

One more picture, just because I like it...

We love you Squeaks!!

Parmesan Fish and Veggies

It has been a while!!  I went back to work 2 weeks ago so we have been trying to get into a new routine...we are slowly getting there.  Part of this new routine is finding the quickest and easiest dinner recipes so I can get food on the table as fast as possible - that way we have more time to spend with Sawyer before she goes to bed!

I found this fish recipe and have made it twice already - I am a big fan!  Tonight I tried it with these veggies - it was super fast and super delicious!

First set your oven to broil.


For the zucchini I used...


Olive oil based cooking spray
2 medium sized zucchini, sliced
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray butter
Parmesan cheese


Spray a foil lined baking sheet with cooking spray.  Spread sliced zucchini on sheet.  Spray with butter, top with Parmesan cheese.

This seems like such an obvious way to make veggies...I will definitely be trying it with some others.


For the fish...


Olive oil based cooking spray
2 filets of tilapia, thawed
1/8 cup Parmesan cheese
1/8 cup olive oil base mayo
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter, softened
Few dashes of basil


Place fish filets on baking sheet prepared with cooking spray.

Combine remaining ingredients in small mixing bowl.

Spread mixture on top of fish.

Place both baking sheets in the oven for 10-12 minutes.  The fish is done when it flakes with a fork and the zucchini when it starts to brown.


Once again, excuse my TERRIBLE food photography!

Dinner is served!

ENJOY!

2 Months

Our baby girl is 2 months old today!

This bow did not look quite so HUGE in person...

And, she couldn't be happier about it!

She has changed so much in the last month.  As I am going through these pictures, I can't even believe it!

She is such a happy baby, it was so easy to get her smiling in these pictures...believe it or not!  I caught her in a really good mood.  She definitely has her moments, especially when she is hungry...but for the most part she is either smiling...

She is into sticking her tongue out at us now!

Sleeping...often times with her eyes open...

 Or snuggling...

She had quite a busy month.  She spent a lot of time playing on her mat...she loves her guitars and stares and smiles at them.

But, the playing usually wares her out and she falls asleep on there...

We have been going on walks...

And, just hanging out!

She also got to meet my best friend Andrea.  She flew all the way from Arizona to meet Sawyer and we had such a fun weekend hanging out!

We took a few road trips to visit Cora & Aunt Becky...She is really good in the car and mostly just sleeps.  Becky and I even survived a 5 hour road trip to Laredo with both girls...we high fived when we got there - without stopping the whole way!

They had their first slumber party and wore matching PJs.  They woke up early to watch Veggie Tales together!

We went to Yoakum to visit too.  Sawyer took over Grandpa's chair.

And, hung out with the boys.

We had Sawyer's 2 month check up last week, and she had to get her shots.

But, nothing a little cuddling with daddy can't fix!  She did really good, just a little crying!

She is now 22.5 inches (63rd percentile) which mean she has grown over an inch!  And, apparently 4 inches since she was born???  I'm not sure that first measurement was right!  She weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz (2nd percentile).  Her head is 14.75 inches (26th percentile), up .75 inches from her two week appointment.  The doctor was a little concerned about her weight so we are currently in operation "fatten Sawyer up!"  We have started supplementing with formula to get her some extra calories and we go back on Friday for a weight check...hopefully she has gained a pound!  She is still wearing newborn diapers and mostly newborn clothes.  There are a couple 0-3 month outfits that fit her, but she is still too skinny for most.

It has been so fun to watch her change over the past month, every time she smiles it just melts my heart.  I love that she responds to us now when we kiss her face or make silly noises, she thinks its hilarious...she is so close to laughing, I can't wait to hear her giggle!  She is also starting to like books, she lays totally still when I am reading to her - which I guess means she likes them?  

She is a great sleeper.  She goes to bed around 8.  Sometimes she is still awake when we put her down after she eats and rocks for a little bit, but she just falls right to sleep on her own.  The biggest change with her sleeping over the past month is that she is now sleeping in her crib all night.  She wants nothing to do with it during the day and would much prefer to nap anywhere but there, but has no problem with it at night.  I don't get it.  She is still waking once or twice every night, but is starting to go longer between feedings.  As much as I don't like waking up in the middle of the night, I really love spending that extra time with her.

Barry and I have pretty much adjusted to our new life with Sawyer.  She is so easy going and doesn't complain about too much so that makes everything easier.  We have gone out for dinner a couple times, which she sleeps through and have finally started to get back into working out.

Annnnd...now I'm rambling...time to go to bed!  Gotta sleep when the baby sleeps!