Best Friends

Hannah, myself and Katie and my baby shower for Harper =).

I have noticed that as I continue to grow up that my relationships with my friends have completely different dynamics in a good & perfect way

Josh and I were in Oklahoma City at the beginning of April and I was so excited to go and meet my best friend of 13 years for lunch. My mom watched Harper and Paxton for me and I met Hannah up at her work and myself, Hannah and her mom all went out to lunch together. Hannah's mom owns the most wonderful dog kennel called Lucky Dog Lodge in OKC. Both Hannah and I worked there throughout high school along with a few of our other friends and would occasionally come back and help out through college. Then after my mom finally got out of the restaurant business she started working there too and has been there I think 5-6 years now. Hannah and I lived together through our entire college experience and were the maid of honor in each other's weddings and we have just always clicked. I do not recall ever really having a fight with her. The thing I always admired about Hannah was her individuality. She never really cared what other people thought, she was ambitious and would not be afraid to go out of the country for a month in the summer (which is something I would be too homesick to do), she was always on her own time schedule and just was very laid back. I loved this about her. I have always been a person who needs someone else around so the independence she had was amazing to me. 

Now after having 2 children, moving away from Oklahoma City to Duncan and now Kansas City, Hannah and I do not talk quite as much as we used to, but when we do it was as if no time has really passed. The thing I really enjoy about meeting up with her is that it takes me back in time. Typically when I get together with her it is not with my kids and we do not talk about baby stuff either. She does not have kids yet so it is almost as if I am back in college just hanging out with my bestie. I know one day that will change when she does become a mommy but right now I just love the fact that she helps remind me that I am more than just a mom. I do not mean that in a bad way because I know that is what my job is now and I absolutely love it but I love that after 13 years I still feel like a 15 year old girl talking about very unimportant things with out a care in the world when I am with her.

On the other hand I have my best friend Katie who I relate to on a million different levels. We had the same major, worked at Target, lived together post college, lived in Duncan together, have 2 kids that are fairly close in age, we have a crazy love for Grey's Anatomy and all of the Real Housewives show and enjoy cooking. Katie has been someone who has been around me for some major changes in my lifetime. If it were not for Katie I wouldn't have had the push to start dating Josh. If it were not for her we would have never lived in Duncan. If it were not for her I would not have even thought about putting my babies on a schedule to create a much easier time for me as a mom. I seriously cannot go a day without texting her literally at least 20 times. She is the person that when something happens to me I want to tell her. I ask her for mommy advice all the time to the point that she probably gets annoyed but there is just something that is so perfect with our friendship. I was lucky enough to live only 1.5 miles away from her in Duncan and we had a great year of having our kids become buddies, working out together, laying out together, picking up Taco Bell burritos for lunch (hence the working out together) and just talking to each other about everything. In a lot of ways she is like a therapist. I knew that I could tell her anything that was going on and I would not be judged. 

Even though I do not live near my 2 best girl friends I love the fact that I still feel as if I do. I am a lucky person to have them in my life. =). I know this is a mushy post but I am very thankful to have these important women in my life because they genuinely make my life bet

Foodie Friday: Sweet Potato Bean Chili

If you don't know this about me yet, I am a huge foodie! My family started a pizza chain before I was born and then later on my parents opened a restaurant in Wichita Falls Texas. I spent a lot of time at the restaurant as well as in the kitchen cooking with my parents. I am always trying to create or adapt recipes to suit Josh and my taste. He is an onion hater, like an onion hater to the point that he will tell our server at a restaurant he is allergic to guarantee they will not put them in his food, kind of onion hater. This was a heartbreaking thing for me to learn as we first started dating because my base for 99% of my recipes started with onions and garlic. However, I learned to change my cooking methods to cater to his taste, while still allowing me get flavor in my food.

Cooking has always been something I have been confident doing. I am always proud of what I cook and I absolutely love to cook for others. Most other aspects of my life I am very timid when it comes to putting myself out there for judgement, but with cooking I do not feel that way.

I am going to try and share my favorite recipe that I made during the week on Friday's. I hope you enjoy & please share if you tried it and liked it or made any yummy changes.

My friends, family and I are always sharing recipes and I am constantly on Pinterest looking for great ideas. My sweet friend Carrie posted a picture of a Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili the other day that looked absolutely scrumptious. She sent me the recipe and I changed it up quite a bit because my pantry did not have most of what it called for, as well as I am a huge weenie when it comes to anything spicy.

Here is my recipe for a Sweet Potato Bean Chili

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 medium-large sweet potato, peeled and diced

1 large onion (if you have a husband that will eat them I would add it!)

4 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons chili powder

4 teaspoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 dash of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup chicken stock

1 beer (preferably a good yummy dark beer)

2 15 oz canned beans, rinsed (I used kidney and pinto but any would be delicious)

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes

1. Heat oil in pot over medium high heat. Add sweet potato and onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add stock and beer and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the sweet potato is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Add beans and tomatoes and increase heat to high and return to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.

I served this with some cornbread that I squeezed about 1 1/2 tablespoons of maple syrup in the batter. Oh so yummy!! It was even better for lunch the next day. =)

Baby Love

A few things that make me ooze with happiness about my little Pax:

Baby babble. I love his high pitched gasps, squeals and the dimpled smile I get when I talk to him. I know he is trying to say that I am the funniest and most awesome mama in the world.

The little peach haired, squishy tiny ears. Attached to the best round head ever (thanks to the c-section.) And although cradle cap isn't the most attractive thing, I love the monk inspired hairstyle he is rockin. Bald on the top with a thin layer of soft brown hairs all along the bottom.
Oh the belly button... or as Harper would say "butt butt". He has an outie which I have never thought to love before but now it is something that makes me smile. Best belly button ever!
Rolls on rolls on rolls. This boy is no stranger to loving him some milk. I can not imagine what it will be like when he starts on solids. He has a few chins, Michelin man arms and legs and I am pretty sure he has a neck somewhere...it has not made it's debut quite yet.

That mouth. Everything about that mouth is perfect. From the smiles, squeals, pouty faces to cries, he really knows how to make everything cute with those sweet little lips.
Last but not least his little button nose. It is round and it is perfect. I am pretty sure I kiss it a million times a day.

That is all. Nothing more. Basically I am in love with this little baby boy. Happy Monday!!

Dear Harper,

My dearest Harper,

This week has by far been the hardest week of my entire life. You are a sick little girl and it is breaking my heart. I have taken you to the doctor three times in four days and more and more things keep popping up. First it was the flu. Then it was the stomach flu along with an ear infection. Now it is RSV bronchiolitis along with the ear infection. You are having to do breathing treatments because you have not been receiving enough oxygen to your body because of this virus, and you absolutely hate them.

What I wanted to tell you was that I love you more than I thought it was humanly possible to love someone or something. To see your tears, your sad sleepy eyes and not having seen your smile in days is tearing me apart. I know this is not a major illness or anything that is life threatening but I can not imagine my life without you. You have taught me to be a better person and you have changed my entire perspective on life. I may not dress as "stylish" as I used to but all I want is to play with you around the house in our cozies. I may not vacation as often as I used to but I am so sad when I am not with you every day. I may not bring home a paycheck to help contribute to the bills but I would give up all the money in the world to simply spend time with you.

You have also made me love your dad more than I thought I could love my spouse. To see him care for you, play with you, and be an amazing example of what a husband should be to a wife makes me fall deeper and deeper in love with him every day.

I do not want you to grow up too fast. I want you to enjoy who you are, what you can do, and the things around you at every moment. It is easy to get wrapped up in what may be next but please stay a little girl as long as you can. I look forward to continuing our relationship as you grow. I can only hope you love me half as much as I love you. I can only pray that you grow up to have a relationship with me as I do with my mom. I know that she has taught me how to love, how to be selfless, and how to be the best mother that I can be. Thank you for being my daughter. I hope you feel better soon. Just know that your dad and I will be there for you with all the cuddles, kisses, hugs, and shoulders to cry on, and a listening ear for your entire life.

With all my heart,
mama

Valentine's Day

Yesterday I had a really fun Valentine's Day. Nothing crazy big happened, no giant bouquets of flowers arrived and definitely no restaurant reservations were made. What did happen was Josh surprised us by coming home early, a delicious dinner was made by yours truly, a bottle of wine was opened, an incredible chocolaty dessert was eaten and fantastic conversation went on after the kids went to bed. In my book it was perfect.

Of course I snapped a few pictures of Harper before she went to her first Valentine's Day school party. Funny thing is that she looks so cute and sweet in the pictures only because she has my iPhone and is looking through all my photos. A few seconds after I took these, I took my phone so I could make a call and she had an epic meltdown. I mean epic. I did capture a few pictures of that to send to my parents for a little giggle. Not her finest moment. However, her day at school went great and she even made Josh and I a sweet little Valentine. Pretty sure it was one of the greatest things I have ever received. I just about had a mommy meltdown in the classroom when I saw it.

So I am REALLY looking forward to this upcoming weekend because my mom and stepdad are coming to stay with us YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Saturday just might be the best day I have had in a long time. Let me give you the rundown....

Wake up with my parents here (they arrive Friday night)
Go shopping with my mom (H&M here we come!!!)
Manicures/Pedicures w/mom (yowza I need this)
1 hour massage with Josh (best Valentine's gift EVER)
Possibly more shopping with mom (maybe for the kiddos this time)
Trip to Trader Joes (to buy LOTS AND LOTS of cheap wine)
Go out to dinner (babysitter and no kids....are you kidding me!!!???)

Seriously I could not be more excited! The best part is that they are not leaving until Monday morning so Sunday we get to have a lazy day all together loving on the babes and cooking something warm and yummy. I will do my best to take pictures this weekend but I may be too relaxed from all the pampering, pooped from the shopping or tipsy from dinner to remember =). I'm sure I will take some instagram photos though!

Hope you all have had a really great week, we are battling some serious colds around the Pluid household. Hoping they go away soo because these kids need to be ready for the fuuuuun weekend ahead!

xoxo
B

This guy makes me smile

I am one lucky lady to be married to this handsome guy. He constantly makes me laugh (even when I REALLY don't want to), he makes me feel pretty (even when I REALLY don't look it) and he makes me feel confident and do things I would normally talk myself out of doing.

Yesterday I dropped Harper off at Mother's Day Out and went down to meet Josh for a little lunch date (with Paxton also, but he was sleeping the whole time). It truly felt like an actual date and it was just the perfect thing. We ate at this oh so delicious restaurant named Californos near his work. We were the only 2 in the restaurant for the majority of our meal, which made it even more intimate & date like! Since we now have 2 babies and quite a bit less "us" time this lunch was just the greatest thing. With being tired & busy with keeping Harper's schedule together and trying to get Paxton on a schedule as well, I find that once the kiddos are down for the night I just want to find the nearest pillow and get every minute of sleep I can. This means that J & I really don't get as much together time and I was beginning to really miss him!

After lunch I went to pick up Harper and then her, Paxton and I went to the grocery store and did a little shopping. FYI...grocery shopping with a toddler and a sleeping baby in the carseat means that lots of "mini" trips are being made instead of big grocery shopping. There is literally no room in the basket for more than a few items. You would think the shopping cart creators in the world would think about this because I feel like most people eventually have 2 children..... and this is even with using the gigantic carts that look like "cars" so that your toddler is happy and think's he/she is driving the cart. Anyway back to my afternoon..... we finished shopping and I came home to start making a yummy dinner for Josh and myself. I had everything down pat where we ate dinner, put both kids to bed by 7:30 (yup, I am awesome). Normally I would fall asleep on the couch around 8:30/9:00ish (yup, I am lame) and set my alarm for 10:00pm to get up and feed little guy before I head off to bed but I managed to stay awake until 11:00 hanging out and watching the presidential debate with J. It was great. It was perfect. It made me happy.

On the downside Paxton had a bit of a rough night and I was up much more often than normal but still, I loved the time that was just Josh and myself. I am looking forward to the hopeful near future where Paxton is sleeping through the night (If I am lucky it will be around 7-8 weeks like Harper). Keeping my fingers crossed. I am ready to have more flexibility and quality time with my love. For now, I will embrace the little pockets of time we get, those sometimes seem to be the best anyway.

Top 10

Sleepy boy

Harper giving Paxton kisses xo

Sweet boy

Getting more comfortable with trying to hold him

Top 10 favorite moments/things since P was born:

10. The nurses at the hospital. They were awesome. They brought me pain medicine, took P away to the nursery at night so we could sleep, brought him back to me as soon as I woke up (it was like Christmas!), and they were just so nice. I feel like a few of them became my friends.
9. Being able to justify wearing my pajama pants and comfy tops all day every day. Since I am "healing" from surgery and have a scar I cannot comfortably wear jeans (and lets not kid ourselves that I can fit in my jeans anyway). Therefore, I shall stay in my leggings and cozy pants just a bit longer!
8. Not having to cook anything. We seriously have the absolute sweetest/best neighbors and friends here! Since Paxton was born and I came home from the hospital I have yet to cook a single thing. We have been eating like king's too...our friends sure know how to cook!!
7. No more restless legs at night, waking up to use the restroom 5 times, or the awful back pain! Since the little 9.21 lb. chunker was removed from my stomach the pain of pregnancy vanished. Yes I am waking in the night to feed little man, but it is much less frequent than my bathroom trips.
6. Taking self family photos with J yesterday. We had a lot of fun taking Paxton's newborn pictures and also getting in a few of the whole family. Thank goodness I have a tri-pod and also a super sweet husband who enjoys helping me with photography fun!
5. Watching Paxton sleep. I forgot how sweet it is to have this warm tiny being in your arms or laying on your chest. Watching him breath might be the best thing ever.
4. Laughing hysterically with J. I don't know what it is but certain things he says just give me the giggles. He will randomly say something that I know he finds amusing but doesn't necessarily expect me to find it as funny and it triggers something inside of me that I cannot contain myself. It doesn't get much better than to have a spouse who makes you laugh. I wish he could stay home with us all day every day!
3. Seeing Paxton smile for the first time. Josh has captured a few gems on camera but watching him smile, being it in his sleep or when we are talking to him, melts my heart. It is the sweetest little chubby cheeked gummy smile I've ever seen.
2. Cuddling on the couch with J. With my big ol' belly, the back pain and my restless legs I wasn't able to cuddle up on the couch for quite some time. The other evening we popped some of my favorite popcorn, made hot chocolate with marshmallows, rented a movie and cozied up on the couch while the little ones were sound asleep. It was a perfect night.
1. Watching Harper's love grow for Paxton. She loves to randomly give him kisses. If he is crying or upset she runs to grab his "bobby" (this is what she calls the pacifier). She is starting to want to hold him, she starts talking about him first thing when I get her up in the morning, if he is crying in his room she runs up there and starts knocking on the door to get in, and she helps me pull up his shirt when changing his diaper. Watching their love grow is more than I could have ever imagined. My life is seriously perfect. I could not ask for more.