Sausage & Cream Cheese Bake

Wow! I've been on quite the hiatus from blogging; but I'd say it was needed. After going back to work in August, taking graduate classes, and chasing around an adorable little boy, not to mention being preggers and due any day now with Baby #2 has made for quite an extended "vacation." I took these pictures weeks ago and am finally getting around to sharing the recipe.

I first had this recipe when I was stayed for New Years' Eve 2008 when my husband and I were just dating. His mother made them and would wrap bits of the sausage and cream cheese into individual crescent rolls. I started making them this exact same way until we visited Adam's Aunt Mary in Greensboro and she had the exact same recipe but in simpler format: just bake it in a 9x13 instead of wrapping them individually. It saved a lot of time and is still just as delicious, and this is what I present to you today, enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 roll of sausage
• 1 8oz package of cream cheese
• 1 package of crescent rolls

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 (or whatever the package of crescent rolls indicates)
2. Unwrap cream cheese and have it sitting out so it can begin to "thaw" a little (this will help with mixing later)
3. Cook sausage in a saucepan; drain
4. After sausage has been cooked and drained, place the block of cream cheese in a mixing bowl, then add the sausage (which will still be hot) on top--this is best since it will help melt the cream cheese, which will make mixing easier. 
5. Next, put the mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 pan; you may grease this if you like. I usually don't and I've never had an issue with it sticking to the pan.
6. Next, open the crescent rolls and unwrap it so that it covers the sausage and cream cheese mixture. 
7. Lastly, place in the oven and bake according to crescent roll instructions. 
8. Allow the finished product to cool about 5-10 minutes then dig in!

Final product, I had to get creative with the crescent rolls because they started falling apart but you get the general idea of what it should look like (and it was still just as every bit delicious!)

Happy 4 Months, Caleb!

Dear Caleb,

You're now four months old! Spring time is finally here and with it, so is the warm weather, beautiful blossoming flowers, and all things green. This month has been one of trial and extra stress since mom had to return to work. That first week back was the toughest--a lot of tears where shed on everyone's part. Mom cried the most especially when she had to leave in the mornings, but what kept her going was the fact that at the end of each day she got to see you!

Thankfully, others have been there to take care of you such as Dad on his days off, and when he has to work, Papa, Uncle Nathan, Oma, or GramMarty have been able to help as well. While the bulk of your days are now currently spent with the Chappelears, your GramMarty had the chance to come to town and spent an entire week with us! She and you enjoyed your days together and it helped ease the burden of gathering all of your stuff and lugging it off to Papa & Oma's. (Not that we're complaining about free babysitting by any means!!!!) Oma has been able to watch you about once a week and she loves her time with you as well. Between the two of them you're getting lots of spoiling by your grandmas and we know you're eating it up!

This month we officially found at that the red blotches on your knees, back, head, and elbows is eczema. At first we just thought it was cradle cap but as time passed it got worse and finally Dad took you to the doctor where it was confirmed that your skin is just super sensitive. It's been difficult pin pointing what the cause is and how to help you. We've changed laundry detergents, tried different bath time washes, lotions, creams, etc. The only thing that seems to help is hydrocortisone, but even the pediatrician recommends that only when absolutely necessary. She has advised Mom to watch what she eats to see if there may be certain foods that are causing you to outbreak more since you're still nursing. I'm sure we'll have more to update you on next month as we continue to battle manage it.

In other news, it's hard to believe that it was this month a year ago we found out we were pregnant with you! It was such a whirlwind of emotions we felt when we discovered we had a bun in the oven. You were our unexpected planned pregnancy :-) and we wouldn't change this journey for the world! So much has changed in just over a year, like the fact that you're now here!!! A year ago, you were about the size of a sweet pea. Now, you're growing in leaps and bounds and rolling over like a champ! You're growing right in front of our eyes and it's such a blessing to witness it.

You've also had a lot of firsts this month as well. You celebrated (via Skype) GramMarty's 51st birthday, met oodles of cousins, put your feet in the grass (and thoroughly enjoyed it), met and had dinner with your sweet Great Aunt Beatrice, wore your first cloth diaper--Charlie Banana, and met former U.S. Presidential candidate Virgil Goode at Subway with Ashley Warrick (though  you were too busy crying to care). Today you received your second set of shots and you handled it like a champ, pouting only a little while still pulling off a handsome toothless grin before we left the office. Mom is suuuper excited about next month since it means the end of school is approaching and summertime is right around the bend! You continue to amaze us! We're thankful for another month with you and look forward to next!

With love,
Mom & Dad

Back to the 'Ol Grindstone

Can we have an honest conversation about my desires?! I want to be a stay at home wife/mother. I don't want to stay at home forever, just for the next few years while Adam and I are family planning and I can help bring up/rear my children rather than another adult do so. I completely understand that financially it is impossible for many women, including myself, to stay at home, but if I could I would do it in an instant. I now know why some women LOVE it and why they choose to lead that kind of lifestyle (granted that they and their husbands are in agreement first). But in the meantime, I don't get the luxury of staying at home. I do indeed have to return to work and let me just say that it sucks! 

And in the next breath let me also say, "I love my job!" I really do! I enjoy the fact that no two days are a like, that I never have a typical 9-5 day where I'm stuck behind a computer screen, and that I have weekends, summers, and holidays off. I am enthralled and engulfed with the belief that I can be a positive light to teenagers and that I can make a difference in their lives; but I am so afraid that going back to work will mean that I'm going to miss out on so much that my little boy is doing. I don't want others to witness all of Caleb's momentous and joyous accomplishments just because I have to work. It is ripping my heart in half realizing that tomorrow I'll have to kiss my son and walk out the door. I know God has a season and a plan for everything, my heart and mind just can't seem to grasp the concept that during this season I'm not meant to be a stay at home wife/mother.

Let me be honest, I'm as nervous as a first year teacher wondering how my kids at school are going to be. I'm also skeptical whether I'll be able to make through the day without crying puddles and I'm less than thrilled that I'll now have to pump rather than be at Caleb's disposal whenever he needs to eat.  The only thing that will get me through this is 1) my encouraging husband, 2) my faithful and willing-to-babysit-for-free family, and 3) that there's only seven weeks left until summer vacation! I know I can survive seven weeks, but I wish I didn't have to endure this at all. I know this time is precious and it's a gift, I hope I can continue to see it that way come tomorrow. Until then, please say a prayer for me and my family!

Happy 3 Months, Caleb!

Dear Caleb,

It's amazing how fast time is flying by these days! You've had quite a busy month. While last month marked your big debut, this month saw a lot of action as far as you getting out and about. We're much more comfortable now with taking you out than we were a month ago, and as we're learning it's getting to be much easier--of course you're a pretty relaxed baby, so you make things easy on us. (Of course it also helps that you like getting out and meeting new people, too)!

You're becoming much stronger, and you can hold your head up--we still have to support your neck in order to make sure you don't let it "flop" when you get tired, which we learned the hard way. You've gained 1 pound 4.5 ounces since last month! You're still lean, but you've grown 3/4 an inch, which is CRAZY- seriously slow down, you'll be taller than us before we know it! You've started bearing weight down on your legs and can hold yourself up so long as someone is holding on to you. Holding your head up is no longer holding you back, and because you can do it so well, you love to look around. You still aren't mobile yet, but you can roll onto your side. Pretty soon you'll be rolling onto your stomach! You're also starting to speak up more, but in spurts and not consistently, though we're sure if you're anything like your momma then you will be soon enough!

You experienced your first Easter, though we weren't feeling very well that day so we actually didn't make it out to church. We're hoping we'll find a church soon that we can call "home" so we can have you around other babies and be able to have some social interaction. We still call Redeeming Grace Baptist Church our home, and we're not sure we can even find a church home quite like it, but we are hoping to dedicate you there in front of family and friends this summer. Ultimately, we want to raise you the way the Lord directs us to. We want to be there for you, reading and encouraging you every step of the way. It is a privilege that God has allowed us to be your parents. We love you!

Before we end this letter, there's one thing, I as your mother would like to say: I've truly enjoyed these past three months at home with you and I can't imagine going back to work. I've been so blessed to have had such a long maternity leave with you. It breaks my heart to know I won't be here with you like I want, but I know you'll be in good hands--you're dad, Papa, and Oma will be taking care of you throughout the week when I return to work, and even GramMarty is planning to stay a week or two to help us out. I'll have to work for seven weeks before summer vacation and then we'll get into all kinds of shenanigans then! I love you my wonderful boy! We can't wait to see what next month brings!

Love,
Mom & Dad

MIL's Meat & Potato Pie

Step 1

Step 2

Despite being new to this whole mommy role, I've thoroughly enjoyed my role as a wife to Adam and hope to for many MANY years to come. In becoming a wife I certainly found myself reveling in the whole "domestication" process. Not that becoming a wife necessarily means that for all women, but it did for me. All of my creativity and energy became focused on pleasing Adam, but now this includes my son as well. I want to be the best wife and mother I can possibly be each day. At the moment, that's keeping the house clean, having a hot meal (or hot leftovers) on the table each night, and taking care of Caleb. As for tonight, I thought I'd share with you my mother-in-law's meat and potato pie recipe--more commonly known as Shepherd's Pie.

Step 2

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups frozen hashbrowns
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or any cheese you prefer)
•  3/4 cup diced meat (chicken, hamburger--I prefer Jimmy Dean sage sausage: 1 lb cooked)
• 1/4 cupped chopped onion (optional)
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• Parsley flakes (optional)

Step 3

Directions

1.  Put oil in the bottom of a 9" pie plate and add frozen hashbrowns (I like to mix them up thoroughly) -- bake @ 425 for 15 minutes
2. Mix cheddar cheese, meat and onion -- immediately layer on top of cooked hashbrowns
   (I prefer to mix the potatoes with the cheese and sausage rather than layer)
3. Mix milk, eggs, salt, and pepper then pour on top of dish
4. Bake @ 425 for 30 minutes
5. Add parsley flakes (optional--I usually skip this)

   

   Step 3

**I never follow this to a "t"--in fact I always use a bag that contains 2 cups worth of cheese and I usually use a whole bag of hashbrowns that's just over 3 cups. It's good to let everything just overflow with this recipe. Oh and it's a-okay if the hashbrowns aren't frozen. I've used them completely thawed out before and it's worked just as well! When everything's done it'll look like the finished product below. This recipe can be tweaked and you may add vegetables to this dish to follow a more traditional shepherd's pie recipe, but if you fix it like this then I highly recommend adding something green to the side like green beans, broccoli, etc. Enjoy!

Step 4: The End :-)

Shopping Cart Cover & Crib Skirt

Shopping Cart Cover

I meant to blog about this several months ago, but simply forgot. This past fall, while nesting didn't exactly kick-in until a few days before Caleb was born, I did get into a super crafty mood with sewing. Most of the bedding and nursery items I saw on the Internet and in stores were extremely expensive. Who has hundreds of dollars to spend money on something your kid won't even care about?! So on the weekends, when I didn't have class and when mom didn't work, we'd get together and spend hours figuring out how to make all this cute baby stuff.

Crib Skirt

We made a shopping cart cover (featured to the left) and believe it or not, we took it to Food Lion, only to discover that it did not fit their shopping carts!!! But we've decided to keep it just in case it should fit other carts, or if I actually get in the mood to somehow fix it. I have seen several other shopping cart covers at Once Upon a Child for cheap so we may just buy one there instead.

To the right, is the crib skirt my mother and I made. The pattern we used was a bit girly, so we decided to use rick-rack that matched the fabric, however, we learned that we didn't need so much fabric after all since we were only using one color. And below is a picture of the crib skirt on Caleb's crib in his nursery, underneath one of the crib sheets we made during this time as well.

Crib Skirt on Caleb's Crib

It's been a while since we've made anything else. What with the weeks impending Caleb's arrival, I lost the motivation to sew anything else. However, now that I'm on maternity leave, I recently found some material I bought a few summers ago when I was in the mood to make blankets for some of my friends that I knew were having babies. So hopefully I'll be sewing those together soon and posting about them, too! 

Mr. Proffitt's Meatloaf

When I was in the 9th grade I had Ms. Stone as my Geometry teacher. I also had Mr. Proffitt for English 9 Honors. These were two of my favorite teachers and what's really neat is that they were dating during my high school years. It was my 11th grade year that Mr. Proffitt proposed and they were married during the summer. I was privileged to be one of the few students invited to their beautiful wedding.

Later, when I was in college, I came back to BHS (neither Mr. or Mrs. Proffitt were teaching there anymore) but I completed some of my practicum hours there with another one of my favorite teacher's Mrs. Holland, whom kept in touch with the Proffitt's. When I graduated college in December 2008, that spring I was filling out applications and sending my resume to any county that had a potential social studies position available. I was just recently engaged when Mr. Proffitt (who then became an assistant principal and was no longer a teacher) called me to say that there was a position available at the middle school where he was working. It so kind and generous of him to remember me and that I needed a job. However, after much prayer, the Lord told me not to take the job. That it wasn't the one for me. Instead, I took a job with Charles City--one I detested, but needed for much growth!!!

After two years at CCHS, I was called about a job back at my alma mater. And this time, Mr. Proffitt would be working there as an AP. I have enjoyed working with him these past two years. He's still as quirky and wired as ever! When Adam and I were married Mrs. Proffitt came to my bridal shower and gave us this recipe. It's taken me over three years, but I finally fixed it and it's absolutely delicious! Check it out:

Meat loaf before

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp. grated onion
• 1/4 tsp season salt
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup 

Directions

•  Combine all ingredients in a bowl, spray bottom of a loaf pan, then put the meatloaf in the pan. It is to be baked at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Optional

• Top loaf with 1 can of tomato soup before baking 
• This dish is great with rice-a-roni, extra fine green beans and rolls

  

  Meat loaf after