Hamburger Noodle Bake

I'm back! New Year resolution #1... try to post a recipe once every other week. I was going to do once a week, but who am I kidding... I want to be able to stick with this! Tonight we were in the mood for a good, comfort food type of meal. So I turned to the family cookbook and decided on this one. It was yummy and even James ate a good sized portion. The only thing I would do different next time is add a little spice. Maybe some chili powder would do the trick.

Hamburger Noodle Bake
~Barbara Davis


1 1/2 - 2 lbs Hamburger Meat ( I used 1 lb of extra lean ground beef)
4 TB butter (I omitted this all together. Didn't seem like it needed it)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp sugar ( I didn't add this either)
32 oz tomato sauce
10 oz egg noodles, cooked and drained
1 small onion, chopped
8 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sour cream (I used light sour cream)
1 c. shredded cheese ( I used light cheddar)


Brown hamburger, drain. Add butter (if using), sugar, garlic and tomato sauce. Simmer 15 min. Combine noodles, onion, cream cheese and sour cream. In a 9x13 pan, layer half of the noodle mixture, half of the meat sauce, repeat and then top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

The past two months

Like everyone else, the past two months have been busy busy busy! I would like to use that as my excuse for not blogging, but I think the real reason is I have become the worst picture taker ever!!! We have done so many fun things and I have failed to document it. I either forget my camera, or if I bring it... I forget to take pictures! That is one reason I want a smart phone. I always have my phone, but it takes horrible pictures and wont send them to my email. I guess that is what you get with a "dumb"phone. 

So I am going to do my best to document the last couple of months. 

 I went to spend time with Dana, Chase and the twins at the beginning of Nov. Thanks to Haws, my mom and Kori for making it possible for me to leave behind my little James and go help Dana out for 5 whole days!

The twins are so cute and I loved being there. They are good little babies and Dana is such a good mommy. She has her hands full, but I think she is doing a great job! I am excited to go back in Jan for the blessing and take James with me this time. I missed him and Haws while I was gone.

James is so funny at this age. (17 months) He can make you laugh, cry (in the emotional kind of way) and then make you want to pull your hair out all in the same hour! I think being pregnant at this stage in his life has been a little rough on me. He requires more energy than I sometimes have to give. I am always happy when Haws comes home and spends quality time with him to rough house and play since it is getting harder for me to.

He will have little temper tantrums. Usually because he is frustrated about something or because he is not allowed to do something. But they are short lived for the most part. He is also more leery of strangers and still not that fond of strange men... especially those with facial hair. He seems to like Santa, but I don't dare take him for a picture with Santa. Maybe next year? I have been amazed out how well he has listened when it comes to Christmas decor. He has not pulled one ornament of the tree or ripped open one present and when I tell him only to look or soft touch, he actually listens! I wish he was like this in all areas, but I will take what I can get. He is learning :)

 One thing he is obsessed with is the trash! He loves to throw things away and now every time we change his diaper, he has to be the one to throw it away. I am sure this will come in handy when little brother arrives.  He is understanding so much more, even though he is not talking very much. He will get things for me and knows what things are. He will sign when he wants more or is all done with something. I am anxious for him to talk more. It will make it easier on all of us! He is a good napper most days and has blessed me with a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. Once in a while it is less, but the days he sleeps 3 hours I can get so much done!!!

This picture is the only one I have to document Thanksgiving. Haws played in the Ward Turkey Bowl and took a cleat to the mouth. An ER trip and 6 stitches later, he was ready to dig into Thanksgiving dinner. We spent Thanksgiving at my parents with my family (minus the Hathaways) and Peter and Debra. It was crazy as usual, but always a good time.

 Haws' boss is moving and gave us their old stand up piano. James has loved it! I am hoping to freshen up on my 20 year old piano skills and hope that someday my kids will really play. It is nice having one in the house. I was afraid we wouldn't have a place to put it, but it seems to fit nicely in the kitchen eating area.

This is how our living room looks at the end of the day. A total mess!

 Our little chef.

 And this is what it looks like when you let a 17 month old help you make a ginger bread man.

  And here is my belly at 27 weeks. Yes, I am always in work out clothes! At least in the first half of the day.

Some fun things I wish I took pictures of this Dec.

Going to the tree lighting at Fashion Island

My day at the Ellen Show

Walking around and seeing the lights in Naples and Fountain Valley

Girls night for my birthday

Benihana's with the Orvins for my birthday

Our last trip to Disneyland since my pass just expired

Our trip to the Grove with John and Brooke's kids (minus Hunter)

Davis cookie party

Visits to the hospital to see my new nephews:

Tate and Porter Hathaway

Hunter Davis

They are all so precious and I love them!

My New Years resolution is to take more pictures so I can blog more :)

what a difference....

A pregnancy makes. This was me at 21 weeks with James. I swear it looks like barely a bump to me now although I am sure back then I thought I looked huge. If only I knew what a belly looked like the 2nd time around. I am sure with each pregnancy it just gets bigger much faster.

And here I am at just barely 20 weeks (half way done!). Don't mind my bad posture or facial expression. It had been a long week.

Tell me that belly doesn't look way bigger! Well, maybe just to me.

Since I have barely written about this pregnancy, I wanted to write a few things.

I am super excited to be pregnant and to be having this baby. boy. I feel like it was meant to be since it happened so quick! That really caught me off guard. I thought for sure it would take a few months and that our boys would end up being a little over 2 years about instead of 21 months apart. It will be a little crazy but a lot of fun... I hope :) This pregnancy is flying by! If it weren't for my belly, I would forget I was pregnant. James, work, friends and family have been keeping us busy. I have not been reading any baby books. I do get the weekly emails to remind me what is going on in my body. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that a baby will be here in just a little over 4 months! And with the holidays... that is going to fly. We don't have as much to do to prepare for baby Davis, but we have lots to do for James. We need to get his new big boy room ready. Buy a bunk bed and then somehow transition him into there before that baby comes. My plan is to get him use to sleeping in there at night and then still put him down for his nap in his crib. Just to keep him contained while I can. Anyway... with this little guy I have been way more tired. People might say it is because I have James to take care of and I am sure that is part of it, but I can just feel it in my bones that I am more tired. I have been sick more times with this pregnancy and I am not talking morning sickness. I have had a stomach virus twice, a sinus infection and other infections I don't want to discuss here. Top that off with the gestational diabetes and you would think I was an unhealthy person! But this little guy has thrived. He is growing at a perfect rate. Everything about him looks healthy. That makes me so happy. Most moms would agree that all we really want is a healthy baby. Little D.Q. is a mover. I started to feel little movements as early as 14 weeks! And then more consistently around 17. I love that part about pregnancy. It is such a nice reassurance that everything is OK. My back has been more achy. Probably because I am doing less pilates and yoga and lugging a 16 month old around. I really would love to take more classes, but finding the time and a sitter sometimes is just more work than it is worth. I try to do my home videos, but I really don't love to work out at home. When I am here there is so much more to do!

I think that is about it for now. We love you little DQ. Please don't feel neglected by our lack of attention. We will make up for it when you arrive.

BTW... we scheduled the c-section for March 15th (The Ides of March or as Haws might say "The Corporate Income Tax dealine"). There is a chance it might be the 16th. We will see.

Trip to the ER

It has been a tough weekend at our house. It all started Sat night. Luckily Haws came home early Sat from Texas instead of Sunday. Otherwise I would have been dealing with this all on my own.

Sat we went to a Halloween party at my friend's house. There was about 20 little kids there and I am just hoping James didn't get any of them sick! He seemed totally fine that day. He had a little cough and not a huge appetite that afternoon, but I didn't think it was a big deal. At the party he was playing a acting normal. He even ate a decent amount for dinner. Then... we got in the car to drive home. I thought he would fall asleep for sure, but he didn't. Right as we were pulling up to the exit, he started coughing and then throwing up all over himself and the carseat.

It was so sad and quite the mess. Then we got home, gave him a bath and he throw up again. From there on out he was throwing up about every 20-30 minutes, but would go back to sleep after each one. I called the nurse line and at first they said just to watch him. When he threw up for the sixth time he was spitting up something that looked brown so I called again and they said to take him to the ER. So off we went at about 1230am. He was still dry heaving and spitting up brown stuff when we got there so they tested it for blood. It tested positive and was probably just from tears in the stomach or esophagus, but they had to do blood tests to make sure it was not internal bleeding. This was when it got bad. Because he was so dehydrated, they couldn't find a vein. They poked him in both arms, while Haws and I held him down. He was screaming and struggling to get loose. It was horrible. Finally they called someone from the lab to do it and she got some blood. Then they recommended an IV and some anti nausea medication. Again, they couldn't find a vein for the IV. When the needle was in they kept moving it around trying to get the vein, but his crying was causing the vein to close. I started to cry and Haws was getting mad. Then a girl came and got the IV in his hand. Once he had the IV he fell asleep and we had to wait for all the tests to come back. He was clear for internal bleeding and once the IV was done he just had to drink something and then keep it down. He downed a apple juice and kept it down. He didn't throw up again once we left around 5am. We got home and all went to bed. Woke up around 9am and then I started. I had it all day Sunday really bad and then have been achy with a sensitive stomach today. James seems fine since he woke up Sunday. Then Haws, who took care of us all day Sunday, came home from work around noon sick. He seems to be feeling a little better now. Hopefully we will all be better in a couple of days.

The IV in the hand. They had to board it up and cover it so he wouldn't pull it out.

I think this is the sweetest picture. James fell asleep on Haws after all the trauma. Haws got a few zzz's in as well.

16 months

I am behind on updates for James. I am just going to post a bunch of my favorite picks from the last month and give a couple of notes about new skills/behavior.

He has been a little more clingy. I don't know if he notices my belly growing or if it is just an age thing.

Here are his stats from his 15 month check up:

32 inches tall (75%)

21lbs 9oz (10%)

Head is in the 50% percentile.

He is still our long and lean little boy.

He is down to one nap these days. It is nice is many ways when he takes a 3 hour nap! But some days we might only get an hour and a half and those days are a little tougher. It is nice when we can get so much done during the day because we don't have to be home bound at two different times of the day.

We watched cousin Monte over night (it was quite the treat... he is so lovable) so the bouncer was out. James was really into the bouncer. I kept finding him in it.

I was able to take this picture before he ripped off his special KINGS beanie.

Playing with chocolate pudding. My mom gave me this idea. I remember seeing picture of me doing the same thing when I was little.

Ready to go to the "Boo at the Zoo". 

Pumpkin Patch. These places are a little out of control these days. Rides, petting zoo's the whole works!

Enjoying some cheddar crackers.

His first meeting with Mickey. He was a little nervous about meeting him at first but then warmed up and gave him a kiss on the nose before we left.

James loves: 

giving kisses

riding on anything... his zebra rocking chair, in his wagon, in toy cars, boxes, etc.
his daddy
sesame street
mickey mouse
planes
dogs
making messes by emptying drawers and cabinets
exploring
phones
climbing
books
balls
bike rides
his giant teddy
the trash can
and there is so much more.

James does not like:
going down for a nap
having his diaper changed
when mom or dad leaves
being put in the stroller when he wants to run around
when he cant push or close something any farther
It seems like there are more, but I cant think of them at the moment.

Oak Glenn

Brooke and John have made it a tradition to go to Oak Glenn each fall to get pumpkins and enjoy the festivities. 

Joshua made a whole gallon of apple juice. It was a group effort since it was so much work.

A little Tantrum while taking the picture.

He gets over it pretty fast.

I wanted to put this picture in of us at Disneyland. We are the trying to go as much as possible before my pass expires in Dec.

Utah Visit

We had planned a trip to Utah the 2nd weekend of Oct to go up for our new nephew Rocky's baby blessing. We were looking forward to going up and spending time with all the Hexberg family and seeing Dana and Chase as well as the Larson's and Schantz'. It was going to be a packed weekend. And then Dana and Chase had their twin boys the Tues before we went up!!! I was so excited I was going to be able to meet the twins when they were so brand new. So excited that I forgot to take any pictures with them while I was there! ugh. I did steal one from Dana to share with everyone though.

I guess I didn't think to take my camera out very much because I also missed getting a picture of cute Rocky, Winnie and Thor! I am hoping Jared and Sarah will send me some that they took. Rocky is a cutie, but I wouldn't expect anything else seeing how the other too are adorable. The blessing was so nice. Jared did a great job and it was so eloquent! 

Haws and the boys were able to go to a BYU game on Sat thanks to my dad and Stockard letting us have their tickets. I got to spend some extra time with Dana and the twins while everyone was at the game. They are so sweet. It is crazy to see them so fresh and new. I forget how tiny babies can be. Even though James was not quite as small... he just seems huge now compared to a newborn. Good thing since he will be a big brother soon... that is crazy. I am looking forward to going up next month and helping with the twins. I am sure they will have changed so much.

Sunday night we went up and spent the night at my Aunt Nancy's. I love her! I always feel so at home when I go and visit. She hosted a dinner for us with some of my cousins and it was just nice to be with all of them again. She made the best soup ever! I am going to make it sometime soon and will post it when I do. 

Monday we tried to pack in some fun before we flew home. We went to the Witchfest at Gardner Vilalge (same place Brad and Kori had their reception) and then the gateway mall. James loved all the witches. I was worried he might be scared of them, but he thought they were great. There are a lot of cute shops down there and I recommend going if you are there when it is going on. OK... now for some pictures that I DID take.

 Finally would wear his beanie. I guess it needs to be cold for it to happen.

 SLC Temple.

Can you see my bump peeking out? It is a lot bigger now!

 This is Rocky and Thor when he was born. Still need to get a current picture.

The twins! Tate and Porter. Is this not the sweetest picture you have ever seen??? They do sweet poses like that all of the time. You can tell they have a special bond.