Miss Averi ~ 11 Months Old

Next month we are going to have a one year old! I can hardly believe it!!!!! Averi wants to do everything on her own. She is very independent. She is sassy and wants what she wants right away. She has quite the personality.  She doesn't forget if you move something or hide anything from her. She will look and look and look until she finds what she is looking for. 

She is looking more and more like her daddy.

Averi loves getting into stuff that she knows she is not suppose to be doing. She will look at us and shake her head no. She loves walking holding our hands. She has taken two steps all by herself but doesn't really seem to have any interest in wanting to walk.  She has been wanting to feed herself more and more...but she makes HUGE messes when she does. 

(More 11 month photos at the bottom)

11 Months Old

• Averi loves walking while holding on to mommy and daddy's hands • She has taken two steps all by herself • She loves eating finger foods that she can feed herself • Averi loves shaking her head "no" when she hears the word no or don't • She has become very independent • She doesn't ever sit still • Averi has been trying to climb up everything • She gives mommy and daddy kisses • Averi loves waving hi and bye to people • She loves seeing daddy come home from work • She loves pointing at airplanes • Her binkies are her favorite thing to sleep with • She loves looking through books • Averi loves pulling out her sock and shoe drawer and throwing everything out of it • She loves putting on necklaces • 

10 Months Old

• Averi has started dancing • She waves and smiles at everybody that says hi • She loves holding toys and dropping them on the ground "The Pick Up Game" • Averi has started growling when she doesn't like something we say like no • She loves shaking her head back and forth in the "no" motion •  She loves throwing her ball and playing catch • Averi loves playing peek-a-boo • Her favorite game with daddy is chasing him and him chasing her • She is really starting to love stuffed animals • She loves walking around holding our hands • Averi loves eating finger foods •

9 Months Old

• Averi reaches out for us to pick her up • She has started drinking from a zippy cup from time to time • She still likes her bottle better though • Averi loves avocados now • She also loves french fries just like her momma • She loves looking at books and flipping the pages • Averi plays so well by herself...when I'm in the same room as her •  Her favorite thing to do is look out the front window • She loves saying, "dad, dada, and daddy" • Averi stands on her tippy toes when she can't quite reach something she wants • We went swimming this month and Averi loves the pool • She is trying to climb up everything • She is starting to say, "mmmm, mummm" • Averi just barely started standing by herself • 

8 Months Old

• Averi loves spitting • She loves standing • She loves walking across the furniture and is getting braver and braver • She has started alternating her legs when she kicks • Averi will finally laugh when we tickle her • She still loves food • She has quite the little 'big' personality • She plays really well by herself • She has started throwing little fits if I don't give her, her bottle the exact way she wants it • Averi loves going on walks and watching other kids play • She still only has her two bottom teeth • People say she is starting to look more and more like daddy • 

7 Months Old

•Averi loves smiling at anybody that looks at her • She is really crawling all over the house • She tries crawling up the stairs • Averi is pulling herself up onto everything • She loves standing while holding onto things • Averi has gained more balance and can sit all by herself without faceplanting it •  She LOVES carrots, spaghetting and butternut squash • She HATES her green veggies • She loves meal time • She says da daa da da da • Her favorite toy is plastic water bottles • Averi loves bath time • Daddy can get her happy and hyper • She has two teeth •

6 Months Old

•Averi still smiles all the time • She is starting to giggle more and more • Averi is crawling all over the house • She loves taking her toys and hitting them on the hardwood floor • Averi likes slapping things with her hands to feel things • She likes spitting up on the ground and playing in it before mommy can clean it up • Her two bottom teeth are coming in • Averi is sitting up all by herself • Her favorite toy is the diaper wipes packaging • She loves FaceTiming with grandpa, grandma, and Derek • Averi loves playing with mommy's water bottle •

5 Months Old

• Averi smiles all the time • She giggles a lot • Everything goes into her mouth • She loves chewing on her feet, toes, hands, fingers • The military jets that fly over our house always wake her up from her naps • Averi got her ears pierced • She loves sitting up like a big girl • We think she is teething but there are still no teeth • 

4 Months Old

• Averi was blessed this month • She got her first cold • She is really starting to play with her toes • Averi loves loves loves bath time • She really started laughing and giggling • Averi is starting to reach for everything • She is putting everything in her mouth • We still think she is teething but there are still no teeth • She is still rolling over only on her left side • Averi sleeps through the night most of the time...except when she is gassy • She scoots forward on her belly • 4 months was my favorite month •

3 Months Old

• Averi rolled from her back to her belly on her left side • She found her toes and holds them • She loves tummy time • She loves sitting up like a big girl and looking around • Averi went on her first vacation to grandma and grandpas house • She loves talking all the time • She loves playing during eating time • Her hair is getting longer • Averi is sleeping through the night • We think she is teething but there are still no teeth • Averi had her first Thanksgiving •

2 Months Old

• Averi started smiling this month • She is making all kinds of sounds • Her favorite sound is a "clicking" sound • She loves blowing bubbles • She loves bath time • Averi loves being outside • She has rubbed a bald spot on the back of her head • She won't take the bottle anymore • She is also fighting with daddy and won't let him hold her • Miss Averi has been sleeping through the night for the most part • She loves talking to mom and dad •

1 Month Old

• Averi holds her head up really well • she is following people and objects with her eyes • Averi wakes up 2-3 times a night to eat • she always has her hands up by her face • her belly button got a bacterial infection • she loves being held all the time •

11 Month Photos

XOXO ~ The Flints

Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

You guys I found the most delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe!

I love chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven. I personally feel that is the best way to eat them. They are so warm and the chocolate is overflowing with every bit. 

Don't make thin crunchy chocolate chip cookies anymore. This recipe is the best cookie recipe that I have found. They are so soft, fluffy and chewy, even days after they are made. If you love chocolate chip cookies start using this recipe. It is so AMAZING!!

The original blog that I found this recipe on is over at Averie Cooks. I did slightly change the recipe below from the original. I thought the original had too much vanilla. 

Averi loves chocolate chip cookies! She waits by the oven every time I make them. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cream cheese, softened (don't use fat-free or whipped)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 salt, optional
• 2 1/4 cups chocolate chips or chunks (I used 2 cups chunks and 1/4 cup chips)

Instructions:

Mix the butter, cream cheese, light and dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla all together in a bowl. 

Once the above ingredients are added slowing start mixing in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and then chocolate chips and chunks. 

** This next step is the most important part, but probably the hardest part.When I want my cookies I want them now! Roll your dough into the size of cookies that you want and then refrigerate it for at least two hours! Once you are ready to bake them, take them out of the fridge for about 10 minutes and then bake them at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

The Flints ~ XOXO

Miss Averi ~ 10 Months Old

I'm a little late posting this! But I can't believe my baby is 10 months old (May 27, 2016)! I always think back to when she was a tiny baby and I would hold her. Her little body wouldn't even cross my whole body. But now it's like I'm trying to cuddle a hyper dog! Her legs come way past my waist and she never sits still. She is very independent and busy! She is constantly moving around, throwing toys from her toy box and watching people walk past the front window. 

Averi loves walking while holding our hands. She has a sassy little personality and is getting more and more spunky. When I say no she will look at me and either shake her head or growl at me. She loves throwing her toys to make loud noises. She loves eating finger foods and making messes. 

• Height: 30 in. 
• Weight: 21lb 2oz
(More 10 month photos at the bottom)

10 Months Old

• Averi has started dancing • She waves and smiles at everybody that says hi • She loves holding toys and dropping them on the ground "The Pick Up Game" • Averi has started growling when she doesn't like something we say like no • She loves shaking her head back and forth in the "no" motion •  She loves throwing her ball and playing catch • Averi loves playing peek-a-boo • Her favorite game with daddy is chasing him and him chasing her • She is really starting to love stuffed animals • She loves walking around holding our hands • Averi loves eating finger foods •

9 Months Old

• Averi reaches out for us to pick her up • She has started drinking from a zippy cup from time to time • She still likes her bottle better though • Averi loves avocados now • She also loves french fries just like her momma • She loves looking at books and flipping the pages • Averi plays so well by herself...when I'm in the same room as her •  Her favorite thing to do is look out the front window • She loves saying, "dad, dada, and daddy" • Averi stands on her tippy toes when she can't quite reach something she wants • We went swimming this month and Averi loves the pool • She is trying to climb up everything • She is starting to say, "mmmm, mummm" • Averi just barely started standing by herself • 

8 Months Old

• Averi loves spitting • She loves standing • She loves walking across the furniture and is getting braver and braver • She has started alternating her legs when she kicks • Averi will finally laugh when we tickle her • She still loves food • She has quite the little 'big' personality • She plays really well by herself • She has started throwing little fits if I don't give her, her bottle the exact way she wants it • Averi loves going on walks and watching other kids play • She still only has her two bottom teeth • People say she is starting to look more and more like daddy • 

7 Months Old

•Averi loves smiling at anybody that looks at her • She is really crawling all over the house • She tries crawling up the stairs • Averi is pulling herself up onto everything • She loves standing while holding onto things • Averi has gained more balance and can sit all by herself without faceplanting it •  She LOVES carrots, spaghetting and butternut squash • She HATES her green veggies • She loves meal time • She says da daa da da da • Her favorite toy is plastic water bottles • Averi loves bath time • Daddy can get her happy and hyper • She has two teeth •

6 Months Old

•Averi still smiles all the time • She is starting to giggle more and more • Averi is crawling all over the house • She loves taking her toys and hitting them on the hardwood floor • Averi likes slapping things with her hands to feel things • She likes spitting up on the ground and playing in it before mommy can clean it up • Her two bottom teeth are coming in • Averi is sitting up all by herself • Her favorite toy is the diaper wipes packaging • She loves FaceTiming with grandpa, grandma, and Derek • Averi loves playing with mommy's water bottle •

5 Months Old

• Averi smiles all the time • She giggles a lot • Everything goes into her mouth • She loves chewing on her feet, toes, hands, fingers • The military jets that fly over our house always wake her up from her naps • Averi got her ears pierced • She loves sitting up like a big girl • We think she is teething but there are still no teeth • 

4 Months Old

• Averi was blessed this month • She got her first cold • She is really starting to play with her toes • Averi loves loves loves bath time • She really started laughing and giggling • Averi is starting to reach for everything • She is putting everything in her mouth • We still think she is teething but there are still no teeth • She is still rolling over only on her left side • Averi sleeps through the night most of the time...except when she is gassy • She scoots forward on her belly • 4 months was my favorite month •

3 Months Old

• Averi rolled from her back to her belly on her left side • She found her toes and holds them • She loves tummy time • She loves sitting up like a big girl and looking around • Averi went on her first vacation to grandma and grandpas house • She loves talking all the time • She loves playing during eating time • Her hair is getting longer • Averi is sleeping through the night • We think she is teething but there are still no teeth • Averi had her first Thanksgiving •

2 Months Old

• Averi started smiling this month • She is making all kinds of sounds • Her favorite sound is a "clicking" sound • She loves blowing bubbles • She loves bath time • Averi loves being outside • She has rubbed a bald spot on the back of her head • She won't take the bottle anymore • She is also fighting with daddy and won't let him hold her • Miss Averi has been sleeping through the night for the most part • She loves talking to mom and dad •

1 Month Old

• Averi holds her head up really well • she is following people and objects with her eyes • Averi wakes up 2-3 times a night to eat • she always has her hands up by her face • her belly button got a bacterial infection • she loves being held all the time •

10 Month Photos

The Flints ~ XOXO

Crock Pot - Honey Garlic Chicken

In Steve's family, his mom did all the cooking. In my family, my dad did the majority of the cooking. So when Steve and I got married a little over 5 years ago, we both assumed that the other would do the cooking.

Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I am no cook and that I hate cooking. Steve is no different.

We have been trying to find easy meals that are fast to make. Everybody has told us to make crock pot meals. I found this honey garlic chicken recipe and LOVE IT!! It is so easy and so fast to prepare. It also tastes really good! The chicken was so tender and the sauce was delicious! This recipe will definitely be added to our meal rotations. 

Ingredients
*Prep time takes about 5 minutes*

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 Tablespoons garlic (you can use fresh garlic cloves as well)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup ketchup 
• 1/2 cup soy sause (low sodium)
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 2 Tablespoons parsley (fresh)
• 1/2 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

1.) Place your slow cooker liner in your crock pot. If you haven't used these before, you need to! It makes clean up so much faster.
2.) Place the chicken thighs at the bottom of the crock pot; mine were completely frozen.

3.) Mix your honey, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, oregano, and parsley in a bowl before putting it in the crock pot. Mix thoroughly. 

4.) Pour the sauce on top of the chicken thighs. 

5.) Place lid on crock pot. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. 

6.) Serve. 

7.) We had rice and a mixed veggie for our sides with the honey garlic chicken. You can eat it just plain as well. :)

Original post where I found this awesome recipe is here.

The Flints ~ XOXO