Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Homemade Baby Food

Since I was unable to nurse, I have become slightly obsessive compulsive about making my own baby food. It makes me feel slightly better knowing that I am giving him some sort of homemade nutrition.  (As a side note, I think store bought baby food is FINE.  I'm just a guilt-ridden psychopath).

So far, little one has had prunes, oatmeal (I cheated and bought that one), carrots, sweet potato, pinto beans, green beans, avocado, and banana.  Today, I whipped up some apples and butternut squash (which he gobbled down faster than I could feed it).


I've had some people ask how I make his food, so I thought I'd elaborate.

I try to purchase organic when possible.  For the prunes, I bought them dried and rehydrated them in some boiling water.  Then I pureed them with the water (to add back the nutrients lost in the cooking water).  I have been freezing all his food in ice trays and then storing them in labeled baggies in the freezer.


For most of the other foods, I have peeled, cut and steamed the veggies before pureeing.  I simply mashed the avocado and banana uncooked and thinned them with a little water.  I was worried about how both of those would freeze.  They froze surprising well with no browning (even when melting them).  For the green beans, I purchased frozen organic beans (because the ones in the produce section never look fresh to me), and the pinto beans I started with dried beans and did the whole soak and cook process.  

I hate peeling butternut squash, so today I just microwaved it until soft and scooped out the flesh with a spoon.  It didn't need any added water while pureeing.


For the apples, I peeled and diced them, steamed them and pureed in the food processor.  A note of pureeing...depending on what I'm doing, I have used our immersion blender, the regular blender, and the food processor.  All of which are very useful tools to have in my opinion.  


Once they go into the ice trays, I cover them in plastic wrap and let them freeze.  To get them out, I simply run hot water over the back of them while holding them over a strainer in the sink.  To feed them to Elliott, I usually stick two cubes at a time in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  Easy as pie!



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A Christmas Nursery

If you know me, you probably know that I'm a little nutty when it comes to Christmas decorations.  I'm THAT person who always decorates before Thanksgiving.  It's not that I don't like Thanksgiving, because I really do...I just see Thanksgiving as an appetizer for Christmas, if you will.

Anywho, a couple of weeks ago, Elliott's nursery got a Christmas makeover.

Remember when I gave you this sneak peak?

Well, this is what I was up to...




Yup, Elliott has Christmas bedding.  I thought I was being quite clever until I realized that Pottery Barn Kids has already thought of this.  Oh well, mine was a lot cheaper and made with love :)

You may also have noticed that this happened...


Fun fact: you can just take off whatever animals are hanging from your store bought mobile and replace them with cheap (unbreakable) ornaments!  yay!  

You may also have spotted this in the background:


Elliott has his very own Christmas tree!  I was worried that he might try to pull off any ornaments that I may hang, so I came up with some pom-pom garland that I strung myself.  


Finally, I remembered that I bought a little banner kit from Hancock Fabric last year, and I put that together one night.  Now, Elliott has a festive "Noel" sign hanging from his hutch.


He's a happy little peanut in his Christmas Nursery!






Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Six Months!

How is it humanely possible that Little Guy is six months old today?! It literally seems like we were driving to the hospital in the middle of the night just yesterday.  Also, how is it possible that we still haven't posted his five month pictures?!  To make matters worse, Elliott is usually sleeping when Jeff gets home on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday so we might not even get to take his pictures today :/ fail.


At least I can still write about you...


I feel like this month Elliott has really blossomed.  He no longer sleeps the ENTIRE day (just a nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon).  He giggles A LOT!  Jeff said to me one day, "Elliott must take after you, I think I was a much more professional baby."  I could see that.  Funny.


We have moved onto solids this month.  It began out of a "GI necessity," if you will.  I don't think the poor child could drink anymore prune juice.  We have tried prunes, oatmeal, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  He has become a great eater!  He opens his little mouth so wide in anticipation--it's adorable.  He has to wear numerous bibs while eating, the top layer is usually used for chewing on and gets covered in baby food mush.
 

He began rolling from back to tummy this month (so now he rolls both ways).  I watch him at night on the video monitor--the little booger got Mommy's sleeping habits--he rolls all over the place!  He is still working on sitting.  He can sit on his own for a few seconds before violently throwing himself backwards.

He is getting BIG!  He is starting to wear 9 month or 6-12 month clothes.  He is getting too long for some of his six month stuff.  Except socks--kiddo must have big feeties because all of his socks are too small!  He's still in his size 3 diapers, and there is no indication that we will be going up a size too soon (at least let's hope not, because our next giant shipment of diapers just came in)!

The spitting up is finally on the outs.  He will still have about one incident a day, and when you least expect it, but it has gotten so much better.  Thank goodness!

I'm pretty sure Elliott is the happiest, most easy going baby of all time.  He is so much fun to play with, his laugh is infectious, and his smile can brighten a room!  I can't believe he's six months old--Happy Half Birthday, Little Man!












Monday, November 5, 2012

The March of Dimes

In a couple of weeks, I'm walking in the March of Dimes with the Stroller Strides of Watertown Team.  I know we have a lot going on right now (the devastation from hurricane Sandy, the election, the holidays, etc), but I'd really appreciate any donation for this charitable cause!  You can donate to our team here!  Thanks!


Friday, November 2, 2012

Some Sewing

My sewing machine has been gathering dust since Elliott's arrival.  A few days ago, a friend of the family asked if I would make some tie onesies for her for some baby showers.  So yesterday, I dusted off ole Bessie (I don't really call it that), and got to work.



Lisa,  if you are reading, your onesies will be mailed tomorrow!

While working on the onesies, I got the urge to keep sewing, so I changed the thread over to red and made some Christmas things for Elliott's room.

 More on that later.


Little Man had fun playing with his new doggie while Mom worked.


Is it really November already!?