Apricots, Luvs and Diapers.com

We are trying 3 new things today....apricots for breakfast, LUVs diapers and ordering from Diapers.com. I don't find Diapers.com to be less expensive than Target or Costco or WalMart....but I got a 15% off promo (BDBabyBaby) and free shipping today so I will give it a try.

Apricots are a winner...I will fill you in on the LUVs and order service when my goods arrive!

How I cook babyfood!

I have been talking about this a lot with other moms (and a soon to be mom!) lately. First of all, yes I did covet the Beeba Baby Cook...I drooled over it and thought about it but did not want to spend the $$$ on it (like $140). On a good day I am frugal, on a bad day I am cheap!!!

So here is what I do:

I have a magic bullet (Cooks brand from JCPenny) and actually a very small counter top food processor (Kid Co brand). I had the magic bullet thing before and got the KidCo as a gift. Both great because the mechanical parts are totally separate from where the food goes...so you can put EVERYTHING that touches the baby food into the dishwasher for a good scrub.

I also did not buy the special baby food storage containers...Most Gladware and Tupperware is BPA free now and I rarely if ever microwave in the plastic anyway...So I used some of the 1 cup and 1/2 cup containers with lids I already had (also a fast clean in the dishwasher).

Here are my cooking techniques for some of the foods we have eaten so far (note, our farm share starts next week and we will be getting huge boxes of veggies...so watch for dinner to get super yummy soon!!! as for the last month or so, we have done a lot of frozen veggies and root veggies) Note, everything I store is 'single serve' to prevent spoon contamination.:

1. sweet potato: Scrub the outside skin under running water (I use a very small drop of dish soap), punch a bunch of fork holes in it and put it right on the oven rack with another pan on the rack below to catch the drippings. I usually bake 3 or 4 of these bad boys at a time, one for Elle and a couple for our dinner. Bake on 350 for about an hour. Let cool for about 25 minutes (or as long as you need...) then I peel the skin off it (good dog treat) and drop it into the KidCo to mash. I do not add anything to this paste. Then I divide it into 4 or 5 containers. I usually serve one that night and then put one in the fridge and 3 in the freezer. Elle only eats about 2-4 tablespoons of food at a time...but I like to make extra in case she gets hungry. We do not enforce "clean plate club" in our house. When I get ready to serve it I warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave and then add breast milk until it is a nice consistency...something like a creamy mashed potato. WINNER!
   
   
2. pear, plum, peach, apple: Scrub the outside skin under running water (I use a very small drop of dish soap), peel the pear before you cook it (chemicals used to protect fruit from bugs hangs out in the skin so you don't want it leaching into the fruit sauce). Dice it up, put it in a pyrex or other oven safe glass dish, add about 1 teaspoon of water. Cover and bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. Let cool for about 25 minutes (or as long as you need...) and drop it into the KidCo to mash. This is usually the consistency of apple sauce. Then I divide it into 4 or 5 containers. I usually serve one that night and then put one in the fridge and 3 in the freezer. WINNER!
   
   
3. Peas, green beans, carrots, corn (frozen) white potato: Put in a small sauce pan on the stove barely covered with water. Put the lid on. Bring to a boil then simmer for about 6 minutes (everything should be fork tender). Drain in a small strainer and drop it into the KidCo to mash. I do not add anything to this paste. Then I divide it into 4 or 5 containers. I usually serve one that night and then put one in the fridge and 3 in the freezer. When I get ready to serve it I warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave and then add breast milk until it is a nice consistency...something like a lumpy mashed potato. WINNER!

I mix a lot of veggies together....I also mix them with white potatoes. Bananas and avocados are served raw, very ripe and smashed. Usually the bananas and avocados don't need any breast milk to thin them out. I also keep a list of what day I introduce each food (partially to watch for allergies and partially just to remember what I did in case Elle gets to be a big sister).

Blue berries and grapes have been introduced via the Baby Safe Feeder. It is like a double mesh bag that you stuff food into with a handle...Elle gnaws on it and in this way both self feeds and soothes those tender gums. I cut the grapes in half. I also sometimes freeze the fruit. What a treat that is. Elle was waving that thing over her head like it was a party!!! It is strawberry season soon, so I want to introduce them (worried about allergies, but will watch careful).

Hot weather

I know how to dress Elle for cold nights...but what do I do now that the weather is changing? Do I still put an undershirt/onsie under her cotton pajamas? Last night I put the ceiling fan on in her room with regular pajamas and a onsie. Is that ok? We will install her air conditioner when it gets a little warmer (probably over the weekend because we have to clean it and put a filter in). What temperature should I set it to?

Elle started formula last night...

As I have lamented, since my hospital stay I just don't make enough milk anymore and so we have started supplementing Elle's night time meal with formula. Last night I had about 5 oz frozen breast milk to which I added 1 oz of formula. I want to start slow! For the first night since I have been home she slept from 9:15 to 4:00 am. That was great for us. I think I will do the same thing until we run out of frozen breast milk. I have several packets ranging in volume from 2 to 5 oz...the pediatrician said she can eat up to 6 oz before bed and so if I use a packet of frozen or two and supplement that volume with some formula we are making a nice transition for mommy and baby alike. Hopefully that will make her sleep more.

Feeding time

Bananas strait up are not a hit. I don't know if it is their "silky" texture (as I tell Elle) or their "pleasant" aroma, but they make her do a funny little gag. So we don't eat them neat anymore. She likes them cut with veggies so we will try that more often.

Elle is onto 2 feedings a day for the last 5 days. That has increased her food filled poops to 2 a day also. Yummy. You really don't think about how useful water in a toilet is in covering the aroma of poop until you are changing food filled diapers.

Like Mr. Bishop says, it was gross until it is your kid...then you just do it.

Last night Elle had a potato for the first time. I got little white potatoes and she had potato and carrot for dinner. They were a big hit swirled together...the potato must have been a little bland on its own because it was decidedly less popular than the carrots.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live at Radio City Music Hall

Hello Moms!

If your kids love Yo Gabba Gabba, take them to a live show at Radio City Music Hall on October 2nd or 3rd (Brought to you by Madison Square Garden Entertainment)! Get your tickets now before everyone else at Ticketmaster. Use presale code "MOM" from June 2 (starting at 10 am) thru June 3 (ending at 10 pm). You can use this code online or mention it if you call or visit any Ticketmaster outlet (1-800-858-0008) or the Radio City Box Office.

This information was provided to me by Miles Of Marketing (www.milesofmarketing.com)

Daddy Time

Mr. Bishop experienced a 'major fecal incident' last night (his words, not mine). Elle poops regularly now, every 24 hours...usually at about 9 am. Mr. Bishop usually is not home for the festivities. She went a whole 36 hours last night which created a bit of a back up. As he was playing with her she had a good blowout doody. He had to do double tub water. He was also impressed with how noticeable the aroma of veggies was! He didn't think she ate that much.

At the doctor yesterday we got approved to introduce a massive list of veggies and fruits and even meat. I can't wait. We are also going to start doing two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. Our pediatrician said at 6 months we should be comfortable introducing a huge list of food. She saved a list of "other" items for 9 plus months...that is where all the treats are!