adventures in homemade baby food

When I first found out I was pregnant, I knew one of the things I wanted to eventually do, was to make my own baby food. I heard people did that, and I guess I never realized how easy it was to do so! Honestly, cost isn't even a factor for my motivation in this, though it really does save a lot of money. My biggest motivation for making my own baby food was knowing exactly what is going into her food, and knowing she's getting healthy, wholesome food without any added things. She has years to put processed crap in her mouth (if she chooses, of course!) but for now, I can help make sure she's getting the best possible foods! And have I mentioned, its fun??

When our pediatrician gave us the green light to start introducing solids after her 4-month well baby checkup, I couldn't wait to get started! I started off by looking up how to make baby food. It seemed pretty idiot proof (and it was), but I just wanted to be sure I was doing everything correctly. The best website I've found was this one. That site is seriously fantastic. It not only tells you exactly how to prepare the food, but it gives different age appropriate recipes, freezing techniques, etc etc. So glad I stumbled upon it!

The best part about making homemade baby food? I already had everything I needed, equipment wise. Sure, they sell pricey baby food makers, but you don't need them. I'll admit, I registered for one for kicks & giggles, but figured if I didn't receive one, I wasn't going to buy one on my own, because I didn't need to. All you really need is a food processor or a blender, and ice cube trays for freezing :)

I started off with sweet potatoes. I figured it was easy enough, and was a good "first food" for her to try.

You can bake the potatoes, but I chose to steam them, as our oven is wonky and sometimes takes hours to bake something. I cut the potatoes into small cubes, and put them in a pot with a couple inches of water. I steamed the potatoes until tender, and reserved the water to add to the pureeing process for thinning and to keep some of the nutrients that may have boiled out.

Once steamed, I put small portions of the potatoes in my food processor to puree, and added some of the reserved water as I went along until I reached desired consistency. After that, the puree mix was divided among the ice cube trays and put in the freezer overnight.

After the food is frozen, you pop the cubes out into a storage bag and voila! You have a good amount of baby food that can store anywhere from 3-6 months :) The ice cube tray method works awesome, because each cube is roughly 1 oz, which makes it easy when you need to know how much food to pull out and thaw at a time.

I mentioned before that cost isn't necessarily an issue, but it does help to know you are saving money. Look at is this way. I paid less than $3 for two sweet potatoes. Those two potatoes made me 38 oz of baby food. If you were to buy 38 ounces of jarred baby food at the store, that would run you nearly $10 (that is, if each 4 oz jar is around $1 each). Sooo, saving money is also a plus ;)

4 month update!

Audrey, you are now four months old. It's so hard to believe how quickly time is passing us by! Even looking back just a couple months ago from your one month photo, its crazy to see how much you've already grown and changed! Your little personality is certainly starting to shine through, and we love it :)



Shortly after you turned 3 months, I tried taking some posed photos of you outside. It was pretty hot that day, and you weren't really having it! I did get some cute shots though, even the one above where you screamed after I layed you down in the grass ;) The sun was shining in your eyes and you were warm -- you were NOT happy. But as soon as I brought you back inside with the air conditioning, you were back to your happy self. You're just like your daddy, you run warm!



You had your 4-month well baby check up and you are growing like a weed! You are officially 15 lbs 13 oz and 25 3/4" long! You are in the 90th percentile for both. Such a healthy girl! You are also meeting and exceeding all of the milestones expected of you at this age. Such a smartie :) You had to get your second round of shots this month too, but you did much better this time around. You only cried for a brief moment, then you were fine. I think it hurt Mommy more to watch it being done to you!



This past month, your biggest milestone was learning to roll! Most babies start by rolling from belly to back, but you our crazy girl, did the opposite, rolling back to belly. This means you are strong! However, you haven't quite mastered rolling the other way, so you get frustrated when you end up on your belly for too long! You've rolled from your belly to back a couple of times, but we are confident that in time, you'll have it down and be rolling all over the place! You also started laughing out loud (daddy got the first real laugh!) and squealing. It is the cutest thing and the best sound we've ever heard.



Your sleeping patterns are the same. You still insist on going to bed around 7:30 each night, and usually sleep a decent stretch before waking up the first time. You still hate naps, which is a little frustrating at times, but we think you are just too curious and are afraid you'll miss out on something if you fall asleep! You recently decided you'd rather sleep on your belly at night, and its too cute when you fall asleep with your little bum in the air! On more than one occasion though, you've rolled to the side of your crib and gotten your limbs stuck in the bars and can't figure out how to get yourself out. This means Mom & Dad need to invest in some breathable bumpers, and soon!



This month, you took your very first long car ride on a trip to Topeka, Kansas to meet your Grandpa Fair and Aunt Abby for the first time. Daddy and I decided to leave at your bed time and drive through the night so you'd sleep most of the way. You did AMAZING on each of the 15-hour drives, and your Dad and I could not be more proud of you. You slept most of the way, and barely fussed when you were awake. This made us so very happy!! You really enjoyed your time in Kansas, and your Grandpa and Aunt adored you. I think you loved getting all of the attention :) While in Kansas, you also stayed in your first hotel and swam for the very first time. You LOVED the pool. You had to swim in your onesie though since Mommy forgot to pack a suit for you (oops!). You also slept well for being "out of your routine"..and you did great with everything!









Every day is a new adventure with you, little one. It's an adventure that Mommy and Daddy feel very blessed to be a part of. Happy 4 months, baby girl. Thanks for all of the love, joy and smiles you bring to our lives each and every day!!

Love always,

Mommy

3 months old!

Happy 3 month Birthday, Audrey Elizabeth! Time is just flying by, right before our eyes! You've had a pretty exciting month, little one. The coolest thing you've done this month? You found your voice. One day, you just started babbling and cooing away, and let me tell you, its the cutest thing we've ever heard. Your voice is completely girly and so very sweet. You love to "talk" to us, but even if we aren't right there, you don't mind talking to anyone who will listen -- even if that means the animals on your crib mobile, your reflection, or even the ceiling. We think you just like to hear the sound of your own voice -- but that's okay, because so do we :)

You don't go to the doctor for your next check up until next month, so I don't have an official height/weight for you. However, mommy stepped on the scale with you the other day and it seems you are close to 15 lbs now, our sweet girl. Growing like a weed! We know that you are getting even longer now, because your 0-3 month sleepers that fit just a couple weeks ago, are starting to get to small in the legs! As for your other clothes, you still fit comfortably in a 0-3 month and some 3 month sizes. And somehow, amazingly enough, Mommy was able to get you in your newborn sized onesie for your monthly photo (though somehow, I think that might be the last time you will be able to wear it!)

As far as sleeping longer at night? Well, you are getting better at it. Quite a few times now, you've slept in longer stretches, allowing for us to get more than just a couple hours of sleep at a time! Most nights now, you sleep until at least 4:30a, eat, and go right back to sleep. Some nights are still better than others, of course, but we have faith that soon enough, you'll make it a nightly habit ;) I have to mention though, that one night this past month, you slept from 8p-7:30a! Mommy woke up in shock (and fully rested, as she got 7 hours of sleep herself that night!) and so proud of you. You haven't done that little trick since, but maybe someday! You still do not like to nap much, though. You refuse to nap in your crib for some reason, but we can usually get you to take a few short naps in your swing. By dinner time, you are at your crankiest! We swear you have an internal clock that just knows its getting close to your bath and bed time, so you are not a happy camper until you get those things! Luckily though, you are very easy to put to bed. Once you finish eating, we lay you down in your crib, and even if you aren't asleep, you eventually put yourself to sleep without a fuss. For that, we are grateful!

Some more exciting things you did this month -- you got to meet your Grandma Leslie who flew in from Arizona to see you and you got to watch your Daddy graduate from college! You were SUCH a good girl during the 3-hour ceremony. Mommy was proud how well you behaved. You napped during some of it, and when you were awake, you enjoyed looking around at everything. You really enjoyed your time with Grandma too, who even babysat you one night while mommy and daddy went on a date to the movies. While Grandma was here, we took a trip to Cleveland to visit the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. You, of course, were such a good girl during the trip. It makes us happy to know that we can take you places and not worry that you will misbehave!

This month, we got you an exersaucer (Thanks, Grandma!) and you really seem to enjoy it. You're still a little small for it, so we need to wedge you in the seat with some towels so you don't flop around. Your head is very strong though, so you have no problems holding it up while you play. You've recently decided that you like to be upright on your feet and you're really into grabbing things, so this was the perfect toy for you! You even figured out how to maneuver your feet and spin the seat around! What a smart girl :)

You are such a happy and easy going baby, always making us laugh or smile. Everyday is a new experience for all of us as you grow and change. As much as we hate seeing you grow up so fast, we are so eager to see what each month holds!

Love Always,

Mommy

strawberry hemangioma

For awhile now, I've wondered whether or not I should write a blog about it. At first I thought "is it REALLY anyone's business?" but then I realized that maybe I should blog about it, and explain what it is to inquiring minds that may want to know, but don't ask. With that said, we HAVE had people ask, and that's completely fine -- because it doesn't bother us and because I've found out it's so common.

The "it" I am referring to, is Audrey's forehead.

Today in Walmart while we were waiting in line, I overheard a little girl ask her mom "does that baby have a boo boo?" and it got me thinking "Do other people think this?"..obviously not that its a "boo-boo" (or, at least, I'd hope adults would have common sense) but see it, and are left wondering -- especially if they've never seen another child with a hemangioma, and aren't familiar with what one is. So with that, I decided a blog post was due, and I'd "let it all out there" so for the people who don't know, but are afraid to ask, can know ;)

When she was first born, she had just a tiny, barely there mark on her forehead. A few days after she was born, it started becoming a little more pink. So because of this, we thought it was a stork bite, or an angel kiss (I like that description!) which is extremely common in infants.

After the first month, it became noticeably darker, but was still flat. It was a little funny & we'd laugh because whenever she was really mad, it got even redder -- which is still a characteristic of a stork bite.

Around the time she turned 2 months, we noticed that not only was it getting even darker, it was starting to raise up a little from the surface of her skin. I did a little googling, and discovered that stork bites do not do this, and it was most likely a strawberry hemangioma.

At her 2 month checkup, we brought this up with the doctor. She immediately said (in her fun Polish accent, lol) "Oh yes, its a strawberry hemangioma. Completely normal!" and of course I asked her a few questions. The most important being, does it hurt her? No, it does not. She said the only thing they do for them is just watch it. She said we could take her to a pediatric dermatologist if it bugs US (which, it doesn't) and while there are some new treatments out there, we do not feel like subjecting our baby to painful laser treatments for something cosmetic and superficial.

So what IS a strawberry hemangioma? According to a handy medical dictionary, its described as a red, firm, dome-shaped hemangioma seen at birth or soon after, usually on the head or neck, that grows rapidly and usually regresses and involutes without scarring.

I did some of my own research and discovered that its very common, specifically in premature, Caucasian females. Audrey was certainly not premature (far from it, actually haha), but she's 2 for 3!

The good news? They almost always go away, on their own, and without treatment. They begin to shrink around the age of 1, and are usually gone by the time a child is 2. Anyone I have talked to who has had a child with the same thing, has said it went away, usually around 18-24 months. Are we worried? Absolutely not. To be honest, when I look at my perfect baby, I barely even notice it. With that said though, I know other people do -- and that's okay.

My hope is for people to look at our sweet daughter exactly like we do and see nothing but a beautiful little girl with an adorable smile and the sweetest little personality ;)

peanut butter cup chocolate chip cookie brownie..bar?

Ever since I discovered Pinterest several months ago, I've used it to branch out and try a bunch of new recipes. 98% of the time, I haven't been disappointed either -- and this time, with this recipe I'm about to share, is one of those times! If you have a sweet tooth like we do (I say we, because my husbands just might be worse than mine at times!!) then you will really enjoy this recipe. So, run..don't walk..to the grocery store, get your supplies and get baking!! You'll thank me later :)

Stuff you'll need: - ready-to-bake chocolate chip cookie dough - 12 reese cups - box of brownie mix ( and whatever you need to make the mix, usually eggs & oil) - muffin pan

You might also want to enlist someone to help you ;) First, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Next spray the bottom and sides of the muffin pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Then, smoosh a cookie dough square in the bottom of each muffin slot, making sure it fills out the bottom.

Place a reese cup upside down on top of each cookie. Try not to eat any in the process..

Prepare your brownie mix according to the box. If you have help, let your help do some of the stirring as it can get a bit tiring!

Once mixed, spoon some brownie mix into each muffin cup, about 3/4 of the way full.

Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes and voila! Let the pan cool completely before removing them. You might want to take a butter knife to loosen the edges, then they should easily pop out.

Pour yourself a big glass of milk -- and enjoy!!

two months!

Audrey Elizabeth, you are TWO months old now! It's so hard to believe that 2 months have passed already, and how much you have already grown and changed. Everyday, it seems, you do something new, and your Daddy and I are amazed and smitten at how wonderful you truly are. We love to just watch you, waiting to see what new thing you do next!



You had your 2 month check-up this week, which included your first round of vaccines. You were NOT happy once those needles pricked your little legs. You cried, which was to be expected, but not for too long. Your little face was SO sad. Mommy felt horrible, but kept a brave face. And believe me, baby girl, it was NOT easy not allowing myself to shed tears right along with you! After your shots, you were one sleepy girl the rest of the day. When you were awake, you were fussy, so we just let you sleep, only waking you up to eat, then letting you fall back asleep. After some tylenol and a warm bath, you seemed to feel a little better. We knew it was the shots though, because you are generally a very happy go lucky baby.



Your first month, you were a little slow to get back up to your birth weight, but you certainly made up for it in the second month, little one! You now weigh 12 lbs 4 oz, and are 23 3/4" long! The doctor said you were in the 88th percentile for weight, and 90th for height -- a very healthy girl! You have outgrown your newborn sleepers, which makes your mom sad. You're growing way too fast! Amazingly, you can still wear some of your newborn sized outfits though (like the one in your 2 month photo) but you can now fit into your 0-3 month clothes, and sometimes, even 3 month!



According to the doctor, you are also meeting all of the milestones you should be by this point. You having been smiling for awhile now, but lately, you smile A LOT, and with purpose. My favorite smiles are first thing in the morning, right after you wake up. You love to smile at anyone, even if they aren't talking to you! It's so very sweet. Often times, I even catch you smiling at things like the elephants on your swing mobile, or the stuffed animals in your crib. And finally, mommy was able to catch that beautiful smile on camera! Keep smiling, baby girl..you light up the world :)



You are still a great sleeper -- now only if you'd learn to sleep in longer stretches at night! You are very much a creature of habit, and still wake up every 2-3 hours during the night to eat. You are always sleeping by 8 or 8:30 every night. Daddy and I have even tried keeping you up a little later, hoping you'd then adjust a little closer to our schedules -- but you won't have it, and continue to fall asleep when you want to. Silly girl. Some day, I know I will have to drag you out of bed, so for now, I will enjoy these moments (with lots of caffeine, of course!)



You've had an exciting month, including a visit from the Eater bunny at Grandma and Papa's house, and even a trip to Canton, OH to visit the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. You were such a good girl during that trip, Daddy and I were so proud of how good you were! You also attended a graduating Veteran's dinner at Daddy's school, in which you were the star of the show. Everyone wanted to see you and hold you. Everyone that meets you always says how beautiful and sweet you are -- and we can't help but agree with them :)



Happy 2 months, Audrey Elizabeth! We absolutely cannot wait to see what the next month brings!!

Love,

Mommy

a little update!

So I've been a mommy now for seven weeks now, and its been wonderful. A little challenging at times, but its all a learning process. I've been spoiled thus far with all the help I've had since coming home from the hospital. The first week, my mom was here and was a huge help, especially since that was the worst week for me, recovery wise. It was nice having here there, and I know she enjoyed getting a week of Audrey time! The following week, Ryan's grandma flew in from Colorado to help out, and meet her first great grandchild. It was nice having her there during the days when Ryan was gone at school and I would have been home alone. She also cooked for us, which I know Ryan was happy to have her cooking! lol. And the week after that, Ryan was on spring break, so he was around all day and it was nice having an extra hand!



Audrey has been a wonderful baby! She has her fussy moments, but for the most part, she really is a good baby. She really only cries when she needs something, which is usually food, lol. The girl can eat and loves to eat!! She is a decent sleeper too, and luckily, never had her days/nights mixed up. She's not a great napper during the day -- usually gets one good nap in during the afternoon (usually only if we're out and she happens to fall asleep in the carseat), then really wants to pass out in the evening. I end up getting a few hours of sleep in before she wakes up to eat, then we sleep again for a couple hours, then if I'm lucky, I can get her to sleep a little longer. I can't say I'm getting a ton of sleep these days, but I am already accustomed to running on minimal amounts of sleep thanks to my years at the TV station!! But, it could always be worse -- I could have a baby that has her days and nights mixed up ;)



She had her one month check up (nearly a month ago now!) and everything went well. She is finally back up to her birth weight, which is a relief. She had lost a pound by the time we left the hospital, and we struggled a little getting her back up to her birth weight, but we are FINALLY there (and by the looks of her chubby little cheeks, she's been growing steadily ever since!) She also grew half an inch and is in the 50th percentile for both. She can still rock SOME of her newborn clothes, but probably not for much longer! Width wise, they fit perfectly, but they are being stretched a little at the snaps, so you can tell the length is a little small. Most of her newborn sleepers don't fit anymore, so we've had to move up to the 0-3 month size (tear!). I almost want to cut the little feet off, so she can wear them a little longer! lol.



Audrey made her first trip up to Erie during Ryan's spring break. Initially, we were going to go to Colorado to visit her great grandparents and great great grandma, but those plans fell through. Hopefully we will make it there this summer! She does great in the car, and usually falls asleep right away. She's also been on a couple other small trips, including another trip up to Erie, and to Grove City one afternoon for a little shopping with Grandma and Papa. As long as the girl is fed, dry and not overly tired, she's a happy camper (albeit she DOES love to be held/cuddled and starts to get lonely if she's left "by herself" for too long)



The weather here has been amazing, for the most part. We've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible, for who know when we'll have another March with temperatures in the 80s! I wish we didn't live in a neighborhood full of hills, as I'd love to start taking her on daily walks. However, the hills are ridiculous and there is literally no flat streets anywhere within walking distance. It's a shame too, cause she loves her stroller. We did go on a nice walk down at the Waterfront with Renz one day, and Audrey slept the whole time. We're gonna start making a weekly tradition of that!



Her first Easter is coming up, and she already has her dress ready :) She met the Easter bunny a few weeks ago with her cousin Joey (she was none too impressed, haha) so she's all ready for her first "real" holiday! She will be getting a little basket, of course (with maybe a little candy for Mama ;) which I think is more exciting for me, than anything. Holidays will never be the same again!!



As for me, I'm recovering nicely from my c-section. My incision scar still hurts, on occasion, but only if my clothing happens to rub it, or if I do wayyy too much (like walking a lot). As far as the baby weight, it's been gone since the first few days. haha. I lost it all, and then a little extra. Still not where I want to be, but I'll get there! I'm hungry all. the. time. Quite a difference from where I was during pregnancy. lol. I'd get halfway through my meal, and be stuffed. Now, I finish eating and I feel like I'm hungry again shortly after. ugh!



That's it for now! I promise to write more, and more frequently. I need to be able to blog things as they happen, not weeks later ;) Until next time..(and hopefully sooner, rather than later..lol)