Making baby food: sweet potatoes

This was the easiest by far ... Think Thanksgiving.
We peeled 1 sweet potato and chopped it up into very small pieces. I wanted to roast them in the oven, but because they were so small they started to burn (375 for 10 minutes was too much).
Switched them to steamer for 30 minutes and they were falling apart. Pureed them in food processor with some water.
Yielded: 1 jar and 5 ice cube trays

Scenic Sunday

For this Scenic Sunday, I am posting a photo of our fair city to the north -- Milwaukee taken from the Modern Art Museum. A somber picture for a somber day ... October 2009.

For more Scenic Sundays, please visit scenicsunday.blogspot.com.

Making Baby Food: Part 1

Making my own baby food was something that I always wanted to do, but when it came time to introduce solids, it was much easier to buy a jar... 6 weeks and many jars later I have decided it's time to experiment making my own food.

I'm lucky because in my music class at least 2 mammas do this (and gave me some tips), and there's 1 person in my Mom's group who does. Who knew so many people made their own food? (and I live in a pretty mainstream area).

I wanted to buy one of those baby cookers, but $150 seemed pricey for what I've been told I can do with a steamer and a food processor (I already own both).

A good website with lots of info is Wholesome Homemade Baby Food Recipes (if anyone knows others, please share).

I started with carrots yesterday. I had 4 small-medium carrot (I said I was testing, right?). I peeled and chopped them and put them in the steamer until they seemed soft enough - which was 55 minutes...  It turns out that was NOT long enough. When I pureed them, I had a lot of chunks and ended up mashing it through a strainer... NOT RECOMMENDED, took FOREVER (even though I got a nice puree from the result).

Matt looked at me and said, "We have the money to buy jarred food, don't do this if it's going to take more time than it's worth."  That seemed to me like a challenge! I got 2 jars worth of the carrots, but I think what I need to do next time is steam it for 1 hour and add some water to the processor to thin it up.

Moving on.

Today I made pureed apples.  Seemed easier. I peeled and chopped up 2 apples and put them in a pot of water to boil. 25 minutes later, I put them in the processor. They were pretty liquidy so I didn't end up needing to add any liquid (but I had it on reserve). Now this worked and 2 apples gave me 2 jars of food (for immediate consumption) and 4 ice cube trays (for later).

Cost:  
7 servings of jarred organic pureed baby food (Stage 1) = $5.53 + tax (.79/jar)
vs.
2 organic apples (which yielded 7 servings) = $1.36 + tax

Mommy & Baby Side by Side (6 months)

Note: I don't have a photo of Matt at 6 months.

December 1975

It looks like he has my nose ... and some of my droopy eyes. (But his are still blue!) But that round head ... ??

January 2011

First night ... Sleeping alone

This is the first night that we are sleeping without Wes in our bed since thanksgiving. At the end of november, he got a really bad cold so we moved him into our room/bed so we could monitor him close. Well, he got better but we loved having him in bed with us so there he stayed ...
The only reason we're moving him out is because I've been sleeping at the edge of the bed and I need a better night sleep. Otherwise it's a conflicting move. Matt & I don't know how we feel about it.

6 months old!

Happy 6 months, happy face!

1/25/11

Scenic Sunday

In honor of the Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers game today, here is a picture of Soldier Field - what was once an historic landmark until they decided it needed more seats and renovated the inside.

For more Scenic Sundays, please visit scenicsunday.blogspot.com.

Scenic Sunday

For my first Scenic Sunday, I wanted to post a photo of our fair city -- Chicago.  This was taken October 2010, after I went to my first Bears Game with my husband.

A little background -- I'm not an avid photographer, I just like snapping photos. I have a Canon point & shoot and a Nikon SLR. This was taken with the Canon.

For more Scenic Sundays, please visit scenicsunday.blogspot.com.

Boot Camp + Baby Classes

Boot Camp
Let's put it this way:  After the first night, I cried and told Matt that if I go back they will kill me.

Basically the class is hard! But after 4 classes all with different trainers, it depends on who you have; some are easier than others. The trainer the first night kicked A#&! I mean that she kicked OUR A#&! After doing obstacle course type laps, she made us run a laps around the gym and then go up and down 3 flights of stairs 4 times. I thought I was going to DIE. Needless to say, I was last place and I had to cheat so that the 50-something lady ahead of me and I could finish at the same time. I've been so sore all week, I can't even turn over in bed.

But I am so glad I'm doing this. I put Wes in the nursery for the hour and I get that hour to myself (I'd rather be soaking in a hot tub that hour, but you get what you can get). By the time I get home, Matt walks in the door, so it's perfect timing. Only 7 weeks to go.

Music Class/ Mom Group
This week was our first Music class of the year. In December we did 3 sing-a-long classes that Wes enjoyed so I signed us up for the winter course. There are 3 other infants in the class from 4 months - 7 months so we fit right in. Everyone else is 1-4 yrs old and the class is a lot fun, lots of activity in 45 minutes.

We also went to a Mom's group for new moms with babies. That was 2 hours and we got to talk about baby related issues - from sleeping problems to breastfeeding to going back to work. I've wanted to go to this since I was on maternity leave, but it never happened and I regret it because it was great. Wes was the oldest but the others were 4 months, 6 weeks, and 13 days. They welcomed me anyway and I met a girl who lives close by.

Boot Camp: New Years Resolution #1

Tonight I start Boot Camp. This is part of my New Years resolution to get back to my pre-pregnancy body. The last 15 lbs have been really hard to lose so I need some assistance.

This class is 4 days a week for 8 weeks. Unlike most of the classes at the Park District where you buy a pass and take all the classes you want whenever you want, you had to sign up especially for this class.  It's been harder to work out with the baby, and I realized that a dedicated time/class was what I need. This class is supposed to be hard and kick-start your exercise regimen.

I value honesty and disclosure so I'm putting up my STATS (!) . I'll have a check in @ 4 weeks (Feb 4th) and 8 weeks (March 4th).

                 NOW                    GOAL / Pre-Preg
Weight       155.5 lbs             140 lbs
Wa.i.st         33"                      28"
Hi.p.s           38.5"                   34"
Pants size     10-12                  8

Now these goals may be impossible in 8 weeks (or impossible at all since having a baby), but at least it's something to shoot for. And I care most about my pants size than anything else - I'd like to get back to my old jeans.

Tummy time

Wes is getting really good at being on his stomach. Here he was this morning practicing, right before he rolled over.

Happy New Year!

I'm sad to see 2010 go away ... it was a very special year for us.

When I read all that we did in 2009, at least I can take solace in the fact that we were very active DINKS (Double Income No Kids). Aside from being pregnant, many doctor visits, and having our baby boy in July, we didn't do much else.

We didn't travel as much as before, aside a small trip to Door County in March and Nashville in April (all in my 2nd trimester).  As for home renovations, we did manage to convert our sad 2nd bedroom to a nursery, which was no small feat (building a closet and installing new floors).

We spent the first half of the year pouring over birthing books, taking birthing classes, and going to doctors. We captured my growing belly, and marveled at the fact that this time it was for real. After a surprise water breaking 1 week before my due date and a successful natural birth, we welcomed our little boy!  Then the second half of the year we spent reading childcare books (we were too busy about the birth to think about the child!) and living on little sleep as we marveled at this tiny creature we now were responsible for. The months flew by...

I became a stay-at-home mom and Matt left his company of 11 years to start a new job -- all within a few months of each other. No more daily commutes to Evanston for me, and Matt lost his train partner (who's he going to make fun of everyone with now?) A lot has changed.

So maybe we accomplished more this year than I thought.

2011 ... bring it on!

My resolutions ...

• Get back to pre-pregnancy weight before we start trying again (Yes, I said it!)
• Clean out basement (with Matt)
• Convert 3rd bedroom to real office