Baby's first bite!!!

Preparing for solid foods!

Yep, I will admit it and be proud of it: I'm THAT kind of mom. Over the past few days I have cleaned, straightened, organized, and planned out our son's homemade and organic solid food. If you already know me, I have Brentlee on a fairly strict schedule. He nurses, sleeps, and even poops on the same routine just about every single day. My husband has always given me a hard time for being "that" mom, but I caught him once saying that I'm a genius and for me that's all I need. :)

Now don't confuse me as "Germ Patrol: Mom of the Year." I don't boil our bottles everyday, Brentlee is touched and hugged by everyone, I let him pet the cat, drool on toys off the floor, and go outside! I welcome exposure to most germs and unhealthy parts of life. He's a baby...and babies get dirty. My version of "that" mom is the mom who takes extra time and care to make sure that her baby has a solid foundation in order to live a happy healthy life. I'm setting him up for a very healthy life style, even though it means reading dozens (okay hundreds) of nutrition articles and blogs....I feel good about it. Anyway! Here's my documentation of preparing Brentlee to eat solid foods!

Just about every single mom browsing the internet has asked,"When do I start solids and what do I start with?" I've already said my two cents on when to start. What to start with is something that I sort of want to share with everyone. Historically doctors and moms both have always said to start with rice cereal thinned with formula or breast milk. After learning about why do delay solids, I questioned this tradition and starting researching for an answer. Rice cereal is made up of what? Fortified white long grain rice or something? Any health nut will tell you that white is not right!!! So why are we giving our babies processed food that tastes of cardboard as their first food? If you wait until your baby's system is mature and also if you are breastfeeding....then starting with a super food just makes more sense to me. A food rich in good fats, nutrients, and known for low allergic reactions seems like the perfect foundation food for a baby!!!! My definition of baby's first super food: AVOCADO!!!!! An organic California avocado costs maybe $1.50 and makes enough baby food for dozens of first feedings. I haven't even priced a jar of stage 1 baby food so I can't really compare any money saving tips. I'm sure the convenient food is sensible, but just not fresh and free of fillers. Therefore I have never shopped for a jar of baby food. 

I chose avocado as a first food because of it's nutrient content. It's packed with vitamins, minerals (including iron), and also composed of those "good" fats. Those unsaturated fat molecules that are proven to be important for every baby's developing body. All of these nutrients are coming from a fresh, organic fruit instead of a supplement processed in a box. In my opinion it sounds a lot better than white rice paste...but that's just my opinion. In the photo above, I used a very small avocado and made enough food for maybe four weeks of avocado "meals". They say as first, your baby should eat 1-3 tablespoons during a meal and most babies will eat only 1/2 of a tablespoon at first. (After this experience I've learned that the baby food that I have prepared for Brentlee will probably last him well over a month. Of course by then we will have introduced other foods so he will not suffer from too much green and not enough variety. :) Once he is familiar with this new food, I will offer him other types of organic food. Fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, sweet potatoes, squash, and green beans will make wonderful mixed "meals". In a few weeks I even plan to add mild seasonings for him to enjoy!!!

Here is a photo of 3 days of homemade avocado puree. Now I say 3 days, because that's about how long I think it will stay fresh in the fridge. Brentlee can only eat about 1/4 of what's in one bowl...so this is probably about 12 days of homemade baby food for him right now (next time I will know to freeze more so there isn't as much waste). The ounce of breastmilk to the left is for thinning the fruit and masking the taste so that it's somewhat familiar to him.

Now I recommend using your finger as baby's first spoon, but I had been somewhat "training" Brentlee to use a spoon. I did this by offering him a spoon full of water whenever I was eating my breakfast or lunch. He is now very accustomed to opening his mouth when he notices the spoon coming towards him. (Note: babies around six months of age should not have more than 2oz of water per day....their milk has lots of water in it as it is).

Here we go.....B's FIRST bite!!!!! He's really excited to see that spoon once again and he's thinking there will be a lovely drop of warm water for him to drink. Little does he know that this soupy puree is not quite as sweet as he expects.....

Poor kid didn't know what hit him. We were only minutes away from nap time and after a shocking taste from his favorite spoon...he was ready to rest. We'll try 1/2 a teaspoon once a day for the rest of the week. I'm grounding up organic whole rolled oats for a yummy breakfast meal and reading up of the safest ways to bake and steam other foods. Every 3-5 days we'll try a new food after Brentlee gets used to the idea of trying the texture of purees. I'm very proud of him for his few bites today. He swallowed everything that I fed him and went down for his nap with a smile!!!!

Here's to a happy, healthy, and organic baby boy!!! Don't be afraid to be "that" kind of mom...it's good for them.

How did we ever survive as kids??!!!!

Well today is part of National Infant Immunization Week and ironically we just returned from our baby's 4 month wellness visit where he received his 2nd round of immunizations. He gets extra love and care from Mom today as he is sleeping in my arms as we speak. A little extra TLC is well worth the stress of getting shots which will one day prevent him from getting a disease.

Just about everyday another Mom will stop and admire our adorable baby boy and just about every time I hear the phrase, "How did our kids ever survive back in the day?" This of course comes up after bringing up a topic like infant shots or when to start solid foods. Well today I'm expressing my two cents and shining light on the other side of the story...well my story at least.

Now, I'm surely not a professional in any sort of baby field or any field for that matter. In fact, I'm a young, first time mom just trying to be aware of what's best for my baby. I can agree that most kids survive just about anything that parents do these days. Kids are tough and can adapt to things that happen to them and I am a firm believer that parents know exactly what their baby needs. Books, blogs, doctors, and health nuts can say whatever they please, but a mom or dad are the only people that understand what their baby is asking for. The key factor here knowing what the best option is before we do it. I think we all owe it to our kids (as educated parents) to take the time to listen to what "they" say and decide what's best from there ("they" being those authors, doctors, bloggers, and etc).

Being 24 years old in this lovely modern world makes it seem like "everyone" around me is announcing the birth of their new baby! So naturally, I watch and enjoy all the status updates and photos of these new babies. How could you not enjoy hearing about a new life in this world? And well...if you don't enjoy it, you better deactivate your Facebook account, cuz everyone is talking about their baby. A big trend right now is sitting those brand new babies in their state of the art ergonomical chair and feeding them some sort of solid food!! Last time I checked "they" said that babies do not need anything but formula or breast milk during the first six months. Those cute little bodies need to be able to sit up so they can even attempt to swallow food and their digestive systems need to fully mature in order to process that same food. There are dozens of popular sources that list each and every reason to delay solid foods. Does this mean that it's wrong to give your baby solids and you want to because your mom did the same thing for you? OF COURSE NOT!! You survived and most likely your baby will survive too. If those extra 5 calories will help you get more sleep at night....that is great because sleep these days is like winning Mega Millions. I'm personally choosing to delay solids because the research was done and the statements were published for parents to decide. They want to make us aware of what they know now and what they know now is very useful information. It's all in our best interests. Read the statements and do the research..then decide what to do. Yes your child will survive, but keep in mind that anything can happen to you and any baby has an equal chance of being that one in (how ever many) kids that develop diabetes, allergies, obesity..etc.

Look at it this way:

Your grandmother kept a very fashionable basket in her car for carrying her baby while on the go and you're here today to say that her baby survived. Now are you going to use a tested and approved infant car seat because "they" say it safer, or are you going to dig out that that gorgeous basket just like they did back in the days?

The answer to this question about how kids survived is very simple: most kids WILL survive!!! Statistics, journals, publications, etc state only percentages, approximations, and chances!! All of their lovely statements express what portion of kids suffered from whatever it is. The majority of people can all say they survived. My thoughts here are...I don't want to be the mom who falls under one of those stats. Anything can happen to us and we should know our stuff before taking on such a huge responsibility of raising a healthy human being. Sometimes "they" know what they are talking about and I personally like what "they" say (most of them..hehe). So moms and others who seem entertained by some of my new mom ways, please remember that I know your kids survived and they are beautiful kids at that.....just respect my decisions as I respect yours.

Links I like:
Why delay solids?
6 reasons to delay solid foods.
Healthy Children

Spring Break: from dance parties to baby milestones.

Well we made it to Spring Break already and I smile when I think about how much my life has changed. So many events have taken place over the past few years that have really molded me into a completely new person. I must say it's fun to look back.

Here's my ever so important binder cover from year 2003. If you didn't have one of these, you certainly missed out on what everyone was doing those days. In order to have the perfect binder, you needed the following ingredients:

• Family
• Best Friends
• Digital Camera (3 mega pixels)
• Spring Break memories

2003 Spring Break meant spending evenings in the garage waxing my 1988 Honda Accord with my Dad. I remember that day like it was yesterday as the second I started my grey little beauty I noticed that the blinkers didn't work. I drove myself to the nearest gas station on Regal and blushed as I stuck my arms out the window to signal my next move. As excited I was that my Dad bought me a car; I was a horrified thinking about how "everyone" would witness me using arm signals on the South Hill. I'm here today to say I survived the long week without turn signals and was super lucky to be able to drive myself to school.

In 2004 I was spent my week doing my little sister's hair and dressing her up in cute pink outfits. It was even more fun when our cousins came over to play. The photos that I have are priceless.

Jump to 2005 when buying surprise grab bags at the dollar store was the most exciting day of our lives. I wonder if things would have been different if we grew up in FL where MTV hosts all the bikini wearing Spring Breakers.

I spent Spring Break 2010 on the Western Coast with my fiance at the time. Still no tropical, crazy bikini wearing vacationers yet again. This time though I at least found the ocean (a rainy one that is). You seriously have to love clouds and rain if you want to live there. We also went hiking at Mt. Saint Helens as well as Multnomah Falls in OR.

Finally in 2011 I found all the Spring Breakers at South Beach in FL!!!! For the for first time I knew what it was like to step into warm ocean waters during the biggest vacation time of the year. The sand was hot and the drinks were cold. It was an amazing honeymoon vacation. We joke about not planning our trip right, but honestly Spring Break was the perfect time. The weather was great and the destinations were crowded and busy...just how Spring Break is supposed to be! What's a party without a bunch of people?

This year I'm a mom and Spring Break has an entire new meaning. Instead of looking out for MTV Spring Break, seeking out the best pina colada, or hiking up the tallest peaks, I'm spending it with my family. I'm more concerned about what new skill our 3 month old learns this week. Today I witnessed his first signs of the giggles and my heart melted just as it did when I saw his first smile. Hopefully soon we'll hear his entire laugh. It's amazing how the smallest little moments feel so much bigger than any Spring Break party. My best Spring Break memories are with my new family and I can't wait for the many years to come.

Asian-Cajun Breakfast

Good Morning Sunday! The clocks went forward this morning and I'm sure everyone is missing their bed right now. I was worried for the baby and his routine that he has been following precisely. Turns out he adjusted to the time so well that I didn't notice a single change. He woke up right at 7am as usual and went down for his morning nap without a fuss. I'm starting to think that he is more aware of what's going on than me!!

Since things went so well this morning, I quietly went into the kitchen as the boys were sleeping. It was the perfect time to use up the wonton wrappers that I bought last week. This week our menu has consisted of whatever ingredients I needed to use up in the refrigerater. It has made for some interesting meals I will say.

My lovely mother in law gave me her recipe for Cajun canopies. They are delicious appetizer biscuits made with a sausage cheese filling. They are always a hit at parties and my husband especially loves them. This morning I added an Asian flare to the recipe by using wonton wrappers instead of biscuits. Really the clean up was much easier and the presentation is beautiful!

The sausage filling is made up of sausage, cheese, garlic, green onion, thyme, paprika, and red pepper (these are the ingredients I had on hand...usually you add a few others to complete the recipe). I simply cooked the filling and added to my wonton cups which I previously baked in the oven. I put the combined mixture into the oven until the cheese melted and poof!!! Breakfast is served. Once my husband wakes up I'll probably fry up some eggs (fresh farm) and whole wheat toast to complete the meal. I plan on doing this again except planned out in advance. I'd love to add ginger and serve them with eggs and jasmine rice (or even fried rice would be fun). The possibilities are endless with this recipe.

Happy "Spring Forward"

Baby 411: Environment: Tobacco Smoke

It's safe to say that I survived my first day of work and being away from our baby. When I walked through the doors of the bank I had a sudden burst of energy (This was probably as a result of the wonderful welcome I received from my coworkers). I was a bit nervous that I had forgotten all the various operations of my job, but it was much like riding a bike as I fell into the groove of things right away.

The most interesting part of my day was about an hour or so into my shift. I looked around the branch and realized that there wasn't a single little person crying out for me. I've spent the last 2 months listening for cries or even the smallest bit of fuss and for what seemed like the first time....I heard nothing. It was a very strange feeling. Luckily the time came to take a break (to pump) and I felt connected to the baby even though he wasn't there.

I'm proud to say that Dad had a very successful first day alone with his son. I'm told they napped and played all afternoon without a single fuss or cry. It's clear that I was the fussy one that needed worrying about. Thanks to a great dad and a happy baby, I was luckily enough to make dinner!!! I have been dying to try a whole wheat pasta with kale recipe and today my wish came true. The combination of fresh garlic, sausage, kale, and parmesan cheese was delicious and I certainly will be keeping the recipe for future use.

After dinner and unpacking a few moving boxes, I sat down to read a bit. As usual the subject of choice was babies. I came across an interesting fact that its pretty important to me and worth sharing. As we all know, smoke is pervasive and sticks to any surface that will soak it up. One toxin that I always try to avoid is secondhand smoke. Tonight we learned that a smoker breaks in this matter into the house on their clothes or hair and it is easily transferred by contact..such as holding a new baby. They can breathe in the matter from the smoke and suffer health consequences. So smokers please try to better your health by limiting your guilty pleasures but most importantly remember to consider the little ones that you love to hold and love. After smoking outside make sure to remove your coat or at least wash you hands. Babies have precious new lungs that deserve to be tobacco and wheeze free.

Just my two cents after a Baby 411 reference. That's all.

 

Joining the club!

Well I never thought I would be here creating a blog for myself. I guess I'm interested in discovering what the fuss is all about. The thought of having a family diary to look back on sounds very appealing. The fact that it is public means I wont have to go back and burn any pages in fear that I wrote something that really wasn't meant to be put on paper. :)

I'm currently typing with one hand as I hold my baby son in the other. It's the night before I go back to work and my mind is filled with questions and concerns. How does a breastfeeding mom know how much milk to leave at home? Or how do you tell your newborn that he must stick to his planned out schedule as Mom's can't adjust on demand while at work? I worry how much stress he will endure, but confident he will learn soothing skills from this. Maybe I'm worried as a result of my own separation issues rather than his.

It's important to note how lucky our family is that we have a dad who works extra hard so that he can be home while I'm away. The pressure to find a suitable day care is eliminated for the time being. It's the greatest blessing a working family can ask for. Our son will be perfectly safe and sound under his dad's watchful eye while I'm at work. I just pray that I've done all the right preparations in order for Dad to have an easy going day alone with his new baby.

Recently I read that in exclusively breastfeed babies, need roughly 25oz per day of breastmilk between 1-6 months of age. Therefore I've left a few storage bags of 3oz each. Any comments on this?

Thank goodness for Google these days. I seem to be earning my own version of an early childhood development education online. While I worked in a nursery with infants, spent many years babysitting, and cared for my little sister who is 10 years younger, I still find myself researching dozens of questions each day. Thank you to the many moms who blog and post about their own experiences. Here's to giving back to the blogging community!!