Baby Food

LB has been on solids since 4 months... a little rice cereal at first, then some avocado.  Since then, a typical day consists of oatmeal in the morning and a veggie/fruit at both lunch and dinner.  He gets between 15-20 ounces of breastmilk and/or formula total.  The pedi said that is a little on the low side but it sounds like we have a "snacker" who is more content getting a little bit throughout the day.  I try to give him milk before the solids and after but when he knocks it out of my hand I get the point. But that's not where I want to go with this post.  I am looking for input about what "real" things to give LB.  I have given him sweet potato and avocado and the rest is baby food.  Baby food is real, but you know what I mean... "fresh" I guess is the better word. 

Beyond sweet potato and avocado, I'm out of ideas.  No bananas because of the constipation issues.  I should say here that baby led weaning makes sense to me but it just doesn't work out for our lifestyle right now (aka not enough time to clean afterwards & eating mostly junk!) 

Today, I embarked on cooking and freezing some squash.  If you think that I will show "pretty" pictures and say this was easy and fun, you will be disappointed.  My pics will not make it to p.interest lol.  This was hard, messy work and kudos to those that get this done with a little one!
 Basically, I washed the squash, cut it in halves, scooped out the insides, put in the oven face down in some water for 40 minutes, then scooped out the meat and put it in some small freezer containers.  I left out the puree step because it came out really mashed up anyway but that was included in the directions I used.  Whew!  I am looking for some easy ways to whip up some fresh fruit/veggies!

Washed, sliced and scooped out

In the pan before I added water

Done, scooped out the insides and placed in the containers for freezing

Well?  Maybe I like it... maybe not, let me think about it!

First Set of Wheels

Despite repeated efforts and encouragement from his parents...
Our LB refuses to roll from back to front, to sit up on his own, to scoot, to hold a cup or to sleep through the night.

But, Boy Oh Boy, can he RUN!!!
Ah bab bab uh uh da, excuse me, I've been corrected.  LB says "this is serious driving mom!" Lol.

To the Storage Totes

Dear storage totes,

To the clear tote- you hold tiny little onesies, outfits, hats and sleepers.  The tags say "newborn."  Most of them were gifts and I would sort, wash and stare at them time and time again while waiting until the day they could be used.  Then LB arrived and I loved using each and every piece- from the sleepers to keep him warm and cozy to the Christmas outfit that made our newborn look like such a little man.  You contain memories that will forever be treasured.     

To the blue tote- you hold sizes 0-3 & 3-6 months.  These pieces represent many special firsts- from smiles and rolling over to holidays and trips adventures! LB was so cute in the P.olo outfit that matched dad and the sleeper with duck feet!  You are full of onesies that my hot-natured little guy loved to wear alone as the days got warmer.  I can't believe you are full already, which means that my LB is growing up way too fast.  

I am just not ready to part with a single piece.  I wanted to be sure you were aware of these precious  clothes stories you hold.  You represent a dream come true!   

Vacation with a Baby

I saw one of those sayings on a F.acebook post that "going to T.arget by yourself is a vacation for mom and going on vacation is work!"  After returning from our first vacation last week, I would agree!  However, I don't think we've ever laughed so much and the time together was priceless. 

If I had advice to give to someone who is about to travel with a baby to the beach, these would be my "top 5 must haves" (in addition to the necessities of course).
1.  Baggies and shopping store bags... in the car and in the luggage... for everything... soiled diapers, bottles, trash, sunscreen... multiple uses.  Wipes too! 
2.  The pack-n-play was a real pain in the backside but we couldn't have done without it- instant changing table, bed and place to play.  This seems like it would be a "given" but I debated taking it since he ends up in the bed with us anyway.  Glad we did. 
3.  If you end up with several inflatable things like we did, take a small inflator!  We took an inflatable pool for LB to lay in on the beach under our umbrella, a beach ball, a float, etc. 

4.  Travel size things really saved us space this year.  In fact, LB had his six month check-up the day before and the pedi loaded us up on lotion, sunscreen and baby wash samples.  Yay!

5.  For the car- a bag of familiar and some toys LB hadn't seen before.  This was advice from my co-workers and I wondered how much time toys could distract with a baby wanting out of a car seat but they did help.  I went to yardsales a couple of weeks before our trip and got several things that were "new" to LB, all for under $5.  I also never wanted a portable DVD player in the car but that is one of those never say never things when it comes to long car rides for us... it kept LB distracted for 10 minute chunks of time throughout the trip so it was worth it to me.  Note to PC:  I know it was by accident that the toy bag was packed in the !$*% cargo carrier on the way home.  However, this meant mom had to be very creative and that at times all I had was lotion, a bracelet, a cup and- I digress- a m.axi pad.   
 
Last thoughts on vacation- yes, it was different... supper was rushed and eaten with a baby in one arm, no long walks on the beach at night and lots more time spent in the room than ever before.  But to be on a trip with OUR baby, I'm tearing up as a type this, a void that we always felt was more than fulfilled.  To see him look at things with amazement and enjoy feeling the sand and water on his toes... our cup runneth over!   

     

Son Rise

Beautiful picture of a sunrise over the horizon as the ocean waves come in?  Nah.  Not nearly as beautiful as that dad carrying his baby out to see it... so blessed that they happen to belong to me!    Happy First Father's Day PC!  We love you!