The Baby Cook

A few weeks ago I ventured into baby food making. I had been putting it off thinking it was going to be more work than I was ready for. But, after Grampa bought Camden the amazing Baby Cook by Beaba, I jumped right into it.

Armed with tons of fresh, organic produce I began peeling, slicing and dicing, steaming and pureeing.

In one day I made sweet potatoes, apples, pears, bananas. Then a week later I made peas, green beans, zucchini, carrots.

I have avocado and more bananas to make tomorrow, but overall I think I may need to slow down! The baby food is taking over the freezer, and Camden hasn't been able to even try all of the things I have made yet, thanks to the dang 3 day wait rule.

When I make the baby food, I use the Beaba silicone containers (if they are not used) to hold 2 ounces of baby food, but I have found ice cube trays to be just as convenient to use. An ice cube square is one ounce, and then I just pop them out of the tray, put them in a freezer safe bag and label and date them. And voila! So easy.

At daycare they asked if I was, "you know, overly healthy". I think they were trying to nicely ask if I was a health nut. Now, that is definitely NOT the case, or I would be super skinny. But, I do like being able to control what goes in his little body while he is still developing and growing (and while he doesn't have much of a choice! :) And knowing that he is getting organic and a fresh product is a nice comfort.

The only downside to buying organic? You have to really hope your fruit or veggie is in season. I have found organic produce at all kinds of places. I had originally thought that I would HAVE to go to Whole Foods, but that is the one place I haven't been to yet. Akin's has had plenty of options, and they absolutely do not allow non-organic product in the store, which is actually a step up from Whole Foods. AND...there are Akin's much closer to home. Wheee! Also, Reasors and Target have had impressive selections of organics. I was disappointed the other day when I wanted an organic bell pepper for our chili at home, and they just flat out didn't have them anymore at Target. They had been replaced by organic broccoli. Oh well, that is how fruit and veggies are really supposed to be eaten, according to what is in season, not what is in season halfway around the world that they can ship here. I am looking forward to spring/summer and farmer's markets and getting to know local growers. That is really the absolutely best option.

But back to the baby food making. Very easy. Largely made so easy by Grampa's awesome gift. Once you peel and dice the Baby Cook steams for fifteen minutes, then you just dump it right in the same container and puree. Then pour into containers and freeze. Camden definitely loves the gift, he's getting to try all kinds of yummy foods!

It's Friday again??

What do you all have planned for the weekend?? I work this weekend, but I also plan to spend some quality time with this handsome little man....

{Mmmm sweet potatoes!}

Funny Things Patients Say...

We had one patient that was adamantly explaining that Rod Stewart is Martha Stewart's nephew.

Another patient was watching the Today Show. They come back from commercial and pan at the crowd standing outside and, of course, the crowd waves at the camera. What does patient do? She waves back at the TV with a huge grin on her face, thinking they are waving at her. Awesome.

I was talking with two patients when one interrupts me and states, "Do you EVER, (at this point the other one chimes in and they state in unison) brush your hair?" Apparently, they think my curls are just tangles. :)

Whew. They sure do know how to keep you on your toes!

Friday Fragments

It's been a long time since I have done a post with substance. Let me update you!

Well, last week we had blizzards. Record setting blizzards. Chris and I managed to make it to and from work every day (sometimes taking 2 hours going one way!), despite the mail not running for two solid days and the local paper shutting down for the first time in 105 years. Impressive, eh?

Then, this week we had MORE snow. It just wouldn't end, it was like we were in a snow globe that God kept shaking.

Two weeks ago on a Monday we went to the pediatrician for our follow up appointment after finishing a round of antibiotics. We were starting to sound good and the weather was actually nice (before Snowmaggedon 2011 hit). The doctor said, "He sounds great, keep him away from sick people". Ha! Famous last words.

By that Friday, daycare called me saying he had a fever and to pick him up. So I called the doctor. He said give him Tylenol. So I did that all weekend despite the green snot. Called again on Monday after, they said "He's probably teething, give him Tylenol". So I have. And our cough is back. And we are both super sick again. Pretty sure it wasn't teething, as I am pretty sure I had a fever at one point this week.

So now, we are still trying to heal. Camden is smiling and less fussy now, he's eating a bit better, still throwing up stuff alot but at least he's less hoarse and smiling some. I had missed my baby!

Thankfully, and end appears to be in sight. The 7 day forecast almost brought tears of joy to my eyes! Next week there are mid 60s and almost 70s forecasted! That's Snoklahoma for you, got to keep you on your toes!

Yesterday was another very disjointed day. Daycare kept calling me, not because lil C was sick, but because they had lost power at the daycare. They were going to have to move the kids to the Education Center of the hospital and needed my permission to do it. I got calls left and right, they didn't know what to do with all of my frozen breastmilk for lil C. They ended up moving it to another freezer so I could take it home with me and bring it back the next day but OHMIGOSH it was chaos for a while. Turns out, whatever the issue is, it is going to be a WHILE before they can fix it, so daycare will be running on a generator for quite some time. I guess the area that needs to be fixed is under the hospital or under the road or something severe. This translates to the employees not being allowed to use ANY extra power. No washing machines, no microwaves, nothing! This almost doesn't effect me, but I have made most of Camden's baby food and when I take it up there for him to start eating it there, they will need to thaw it by putting it in the microwave. SO... I guess we will wait and see what the best option is. Maybe I could just let it sit out all morning? That just doesn't sound good though...

I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend. As is husband because Nascar is starting. I am referring to the extra sleeping I have planned! :)

Have a good one!

Wordless Wednesday

{my sweet five month old!}

{my boys}

Random Monday

{my cutie pie one morning before leaving him at daycare}



{Grabbing his feet and making diaper changes hard for Mommy and Daddy!!}


{Holding his own bottle like a big boy!}


{Story time with Dad - this was around Christmas!}


{Camden loves Nemo}

Random Tuesday

{saw this bumper sticker on a car when picking up Camden from daycare.}


{You might have to enlarge this picture to see that the tag says "IM4FARV". I didn't know people still were for him, aren't they about sick of him?...}