New blog address.

I decided to switch my blog to a different blog host.  My new blog will essentially be the same as this one, but just at a new web address.

www.macraewenger20.wordpress.com

From this day forward,
M.


Please continue to follow me!

Baby food: sweet mashed potatoes with cinnamon.

I think the easiest and most convenient way to make baby food is to use ingredients you are already using for dinner.  Now, of course, we've never eaten sweet potato, bean, and quinoa burgers before- but we're trying to eat less meat during the week. It works because it makes it more affordable to eat organic (& I get to try out new and different recipes).  So for dinner, I was already chopping and steaming sweet potatoes, so baby got some mashed sweet potatoes:

probably yields 2+ servings for a 6 month Little Mister or Baby Beauty.

A few cubes of steamed sweet potatoes, no skin. Maybe a 1/4 cup. 

2 Tbsp prepared quinoa (quinoa is highly nutritious and considered a non-allergenic food, perfect for babies)

A 1/2 ounce heavy cream or breastmilk or water

A dash of cinnamon

Mash ingredients together or purée until the consistency is to your baby's liking. The older the baby the less mashing required. 

Not pictured: cooked quinoa (it was a last minute addition)

Our burgers were phenomenal and extremely filling and the baby food tasted great (my husband and I both sample it bc I always make too much and it always looks so tasty!) 

From this day forward, 

M. 

*please use caution when introducing new foods to your baby. Talk with your pediatrician and follow all guidelines of introducing solids to baby. 

Baby food: cauliflower with cilantro.

We had leftover 'riced' cauliflower from this pizza crust

 

so we decided to make some baby food!

Cauliflower 'Rice' Cereal 

1. About 1 cup riced cauliflower (remember it was just leftovers).  Rice it by pulsing in the food processor or grating the  cauliflower.  steam lightly.  you can also puree the cauliflower, but I've been experimenting with textures for this little mister.

2. A few leaves of cilantro, de-stem and chop or rip into small pieces.  Herbs have many benefits for infants and they taste great too! no more bland baby food.

3. 1 ounce of heavy cream (ped's orders to fatten him up, but breast-milk or water will do)

mix all ingredients together.

He loved it.  I'm not sure how long it will stay good for because of the cream, so I plan on giving him the rest by tomorrow.  Also, hubby and I tasted it AND IT WAS SUPER DELICIOUS.  I'm going to use this recipe in place of mashed potatoes or rice as a side dish- I might even try it with some broccoli too!

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From this day forward,
Mac-chef

Uncle Dog: Buster Brown

Buster.

From this day forward,
M.

Life is good.

Getting to fall asleep (and wake up repeatedly in the night, oh teething child woes) to these two faces is pretty darn amazing. It's so crazy how fast life changes. One day you are single. Then you are dating. Then you are engaged. Living together. Married. Pregnant. A mommy.  That's how fast life moves. That's how quickly it can all change. And gosh am I happy about all of it.

I am lucky. 

I am grateful. 

I am blessed.  

From this day Forward,

Mac-lucky in love.

follow me.

 

And I'll love you forever!  No really, it's easy.  to the right----->  to the right-------> everyone that reads in the boxes to the right.  (did ya get my reference? If not, it's a lame spin off of some song).  But if you read this blog, you can follow along and get updates when I update.  Or you can keep Googling or Stalkbooking me until you find the link to this blog, if that's your thing.  Either way, thanks for stopping by.

Happy MLK Monday.

From this day forward,

M.

Constellation Sea Turtle.

Thank you Uncle Joey for the amazing Sea Turtle Night Light.  We all spent a while staring at the stars.  It was perfect for the middle of the night cry-fest. 

Hope you all had a great weekend! Now onto Sunday Funday-we're starting out with our Green Juice!


From this day forward,
M.

Funny Friday

AJ at his 6 month, well check-up!  We were having  a great time waiting for the doctor.  He grew a 1/2 inch since last month and gained almost a pound.  (13 lbs...and counting).

She wants more solid foods, I don't want more because the mess going on in those cute Gdiapers is a whole new level of ICK!  BUT he has been enjoying some peas & brown rice, pears, bananas, spinach & potatoes, and lots and lots of avocado. 

This weekend, Hubby and I are going to make some sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and squash for baby A! I'll keep you updated on how the Baby Bullet works out.  Still kind of wishing we had the Baby Beaba for its all in one steaming to pureeing features, but we got the bullet as a gift (and I've heard great things about it!) Also, we plan on steaming our veggies and just using a small portion of those as AJ's dinner. That way we are all eating generally the same thing.

Has anyone tried the Baby Led Weaning approach to solid foods?  We are super interested in trying that out as well.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

From this day forward,
M

Peas and brown rice.

Yay for peas! 

I see green stuff on a spoon

in coming...

nom nom

you are too slow, gimme that!

yummy

more please

From this day forward,
M.

p.s. solid food poo STINKS!

Letters to Aiden John

Dear Baby A,

Today you are 6 months old. 

You are grabbing at my face and glasses as we speak (You just stuck your finger in my nose), but you are awesome.  You have grown into such a little stud.  On the day you were born, you stayed awake for a couple of hours to meet your family.  You had the look of concentration going on-scrunched forehead & a stare that was mesmerizing to all of us 'grown ups'.  I catch you making this same face now, but when you are discovering the world through play.

I love watching you feel your toys or the cat's tail or your daddy's scruff.  You've been smiling for a few months now, but every time you flash that BIG, gummy grin, I can't help but smile right back at you! I think I'm in love with every face you make. The scrunch-y forehead is a favorite amongst your family and friends.  The contemplative "turtle" face.  The pooping face (with accompanying grunts). 

You've started doing this high pitched, short burst of a scream when you are upset, but not really upset.  We will get it on film soon so we can share it and have it to show to your wife one day!  I don't even want to think about you having a wife...SLOW DOWN. Be a baby for a LONG LONG time.

I love you so much my heart can barely stand it!

Happy half birthday Boobie!

Shopping day with Nana

This woman knows how to shop (even if it's just window shopping. I have so many memories of south coast plaza days with Nana- I think all of the Bowman grandkids do. I love that I can bring along Baby A on long days spent hanging out Nana. Having a kid is pretty cool. Days like today make me remember why. Family.

*please excuse the crazy effects, my phone was set to "random."

"make sure you get the scenary." -Nana

Disney has taken over South Coast Plaza too?

$1 Carousel Ride...We didn't have enough cash. LOL!

Papa & Little Mister

I breastfeed in public!

pure exhaustion after today.

Shnazzin' up the work clothes.

I'm not gonna lie, I was scared they were both going to fall into the fountain...but they didn't!

From this day forward,

M.

Aiden:26 weeks

In 2 days my baby will be 6 months old! I can't believe how fast time has gone by. I will write a longer and more detailed post in a few days about Baby A's updates and accomplishments, but for now, enjoy some recent pics.