Squooshi

We've been on a baby food making journey for years! With little Tux things got a whole lot more convenient and even more affordable with the $20 purchase of these Squooshi pouches. The pouches are refill-able and make baby food feeding on-the-go a whole lot less messy.

Squooshi aren't without their flaws though. Don't zip the ziplock all the way and you have what we call a big fat mess. And let's not miss the Made in China printed on the bottom. Wonh-wonh. So, forgive the manufacturer and make sure the top and bottom closures are secure and you are good. to. go.

The picture above is like many I've taken while we enjoy snacks after mommy's workout. This day in particular, Tucker said "nums" for roasted acorn squash, organic peas, wild rice/lentil mix and organic apples. Fruit, fiber, protein and vegetable? And I made it myself? Win-win-win-win-winning.

Hey! Hey! Looky here! $5 off coupon expires March 15. Worth it!

The eagle has landed

The eagle has landed! It's here! It's here! I'm so giddy I can't take it. The kids are thrilled, too. The mattress box has been a useful fort and they've already laid and jumped and crawled all over the new mattress (it's comfortable y'all).

Operation big girl room commences this weekend. Now, seriously, I have some curtains to make (I do have like four more days to procrastinate, let's see how long I last).

Sleep well, little lamb, on your beautiful organic cotton bed. I'll be sleeping better knowing Sophie is having a true, healthy, good night's sleep very soon. Ack! So excited. And proud, and worth every penny and every minute of research.

Mattress rodeo

Sophie is going to have a pretty sweet suite in a few days: mostly hand made, thrifted, low-VOC, and organic. I socked away the bedding a few weeks back, material for the curtains (still to-be-sewn) and just now purchased the long-awaited mattress. We have a really easy homemade headboard waiting to be attached to the wall (courtesy Aunt Nancy), and she'll be getting the thrifted dresser that I purchased and painted for Tucker's nursery. While she doesn't have 100% organic bedding and we won't be springing for the untreated natural wood box spring, we are still making big strides in lowering the chemical load of this house one purchase at a time.

Here is the mattress round up. It's a rodeo out there of information, mis-information, "green-ing" of things are not even close to "green," and extreme over-use of the word "eco." Don't get me wrong, there is a plethora of options - and good ones, too. Simply depends on your budget. Here was the list of budget friendly options that I pulled from.

I turned to the master of all things inexpensive, European and "home," and wound up with my first option, the Ikea Sultan Edsele. The comfort is firm and it's the most natural of the mattress they offer. The inside is composed of seven inches of 85% natural latex and 15% synthetic latex. Just like every other mattress in the US, they must meet flame retardant safety standard, yet there is no information on non-toxic flame retardants... so it is safe to assume they are of the toxic variety. However, a mommy group friend told me that she actually cut open the mattress exposing the inside and was able to simply remove the layer that Ikea inserts for US customers that is treated with the flame retardant chemicals. And she told me that natural latex is so comfortable. So, this one stayed on my list. Ultimately I decided I would rather not spend this amount of money to dismantle a brand new product. I'll wait until I see a how-to on Ikea Hackers. $929

Another mattress I took great interest in for it's cool design and awesome marketing: the Nook Sleep System Full size Pebble. The middle of this mattress is made with a non-toxic foam core (read: certipur, a certified manufactured foam, not a natural product) and then topped with one inch of natural latex foam. What's on the outside of this mattress is what makes it different than the rest. The cover is removable and washable! Pretty cool for potty training and every-day kid accidents. Here is a link to their education section. Nook mattresses are made in North America. The rise is six inches and it's compression rolled to ship, no coils in this bad boy. Alas, it's not organic and for that price, I can still get organic. $995

Last but not least, and the winner of the Mattress rodeo: The Naturepedic No-Compromises Organic 2 in 1 Ultra kids mattress. Packed with 528 coils and 100% organic cotton, the comfort is medium-firm. Three sides are water and dust mite proof (great for potty training/food/spills) and the other is a quilted, more plush side you can flip to later when kids are heavier/bigger. The 100% cotton makes it hypo-allergenic with no wool or latex. It is also naturally dust-mite proof with it's polyethylene barrier (no PVC or vinyl here!). It's non-toxic flame retardant is composed of hydrated silica, baking soda and cellulose. NO phthalates (chemicals that act like hormones/endocrine disruptors). Here is a link to their education section. $999 directly from the manufacturer, but I purchased it from one of their preferred vendors (call to make sure) through Amazon for $899 and free shipping.

While you can easily spend $1300 to well over $2000 for an organic, natural latex full-size mattress for your kiddo, that just wasn't in our budget. There are other really great options if you pocket is a little deeper. If these price points are still out of reach, there is another way, too. My fellow green-mom Meagan told me how to take a conventional mattress and make it better:

Purchase the No-chem mattress wrap made of Polyethylene for $28.00 (non-toxic plastic wrap that doesn't allow off-gasses to escape into breathing space) and wrap those chemicals up tight! Now that you've created a noisy, plastic-y sleeping foundation, purchase an organic cotton or wool mattress topper, wrap it with a protective cover and slap on your fitted sheet. Then pray to God that you don't go flying across the room when all of the elastic gives way and the covers lose their grip :) (Organic cotton or wool mattress toppers go for $200-$400.)

Like I said before, when we considered what was in a conventional mattress, there was no looking back. We had to jump in with both feet and do a lot of reading and asking questions. Hope this was helpful... to at least one of the two people reading it. 

Sleep on it

We've had a successful run at the BGB experiment (Big Girl Bed) with the crib/toddler conversion and Sophie is ready for a real bed. The honest truth is that Tucker is officially ready for Sophie's sturdy crib that won't fall down as he rocks and rolls and bounces off the sides.

First day in big girl bed. I was nervous. She did great, per the usual.

But I had no idea that shopping for a mattress was going to be, um, horrifying. {Shakes fist at Google.} Before I continue, in full disclosure, all of the mattresses that currently reside in our home are of the regular store-bought variety (i.e. the carcinogenic, toxic kind), and it makes me ill.

There are no labeling requirements for mattress manufacturers. So unless you do some due-diligence research, you have no idea what you're spending a third of your life lying on - and breathing in. My kids have spent more than half their lives in bed (hands in the air for good sleepers!) and sleeping on these toxic little packages. Traditional mattresses are made with synthetic materials, Arsenic, Boric Acid, Formaldehyde, PVC, vinyl, Polyurethane, PBDE... known carcinogens that are banned in many parts of the world. These chemicals have been linked to skin irritation, respiratory problems, hormone disruption, fertility problems, learning disabilities, thyroid problems and even cancer. They can be traced in our breastmilk and in cord blood from newborns. Poison!

Mattresses made or sold in the USA are pumped full of poisons in order to meet fire "safety" requirements - they must resist open flames. Why? Because people died from fires that started as a result of smoking in bed.

As a mattress ages, it gets worse. The chemicals and compounds off-gas (that's the "new" smell) and create a cloud of hazardous fog in our breathing space adding to our already full chemical load.

Here is a really good FAQ on why you should buy an organic mattress.

Organic mattresses are made with organic cotton, wool, sustainably sourced natural latex, or a combination of these materials. With springs and untreated wood frame, or not. And the natural flame retardants (again - thanks for the frivolous requirements) are commonly made of natural wool or hydrated silica - or sand - that will melt instead of ignite.

So, to go organic or not? We vote yes. While I'm on the quest to lower the amount of toxic products in our home, we can only afford to do so one thing at a time. Now that it's time for this purchase, we're going organic for Sophie's new bed. Only the best for my best girl. But honestly, it's not even a question when we considered what is in a conventional mattress. 

There has been a significant amount of hand-wringing and hair-twisting when it comes to which mattress we would spring for. Organic mattresses can quickly jump to more than three times to cost of a traditional mattress and there are lots of options. Next up, the final selection!

Been a long time

I've missed you! Yes. I clicked on the "New Post" button. I've been thinking about this moment (and maybe even dreaming about it) for months. I have a lot of catching up to do. Since I am terrible at keeping baby books for my kids, this will have to suffice. And although I may not write often, I'm going to make a point to check in from time to time.

So, this isn't a promise-I'm-going-to-write-more and tell-you-wonderful-organic-products post,  it's more of a warning-I-might-be-writing-and-post-dating-some-things and who-knows-when-I'll-get-around-to-it.

Why today was so notable:

Sophie's use of the word "Scrubbly." I don't know what it means, but when I tried to use it in the context of "get your scrubbly little toes in these here socks," she was really offended.

Had a delicious hot meal for lunch that someone else made for me (hands in the air!). That's right, a delicious pear and goat cheese sandwich and homemade soup with my MIL.

I tried to take a nap today. Sophie dodged a nap today. Hubs worked from home and then wanted to chat/paint the new office. Dogs jumped up in the bed. All of these things equals no nap - a sign of the times to come.

Today I learned that paraffin candles are toxic. And that I can hand-make wool dryer balls with essential oils (coach me, Margaret!) that are safe and effective and they're going to kick the box of dryer sheets straight to the curb!

The last time Tucker was given a bottle was on Sunday. Today (Wednesday - four days later) he chugged his almond and rice milk combo from a sippy cup three times. THREE times in one day. Small victories.

And speaking of victories, dinner was a champion. Sophie was coaxed into eating, and Tucker had two helpings of: organic chicken, organic spinach, organic quinoa, garlic and crushed tomatoes - and each had a giant helping of organic kiwi. Hubby and I had the same, plus sauteed shredded Brussels sprouts (yes, you can buy them shredded, who knew) with balsamic vinegar.

So, in the mean time, between these insightful posts (which, you're on the edge of your seat for the next one, right?) if you don't already, you can keep up to date with me on Instagram: amybb80 Thanks for hanging in, checking in, leaving comments, and drinking wine. Mmm.

Vitamin D drops

Forgive me, as I totally meant to write about this months ago when it was really on my mind! Some pediatricians advocate giving exclusively breastfed babies Vitamin D supplements. There is existing research that Vitamin D is the only thing missing from breastmilk. 

So... if you're sort of crunchy granola, really into breastfeeding, planning on making baby food, using some organic baby toys/clothes/accessories... If you like the idea of keeping chemical and unnecessary additives out of your growing baby... then you are kind of like me and you might care about this:

Also: smells, is brown, and stains.

If the ingredients alone aren't enough to make you skip over Enfamil for Carlson for Kids, then consider the price tag. On drugstore.com 50mL of D-Vi-Sol is $9.99 (that is 50 servings of the recommended daily dose). Carlson for Kids Vitamin D drops are $15.99 for 10mL (which is 365 servings of the recommended daily dose - an entire year's worth - AND the serving size is only one drop which is a LOT easier to get into an infant than an entire 1ml dropper).

Carlson for Kids: Winning.

These are the moments

I'm kind of obsessed with this picture. And I'm kind of obsessed with holding my baby boy whenever he wants me to right now. Because he won't be small forever. And he won't want his mama forever. These sweet, intimate moments are fleeting. And damn am I glad hubby got an iPhone and Instagram.

Traveling with tykes

We try to travel light (yeah, right, Delta stole my wallet and $115 to check my bag), so here are my toiletry essentials from our most recent trip to Florida. Good thing I'm a big fat slacker when it comes to unpacking because I just tossed the whole bag right back in my luggage for our road trip this weekend! (Not pictured is our Purple Prairie sunscreen which was shipped to FL when we got there.)

Orajel Training Toothpaste & toothbrush
Up & Up Saline Spray: I have one labeled with an "S" and one with a "T" to keep their germies separate.
Up & Up Children's Motrin: for Sophie
Children's Tylenol: for Tucker
Exergen Temporal thermometer
Plastic syringe
Hair Bean: what can I say? One of the best stocking stuffers and detanglers.
Beadroux Butt Paste: or "bus pace" as Sophie calls it.
California Baby Deet-Free bug spray: you never know when you'll encounter mosquitos in the South.

I also made a quick trip to the pediatrician a few days before we left town to get the most up-to-date and accurate dosings for the kiddos specific to their weight for the pain relievers. Nothing like having a sick child (or a teething one) and being up at a random hour of the night trying to remember how much Tylenol they're allowed to have.

Interesting toiletry bag, right? I save these zipper pouches that usually come stuffed with pillow cases or sheets and use them for toiletries. Much better than my old method of plastic grocery bags!

Purple prairie sunscreen review

I told you about the scary stuff I read up on sunscreens while preparing for our trip to Florida. When we arrived to my parents house, so did our little box from Good Stuff Green Stuff!

The Purple Prairie sunscreen does not carry much of an odor and goes on pretty smooth. The whiteness goes away within a few minutes after applying. It wasn't runny or greasy or super sticky. I did wind up applying it on Sophie three times at the beach because I thought her arms were looking pink (tough to see in the sun though). We got home and no sun burn! I am happy with our purchase and have some friends who have also tried it.

Fun with sun(block)

I grew up in Florida and have heard all my life that sunscreen is a must unless you want to end up riddled with cancer and looking like Magda.

Things that make you go, "hmmm." I had no idea, however, that the sunscreens we've been sporting for protection from skin cancer are actually filled with carcinogens themselves. What? Yes, for real. Did you know that your standard sunscreens most likely have chemicals that can impact the regulation of the reproductive, nervous, thyroid and immune systems, particularly if exposures occur during pregnancy or childhood?

**Gulp**

I've spent the last day researching and reading all about the options. Aerosol sunscreens, while uber convenient for squirmy little toddlers and mommies at the pool without a partner to lather up their back, are so not good for you. Inhaling the compounds and chemicals that are only intended for external use could have a bevy of yet-unknown side effects. There are lots of healthy and more natural alternatives, but the problem for most people is that they don't appear on the shelves at Target, and they don't come in an aerosol can.

Today I returned my recently purchased $18 tube of California Baby back to the shelves of Target. The company recently changed some of their formula/ingredients in their products, basically lied about it for a few months, and now are trying to make it a non-issue to the consumers. I don't feel comfortable slathering up my babes with this stuff anymore.

Instead I logged onto SafeMama and purchased the Purple Prairie Botanical sunscreen (purchased from Good Things Green Things which was cheaper than Amazon). While it still may not be perfect (the only perfect sunblock is a hat/longsleeves/pants and sunscreen is still unregulated by the FDA), it is a comfortable alternative for our little family.

From the SafeMama website:

The sunscreen ingredient we mainly avoid is the synthetic chemical oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is an endocrine disruptor which can affect the nervous system, has been linked to cancer in some laboratory studies, and creates free-radicals when exposed to the sun which are harmful. There have been some studies done that could classify Titanium Dioxide as carcinogenic to humans.  They are preliminary studies but the evidence so far is showing that rats exposed to an inhalation of the powdered form of Titanium Dioxide developed respiratory tract cancer.

Shop til you drop

I love a good consignment sale. 

Back in Charlotte, I went to all of the consignment sales at the beginning of the season to shop for Sophie. Here in Louisville I'm still learning which ones are worth my time, since my time is a little less these days. Little Treasures is my running favorite. Even though I really prefer girls clothing options to boys, I was still able to find some really cute jumpers for the little dude. I spent a grand total of $72 and walked away with all of this loot! We have anchors, watermelons, giraffe and smocks... all gently used (but already awash in Dreft and hanging to dry in my laundry room!) and all for the price of one brand new smocked dress.

Not only do I revel in the thrill of the hunt and being frugal, I'm also happy to lend a hand to the environment. According to this lady, it takes 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizer to grow enough cotton to make ONE new cotton t-shirt.

Ode to Costco

Boys and girls. As if I needed another reason to love Costco.

The organic products we already buy:

Flax seed

Granola

Chicken

Ground Beef

Frozen broccoli

Canned tomatoes

Apple juice

Milk

Eggs

Rice Milk

Half & half (we like dairy)

And last weekend I just scooped up one for the boy and one for the girl: Hanna Andersson organic cotton pj's. Love love love them. Sophie has practically worn a pair out that I bought her last year. You like the running pose I made with this spaceship boy's pj's, right? I figure by the time he's wearing these, he'll be running circles around me. Just wanted to see what that would look like.

4-1-1 on infant colds

In Tucker's fourth and fifth week of life, he got the worst cold I have ever ever witnessed in an infant (which awesomely coincided with Christmas, parties, late nights - as if the nights weren't late enough with a newborn already). I jokingly said that Tucker's Christmas present was gifted in co-pays to the Pediatrician because if we went once, we went five times for this cold.

We had both him and Sophie tested for RSV. Which, to parents of infants, is a horrifying virus (in severe cases, think potential spinal taps, IV's etc). Thank God both of them came back negative. The nights are long with infants to begin with. Add in a child that coughs so hard he can't catch his breath and then tell me how many times you pack up for the children's ER in the middle of the night. For me, it was three almost trips to the ER, usually around 3am.

The most we could do for the poor fellow was keep him comfortable. For our house, keeping sick babies comfortable means the following:

Saline nose spray

Warm mist humidifier with Vick's vapor

Keep their heads elevated (Tuck's bassinet is already at an angle)

Vick's baby vapor rub on the bottom of the feet

Warm baths

Vitamin D

And... this fantastic contraption called Baby Comfy Nose. I think the product exists under different names, but this is the one I found in a pinch.

Germaphobes, get ready, because you literally suck the mucus out of baby's nose with this. I thought it sounded horrendous, but it works 10x better than the bulb syringe from the hospital and there is no risk of potentially shoving an instrument too far up their itty bitty noses. This one sits right at the opening of the nostril and a tissue in the big bulb catches the boogies when you suck air through the other end of the tube. Unless you have major user error and forget the tissue, there is no way you can get snot in your mouth. Are you still grossed out?! It's amazing. Seriously. You know you want to see this sucker (pun) in action. Go get one. Now. Before baby gets first cold.

Natural: fail

I feel like I just got a big fat "F" for "fail" on my natural living report card.

Every day I feed, clothe, change, teach and expose Sophie to new things in the world. I am constantly thinking about the best and most natural options for her health and well-being.

The decisions involved in buying and decorating our new home in Kentucky has been no exception to my daily plight for natural living. My biggest hangup so far has been the carpet situation.

I'm not a fan of carpet to begin with - much less carpet that someone else has lived in/on for an unknown number of years (did you know that when removed from a home carpet is said to weigh twice as much as it did when installed due to the sheer volume of dead skin cells deposited into it? Sick). Carpet also contains some of the worst and most toxic chemicals found within the four walls of your home. And friends, those toxins aren't gone when the new smell disappears - the offgas is constant. According to the NYT, even the recycled padding still contains very harmful ingredients. Carpeting (and it's toxic adhesives, VOC's, benzene, formaldehyde, etc.) is also one of the thousand things that is being linked to the rise in autism. What's a girl to do?

Sophie plays on the floor with her toys and we have another baby on the way. So, naturally, the old carpet in all four bedrooms will be the first thing to go after we close this week. I have spent countless hours researching, visiting stores, ordering flooring and subsequently canceling it... and wound up with... more carpet.

I finally gave in - partly due to time constraints and partly due to financial reasoning. There is a great store in town that sells environmentally sustainable 100% wool carpet, jute backing, natural padding... all for the low low price that is equivalent to putting hardwoods throughout the entire second floor of our home. There is also a long lead time once the order is placed. Whereas another local store that sells all of the big name brand carpets just had an enormous sale, found my carpet in stock and got a crew to do a tear-out and install on a Saturday. It's more convenient and helluva lot less expensive. And that, my readers, is where I drew the line on natural living last Friday.

Feel free to leave a comment and make me feel better about our choice since I'm clearly still struggling with this decision! Hope y'all had a great weekend.

Favorite things: pregnancy edition

OK, so a few little things I couldn't get through this pregnancy without...

A LOT of sleep

A very endearing, empathetic and patient husband

A good pillow

Good cheese (currently brie, swiss, american, cheddar, white cheddar) and fruit (currently oranges, strawberries, frozen mixed berries, pineapple, cantaloupe) in the house at all times

A monthly pedicure

My Nalgene bottle (number 2 plastic)

I got a good tip from my friend Meagan about finding a prenatal vitamin that is free of dyes, preservatives, dairy, gluten, and soy (HINT: the one that your doctor prescribes most likely has ALL of these things), because if we are being honest, there are already far to many of these unnecessary additives in our diet. I wanted to source one locally so that I didn't have to pay someone to ship it across the country to me. Trader Joe's Daily Prenatal is the only one I found that fit the bill!

TJ's prenatal does not have DHA Omega-3 supplement, so I was off on a hunt for that one, too. I actually found one at Target that is made with Algal Oil - a plant based DHA which is great for vegetarians but also those of us who just want to avoid possible exposure to mercury or other ocean-born contaminants from the traditional DHA that is mined from fish that are farm raised and spend their days swimming in their own poop.

For my own brain (DHA is for the baby), I stick to ONE single book: Your Pregnancy Week by Week. If I come up with any questions that aren't found here, I call my doctor. Too many books have too many conflicting facts/opinions and it is really easy to confuse an already worried expectant mother (maybe just my experience!).

So, that is what I do for my insides. For the outsides, I love love love Body Shop's Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Stick. I know that stretch marks are said to be genetic, but I used this twice a day while pregnant with Sophie and don't have a hint of a stretch mark. Genetics or a great product... I'm using it again!

Flax and babies?

Pictured below is the proud recipient of two big-girl waffles this morning:

Not just any waffles, homemade waffles (well, followed the box) with the addition of fresh yummy blueberries and a Tablespoon of ground Organic Flax seeds. If you're new on the Flax train like I am, it seems a little confusing, right? Couldn't be easier, actually.

I'm always looking at different ways to get the most nutrition into Sophie's foods since I can't just puree and spoon practically anything in her mouth anymore. (Side note: have I mentioned she's started using a spoon on her own with some success? I'm so proud.)

Benefits: Omega 3's, Protein, Lignans and Fiber. And, BONUS! it's a natural laxative . Which is why you should be conscious of how much you give baby (I don't talk about her poop much, but that's because she doesn't make a lot of it. We'll see if that changes with the addition of Flax). If you check this website, it recommends not introducing Flax to babies before 8-10 months.

Hubby and I have been adding it to cereal, yogurt and smoothies so far. It's a little gritty, but we'll be getting used to it because I bought a 3lb bag of it from Costco.

What have you used ground Organic Flax seeds in? It can go in anything, I know, but any specific recipes you've had exceptional luck with? Can't wait to hear from you!

Magic beads

"Cute necklace! What is it?"

Sophie has been sporting her Baltic Amber beaded necklace off an on (more 'on' than 'off' the last few days because I'm convinced that her top teeth are coming in) and people ask about it all the time! I heard about the amber necklace through a local mommy network and wanted to give it a shot. Baltic Amber is said to provide natural pain relief and soothing analgesic support during teething, and some people swear by it.

My most recent experience: Sophie only napped 1.5 out of her usual 4 hours of daily naps the other day and she was really grumpy. I put her necklace on her for bedtime and she slept 14 hours peacefully. (**Wearing at night is not recommended or endorsed by any of us at Sophie en Sophie.)

Baltic Amber contains the highest concentration of succinic acid in nature and has been used around the world for centuries to reduce inflammation. In wearing the amber close to the skin, the wear-er absorbs the acid that is released from the beads. Supposedly the lighter the beads in color, the more succinic acid it contains. With so many recalls of products these days, a lot of parents are in search of a homeopathic remedy for the effects of teething. Baltic amber calms the babes without resorting to drugs!

The string is knotted between each bead - should one come loose, they will not scatter. The proper length for your child is loose, but they should not be able to put the necklace in their mouth. Amber necklaces are for wearing; not for chewing!

Have you tried it?

On feeding baby

All this talk about Thanksgiving and Christmas meals has got not only my stomach rumbling, but has also got me thinking about what my little Sophie will be indulging in on her first holidays. It's only now that I realized I haven't spelled out any of my favorite baby food recipes to share. My blender has never felt so loved (previous life only knew margarita mix and Tequila). I know I don't have to say it again, but all of the food I've ever made for Sophie has been organic. We use Absolute Organics delivery of fruit and vegetables to the house, and I buy organic chicken and ground beef from Costco. I even found organic turkey lunch meat at The Home Economist. I would say that in the past that I made 95% of the food she ate. Lately I'd have to change that to 75% thanks to Cheerios, Gerber puffs, and these yummy things that a friend told me about:

They are uber convenient, organic, and they make some really great flavor combinations. There are other brands that are also organic and come in these little Capri Sun-like pouches - Plum Tots is one of them. But back to cooking. The mere thought of making my own baby food made me nervous. How could I possibly make anything better than money could buy? Now, now, new mommy, what you can make at home is 100x better than store bought. Reasons to make your own baby food include but are not limited to:

• it's more fresh
• it has more nutrients
• it's less expensive
• you are in control!
• make your own combinations
• you ensure the quality of ingredients

If you are on the fence, just try it. If you feel it takes too long or the mess too big, or you just don't find it rewarding at all, then you tried. I happen to love cooking to begin with, so making Sophie's food was just as fulfilling to me as breast feeding her. There is a lot to know as far as what foods are gassy, what foods are constipating, and how to balance them all out in your baby's little belly. Sometimes it comes by trial and error. Or, you could just read a book or two for some hints! It is best to try one food at a time, waiting about three days before introducing another (you want to keep any eye out for reactions and it's easier to pin-point if they've only eaten one thing the last day or so). Once you've introduced foods on their own - get to mixing - the combinations are endless.

Without further ado, here goes some of our tried and true baby meals.

No cook purees:

Mango

Banana

Plums

Avocado

Kiwi

Peaches

All of the above easily peel, mash with a fork, thin with breastmilk, formula or water until the consistency was so that it slid off the back of the spoon. (If using breastmilk or formula, serve immediately, do not store). Sophie hated avocado - still does. I know it's a popular one for most babies though.

Now we get cookin':

Apples
Pears
Green beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Sweet potato
Carrot
Zucchini
Butternut squash
Spinach

All of the above were easily washed/peeled/chopped, then steamed/simmered/boiled until tender, and then pureed in the blender until smooth. Sometimes the consistency was too thick with just the fruit or vegetable which I then used the water from the bottom of the pan to thin (with the exception of carrots - too many nitrates build up in the water when steaming carrots). I would then pour the puree into my baby food cube tray and freeze. Once frozen solid, I would pop out the cubes and store in a labeled gallon Ziploc bag (inside the gallon bag I would use smaller quart bags to keep the flavors separate). Good in the fridge for about 48 hours, good in the freezer for about 6 weeks. I use these KidCo BPA free storage trays:



Chicken with Sweet Potato and Apple

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1/2 apple (any kind), peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup chicken stock

Heath the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook until soft. Add chicken and saute until opaque. Add the sweet potato and apple, and pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Pour into blender and puree until smooth.

Her First Ground Beef

1 red pepper
2 tomatoes, peel and seeded
1/2 zucchini
1/2 lb ground beef

Roast the red pepper (or use jarred pre-roasted) over gas top flame until charred, set in a bowl and cover tightly with saran wrap for 20 minutes. Remove from bowl and peel the skin and de-seed. Steam the 1/2 zucchini and chop. Puree roasted red peppers, peeled tomatoes and steamed zucchini. While browning the ground beef, break into tiny tiny bits. Mix the vegetable puree with the ground beef and serve alone or with tiny whole wheat pasta.


Cheesy Chicken and Carrot Risotto

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, peeled and seeded
1/2 cup brown rice
1 1/2 cup chicken stock
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped

Heat olive oil in pan, add chicken, cooking until opaque. Add carrots and chicken stock then bring to a slow boil. Add rice and simmer until all liquid is absorbed. In a separate pan, warm tomatoes and cheese. Remove chopped chicken from the rice and carrot mixture and puree with the tomato and cheese mixture. Stir puree back into cooked brown rice and carrots.

Save yourselves

I'm on the never-ending quest to frugally becoming more environmental and healthy with our everyday choices and with our food. The following are a few confessions and discoveries made lately that I feel the need to share with you. **Disclaimer: not looking to elevate myself to any sort of higher level by imparting some Earth-friendly wisdom (that you may or may not already know), and your opinion might be different than mine (really?). Simply blogging, people.

Confession: I don't always remember my reusable grocery bags when shopping. BUT I do have two 50-something lb dogs that make a lot of poop in the backyard. SO I repurpose the bags to pick up dog poop. The bags are recyclable if you take them back to most grocery stores, too (not if you have poop in them, mind you).

Discovery: Costco in Charlotte not only sells USDA certified organic chicken breasts and thighs, but also ground beef! Also: quinoa, frozen organic broccoli, frozen mixed veggies, Annie's snacks, flax cereal, ground flax seed... my mental list capacity ran out before your eyes. I'm a big fan of Costco to say the least.

Confession: I throw anything paper or plastic in the recycle bin without really knowing what numbers we in Charlotte are allowed to recycle. At least I'm trying, which is more than some people do.

Discovery: 4, 5, 1, and 2 - all the rest are bad for you. Repeat and remember. This is a good way to make sure you are purchasing plastic products that are free of harmful chemicals. BPA Free is something you should also be looking for. No children's product should ever have a number 7 (polycarbonate) or number 3 (PVC).

Confession: I use Pampers. I have zero desire to cloth diaper my babe and I once used a whole bag of the Seventh Generation diapers... they didn't work for us. My child has never had open sores of any sort from sitting in chlorine or whatever else is in Pampers. I try to offset this horrible, Earth-polluting decision with other, more environmental choices (like supporting local farmers through organic produce, not buying bottled water, repurposing used items like Ziplocs, glass jars, magazines etc.).

Discovery: Seventh Generation cleaning products smell like poo. I'm just not a fan. Environmentally friendly, not tested on animals options that smell delicious: Meyers (love their lavender or the basil dish soap), and Method from Target. Unscented options, too.

What are your discoveries or confessions? Sharing is nice.

Organics on wheels

Really really really really excited about Absolute Organics! Just signed up for our first weekly box of USDA certified organic produce delivered free right to our door. I'm hoping this keeps me from buying the same.thing at the farmers market every.single.weekend. Will help me to try new recipes, too! The only down side is that it isn't all necessarily local produce. But the company that delivers all local produce has (obviously) less of a variety...

Anyhow I'll give it a few weeks and see how we like it! If anyone in Charlotte decides to give it a try, please put my name in the referral and then pay it forward.

Yesterday I made a giant batch of Sophie's favorite chicken dinner from my baby food cook book. The apples and sweet potatoes in it really help with that weird pureed chicken texture. And it's really good - so if I ever need my food pureed for any reason I hope someone makes it for me :)

UPDATED TO ADD::

We DO get local produce with Absolute Organics!! I'm SO excited for our first Tuesday delivery.

LOCAL tomatoes, yellow onions, lettuce, blueberries, red potatoes, white mushrooms and corn, and not local but still usda organic: kiwi, fuji apples and banana!!