Making My Own Baby Food

Well, I promised I would come back with what I have learned.  Though I intended to do it sooner, better late than never right? :)  I would say it is going really well.  I love it and most importantly AJ loves it!  He literally grabs the spoon to shove it in!  I am amazed how 2 oz of food can cover us both and the high chair, but I am learning smaller bites and wait for him to open his mouth intentionally.  Hands in the way usually mean he is done.  Also, the faster you can recycle the food on his face for another bite, the better! :)  It's amazing how quickly you forget what you did with the first baby!  And, this might shock you all, but I have only made baby food one week. That's it!  It really is simple and I didn't want to make more than I could use.  I was still feeling it out.  During that week I made carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, and then later I froze some canned pumpkin.

First I thought about what I wanted to introduce and what order.  It may have evolved a bit, but here is what we ended up doing so far-rice cereal, avocado, peas, green beans, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, yogurt, banana, applesauce. I buy the rice cereal.  Then, I started with avocado before my "supplies" arrived via Amaz.on because I just needed the food mill I purchased from Tar.get. Then I went with frozen organic peas and green beans from my local Hy.Vee (though they do have frozen organic green beans at Cos.tco, along with broccoli) and organic fresh carrots (which are super cheap at Sa.m's club).  The pumpkin is organic and canned and easy to find at Tar.get (they also have sweet potato and squash).  I used real sweet potatoes from Sa.m's but they were not organic.  The yogurt is yo b.aby (Hy.Vee or Targe.t) and I bought m.otts indiv sugar free applesauc.e.  I mushed up a ripe banana with my food mill.  These last three came into play earlier than expected due to a nasty brush of diarrhea that lasted way too long (4-5 days) and I was trying to get a handle on it.  Check ingredients on any canned or packaged products to make sure there is only one ingredient.  My next items will be organic squash (canned from Tar.get), and egg yolk, maybe organic broccoli (cost.co), spinach (Sa.m's club sells a huge thing of organic for cheap), organic asparagus, and Eart.h's best whole grain oatmeal.  I have to do some more research though on if these are appropriate.  AJ is 7 1/2 months and has been eating foods since 6 months with no problems.  Thankfully, he loves everything but avacado, and I have been meaning to introduce that again now that he is a little older and his tastes have developed more.  This site talks a lot about what is healthy when.  I really need to get on the meats, but they "scare" me :)  Here is another site on what order to introduce foods, which is always something that I overthink...

Basically, I just steamed the veggies and then added a little of their own water (except for carrots so far-see this link regarding nitrates) before pureeing in my kitche.n aid blender.  I didn't know how much water to add and this was a source of concern (can you tell I never deviate from recipes, lol!), but since it was his first foods, but it worked out fine.  You can always add more water to thin after you defrost the cubes, but I wanted to at least add some prior to put some of the vitamins back in.  I also read yogurt or rice cereal or bananas to thicken, so you can play with the texture as your baby gets older, but keep in mind their little digestive system is young so read up on what is appropriate when.  For example, I wanted to start whole grains when I read rice cereal is compared to won.der white bread (see this link), lol, but it was recommended to wait until 7 months as they are harder on the gut.

I use the silicone trays to freeze the baby food.  I bought 6 with the 1 oz size cubes so I could cook in bulk.  It seems more than the average person would need.  Its amazing how few cubes from a few sweet potatoes.  I believe three doesn't fill one tray.  When I use the canned pumpkin, etc, I freeze the rest of the can so it doesn't go to waste and that works well.  I like 1 oz portions because they are the most flexible.  My baby only ate 1 oz in the beginning.  Now we do 2 oz, but 2 different foods.  For more on portions, check out this link.  I love styleberry's blog, but I don't agree that baby's need any fruit juice!

First I put it in the trays and then I put it in the fridge for a few hours.  I put in the freezer only after it gets cold.  I don't cover the trays, but I worry about that because I have seen ice crystals form.  From the trays it goes into ziploc bags and into my garage freezer.  I am getting some freezer burn and I wonder if it was user error on the ziploc bags.  I am curious if folks cover their ice trays or if they have trouble with freezer burn.  It started fairly early in the process. It is very easy to remove the 1 oz cube trays, but I must say that I don't think they are necessary. 

Also, with my "first foods" there really is no need for any cookbooks and there are plenty of websites with recipes, so this really doesn't have to be something you invest a lot of money into.  Here are a few how to sites to get you started:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-make-your-own-baby-food_1401482.bc?page=2
http://www.feedinglittlefoodies.com/search/label/starting%20solids.
http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/FreezePage.htm
http://styleberryblog.com/creating-a-new-normal-efficient-homemade-baby-food

And a few recipe sites:
http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyfirstfoods.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/100_baby-food-recipes-by-annabel-karmel_10316719.bc
http://www.babycenter.com/100_baby-food-recipes-by-bridget-swinney_10326156.bc

Eating on the go hasn't been an issue for us.  A banana or avacado (or mango I am told) and the food mill are all you need-instant to go foods.  I do have some plum organics baby food and the spoon that screws on.  And because I have an unhealthy addiction to gadgets, I did purchase these two items-the boon spoon and the zoli on the go.  I haven't used the spoon yet, but Am.azon goofed and sent me six!!!  Email me if you want one and/or the plum organics spoons-I bought too many of those not realizing.  I love the zoli on the go and use it for rice cereal or formula and baby food.  I am thinking it will come in handy more with things like meat sticks, crackers, and finger foods as baby gets bigger.  Also, my best purchase since my baby goes to childcare two days a week are these on the go cups-freezer and microwave safe, I just make put some pureed food in there and freeze it and then it goes to daycare in the container.  Here is a good link on gear-I personnally have always loved the bibs she mentions.  Basically I would buy a food mill, any trays to freeze if you don't have them, something to puree and steam the food if you don't already have it, baby food spoons (i read your finger should be the first spoon and that makes sense but I wouldn't do that for long), bibs like JJ Cole or Bumbkin, and freezer bags to store.  If you want, you can add some cookbooks or other feeding on the go gadgets (boon spoon, one step ahead cups, zoli on the go), but they aren't necessary.  It really is cheap, easy, and fun!!!!

I hope this post is helpful and makes it less overwhelming, not more, for those just starting out.  And I am curious about your experiences and how to eliminate the freezer burn.  I have read cover the ice trays, and also don't cover them. ????  Does anyone have better luck with the freezer bags?  Its probably just user error in my case, lol!

Standing still

I don't even know where to start.  The longer it is between posts the more my posts become just brief updates.  The last post was accurate.  These days I am literally just being.  It sounds bad.  It isn't.  But I am not moving foward, just standing still.  Projects aren't done.  Heck the house doesn't get beyond straightened, if that.  I haven't got a handle on why things are so nuts.  I haven't even read blogs in a month, which makes me sad.  And it isn't that I am spending more time with dh as I vowed to do.  I am not even having to do school stuff anymore.  Things are just busy with the day to day.  I mean, there are reasons.  But there is always something, so that isn't really that different. AJ is teething.  Big time. And his cold turned in major congestion.  And now diarrhea four days straight, even diapers through the night and lots of extra wakings and changing him and airing his poor red bum out and applying lots of anti fungal and cream....And Charlie is teething.  And starting yesterday he became a crazy hot mess. So the end is near.  I think.  I hope.  He is a crazy slow teether and the top two incisors are at their thickest part coming through.

Things are busy and a little mundane but they aren't bad (I am not complaining about having children, I would just love to spend more time one on one with them instead of talking to them from the kitchen doing dishes, etc)  AJ actually has slept through the night 2 or 3 times in the last month.  I gave dh the go ahead to plan a vacation for our 5 year anniversary since the pumping won't be so bad.  It won't be a long trip, but a much needed few days of sleep and togetherness (and no dishes or laundry).  And dh is doing better with the boys alone, allowing me a feeling of freedom to take friends up on their invitations for a dinner out for a few hours on a weeknight etc, something its been longer than I care to recall since I've done last.  I came home floating realizing a weight had been lifted.  My dh can now do everything well with both boys at the same time, feed, play, sleep, diapers, baths, and so I don't feel like it is all on me all the time.

But a new thing just occurred that really rocked the boat for me.  Besides my title having to wait to change (based on my graduation), my funding has been slowly decreasing as the grants we work on end and the new ones don't get funded or we are still waiting to hear from them.  It is frustrating, and a little scary, to be on such unsettling ground, but we knew it was coming.  And then yesterday, my boss invites me in and drops the bomb that the funding is going away faster than we thought.  A whole lot faster.  Read between the lines-someone got separated from her spouse and they are removing my funding more to keep her afloat.  Its odd, I know, but it is the good and bad thing about my work group, they take care of each other.  I have a dh that makes good money.  Hers left her and she is the only income right now.  And they are trying to keep her just part time.  But I am going to no time.  Almost for sure.  But not totally for sure-crazy ambiguity.  Instead of freaking out, I just waited for more information.  I found out from my supervisor we will know more next week.  So I am waiting.  unusually calm and seriously knowing that God will put me where he wants me.  And that change is uncomfortable, but may be it is time to move on and grow as a result. 

I could tell God's hand was in it due to the peace I had.  This peace came from a God-incidence. It just so happens that I had to move offices yesterday and going through my stuff.  I found inspirational cards that spoke right to my heart.  I moved my coursework files, which reminded me how much I had learned in my time in the program, even if it was buried far in the depths of my head at the moment.  I found fliers and papers that reminded me of groups in the state I am qualified to work for.  I found my meyers-briggs results telling me my strengths.  I found a document I typed up for myself about why I pursued my program and why I left the fields I previously studied and didn't work in them.  It made me more confident.  I have options.  I am qualified.  It may be time to move on if that is the way it goes.  I know God is totally in that. 

At the recent Christ Renews His Spirit retreat, I had an overwhelming experience that I had left the Holy Spirit, gotten away from doing God's will and saying my prayer and putting my trust in Him.  I tried to share my favorite prayer and stumbled on the words.  I had forgotten some-it had been too long!  I rediscovered the Holy Spirit that weekend, who had never left me and was just waiting for me to recognize it was there all along.  A letter from someone praying for me that weekend actually included the prayer card with the prayer on it.  It was as if the Holy Spirit found its way back to me!  I literally bawled!  God is so amazing.  As you can imagine, Pentecost Sunday left me in tears as well.  God's love for us just overwhelmed me.  I know that having the Holy Spirit back in my life is really what is making the difference with how I feel this peace amongst change.  It reminds me of a beautiful book "Choosing to SEE" written by Steven Curtis Chapman's wife.  She really likes to plan things out like I do, but God has a different plan, and slowly she is learning to trust and be guided. I highly recommend you attend this retreat in your parish's-they are national and spreading.  There is a website if you google the name.

However, for my husband dealing with the uncertainty will be extremely difficult.  He is all about the bottom line.  His job is stressful right now and he is looking elsewhere (if you know me IRL please keep that private).  He is already feeling the responsibility of supporting all of us, even though I bring in a tiny bit.  I don't want this news to send him over the edge.  Please say a prayer for me and my work situation (that I am where God wants me, where I can grow, make a difference, contribute to my family's finances) and that dh will be okay through what may be a rough transition and learn to trust.  I appreciate your prayers so much!  Though I have not been able to read your updates, friends, you are still never far from my heart and mind and always always in my prayers.