Making baby food

It was definitely not something I thought I would have time to do. But honestly...it is super easy! My friend let me borrow her Baeba and off we went.

We started rice and oatmeal cereal around 5 months and waited for the purees until 6 months.
Here is the order of food Ethan tried: avocado, banana, sweet potato, squash, pears, green beans, carrots, apples, peas, and prunes. I pretty much stopped keeping track after that. The pediatrician said to wait 3-4 days before introducing new foods to see if there were any allergies. Once I knew a food was ok for Ethan, I would mix it with another. Sometimes it was just easier to buy the Gerber purees at the store so we did that too. And sometimes I'd mix the Gerber food with something I made.
The Baeba is great because it steams the food first and then blends it. My work has Fruit My Cube deliver to work so anytime there is leftover fruit, I just throw it in the Baeba. He loves when I mix up fruits like pears, bananas, and apples. And just today, he enjoyed spinach, green beans (Gerber mix), and carrots. He LOVES anything mixed with pumpkin. (I bought a can of pumpkin from Trader Joe's and mixed with some apple and some with banana. What a hit! I went back for more and they said they won't carry it again until next October. Boo!)

Beware of the "dirty dozen" when making baby food. I try to purchase all of these items organic (mostly at Trader Joe's). These are: peaches, apples, red bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes. I have only made a few of these (apples, pears, and spinach).

My bible has been Wholesome Baby Food. I check when foods should be introduced, what they taste good with when mixing, and if I need to purchase organic or not.

Ethan still has his bottles, eats 3 purees a day, and is now eating finger foods too. He gets bits of what we have for dinner and enjoys snacks in his highchair. Watching him eat makes me feel like he is such a big boy. Man, does time fly :)

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Baby Gear (at 8 weeks)

Life has gotten MUCH easier as we get into the swing of life. I did a post on our essential baby items at 3 weeks and it's time to add a few more things to the list.

1. Bibs- We have been blessed with a spitty baby. You know, the word "spitty" makes it sound cute and like it is just a small amount. It is neither. This kid practically pukes up every bottle. (Don't worry...we have talked to the pediatrician about this. Because he is gaining weight and not upset or in pain, they aren't concerned and don't think it is reflux.) Ethan practically lives in bibs and I really like this colorful set. I remember thinking that 10 bibs might be too much, but now I am thinking about getting another set.  (EDITED TO ADD: These bibs were not the best.  The velcro wore out within months and we had to throw them all away.  Get bibs that have the snap closure vs. velcro.  I liked the Carter sets at Target.)

2. Burp Cloths- Unfortunately, the cutesie burp cloths won't do. We need the real deal, Gerber cloth diapers. We fly through these things and always have one or two on hand. I struggled with a way to get them clean and white again but found a hot wash with detergent, Oxiclean, and bleach with an extra rinse does the job.  (EDITED TO ADD: Make sure to buy the PREMIUM diapers.  There are 3 kinds/textures and these are definitely the most quality and worth the more expensive price.  I use the other ones as cleaning cloths now.)

Baby Einstein Activity Mat- Ethan loves this thing. We pulled it our around 6 weeks and it was an immediate hit. We started with the mirror on top and he did a great job punching the animals. Then, I put the sun that lights up and plays music and it was over. Amazing! This kid loves music and is quite the dancer. He kicks his feet like a crazy man and cracks us up along the way. I could watch it all day!

Homemade Moby Wrap- Ethan loves to be worn and I love my homemade Moby wrap. When he is fussy and there is nothing else that can calm him, I'll slip on the wrap and within 2 minutes, he's calm or sleeping. It really is amazing and allows you to get work done around the house (Mike even wears him while working on pictures on the computer). If you want to make a Moby of your own, just go to the fabric store, buy 15 feet of jersey fabric, and cut it in half down the middle (you will have 2 wraps). There are tons on tutorials on how to wrap the fabric on the Moby website and Youtube.

Baby Bjorn- I use the Moby around the house but we feel more comfortable using the Bjorn while out on walks, at the dogpark, or even Target. Again, Ethan really likes being held close and he does well in the Baby Bjorn.  (EDITED TO ADD:  We didn't end up using the Bjorn that much.  We used the Moby inside because it was so hot outside.  He took a few walks with this but we usually just used the stroller outside.  In the stores, we just put the baby carrier into the cart.)

Rock & Play- I know this product was mentioned in my first baby gear post, but I just needed to talk about it again to get you to understand the importance of this item. The Rock & Play plus the Miracle Blanket have been the perfect combo for Ethan. I didn't register for the item (big mistake) but we will buy one for baby #2 (we are borrowing from a friend and will get one of our own when we move and have more room). I get scared thinking about how we will transition the little man out but until then...we are enjoying our sleep. (Did I mention that Ethan slept from 10 pm-5 am the other night?)  (EDITED TO ADD: This was the #1 best baby product and we ended up buying our own.  Best best best best best!)

That is all for now! I'm sure that in another 4-5 weeks, we will have a lot more favorite items, as Ethan is becoming more and more social, responsive, and playful.

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Baby Gear (at 3 weeks)

We are 3 weeks into this whole parenthood thing and we are finally starting to know what works and what doesn't. I really appreciated other mommies blogging about their favorite baby products so I am going to do the same. These items have helped save our sanity through the last few weeks. They are in no particular order.

Graco Swing- It vibrates, it swings, it makes wonderful noises like ocean waves, babbling brooks, and classical music. I love this thing and so does Ethan. Actually he is sleeping in it right now as I type this out.

Sleep Sheep On the Go- This little guy is another sound machine. He is only $2 cheaper than his full-sized friend but I like him because he can strap on to the car seat and stroller. I'm not sure if his white noise is more soothing to us or to Ethan but this guy is always nearby.
Itzbeen Baby Timer- This thing has helped us keep track of Ethan's feedings and diaper changes. It is especially helpful overnight when Mike and I change shifts and try to figure out when it's time for the next bottle. I know there are apps out there that do the same thing, but with 2 of us, it is just easier to keep the timer clipped to the side of the bassinet. Also, I feel like my phone has constantly been needing to be on the charger and I'm sure that using an app would drain my phone even faster.
Miracle Blanket- Oh "baby straight-jacket", I love you so. Mr. Ethan is a big boy and he is VERY strong. He can maneuver his way out of any swaddle. We have tried big muslin blankets, hospital blankets, and other special swaddlers with velcro, and the little man busted right through them all. The Miracle Blanket is our night time swaddler. The regular blankets will do during the day but this is the only thing that will keep him wrapped for hours so we use it at night. It really is a miracle! (I went back to buy another. I might go get a 3rd.)

Happiest Baby on the Block DVD- Oh. My. Goodness. This thing is a must! Watching this video, Mike and I couldn't help but think "yea right" as this man put babies into an almost hypnotic state by shushing and putting them on their sides. But the first time we tried the techniques with Ethan, they instantly put him into zombie-baby mode and it was AMAZING. The glazed and calm look in his eyes is just incredible as he receives ALL FIVE S's. Thank you, Dr. Karp!

Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper- For the first 2 weeks, Ethan did not like to sleep anywhere other than our arms or the swing. I didn't feel comfortable falling asleep with him in the swing, which means that we took turns sleeping on the couch, holding E. He WOULD NOT sleep flat in his bassinet. Thankfully, a wonderful friend let me borrow this product. Hallelujah! Ethan loves it, will nap in it, and has even allowed us to sleep in our bed this past week. YAY!

These are our MUST-HAVES for the first 3 weeks. I'm sure I will have a lot more items in the future but for now, these are what we could not live without!

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