Thursday, June 30, 2011

Making baby food?

We are contemplating making our own baby food. I know that several of you in the blogosphere have done this. We have...very little idea where to start. We have a kickass blender that has a few recipes in the cookbook that came with it, but that's all.

How long does it keep?
Do we refrigerate or freeze it ahead of time?
How big of a batch do we make?
Are there certain foods that just don't make well?
What kind of foods should we make?
Is it really cheaper than buying baby food in the end? Because that's why we want to do this. Well, that and we know what goes into his food.

Help please!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Two months?

I can't believe it's been two months since I wrote a post. I apologize for the absence. It seems like I have a lot to say and yet nothing to say at the same time. Let me see what I can formulate that makes any semblance of sense:

* Baby is sleeping through the night, for certain definitions of "through". He goes to bed between 10:30 and midnight - whenever he starts getting cranky in that time frame. We have a routine for it, so that helps. When he gets cranky, he gets taken into the nursery and gets a diaper change, and then put in a Woombie, given a final bottle, and put in the bassinet. He generally sleeps about 5-6 hours, wakes for a feed, goes back to sleep for another 3-4 hours.

* Monday is my 34th birthday. Three days after that marks the beginning of the cycle that I got pregnant with Colson. A whole year has passed already! I still remember the day they called me to tell me that I was pregnant. I remember getting a concussion about a week before I found out. I remember a lot of things, and I can't believe it's been a year.

* My brother is going to get himself arrested. How do I know this? Because he's made a few posts on FB that lead me to believe he is heading to MO, which is where his ex-wife lives with their daughter. The last time he went there it did not turn out well. He went to her house and she was out on a date - yes, they were already divorced. He HID in the freaking BUSHES until she got home...and then he proceeded to bang on every door and window, begging her to let him in and talk. She eventually called the cops and he ran. IIRC, she had a restraining order on him. I am uncertain what he hopes to accomplish, other than seeing his daughter. He...behaves as if he thinks his daughter will welcome him with open arms and be all "oh daddy I missed you" or something. Not going to happen. He's been out of their life for a rather long time - I think she's 11 now, and she was just a toddler (if that) when they got divorced. I won't be surprised in the least if his ex has him arrested on sight. I would, in her place.

*Back to baby stuff. He is making noises that actually sound like words from time to time - like "uh-oh" and "woo hoo". I know it's a coincidental stringing together of noises, but it's still cool. He's learning to mimic us, bat at his toys to make them move intentionally, kick the ball that hangs from his play mat to make it swing. He giggles a lot, blows spit bubbles, and is generally a happy baby. This is not to say that he is not occasionally also a demon spawn, especially if we're slow to understand what is causing his malfunction, but generally happy. We've gotten several compliments from waitstaff at places we go about how well-behaved he is. No screaming in public for us, no way. He gets a pacifier as soon as he starts with the noises while we figure out if it's going to be food or a diaper change. Never leave home without a couple bottles of formula and a couple of water, just in case!

*My oldest cat gives me the dirtiest looks when the babe starts wailing, like "woman, would you please placate and take care of your human kitten? It's making NOISE." If that fails, she'll start meowing along with his cries...only she doesn't meow very well, so they almost make the same noise. Should THAT for some reason not get my attention, she and my other cat will begin an out-and-out cat fight, complete with caterwauls. Because, you know, I have time to deal with them while I'm trying to placate the screaming meme that my child has become and I OBVIOUSLY can't hear him because I haven't solved it in a timely manner according to the cats. And the dog...she starts running from baby to me to baby to me, like "mom! mom! It's making sounds! Make it stop! It's in HERE! MOM! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" So glad I have helpers to notify me that I've apparently lost my hearing....


*This weekend will mark my husbands first Father's Day. Since it's right before my birthday, we're making a weekend of it. My MIL is going to come and watch baby for a few hours on Saturday while we go get massages. After that is a BBQ that's being held by a friend of ours, so we'll take Cole over there. On Sunday we are going to go out to a movie and dinner. Our friend Cassie messaged Aaron and said "hey, if you guys want to do something this weekend, I'm free to watch Cole" so we took her up on that. :) She loves this baby dearly, and she knows how to feed him, so I'm going to be brave and let her watch him for about 6 hours. I will try not to panic and call her to see how he's doing, and I will try not to wonder out loud about him while I'm out. I did say TRY. Monday marks my actual birthday, but I don't think anything is planned. I'm ok with that. I don't really "enjoy" birthdays anymore, I don't think. I want people to remember, and I think I might like a surprise party maybe, but...I always end up planning my own party and I hate that.

I think that's all. I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've just been...learning how to be a mom and do anything else at the same time. I am going to be doing a giveaway next week, if I can remember for more than 5 minutes.