Making your baby's food with the Beaba, Baby Cook

Sophia is 9 months this Saturday. Her appetite has expanded and Mommy is now ready to expand her menu for little Sophia. Lately she has been snacking on Ritz crackers and Cheerios, but her meals are still fruit and or vegetables mixed with cereal.
According to the cookbook that I bought at William Sonoma when I purchased the Beaba, Baby Cook, now would be a good time to add new textures like rice cakes, new fruits like grapes, dairy in the form of yogurt, and meat. At 8 months I started her on the Stony Field O'Soy yogurt. She loved it and there were no signs of allergies. I did cut back on it recently due to her first serious cold. Right now the book says it's OK to introduce beef, chicken, egg yolks, pork, veal.

Product Review: Amazing Animals™ Spinnin’ Around Musical Zoo

This toy was given to Sophia by Santa Clause for Christmas when she was 7 months old. The music is great and very clear. There are many different songs, and you can adjust the volume. There are two ways for your baby to activate the music. They can bang on the large red button or roll an animal down the ramp. If they don't want music, they can press on another large button to hear all the different sounds the animals make. Three of the animals are on wheels, so they can roll around the zoo and down the ramp easily. They also make great high chair toys. The penguin is not on wheels, Sophia does love watching him spin on the ice.
I would definitely recommend this toy for any baby from the ages of 6-18 months. Sophia loves to place them on the track, take them off and listen to the music. An older child would probably enjoy "playing zoo" with the animals while singing along with some of the songs. It is well built and durable. None of the toys pose a choking hazard, and the whole item is easily transportable. Thumbs up from this mom.

Fisher-Price Little Superstar: Sing-Along Stage: Product Review

Sophia's aunt bought the Fisher-Price Little Superstar: Sing-Along Stage for her for Christmas. She loves it. When I found out how expensive it was, I was surprised. $49! Besides the price, I would reccommend this toy for a child 6-12 months old. There are two settings. One setting plays fun and popular children's sing-along songs. The other setting has a nifty jazz setting. You can adjust the volume and it goes to "sleep" when it's not engaged. Sophia loves the music, the flashing lights and the buttons. She bangs away at it and loves to watch the little pictures pop up in front of the mirror. This product is a great bet for the special peanut in your life.

More ideas for homemade baby food

For a 6 -9 month old, making food becomes a little more exciting. Almost any fruit can be cooked with the Beaba, Baby Cook or the equipment of your choice. Some fruits that are extremely tasty and sweet and safe for baby are:
apricots
blueberries (strain these after pureeing)
mangoes
apples
pears
bananas
strawberries
guava
Vegetables aren't as sweet, so they may be a harder sell on their own, but they do mix very well with cereals. Squash, carrots and sweet potatoes are usually an all time favorite. Just remember to wash and rinse EVERYTHING. People think a quick rinse is OK if they are peeling the food. If pesticide is one the skin, it can then be spread to the food with you knife or peeler. Take extra precaution. And of course, if possible, use organic fruits and vegetables.

Lastly, don't be afraid to mix and match. Here are some good combos that even I like to taste. They are MUCH better than jarred fruit:
Any berry combo
Berries and bananas
Apricots, squash and cereal
Pears and apples (with or without cereal)
Strawberry and Apple

Be creative. Your child deserves the best and the tastiest!

Traveling with an Infant

If you plan on traveling with a 4-24 month old read on...

This past Thanksgiving my husband and I traveled to Puerto Rico with our 6 month old daughter. I planned and packed very carefully, and my preparation really helped the trip to run smoothly. Below is a list of steps and items that helped our first trip to go successfully.

One month before leaving:
1. I went shopping for all the essentials. Diapers, powder travel packets of formula, wipes, baby food, disposable bibs, sunscreen, Tylenol, bottle sponge.
2. I ordered "island" essentials such as a pool floatie, sun glasses, sun hat, bathing suits, umbrella stroller, high chair cover, and a pack n' play.
3. I found the ideal portable "bed" for her to sleep in while in the hotel crib. I didn't want her in that crib without protection. I am not found of hotel sheets as it is.

10 days before leaving:
1. I shipped the pack n' play to the hotel. I had the USPS charge me for return shipping and pre-print a return label.
2. I also packed the basics in 2 boxes and shipped those to the hotel also. It is important to call the hotel and prepare them for the boxes' arrivals, so they will sign and hold the items. In those boxes I included all the formula, wipes, diapers, bibs, high chair cover, floatie, sponge, Tylenol, and food.

The morning of:
I packed in my carry on: diapers, cloth bibs, bottle warmer, sleep positioner, all the bottles I needed, liquid formula for the car ride to the airport, the plane ride and taxi to hotel. It is OK to have liquid formula. I didn't use powder because it is to be mixed with bottled water and you can't get it through, so I would have trouble timing, buying and mixing the water to get through the checkpoint.

With all of this in place, I was able to make Sophia to feel "at home" on the island.

Let's Get Caught Up!

In the next few posts, we will be discussing how our first trip to Puerto Rico went, new foods on Sophia's menu, and our first Christmas. Following those posts, I will have very helpful and informative posts about products for 6-12 month old children. Lastly, I'll start discussing adoption abroad. Stay tuned and enjoy!

Thanksgiving in the Islands...
Let me tell you....my daughter is an angel. We went to the Ritz-Carlton for 5 nights and that is a long time for a 6 month old. Sophia acted as if she wasn't in a new and strange atmosphere. She slept perfectly, loved the music, pool, ocean, and fancy restaurants. But I must say, I worked hard before departure to be sure things could go smoothly. In the next post, I will list the items and plans that I used to get ready for a long trip with an infant. If you are traveling soon, the next post will be very helpful.

Product Review: Beaba, Baby Cook

Beaba, Baby Cook. This is how I make all of Sophia's food. I love it! First of all, I have peace of mind that it prepares properly because it was created for this one specific reason. Secondly, it is light and compact. I keep it in the box and pull it out once or twice a week. I make the food in bulk, so I don't need to use it every day. Also, it cooks, purees, defrosts and reheats. Most people recommend a food processor or the magic bullet, but those products only puree. Who has time for the extra steps. It is available at William-Sonoma with a beautiful cook book for $149. I highly recommend buying this product. The holidays are coming. You may want to purchase it for someone special who has a little angel of their own.

Making Homemade Baby food

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am making all of Spphia's baby food. It is so enjoyable and satisfying to know I can be at home making pure, organic food from scratch for my little peanut. What I have come to discover is that at five months, the menu is quite boring. I have made her fresh apple sauce with a splash of cinnamon, fresh sweet potato, fresh bananas, and fresh butternut squash with a hint of cinnamon as well. Sophia is eating like a champ, and she really enjoys meal time. For breakfast she has mashed bananas with her rice or oatmeal cereal. Lunch is usually one or two selections of the fruits and vegetables mentioned above. Dinner is commonly one vegetable or warm applesauce. I will be sure to post recipes when the menus get more exciting (probably in a month or two). Just some tips for those of you who are interested:

Wash everything, even if it will be peeled.
Buy organic when possible.
Cook vegetables with steam.
Puree very fine.

Product Review: Graco Bumper Jumper - Little Jungle

Wow! I have been waiting to use this with Sophia since we registered for it when I was pregnant. You see my niece and nephew loved this toy when they were babies. We used to laugh so hard watching them bounce and spin. Now we are enjoying Sophia's dance moves in this wonderful Graco toy. It hangs in any doorway that has molding or trim work. While baby bounces, the device stays still so no paint is rubbed off on the doorway of choice. It took Sophia one day to figure out the cause and effect motion that when she pushes down on the floor with her feet, she goes bouncing up into the air. It has vinyl straps that won't irritate their hands or face. It comes with two attachment toys in some models and a padded seat. The only thing I recommend is placing a support blanket around baby if they are younger than 6 months. They may tend to wobble back and forth in the seat while on the wild bounce chase. I have noticed Sophia's sleep improving since we introduced this toy. It is a great way to get their legs strong and burn some calories. It is easily moved from one doorway to the next, so a busy mom or dad can bring baby around the house as they tend to their important chores. This is one of those age old toys all house holds with babies must have.

Great Night's Sleep

Yesterday Sophia took three amazing naps and two of them were in the crib. Ahh:)
Last night she hit the hay at 7 pm and slept until 2 am. She woke shortly for a diaper change and feeding and off she went to dreamland again until 5:30 am. GREAT NIGHT!

Anybody who thinks less day sleep equals more night sleep is not correct. Dr. Weissbluth says in his book, "Sleep begets sleep."
All that means is the more regularly a baby sleeps, the better they will sleep, as seen in Sophia's example above.

Product Review: Graco Baby Einstein Discover & Play Activity Center

I was very excited when Sophia turned 4 months. Her head and neck control was awesome, and she was getting quite tired on lying on her back. I knew it was time for the exersaucer. I must admit that it took Jeff no time to set up, and it is constructed very well. But I am a little disappointed in the toys available for Sophia's entertainment. My niece calls this her "Rap Station". Sophia will have one hand on the spinning wheels while her other hand is on the buttons that light up and play music. Honestly, other than that, the remainder of the accessories are boring. The dragon puppet annoys her. She eats the felt tower of shapes and completely ignores the seventies, psychedelic sun. Other exersaucers have accessories that detach and can be replaced so babies attention is always enticed. With this Graco exersaucer, it's what you see is what you get.

After seeing her torso control improve and her enjoyment with the few select toys, I am convinced that an excersaucer is a must have for all babies. I am not convinced that this is the one to buy. Careful shopping friends.

Daylight Savings Time: How to Get Baby to Adjust?

So we all had perfectly sleeping babies and toddlers, then we realized... "What time is it, really?"

Last night we actually were able to get to bed early when all of a sudden I said to Jeff, "It's not 10 pm, it's 9 pm." We realized that this could effect Sophia's sleep, but this morning I realized it would only effect my sleep for one day. Sophia woke up this morning at her normal time exactly. 5:30 am. Normally I breast feed until 6 and then go downstairs to start the day. But it was really 4:30. Oh no. Too early. I knew I had this one chance to train her. I took her out of her crib as if it was a normal morning and I breast fed her for about 30 minutes. Once finished, her body language was saying, 'I'm up, Mom.' So I kissed her on the cheek and placed her in the crib until the clock said 6:30 which meant it was really 5:30. Ahh, I did it. No I didn't let her cry. I put the night light on and she played and talked and ate her toes while I rested my eyes. I took her out of her crib this time at her new normal time. I quietly left our room with Sophia in one arm and Dr. Weissbluth's sleep book in the other hand. In the book, there is one paragraph on daylight savings time. The only instructions he gives is to continue putting your little one to bed the same time every night. If last night she went down at 6:30, tonight she does the same. Don't worry that it's really 5:30. When the clock says 6:30 that's her bedtime yesterday, today and tomorrow. Your cues and actions will tell her it's quiet, sleep time.
Now we are sitting downstairs watching Dragon Tails. Good morning all:)

Product review: Fisher Price Jungle Gym

This soft activity gym is Sophia's favorite toy so far. We have had her playing on the mat since she was about three weeks old. It is ideal for everyday use, but it is easy to pack up and take with us on day trips. We are bringing it to our niece's house today. It plays fun music, captures any baby's attention, and stimulates baby's senses. Sophia loves that she can now reach up and play with the dangling toys. We are amazed at her great coordination skills. It includes plush jungle characters, but what I love is that you can change any character out with a new character or toy from anywhere. The new dangling toys that I can add or change keep Sophia interested every day. Since Sophia's drool is constant, I love the machine washable mat.The manufacturer's recommended ages: Newborn and Up. I received this at my shower from my registry, and I must say...I highly recommend every newborn + should have one. This is where Sophia learned to eat her toes, roll over and grab moving objects.
3 C Batteries (Sold Separately)
Dimensions: 32.5" x 32.5" x 20.0" "

Happy Halloween

Yesterday was Sophia's first Halloween. I must say I don't think I could be any prouder. My mom (Mommom) bought her first costume. She was a mama Kangaroo with the baby kangaroo in her pouch. Really she was absolutely precious. We went with my sister, her daughter, her friends, an old student of mine and many parents. After about two hours of trick or treating, we were off to Sophia's first Halloween party where she stole the hearts of all. But this is the informational part of the post. Even though it was nice to be out and about, and even though Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, we still stuck to her schedule. One thing that all children need, school age or babies, is consistency. It's no fun to through them off. Everyone suffers. So Sophia was bathed and fed and in bed by 7:30. We went a half hour past the "schedule". Because of our careful timing, we even had a good night of sleeping after her very over stimulating day. Thank goodness. Pictures to come.

Happy Progress

I write this post while Sophia naps in her crib. Yes, you heard or read correctly. She is now napping quite nicely in her crib.

We are officially living at my parents' house and things are going well. Sophia really likes her crib here and it is making nap time go very well. So I call that progress. One month ago she was being held by me hours at a time for naps to occur. Now our nights are going just as well. We put her down at 6:30 and she awakes at 12:30 for a diaper change and feeding. Then it's good morning sometime between 5 and 6. We just have to work on getting her to sleep a little. She is really doing quite well. Even though her wake time is early, we do make the best of it. We bundle her up and head off to the beach in the jog stroller. We walk along the beach looking at the beautiful ocean waiting for sunrise. We do make a quick stop on a bench to watch all of God's beauty. Sophia does love watching that ball of fire rise above the sea. then it's home for breakfast. I am now making homemade baby food. I'll be posting some favorite recipes soon.

Also to come...reviews on baby products.

Moving...up? Also, Bassinet recall

Ok, I know I haven't written for a while, but I promise things will be more frequent now that we are officially moved out of our house and living with my parents. We are still actively looking, but we are definitely holding out for the right thing. Living in Sea Girt in such a beautiful house is quite nice. I really loved the house we were in, but I can't say this stinks. I love living 2 blocks from the beach! Not a bad temporary pad! Plus it's really nice watching the whole family enjoy Sophia!

I will be writing about Sophia's milestone's changes, and adorable moments. But as promised in one of my first posts, I will be reviewing baby products so we can all make smart consumer decisions as parents. Stay tuned. I should be able to post and review an item almost every day.

A Great Day!

Today Sophia went for a check up and she grew a whole inch in 3 weeks. This child is 26 inches. Those genes...

We are doing well. i hope you read my post yesterday. After my breakthrough decision, i have a new view on life. Sophia is helping. She took 4 awesome naps today, no crib, but that's ok. She also slept in the car and sat quietly in the car...two firsts.

It's amazing with all my college degrees, and I am following the lead of a three and a half month old and it works.

I explained to the doctor about her green, pasty poop, constant drool and being warm to the touch. She explained to me to get prepared for the wild ride of teething. Yikes. That made me even happier with my decision to continue with attachment parenting. When a child is in pain, love can only soothe.

A Mom's Moment of Enlightenment

Just enjoy her. That's what I heard myself saying today as I struggled with getting Sophia to take a nap in the crib instead of on me.

The first three months of having an infant can be very difficult. In my eagerness to do everything correct, I started to miss the big picture.

Today I realized that I have been so obsessed about over stimulation, exposure, feeding times and sleep schedules that I forgot one thing. I finally have the little angel I had been praying for for 3 years. Today I realized, I just can't be the tough parent everyone is telling me to be. Sophia needs love not hard lines drawn in the sand.

It became so apparent to me how easily we can get caught up in the basics of mothering. I finally took a step back and realized that she will never be 3 months again. I took a deep breath and sighed. Then we went into the nursery, sat in the rocker and we both enjoyed a hard earned nap. I love holding her in my arms.

PS Our nights have been perfect. That's probably what lead me to this clear thinking.

What Day is is?

Well, sleep has escaped us these past few nights. Sophia went to the beach on Saturday and she was an angel. Sleep was good not great that night. It was definite improvement. It must have been the fresh sea air.

We have thought about letting her cry. We even made a plan, but it was too difficult. I waited way too long to have this little peanut. I don't want to let her cry. I am trying to watch her tired signs to see when she's tired so we can avoid protest cries. She's just too precious.

Yesterday I found out that next week was September. SEPTEMBER! WHAT! I feel like I just got out of the hospital. The time goes so quickly. Maybe when the sandman comes back to live at our house I will have a better hold on reality and the date.

Sleeping Like A Baby

Who ever came up with that phrase? Well, if you are wondering why I haven't posted it's because I am reading this book and trying to implement healthy sleep habits. Sophia really got off track of her night time routine last week for about 6 nights. Since Sunday night, we seem to be doing much better. Wake up time is too early, but I'm willing to work with that. Most sleep specialists say wake up should be 7 am, so you can implement the 9 am nap without protest due to baby being over tired. We have established nap times. I must say those were established by me very early on. My problem is she doesn't like to sleep in the crib for naps. She doesn't like to sleep anywhere but with Mommy for naps. As a result, Mommy doesn't get her chores completed. My goal this month is to stretch our am wake up time and to get her napping in the crib.
A routine is established but it must exist in the crib in order to give her the deepest sleep.

We just received the birth announcements. They look great if I may say so myself. I ordered them through Sweet Baby Designs on the internet. One thing I would recommend to new or expecting moms; get these out early. I wish I would have addressed the envelopes in the hospital. It's hard to attend to this task when you are so sleep deprived.

If you are pregnant, please read the book mentioned in the previous post and plan out your birth announcements. Those are my two regrets.