Homemade Organic Baby Food

Breckan has started solids as of his 4 Month birthday. We have introduced Bananas, Oatmeal, Carrots, Squash and Apples. The more research I have done, the more I realize that Organic is the way to go. I cannot believe how many things are sprayed on our stuff, and injected into our meats. I'm a little scared to think of all the hormones I have injested from the milk and meat I have been eating.

In all fairness, I don't plan on going all organic/hormone free. It is not in my budget and it isn't reasonable for me, considering all the food we eat when we go out! However, I am watching more carefully now, and I have decided to purchase as much as I can organically as my budget will allow. Therefore, I am making my own baby food for Breckan, all from organic fruits and veggies. (YUM!) I don't know about you, but there is an "aura" about Whole Foods, or a grocer of the like. I feel so much more "down to my roots" and natural just walking into the place!

We purchased the Beaba BabyCook Steamer and Puree-er from Babies R Us for the quick cook jobs for Breckan's food. My old boss, Teresa, used this for her son and she raved about it. Currently, I am making large amounts of food and freezing it, so the BabyCook is too small for those jobs. However, I have a feeling I will be using this more often when he gets older and I can make him a day to day menu. It is the coolest thing! You can place your fruits or veggies in there, steam them, and once they are done you can puree those same veggies in the same container as you steamed. Pretty nifty if you ask me!

Diapers Diapers Diapers, OH MY!

Breckan in his Sunbaby "Skulls" Diaper

Ladies and Gentlemen....GroVia has new prints. They came out in the beginning of January and I am obsessed. I just purchased the Owl Print and the Planes, snap closure from Kelly's Closet. I got a free one size diaper with my purchase too using code FREENEW! I can't wait to receive them! GroVia is Mark's favorite diaper, because you can use the shells over again, and snap in and out the liners. I like using these for when we go out and about, but I also like my pocket diapers like Happy Heiny's and Sunbaby.

Sunbaby diapers are from China, and they are the most reasonably priced diapers I have come across. At only 6 dollars per diaper (Including one insert), these adorable print diapers are irresistible. Check 'em out! I purchased 4 prints; cars, skulls, grid and techno. They are super trim and super absorbent!

Chinese Almond Pizzelles

From: Momma Finch 
This recipe calls for a Pizzelle press. They are FANTASTIC! If you love almond, you will love these. Ever since I was a child, my mom has made these thin, crunchy cookies that were a hit with everyone in the family! The pizzella is a traditional Italian waffle cookie and flavored with different flavors such as Anise, Vanilla, Orange or Almond. We prefer the Almond!

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1 3/4 C Sugar
3/4 C Melted Butter
1 t Almond Extract
3 C Flour
1/2 t Salt
1/3 C Ground Almonds

Directions:
Beat Eggs. Add sugar, melted butter and almond extract and beat well. Add remaining ingredients and beat. Spray baking grids with cooking spray. Drop dough by small cookie scoop (About 1 T) onto the preheated grid. I like to roll my dough into balls and put them onto the grid that way. Bake for 60 seconds or so, until golden. Note: The griddle will stop steaming when they are close to being ready. Use a thin spatula to remove the pizzelles. Cool on a cooling rack.

Lately.

I haven't posted in a while, and I blame it on Breckan! Hehe. But in all seriousness, my life has become an overwhelming mess. The chaos is worth it, because I have the most beautiful baby boy alive but ever since I started back working, I have struggled to balance my social life, marriage, baby, job and housework. Something gives almost every week, but it seems to be more of the housework that is not getting done. How do Momma's do it?! I guess I am living proof.

Breckan is still waking up during the night, and I am starting to think he is overtired. All the sleep training information I have been reading seems to point to that. He seems to get sleepy at around 7, instead of 8 and I try to push him to 8. My plan is to put him to bed a little earlier for a few days, and see if that will help him sleep through the night. The information I have been reading says that a baby sleeps longer if he is not overtired. Ironic, huh?

Here are a few shots of the little man. He certainly is a thriving baby. I love him to death! He just started laughing and FINALLY hit the rolling over milestone. I couldn't be happier! What a champ.

New years Eve with a baby is definitely different than any New Years we have had in the past. We had Mark's parent's over for dinner and we smoked pork and chicken in Mark's new smoker he got for Christmas. After putting Breckan to bed, we hung out with Mark's parents and Mark fell asleep on the couch at around 11! At that time his parents left and Mark and I were in bed by 11:30. When the fireworks were going off at 12:30, Breckan decided to wake up and have a party in his crib to celebrate! I ended up feeding him and putting him back to bed at around 1.