Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Relaxation in the ATX
We've been pretty busy for the past month and felt like a mini get-a-way was in order. We met my parents in Austin and stayed with some family there. We love going to Austin, and we always come home feeling relaxed and refreshed. This trip was no different. We went wine tasting Saturday morning and Grayson got more time to hang out with one of his birthday buddies!
Grayson was so interested in having another kid around and just kept staring at him, it was super cute. The wine here was not great, but we like to go there anyways because it is so pretty. It provided a good photo op for the whole crew.
We went to another winery and had a picnic lunch that my mom's cousin provided for us with cheese, crackers, and sausage. After that, we drove over to the town of Wimberly and walked around the cute little shops for a bit. When we were tired of the heat, we headed back to the house for some pool time.
Grayson's first pool experience went really well. I was afraid that since the water was a little cold for me, that he would be pretty fussy. This was not the case at all! He seemed to have a good time, and started splashing by the end.
That night, we had a fantastic dinner where we got to sit out on the porch over looking a little stream. The weather was perfect and my fancy mac and cheese was delish. We took it easy for the rest of the night. On Sunday, we went to the Oasis on Lake Travis and ate at the bar-b-que place out there. We sat on the patio here, too. We could not have asked for better weather this weekend!
Grayson's first pool experience went really well. I was afraid that since the water was a little cold for me, that he would be pretty fussy. This was not the case at all! He seemed to have a good time, and started splashing by the end.
Lots of baby food
I've been making more baby food for Gray and have meant to document it on here. I bought a second freezing tray that I can use to make more baby food. It is an OXO tray that makes .75 oz serving sizes. I feed Grayson 2 of them at a time, which means I get 7 servings of 1.5 oz sizes with the tray. I believe the Baby Bullet servings are 2 oz each, so it is a little smaller, but since he isn't eating the food for much nutritional value, I don't worry about it too much.
Plums
Cut the plums around the large pit and leave the peel on. Put the fruit peel-side-up on a cookie sheet with water about an inch high. Cook for 15 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees. Once a fork can go through them easily, take them out and remove peel. This was quite a long process, and I would love to figure out a way to make this easier next time. I just used my hand to get rid of as much peel as possible. If parts of it were extra difficult, i just tried cutting it of.
I added the plums and 1/4 cup water to the food processor (I was at my mom's house without the baby bullet) and it made a great puree of 3 1/2 servings, at $.45/serving. Grayson really seemed to like plums.
Carrots
I buy organic carrots for G. Peel and cut carrots into smaller pieces. Boil for 11 minutes or the second time I made them, I placed them in a steamer for about 15 minutes. I added about 1/4 cup water - not the water it boils in - to the cooked carrots and purred them. Apparently the water that carrots are cooked in can have too many nitrates for a baby, so new water is necessary for this recipe. This made two servings, which was not cheaper than buying them on the baby food isle because it was about $.75/serving. The second time that I made carrots, there were more in the bunch and I ended up with 6-7 servings. I don't have the receipt for those, but it probably was more cost effective to make them the second time.
Mango
This was really easy to make. Just peel and cut around the pit and add all of the pieces to the baby bullet. Add just a dash of water and you're done! No cooking necessary.
This made three servings at $.33 each. Not bad! Although Gray's Daddy does not like mango, we didn't get any complaints from him.
Banana
This is another super simple one. It is easier than the mango even, since you don't have to cut around pit or cut off a peel. Just peel the banana, put it in the bullet, and then add a little water until you get the consistency that you are looking for. One banana made 2 1/2 servings. I don't have the cost comparison for this one, but it seems like it was a good deal.
Butternut Squash
Peel the butternut squash, remove any seeds from the larger part of the squash, and cut into chunks. I boiled them in hot water until tender, but I've seen that it might be better to bake it next time. This was a great one to make because Grayson really seems to like squash, and it makes a lot. I added about 1/4 of cup of water to the cooked squash and once pureed, it made 6 servings.
This works out to $.25/serving. I like making food that will make a large quantity since I don't always have time to make food every week.
Peaches and Pears
Cut both fruits, coring the pears and cutting around the peach pit and
put on a cookie sheet with an inch of water in it. Cook for 20-30
minutes in the oven at 400 degrees.
I think that I will peel the pears before hand next time, and might just boil them or find a different way to cook them. Peel the fruit once it comes out of the oven, then puree with a little water.
This made about 5 1/2 servings of pears and 6 servings of peaches. I don't have the cost information for the pears, but the peaches cost about $.45/serving. Grayson seems to like both the pears and peaches quite a lot.
Plums
Cut the plums around the large pit and leave the peel on. Put the fruit peel-side-up on a cookie sheet with water about an inch high. Cook for 15 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees. Once a fork can go through them easily, take them out and remove peel. This was quite a long process, and I would love to figure out a way to make this easier next time. I just used my hand to get rid of as much peel as possible. If parts of it were extra difficult, i just tried cutting it of.
I added the plums and 1/4 cup water to the food processor (I was at my mom's house without the baby bullet) and it made a great puree of 3 1/2 servings, at $.45/serving. Grayson really seemed to like plums.
Carrots
I buy organic carrots for G. Peel and cut carrots into smaller pieces. Boil for 11 minutes or the second time I made them, I placed them in a steamer for about 15 minutes. I added about 1/4 cup water - not the water it boils in - to the cooked carrots and purred them. Apparently the water that carrots are cooked in can have too many nitrates for a baby, so new water is necessary for this recipe. This made two servings, which was not cheaper than buying them on the baby food isle because it was about $.75/serving. The second time that I made carrots, there were more in the bunch and I ended up with 6-7 servings. I don't have the receipt for those, but it probably was more cost effective to make them the second time.
Mango
This was really easy to make. Just peel and cut around the pit and add all of the pieces to the baby bullet. Add just a dash of water and you're done! No cooking necessary.
Banana
This is another super simple one. It is easier than the mango even, since you don't have to cut around pit or cut off a peel. Just peel the banana, put it in the bullet, and then add a little water until you get the consistency that you are looking for. One banana made 2 1/2 servings. I don't have the cost comparison for this one, but it seems like it was a good deal.
Butternut Squash
Peel the butternut squash, remove any seeds from the larger part of the squash, and cut into chunks. I boiled them in hot water until tender, but I've seen that it might be better to bake it next time. This was a great one to make because Grayson really seems to like squash, and it makes a lot. I added about 1/4 of cup of water to the cooked squash and once pureed, it made 6 servings.
Peaches and Pears
I think that I will peel the pears before hand next time, and might just boil them or find a different way to cook them. Peel the fruit once it comes out of the oven, then puree with a little water.
This made about 5 1/2 servings of pears and 6 servings of peaches. I don't have the cost information for the pears, but the peaches cost about $.45/serving. Grayson seems to like both the pears and peaches quite a lot.
Adjustments
It looks like we're going to have to lower the mattress on Gray's bed sooner rather than later. This was decided after we caught him doing THIS last week:
Grayson has made us laugh so many times lately when we've gone to his crib once we hear him wake up, and he's been sitting up in bed. It is still shocking to see every time!
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| 7 months 22 days old |
Mother's Day
Wow, I'm so behind on posts! But, here is how lovely my mother's day was!
The Hubs woke up early and left Grayson and I in bed (sleeping) while he made our dining room table into a display of mother's day items. 2 cards, one from him, one from G, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, all of G's artwork from the week that were mother's day themed (including plaster mold of his hand), and a box with my lovely new Coach purse!
After Grayson and I woke up, we went to a restaurant near our old neighborhood and had a lovely brunch on the patio.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Good News!
Grayson had some fun in physical therapy yesterday. His therapist was trying to get him to crawl for her, so she came up with an elevated floor for him to try.
We got some great news yesterday! His therapist said that if Grayson is crawling next week and looks good, then it will be our last appointment! I would love for this to be the case! She said that most torticollis patients successfully stretch out the muscles and do not have problems later in life, but that Grayson has had quicker success than most. The other great news that we got yesterday was that Grayson's hip x-ray came back normal. His pediatrician ordered a hip x-ray at his 6 month appointment because his rolls on his legs were asymmetrical. With the move and trips out of town, I wasn't able to get him there until Friday. If I had known it was such an easy process though, I would have tried to squeeze it in earlier. Oh well! The good news is that he does not have hip dysplasia (which is sometimes common in babies with torticollis).
I am also excited that his therapist thinks he will be crawling next week! I tend to agree with her though. He sure is a busy boy. If he wants something within 3-4 feet of him, he goes for it these days!
The voices you hear in this video are other therapist's. Volume is not necessary.
We got some great news yesterday! His therapist said that if Grayson is crawling next week and looks good, then it will be our last appointment! I would love for this to be the case! She said that most torticollis patients successfully stretch out the muscles and do not have problems later in life, but that Grayson has had quicker success than most. The other great news that we got yesterday was that Grayson's hip x-ray came back normal. His pediatrician ordered a hip x-ray at his 6 month appointment because his rolls on his legs were asymmetrical. With the move and trips out of town, I wasn't able to get him there until Friday. If I had known it was such an easy process though, I would have tried to squeeze it in earlier. Oh well! The good news is that he does not have hip dysplasia (which is sometimes common in babies with torticollis).
I am also excited that his therapist thinks he will be crawling next week! I tend to agree with her though. He sure is a busy boy. If he wants something within 3-4 feet of him, he goes for it these days!
 |
| Baby G workin' it! |
Monday, May 14, 2012
Crab Buddies
Grayson and a schoolmate showed up in the same outfit last week. His teachers were nice enough to send us a few pictures of the two cuties :)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
7 Months
Once again this post is quite late, but I did manage to take the pictures on time! On April 20, Grayson turned 7 months old. He continues to surprise us with new things.
G's Schedule
I now take Grayson to school every day, so that means that we wake him up around 6-6:15 to feed him, change his diaper, and get him dressed. He usually cuddles with Daddy if there is any extra time (if I'm not ready) before we hit the road. We try to get out of the house by 6:30 (more like 6:40) so that I can get him to daycare and be at work by 7. He really likes daycare and still hasn't given us any resistance at drop-off. We try to get Grayson in bed around 8-8:30, but this was a spotty month for sleep. We had a two-three week window where he woke up every night. I think we had teething to thank for that one. Physical therapy was still every Monday, and his therapist continues to say that he is responding well to the therapy. She stretches his neck muscles still when we go, but she also works on strengthening his arms some.
At 7 months old, Grayson is:
-wearing 6 month onesies or 6-9 month onesies
-wearing 6 month pants
-in size 3 diapers
-just a happy baby! Loves to laugh and smile, flirts with anyone who will smile at him.
-making more consonant sounds...we heard him say 'mama', but he doesn't associate that with me yet.
-making his presence known when we are out and about - he likes to practice his voice ;) This has started to make going out to dinner a little more difficult.
-sitting on his own very well and lunging toward objects that he wants.
-moving forward if he can push off of someone's hands with his feet, otherwise, he moves backwards when he is on all fours.
-rolling around like crazy.
-eating formula and having solids at dinner in his highchair. He has had sweet potatoes, apples, squash, pears, carrots, and bananas.
-teething - his two front teeth were poking through about 1 1/2 weeks before he turned 7 months old.
-still putting everything in his mouth. If he gets his hands on it...its goin' in!
-having a rough go at sleeping. We think it was due to teething, but we had a long stretch where he would wake up at least once a night and end up in our bed. We had never done that before, so I am glad to report it has not become a habit in the 8th month!
-still sleeping in our room. When we moved, we put his crib in our new bedroom because we weren't sure if we were going to paint his bedroom. We have decided that we will not paint, so now we are just waiting to feel comfortable with him in his own room. (we also need to find the time to disassemble the crib, move it to his room, and put it back together).
-napping like a champ at home (2-3 hour nap in the morning, with a possible shorter nap in the afternoon)
-taking good naps at school.
-putting on the weight - just look at those magnificent arm rolls!
G's Schedule
I now take Grayson to school every day, so that means that we wake him up around 6-6:15 to feed him, change his diaper, and get him dressed. He usually cuddles with Daddy if there is any extra time (if I'm not ready) before we hit the road. We try to get out of the house by 6:30 (more like 6:40) so that I can get him to daycare and be at work by 7. He really likes daycare and still hasn't given us any resistance at drop-off. We try to get Grayson in bed around 8-8:30, but this was a spotty month for sleep. We had a two-three week window where he woke up every night. I think we had teething to thank for that one. Physical therapy was still every Monday, and his therapist continues to say that he is responding well to the therapy. She stretches his neck muscles still when we go, but she also works on strengthening his arms some.
-wearing 6 month onesies or 6-9 month onesies
-wearing 6 month pants
-in size 3 diapers
-just a happy baby! Loves to laugh and smile, flirts with anyone who will smile at him.
-making more consonant sounds...we heard him say 'mama', but he doesn't associate that with me yet.
-making his presence known when we are out and about - he likes to practice his voice ;) This has started to make going out to dinner a little more difficult.
-sitting on his own very well and lunging toward objects that he wants.
-moving forward if he can push off of someone's hands with his feet, otherwise, he moves backwards when he is on all fours.
-rolling around like crazy.
-eating formula and having solids at dinner in his highchair. He has had sweet potatoes, apples, squash, pears, carrots, and bananas.
-teething - his two front teeth were poking through about 1 1/2 weeks before he turned 7 months old.
-still putting everything in his mouth. If he gets his hands on it...its goin' in!
-having a rough go at sleeping. We think it was due to teething, but we had a long stretch where he would wake up at least once a night and end up in our bed. We had never done that before, so I am glad to report it has not become a habit in the 8th month!
-still sleeping in our room. When we moved, we put his crib in our new bedroom because we weren't sure if we were going to paint his bedroom. We have decided that we will not paint, so now we are just waiting to feel comfortable with him in his own room. (we also need to find the time to disassemble the crib, move it to his room, and put it back together).
-napping like a champ at home (2-3 hour nap in the morning, with a possible shorter nap in the afternoon)
-taking good naps at school.
-putting on the weight - just look at those magnificent arm rolls!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
He must have had art today...
When I picked Grayson up yesterday, he was not in the same clothes that I had taken him in. This is a pretty frequent occurrence, so I didn't bother asking why he had needed to be changed. When I got around to unpacking his diaper bag last night, this is what I found:
I love that Grayson gets to have art class at 7 months old. I haven't tried washing the onesie yet to see if the paint will wash out, but if it doesn't, he now has a permanent art shirt for school!
He must have had art class today!
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