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Archive for the ‘Routine and Rituals’ Category

Baby Food: Buy or Make?

Posted in Firsts, Routine and Rituals, Tools of the Trade on December 30, 2011| 5 Comments »

I am NO Martha Stewart. I proved that many years ago when my hand-painted holiday wrapping looked like a 7-year old made it (I was 30 at the time) and when my dried-flower-wreaths were a hot-glue-gun-mess and epic failure! I do have great creative ideas. I love to invent. It’s just the execution of these crafty delights that trips me up. Anyone that knows me, knows that I completely believe in and support outsourcing. If there is someone who is GREAT at what they do, why not let them continue to do it and then I can be the benefactor of their excellent service. I really do NOT need to be good at everything. Specifically not necessary would be things like cleaning our pool, washing my car, painting my nails. So, when I was asked about whether Bella was going to eat store-bought-jar-food or if I was going to make her food, my answer was… to everyone’s surprise.. a resounding “OF COURSE I’M GOING TO MAKE HER BABY FOOD.” I am a huge fan of all things organic and I hate the thought of her ingesting chemicals or preservatives. So, this seems like a natural for me.

We registered for the Beaba baby food steamer/food processor and my mom’s business partner gave it to us. This machine is amazing and so easy. I just wish it was a little larger. I can steam the food and puree it all within the same machine. Then I freeze the puree in ice-cube trays and transfer to Ziploc bags once they are hardened. Our freezer, which once had vodka, lobsters, lemoncello and ice cream has now been taken over by ice-cubelets of sweet potatoes, avocado, banana and pears.

YUM!

I think Keith is skeptical that this new hobby of mine will last. But, I am having fun with it. So much so, that last night I mentioned that I thought I should start my own fresh baby food business. Yeah, yeah, don’t quit your day job rang through my ears.

I guess the proof will be in the pudding. Bella has just started on “solids” from a big girl spoon. We had our first puree of banana two days ago and she had some sweet potatoes today. She seems to like mommy’s cooking so far. Another BIG milestone for our little girl! And I feel good doing my part to make sure she has the freshest, yummiest meals possible. Although I have heard that chicken and beef can get pretty gross when they are pureed. And that diaper time is not going to be so fun with the introduction of these new things. Oh, and that her nose can turn orange if she eats too many sweet potatoes.

I pride myself on trying at least. And I crown myself the Top Chef of Baby Food. I’m thinking it’s a niche that BravoTV has not yet thought of. Watch out Padma and Tom!

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The Holidays.. Our First with the Baby

Posted in Firsts, Juggling it All, Routine and Rituals on December 20, 2011| 1 Comment »

I always look forward to the holidays!  I love this festive time of year!  Everyone seems to be in a happy mood.  Except for the sour-faced bakery lady at Publix who clearly hates me for asking her for the definition of “half and half cake” (but that could be a whole other blog entry).  Christmas on Las Olas and Boat Parade parties bring lots of outdoor fun for everyone, houses are decorated with pretty lights and the frosty adult beverages get more creative, more plentiful and frequent!

Bella and the Guy Whose Beard she Pulled. A Lot.

There are so many facets to the holidays:  a busy time of year at work, schedules to coordinate, grocery shopping/cooking/food to prepare, presents to purchase/wrap, and parties, lots of them.  It’s ALL good stuff, but sometimes hard to juggle such a busy calendar.  Add in a dab of 6-month-old-baby, a year where we will be remembering Bella’s grandmother, Miriam, who left us too soon, and a mixed-religion household… It can definitely get a bit hectic and stressful.  For me, thank goodness I have running as an outlet!

Keith and I decided we were going to expose Bella to both of our holidays and start new holiday traditions at our home for our daughter.  I was brought up in a Jewish family (we lit menorah candles, but also had a Christmas tree) and Keith was raised fairly conservative Catholic.  No reason Bella shouldn’t see it all.  We are treating this year as our practice year.  Our mulligan, in golf terms – a “do-over” if we don’t get it right.  We get to practice the traditions, get our stories straight, purchase our Elf on the Shelf and make sure we know what we are doing for next year when she actually may understand SOME of what is going on.

The day is finally here.  Hanukkah starts tonight at mom’s house and we have a 5-day countdown until Santa arrives.  We are so excited to share this first holiday with our precious little elf.  Can’t wait to see her soaking it all in.  It will be a great, fun-filled 5 days.  There will be tons of yummy food.  There will not be a lot of sleep.  And lots of family time, though there are lots of family members that we miss dearly, who are celebrating around the country.  But, best of all, we will be together with our new addition to the family, at the beginning of some new traditions.  And if there is any drama or stress (or too much food), I’m going running!

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BACK to Sleep

Posted in Firsts, Routine and Rituals, Sleeping on November 18, 2011| 1 Comment »

Sleeping.  Sleeping has always been the time in Bella’s day that scares the crap out of me.  Maybe because it’s the only time that Bella is really on her own and not being watched by anyone.  Maybe it’s because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) that you read about in every baby how-to book.  Maybe it’s because they make SUCH a big deal nowadays about the “BACK to Sleep” campaign, to make sure the babies are put to sleep on their backs.  Whatever it is, I silently say a little prayer every night to keep our little lovey safe as she counts sheep and drifts off to sleep.  I did not carefully carry her around for 9 long months, give birth to her, fall instantly in love with her and vow to protect her forever for something to happen in that friggin crib!

Apparently the sleeping rules have changed since I was a baby.  My mom told me I was a belly sleeper and so was Keith.  Way back then, they thought babies would choke on their vomit if they slept on their backs.  I guess doctors weren’t aware that we DID have the ability to turn our heads if we needed throw up.  Doesn’t take a rocket scientist.  

Back, Schmack!

But, nowadays, we are unanimously coached that children must be placed on their backs when going to sleep.  It seems that they have decided that babies can’t breathe on their stomachs and since they don’t have much head/neck control, they risk suffocating on their sheets.  Again, assuming no ability to turn their heads sideways.  YIKES.  We were also told to put Bella to bed with absolutely NOTHING in the crib, except the fitted sheet.  So it’s a balancing act to find the right pajamas each night.  Wouldn’t want her to be cold – if she’s anything like Mommy, she will be a big comforter snuggler.  And definitely don’t want her getting too warm – another cause of SIDS.  You can’t have bumpers in the crib.  Apparently babies smother in them, too.  Better to bang their face off the crib bars with no padding ?  Guess so.  And God forbid you put a pacifier or toy in the crib to soothe your baby to sleep.  That would probably equal choke AND smother.  Why exactly do they sell baby blankets if you are not allowed to use them??  I have SO MANY cute ones!  The medical community and the retail community really need to get in synch!

Since Bella has been in her big girl crib, she has been a side sleeper.  I put her on her back, I tell her to stay there, but she doesn’t listen.  EVER.  She rolls immediately to her left side, puts her hands together in front of her face and curls up sideways.  If I try to roll her onto her back, it’s like wrestling a snake.  Fruitless.  So, we learned to live with it.  We  watch the video monitor (yes, of course we have the one with night vision) to make sure she is ok.  She actually does donuts throughout the night.  Many times we wake up during the night and find her facing the opposite direction or even sideways.  What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was this week when Keith handed me the monitor and said “LOOK”.  Our little rule breaker was on her BELLY!  I give up.  She sleeps how she is most comfortable.  She is happy and healthy.  We put nothing “smother-y” in the crib.  We put her on her back every night.  I can’t help it if she simply wants to do things her way.  I encourage her creativity!  And she obviously takes after her mommy.  At least there’s SOMETHING she got from ME!

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Old McBelly’s Farm

Posted in Routine and Rituals on October 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

They say babies are creatures of habit (I guess they don’t “come” with lots of pre-programming) and that routines make them feel secure and comfortable. We decided that we would make bathtime FUN, and add a little ritual/routine and a little goofiness and there you have it!

I was completely grossed out when the doctor told me that the baby only needed a bath once a week (see previous post about me being a clean freak). I mean, this is a creature that pees and poops into a diaper and sits in it. She gets formula and drool all over her face, chest and neck. She licks her hands and has about a sockful of lint between her toes. She doesn’t need a bath more than once a week ? I think not.

We bathe daily. In the kitchen sink. In a wonderful little foam tub that forms a cone around Bella. We tried the standalone hard tub on the counter and she hated it. No warm running water for my Princess = squeals of misery, rather than joy. I use organic soaps, without artificial numbing agents (which is how all the OTHER shampoos are no-tears) and I cover her with warm, wet washcloths so she doesn’t get cold. About 50% of the time, she’s sleeping halfway through the bath!

But the real fun starts after we pull her out of the bath. Daddy and mommy dry the wet chicken, like she’s a car coming out of a hand-carwash. Lots of towels! And we make sure to get every Little Piggy, including her special baby toe, which curls under when she scrunches her toes! Then comes daddy’s all over body massage (for Bella, not daddy… He could only wish!). He rubs her, stretches her and she loves every minute of it!! She will clearly be a spa-goer when she’s older. And last, our favorite part, we sing Old McBelly’s Farm (our rendition of Old McDonald). This is the goofy adult part. We do 4 verses, the last one is always a chicken. But the remainder, we get creative and make up all sorts of crazy sounds for animals. In addition to “normal” farm animals, McBelly’s farm has had snakes, llamas, penguins, moose, elephant and even monkeys. Her favorites lately, that get BIG smiles are the snake and the duck. Surefire wide open, toothless grins with those two!

And bathtime is made so much more special when we share it. All of Bella’s grandparents and aunts/uncles have participated. And also a cousin or two. Everyone is encouraged to sing along and act silly, hoping to be rewarded with her sweet smile. We make all guests pick an animal, so if you are coming for bathtime don’t show up without one! And if you participate “virtually”, we do take email requests!

Wash, rinse, dry, massage, sing, smile, REPEAT !!

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