Organic Baby Food-- Homemade is Cheaper!

I'm going to preface this post by saying that my sister-in-law Jillian has turned me on to so many things in life that I enjoy, and making homemade baby food is one of them. I do this in an effort to a) be stingy, b) provide organic baby food to my son. Unfortunately, I would say that a definitely comes before b in this case (I mean, how bad can baby food from the jars really be?)

But I have decided that if it is easier and cheaper then I will do it myself. For example, mashing a banana (or ten for the freezer) and mixing it with formula is not only an excellent source of nutrition for little Rylan, but it is also a tasty treat that can last three or four meals that only cost me $.20. That will be forever the cheapest that I ever feed him! And super easy :)

Look at that mischevious little face! I cannot resist it, even with avocados all over it!

Jillian and I got together a few weeks back and made baby food out of the following produce:

Bananas: Mush then puree. Easy as 1-2-3. Actually there are only two steps there so it would be easy as 1-2. just proving to you all that I can count. And I do it well. All the way to three. Anyways, Rylan loves them-- he sucks bananas RIGHT off the spoon. Hilarious!
Squash: Some of babies' first foods can be squash. It must be cooked first (in the microwave is fine), and it can then be put in the food processor, sans the seeds and skins. Squash doesn't go very far though, and it will be one of the more expensive ones you may try.
Sweet Potatoes: Bake. Deskin. Puree. Freeze. Vwala!
Avocado: Scoop out the insides and mash well.

All of these foods can be frozen except the avocados. Apparently you need to freeze avocado WITH other things in it to prevent it from going bad, like lemon juice, which I'm pretty sure the little ones should not have yet. But you can just scoop and mash the day of and keep the remainder in an airtight jar-- the top may go brown, but you can remove it with a spoon and still serve what's underneath.
*Never freeze formula. If you need to thin out your baby food, you can freeze it thick and ass formula later.

Then in Colorado about two weeks ago, my aunt had peaches FALLING off her trees-- and we all know how delectable Colorado peaches are! So I pitted and deskinned about ten of those and made at least 15 meals out of the pureed form, depending on how well the little man likes them, but they are in the freezer for now.

To thaw: Use the refrigerator or micowave, not the countertop. For some reason that's bad. I find that 2 oz of bananas defrosts in the microwave in less than ten seconds, but you are going to want to make sure your container is microwave safe (I bought some the other day that I discovered are not).

A source that we used was: Wholesome Baby
They provide awesome recipes, nutritional facts, scientific research, and even menus for your baby's age! This was perfect for me since I'm an amatuer mom!

Thanks for reading!

Disappointment Prevails

This will be a short post, a redaction if you will. I want to shout it from the rooftops, to tell everyone what a corrupt system we are caught in the middle of.

Our house deal has fallen through. The listing agent countered, we accepted and followed their strict stipulations. A week later, the seller's agent representing the bank wrote our buyer's agent an email that said, in exact words, "I am sorry that we were under the impression that your offer was accepted. We have an all-cash offer that we intend to close this month. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Inconvenience?
INCONVENIENCE?

Does he know that there is a family desperately searching for a home to raise their kids in, a family who would make their payments, who doesn't treat a hosue as an investment but as a space for creativity and life?

My furstration is at its peak. If God is trying to break us, then he is succeeding.

But you know what happens when God breaks you. A rainbow.

Good things always come from the Lord. He is watching us and working very hard to prevent us from living in so many of these homes.

Where is our home? We don't have the slightest clue.

Where are our hearts?  That answer will always remain the same.

The Colorado Trip

It had been too long, I tell you, way too long.
Rylan was only two months old when we last saw my parents and they were DYING to see their only grandson, who my mother frequently calls "an angel." For now, yes. We will see in the future-- I was a naughty child and my husband is a pretty sneaky guy!
Anyways, we had postponed taking a Colorado trip to visit them until we had found a house and were stuck in the limbo time between offering and closing, but alas, we have seen over 90 houses and made 5 offers that have all been rejected (and we have even offered OVER asking price on a few!), so as summer drew to a close we new we just had to take a break from house searching and just make the trip.

We are glad we did! My poor family just needed a Rylan fix, and Nick and I appreciated a nice refreshing break from house searching and the sweltering 100+ degree weather typical of Kansas summers.

My sister bought a professional camera to keep up with her photo-a-day blog, which you can visit using this link:

A Pic A Day

Enjoy the great family photos from the trip!

Family Photos, Courtesy of my Sister, the Budding Photgrapher

Born Sunny Side Up!

Well, here is my son, the most pleasant baby I have ever met. Born sunny side up.

SOME CRAWL OTHERS FLY. His motto should be "I can't do either!"

 Now, I know that it's not my parenting that makes him so calm and carefree, because, well, let's face it-- I'm a mess. It must just be his demeanor.


He certainly didn't get it from me.

Photo Courtesy of Danielle Gershon, a budding little photographer!

I just had to brag a little bit, because I am pretty sure I feel entirely TOO blessed. Is that possible?
I think the answer is yes, because none of us deserve the blessings we have, and yet God continues to bestow.

Yes, truly blessed <3

Anniversary Trip

Yes, our anniversary was in June. Yes, that's when we took our vacation.
But did I get around to blogging at that point? Of course not! It's like scrapbooking-- I love to do it, but I just delay it! Rylan's baby book extends only to two months. And I thought I was doing well!

Anyways, we took a trip to Branson, MO. I had heard many things about because my husband has family there so he had plenty of tales to tell along the way, but it was my fisrt time visiting! I was very impressed with the scenery and the attractions. It reminded me of a mini Las Vegas meets Rocky Mountains. Very cute! Nick's Gram and Grandad have a cabin in the mountains near the big lake there so we felt privileged to stay for free!

One Year Later-- we took a picture in a golf cart a year ago when we got married, without the fun little addition :)

We went to the Presley's, Branson's orignial show on the strip, and then we visited the famous Silver Dollar City. Nick's aunt and uncle went with us, so we had someone to hold the little one during rides. Phew!

All in all, it was a fun, fairly cheap vacation that got our summer off to a great start! I have now recapped it for you at the end of the summer. Whoops.

My Life in Boxes...

Moving is so difficult! I feel a new sense of empathy for families constantly on the move, especially those forced to move because of work or finances. It's like what is familiar to you is suddenly gone, what you know is just a memory. Leaving our house, the house that we brought home our baby boy to, the house that we spent countless hours gutting and regutting, revamping, primping, remodeling, beautifying, and all the other words that describe all the blood, sweat, and tears poured into each room, brought me to tears! Nick told me to "turn off my emotional switch" as we slowly emptied our house of our furniture and belongings, and thus our memories. How do you just flip the switch? Ugh, men.

My life in boxes. It's overwhelming the number of boxes coming out of our house and resting dusty and lonely in storage. I know that possessions are far less important than people (obviously), but there is something to be said about being established through having your own style displayed for all to see! Yet my style is in boxes. Dusty and lonely. 

We are waiting for God to show us our home, not just a house. The HOME that we will bring more babies to. The one that we will create new memories in. The one that he has planned as our shelter and tangible refuge. The one that will hold our style, our good times and bad.

Cute Rylan Videos

This little guy is getting to be so much fun :) Had to share!

Just One Year

June 12.
I can't believe it's already been a year, and yet I can't believe it's ONLY been a year. So much has happened, and yet it has gone so quickly! It seems like when you are in a dating relationship making it to a year is such an accomplishment, and yet, making it through a year of marriage is just the beginning. Fine with me!
June 12.
The day I promised to love you, in sickness and health. Those words have never been so valuable to me as they have this year. Being young and generally of good health, I never thought I would experience some of the problems I have this year. And yet, God is faithful, and so is my husband, according to the vows he made a year ago.
I must admit, being married is nothing like what I perceived it to be. I mean, I think being married is so idealized and fantasized, especially at small Christian colleges where there is something really "wrong" with you if you leave college without your perfect match. I love being married, but it is difficult, which is why it is so truly beautiful.
Two people sticking with it through the hard stuff, like having unplanned babies or for that matter not being able to have babies at all or being really sick or really poor.

That is what the vow is all about.

June 12.
My favorite day of the year.

THREE MONTH PICS

Rylan's three month photos are up!

Check them out here:

Life's Little Moments Photography

Inspiring mommy quote:  

"If you have a mom, 

there is nowhere you are likely to go 

 where a prayer has not already been."

Thanks to the mothers who have gone before me, for God knows I can't do this on my own! I know that my mom set this example for me, and that her mother set the example for her, so I can only pray that I will pray everywhere my children go.

A Love of Running

Growing up I was the fastest kid in school, even faster than the boys! Some of my best summer memories include racing my dad through the backyard grass, until the day I beat him and he claimed he pulled his hamstring.... seems fishy to me! I ran track in high school and cross country one year, even though long distance wasn't really my thing.

When I got to college I was sorely disillusioned with what I had expected running college track for a Christian coach to be like. It was a terrible experience, and it left a sour taste in my mouth for organized sports (which I quickly got over, because I love sports!) Since quitting immediately after my sophomore year, running long distance has been a way for me to deal with stress, relieve extra tension, exercise and have fun, all at the same time! I didn't exercise much when I was pregnant on account of how crummy I felt, but since Rylan has been born I have been trying to exercise using the Insanity DVDs and walking.

The other day, Nick's school that he teaches at hosted a Positive Addictions 5k, which I admit, I walked. Rylan was with me, and the streets are so terribly bumpy that I couldn't have run, that's for sure... Oh ya, and I'm miserably out of shape! Here's the link to the news article- Rylan's time was 48 minutes! That's got to be a world record for a three month old :)

Positive Addictions 5K 

Rylan Boy in his track suit and sneakers, ready to race!

Walking this 5k with my husband and son was a great reminder of a lot of things. How much I love to be outside. How much I love my family. How much I love life. How much I love the feeling of exercise well done. How much I love running.


What a great memory :)

Haysville or BUST!

And just as quickly as they came, they were off!

My husband recently accepted a position as a high school math teacher 2 hours south of where we are now, in Haysville, KS. It seems like a great opportunity for all of us and we are very excited!

Our first year of marriage has been exciting to say the least! To start, I had to move from Colorado to Kansas. Immediately we found out we were pregnant just a few weeks after our June wedding! Then, we crunched in order to finish our house, which is, admittedly still not complete. After spending the fall student teaching and working at Riley County High School for the beginning of the spring semester and then BOOM having a baby a month early in mid- February. Now we are moving our little family south and hoping for the best :)

As I sit here typing this, listening to my baby cry, sipping a Vanilla Dr. Pepper, observing unfamiliar cardboard boxes pile up around the home I have tried so hard to keep tidy, I wonder how this move could be the best thing for our family right now. But I know that God wants us in Haysville; we have prayed about it and he has answered very clearly. I just don't know why.

I am afraid of the in-between stage, of not having a place to call home. Sometimes I want to cry with Rylan, I think to myself. The grass truly is always greener. I have wanted to leave Clay Center for quite some time  now because it is so unfamiliar to me, but maybe that was not the answer I should have been seeking. Maybe all along I should have been trying to assimilate into the culture here, adjusting as best as possible in order to feel settled, instead of always wiching I was elsewhere. Well, now I will be elsewhere, and I am actually very excited about it, but I am also sad to be leaving the people and the church I wish I had known better.

But I trust my Lord and Savior- he's always known better than me anyways!

BEST Mommy Blog!

Being a new mom is both nerve-wracking and exciting! I always seem to have questions, and I feel like I'm asking anyone and everyone for advice! We've been conservatively implementing the practices of Gary Ezzo's BabyWise and we have really appreciated the results. But there are times that a book can't answer questions, so I always seem to resort to searching Google.

This blog (link below) has definitely answered a lot of my questions, and she's just a normal mom who sets aside a little extra time to blog, which I appreciate AND admire!

BABY WISE MOM

Happy Two Months, Rylan!

I can't believe it!
My little Rylan-Boy is two months old already! I know it sounds crazy, but this is going by toooooo quickly already! I was looking at pictures I took at his first month and comparing them to his second month, realizing how much he has grown! This is indeed no surprise to us, since it's about two and a half pounds later.... (what happened to my 5.5 pound baby???? That carseat carrier sure is getting HEAVY!) Here are some pictures to compare his size:


March 14, 2012: Rylan's one month old!

Look at those scrawny little legs! How irresistible :)

And those ARMS! SO fragile!

Yes, we bought a Valentine's Day tie to celebrate the day he was born on (since I was in labor that entire day, with the induction starting at 5am- Nick and I did little to no celebrating on our first Valentine's Day as a married couple!)


To contrast sharply, observe Rylan today, April 14, 2012 at two months old:

CHUBBY CHEEKS-so kissable! hahah

pouty face!

What a change a month can make! Someone must be feeding him heartily :)
Expect many many more update and pictures to come.
I love being Rylan's momma!

St. Patrick's Day Fun!

My mom is the best. Every one says that, but mine really is. Not only is she an excellent mother and wife (as if being those two are any small task...), she is also a great interior decorator, scrapbooker, and COOK! Oh my word. Coming home for Spring break was the best decision I have ever made- my Mom's cooking can't be beat!

She is always so creative with holidays, like they are an excuse to treat her family extra special. Growing up she would throw a Valentine's Day celebration, complete with steak and equally delicious side dishes. We loved getting sparkling cider or sparkling jello- so much fun!

Anyways, this year while Nick and I were in town, my Mom did a "Shamrock Shindig," a smorgasbord of delicious corned beef and cabbage (which I love) and other green festive eats!

Left, you'll see corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots, cabbage salad, Lucky Charms salad (I named it that because it's green and has marshmallows in it and is delicious), animal crackers dipped in green almond bark, sparkling apple cider, and even green plates and napkins. My mom is such a trooper!

Needless to say, my dear husband was not thrilled about wearing the hat for this photo, but he did it because he loves me. Also, PS, I woke up that morning NOT EVEN REMEMBERING IT WAS ST. PATTY's and I STILL WORE A BRIGHT GREEN SHIRT! What are the odds? I mean, c'mon. That's amazing!

What a fun way for Nick and I to spend our mini vacation away from Kansas- with my family who is awesome and  absolutely in LOVE with our son (free babysitting!! haha) We don't get to see them very often so that was a real treat!

Another word about Spring break: We have such a flexible baby and I am so thankful! At only a month old, we have not only driven eight hours to Colorado, we have also dragged him shopping (pretty much every day- I love civilization!), to many coffee dates with old friends, and even to the movies! He grunted a little, but never made a fuss. What a sweetie!

BAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh man I couldn't contain myself. Kids are so funny! If you search on youtube.com "Kid History" you'll come up with plenty more episodes of these kids retelling stories their parents have told them... Great idea! Maybe I'll think of a childhood story for Rylan to tell his own version of someday! Maybe you have to watch this to get it...

Kid History, Episode 1

God Protected Us

You know those stories of mothers who gain the strength of a dozen men to pick up a car, rescuing her child underneath it? I wish I could say that I am that mother, but my story is not nearly as dramatic as it is just plain terrifying. But I did get a taste of what it might be like-- my instincts kicked in and I went with it!

Today I got to put out a house fire. Well sort  of. I mean I would have had to if I didn't catch it when I did.

The baby was fed and fast asleep, so I seized this opportunity for a hot shower- I might even get to shave my legs! As I was hopping in, (or stepping, rather-- hopping into a slippery tub can be so dangerous!) I got a faint whiff of something burning. That unmistakable smell. I'd woken up this morning and threw some frozen chicken in the crock pot, so I thought I'd better go check and make sure my food wasn't on fire. I reluctantly threw a towel around myself. Approaching the kitchen, the scent faded. Odd. Was it coming from the other end of the house? The living room? Or worse, Rylan's room? That was not the only issue-- there was a cardboard box of baby's clothes directly underneath it. I reached up to move the box-- as I did so, a smoldering nighttime sleeper fell from the top of the box onto the carpet. Its original white was tainted with the black and brown of a fierce burn, while other parts glowed a blinding orange. Quickly grabbing part of the outfit that was not yet destroyed, I rushed to the sink and sprayed it with water.

What a scare! It would have only taken a few minutes more to fill that room with smoke, and worse, my new son's lungs as well. When he woke up from his nap, he coughed a bit, but I think everything is fine! We left the house to make sure the smoke cleared.

All's well that ends well, but I did get such an adrenaline rush as my instincts kicked in. I felt like I understood why those mothers would do crazy things or gain crazy strength to protect their babies, even though I did neither of those things. It's just that the safety and well-being of my baby instantly became my only priority like a horse with blinders on. God must have really had his hand over our family today!

This is the outfit that got burned!

This is where Rylan was sleeping and that closet two feet to the left is where the chaos took place!

Needless to say we will be rearranging our closet!

Baby Rylan's Newborn Pictures

At just 5 days old, Rylan had his first photoshoot. Unfortunately, he takes after his father and didn't enjoy the experience so much! (It was pretty cold outside!) But, thanks to Life's Little Moment's Photography, we have some adorable captured moments. For anyone who's interested, a link to a slideshow if his newborn pictures is below. We'll take more 3, 6, 9, and 12 months! At least I'm having fun with it, even if Nick and Rylan aren't ;)

Rylan's Slideshow

Thanks for all your love and support during this time, everyone! People don't quite understand how hard having a baby is until they have one (I surely didn't understand it!) so everyone's support through this has been awesome!