Bug Spray II

As I mentioned in my last post, the California Baby bug spray did not work. Since then I have been testing out a few more "natural" bug sprays. In other words, they don't have deet in them.

These are the ones that I (and Lexi) Have tried.


 These Avon product I would say KIND OF worked. You really need to remember to spray often. I'm not sure how long it lasts, but Lexi didn't get any bug bites in the 30 minutes after I sprayed her. But if I didn't spray again, she got bug bites. It was also nice that some of these also had 30spf sunscreen as well.

(Side Note)To avoid spraying her eyes and hands I sprayed into my hands and just rubbed it on her arms and face.

Here is another one we tried:









I would also say that this one KIND OF worked. You do have to keep reapplying with these since the bugs are mostly deterred through the scent. The only thing with this product was that it didn't really spray, it seemed like the sprayer was clogged and it would shoot out in a straight stream. I tried to clean it, but it didn't work. So this product I would first spray on your hands and then apply to you child.


As I mentioned, these products only kind of worked only due to the fact you have to continuously reapply. So I asked my pediatrician about bug spray, and he truthfully told me that the natural sprays didn't really work 100%. He recommended that we use one that has AT LEAST 25% Deet in it. Of course I was very surprised when he said this, but I believe him. Anyway, to say the least, I think I will put natural sprays that go directly on Lexi's skin, and spray her clothes with the 25% Deet bug sprays. Just to be sure.

Okay, so hopefully we have solved the bug bite problem. =o) If anyone has other info about bug spray LET ME KNOW! =o)

Natrual Bug Spray

      Since it is summer, and the sun stays out till forever, we have been playing outside after dinner. I knew that I always get bitten, its annoying but bearable. Not thinking that Lexi is a little ball of sweetness that would get bitten easily. Well, she gets bitten as much as I do. Not only does she get bitten, she has a bad reaction to the bug bites as well. (Lucky us)

     The way that we found out she had bad reactions to bug bites was that we noticed she had a pretty big bump on her leg. I didn't worry too much because I just assumed it was a bug that got a good drink of her =o). But it didn't go away quickly and I started to worry. Of course my husband was thinking it could be a spider bite (to add to the stress!). Thankfully it wasn't spreading, but it didn't look like a normal bug bite. it was kind of bumpy, raised, and reddish in color. And it kept her up at night since it was itchy. So I called the doctor just to inquire about it. He said that as long as it's not getting worse and spreading, she should be fine. ~whew... let me tell you what a relief it was to hear that. So I didn't worry as much, but I kept a close eye on it.

     Over that weekend I learned that my friends' niece also had bad reactions to bug bites. This made me feel a little better that Lexi was not the only child who had bad reactions. And it was also nice to talk to another mom who had the same problem. I learned a lot from her and what to watch out for. (If I have learned anything as a mom, it is a GREAT thing to be able to talk to another mom about your worries and concerns. Not only will they talk some sense into you (we all know we overreact!), but just to compare notes and discuss anything and everything. You just have to be careful not to COMPARE your children. Remember every child is different.)

     So now know I knew that the bugs attack Lexi, I needed to find a good remedy for her when we went outside. There was no option of just keeping her inside, she LOVES playing outdoors. (And I like sitting outside on warm summer nights.)  The solution was to just put her in light long sleeves and pants when we went outside. Now that solved the problem, but only for her arms and legs. The bugs started to attack her face!!!!! She got a few on her face and I felt SO bad. She kept scratching them and again, it was keeping her from sleeping well. I called the doctor again and this time they told me I could put cortisone on her 2-3 times a day and give her Benadryl. So now that I had some preventative strategies and ways to help her sooth the itching, it was time to think about preventing bug bites altogether.
I didn't want to use bug spray with chemicals, since it would be going on her face. So I researched some top bug spray brands a looked for the natural ones. We bought one from Target called California Baby Bug Spray. It has natural citronella and lemongrass oils as the bug repellant. It was worth a try. I tried it on myself first, since I can deal with the bug bites. Let me tell you IT DIDN'T WORK!  I got TONS of bug bites on my legs before, during, and after spraying. I put it on Lexi as well and she got one bite right below her ear. I didn't mention that we also have citronella candles and tiki torches creating a perimeter around our porch.

     So in conclusion, my experience with this spray has not been good. I would recommend not spending the $14 on this item and find another one. (As I will also be searching. There are TONS more natural sprays to find and experiment with.)
If you have had success with a natural bug spray, PLEASE let me know!! =o)

Diaper Cakes!

Hey everyone!

I've been busy making diaper cakes for my friends' baby showers! And they are SO much fun to make. I found a person on youtube that shows you how to make a whole bunch of different kinds! Not just the boring simple cake!
So far I have made:

A bike: (Boy colors)

This is a 4 x 4 Truck: (Boy colors)

And a regular diaper cake (Neutral Gender Colors)

For some reason this picture wouldn't upload in the correct orientation...

Anyway, I LOVE making diaper cakes and I can't WAIT to make some more!!!! =o) Maybe I'll start some "business" making diaper cakes... I need to see how much money it actually took to make the cake (supplies) =o) Who knows... if you need one... I would be happy to make one for you!

=o)

Getting off beach sand (or sandbox sand)

    Yesterday, Lexi and I had the opportunity to go to the beach with my friend and her family at their beach house. I was excited but nervous at the same time. Lexi had only been to the beach last year, at 3 months old, but she just slept in her stroller the whole time. So the excitement was that we were going to the beach, and the nervousness was due to the fact I had no idea how Lexi was going to react to it. The beach has so many different sounds, mostly loud ones =o), and textures that she wasn't used to. But, of course, it wasn't going to stop us from going. =o)
    The day started off a little chilly, but sunny, and a tad windy. So right there I was even more nervous about how Lexi was going to react. My friend, Melissa, and I (and her family) set up our beach spot while Lexi stayed in her stroller. Thankfully she was anxious to get out of her stroller, but she was also very tentative to the new experience and held on tightly to me at first. I put Lexi's feet in the sand at first, and she was not so happy about it. My first thought was "Oh great, I have a child who doesn't like the sand." Then I started thinking why doesn't she like it at the moment. It could be because it's not as stable as the floor and ground (since she just started walking), it's a weird texture, and there is so many other noises and new sensations going on at the same time. So I picked her up and we thought of something else. My friend's mom suggested that we put her on the blanket, and have her slowly start to experience the sand. (Thankfully she had experience with two children.Thanks Ellen!=o)) Melissa and I played with her, with Lexi's sand toys, and Lexi started to really enjoy the sand. Before you knew it she was digging holes with her hands and sitting in it! =o) Overall we had a GREAT beach day and Lexi had so much fun!
   Now, getting to the actual point. (Now that the background info is done.) Since Lexi now was so acquainted with the sand, the problem was "How do I get sand off her without scratching her skin and dunking her in water???" Luckily, when Lexi and I went to the park on Friday (the previous day), a mom told me that the trick was to use BABY POWDER! I thought, "Wow, that's interesting and weird. And hopefully it works." So, packing for the beach day, I remembered to pack some baby powder, just in case.
   With this new knowledge in hand, I tried it. And THANKFULLY, it worked like a CHARM!!! Not only does it get ALL the sand off wherever you put it, Lexi smelled WONDERFUL!!!
    SO to all the MOMS out there, I know some of you already know this trick, if you need to get sand off of your child (or yourself) BABY POWDER IT UP!!!!!! (And just be wary of those pesky harsh chemicals! =o) (Refer back to the list I posted up a few weeks ago)



Enjoy the BEACH!!

Picture of Yummy Soup

For some reason, it wouldn't let me post the picture in the other post.

Sorry it's not a great picture.  I took it with my phone.And it wouldn't let me rotate it, even though the picture file, it is rotated.
Sorry!!!

The Yummiest Soup EVER!

Now that I'm not making baby food specifically, I figured that I would start to post some of my adult recipes on here.  I LOVE cooking, and try and cook at home every night. I won't post all of my recipes, but only the best ones! I do a lot of experimenting and recipe changes, but they are usually based on recipes I've seen or been given. So let's get cooking!

   This recipe was given to me by one of my friends. Her mom created the soup and it was really looked like it was going to be delicious. Of course, because EVERYTHING her mom makes is super yummy. But of course when I went to the store, they were out of leeks, so I had to improvise. 

And that, as it usually does, lead to more improvisations.  Here is the recipe she sent me along with my improvisations. (My improvisations are bolded and in pink.)

Super Yummy Soup.

• One whole celery stalk (cut all the pieces in half vertically and then in slices horizontally)(I also add in the leaves of the celery heart. The light green part. I feel it gives the soup a fresh taste.)
• 3-4 leeks ( cut same as above) wash them, they carry lots of dirt. (I used 2 Sweet Vidalia Onions)
• 6-7 carrots( peel, cut same as above)
• One can of Goya red kidney beans (drain and wash beans)
• One chicken breast ( cut in very small pieces) (I did not put this in.)

• (I made  turkey "dumplings". 
• 1 lbs ground turkey, 
• 1 tbsp of dried parsley. 
• 1.5 tbsp of chopped fresh cilantro. (You can use as much as you like or eliminate it altogether)
• Salt. 
• Pepper.)

• Salt, pepper to taste.
• 2 Goya chicken bouillons
• One can of tomato paste, may add another half if you feel there is too much water.

There is no order of this ingredients, just put them all together (MINUS the beans and the turkey meatballs [if using]) in a pot of water covered and cook for about 1.5 hours on low heat after it boils.

Add the beans (and turkey meatballs) after an hour of cooking time.

I sprinkled a little chopped cilantro when serving. (I LOVE cilantro, so if you don't like it, just don't use it. =o)

Have fun!

Toddler Busy Bags

So my friend just recently introduced me to these things called "Toddler Busy Bags". Of course I had no idea what they were. But they sounded interesting. If you don't know what they are, they are little bags (usually ziploc) that fit in a diaper bag or purse that contain easy to use hands-on activities. They are designed to keep little hands busy when you need them to be still. (Haha... of course they only work for a little while, but that's better than nothing!)
 Now that Lexi is completely mobile and is interested in the whole world (and getting into trouble), I looked into them. I haven't made any yet, but they look awesome! I love DIY crafts. So I'm going to start to make some and post them when I'm done.
There are plenty of sites to look at different activities to make, but here are a few: (click on the pictures)






 


These are just a few. But if you google "Toddler Busy Bags", you'll find a lot more!
I can't wait to showcase my busy bags!

-Mindie

Safe Baby Skin Care Products

There are plenty of harsh chemicals out there in the things that we use everyday and we don't even know about it. And there are always crazy people out there who just throw around these "researched" facts that ----- is bad for you. I usually take these things with a grain of salt and look into the ones that I see that really affect my life. My dad usually brings my attention to the most important things that I should look into. (Because as you all know, mommies have very little time for anything besides the baby =o)).
Recently he has notified me of chemicals that may cause cancer or just are toxic to your body. I of course immediately thought of Lexi. I wondered what things were lurking in her products that I didn't even know about. Paraben being the one chemical my dad told me was really bad. There are TONS more that are too long to even list. Here are 10 chemicals and descriptions for you. Also,  I found a website that lists best, better, and good products to purchase.

BAD Chemicals: 

1. Sulfates (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_laureth_sulfate)
   If you find these in a shampoo's listing of ingredients as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), you should know that these harsh chemical surfactants are simply foaming agents to give shampoos that thick "luxurious" foam in order to create the illusion that you're getting hair cleaner, when you're really not. SLS's are also a penetration enhancer and known skin irritant.
   Look for farm grown ingredients such as gylcerine and glucosides that come naturally from corn and sugar, usually found on the label as decyl glucodisde, lauryl glocoside or coco-glucoside. These organic ingredients won't give you that abundant lather you may be accustomed to with chemicals, but try the natural shampoo for a few weeks and your hair will become healthier, shinier, silkier and softer.
2. Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl) (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabens)
   Used to inhibit microbial growth and to extend the shelf life of products, these ingredients have caused allergic reactions and skin rashes, and in one laboratory study, parabens were found in breast tumors. This controversial study has fueled the belief that parabens in cosmetics migrated into the breast tissue and contributed to the development of tumors. The cosmetic industry holds steady that parabens are safe for general population use, but because its hormone mimicking properties have proven enough of a "what if", wary consumers are opting now for paraben-free products and cosmetics. And no wonder: parabens penetrate the skin and appear in the blood.
3. Phthalates (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates) (pronounced THA-lates)
   These ingredients are additives widely used in plastics and other materials, primarily to improve flexibility; in cosmetics they are used to bind fragrance to the product. It is, however, thought by environmentalists that adverse health effects of phthalates include: early puberty in girls, premature delivery, impaired sperm quality and sperm damage in men, genital defects and reduced testosterone production in boys, genital defects and testicular cancer. (Source: www.environmentcalifornia.org) Read this article from a leading hospital, Beauty Chemicals Tied to Early Puberty. http://www.insidecosmeceuticals.com/articles/2010/04/beauty-chemicals-tied-to-early-puberty.aspx
4. 1.4 Dioxane (www.cookiemag.com/brain/kidhealth/2009/06/toxic-baby-products)
   This by-product of a chemical-processing technique called ethoxylation, in which cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide, is a possible carcinogen. 1,4-Dioxane is primarily used in solvent applications for manufacturing; furthermore, it is also found in fumigants and automotive coolant. It may contaminate cosmetics as well as personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes. 1,4-dioxane is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Dioxane is classified by the IARC as a Group 2B carcinogen: possibly carcinogenic to humans due to the fact that it is a known carcinogen in animals.
5. Formaldehyde (www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=414)
   Stay away from this carcinogenic impurity released by a number of cosmetic preservatives, including diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15. According to reviews by the industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel, these cosmetic ingredients can release formaldehyde at levels as high as one-tenth that of the original ingredient. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as "carcinogenic to humans", and the U.S. National Toxicology Program has classified it as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen", based on emerging evidence in humans and robust evidence in animals.
6. Propylene Glycol (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol)
   This synthetic petrochemical mix used as humectants has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. When you see PEG (polyethylene glycol) or PPG (polypropylene glycol) on labels, be careful because these are related synthetics.
7. Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethanolamine)
   Often used in cosmetics as emulsifiers or foaming agents, these ingredients can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are "amines" (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. They become toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.
8. Petrolatum, Mineral Oil
   Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. It has no nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. It often creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.
9. Synthetic Colors
   Used to make cosmetics "pretty," synthetic colors, along with synthetic hair dyes, should be avoided at all costs. These seductive, unnecessary ingredients will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6.
10. Synthetic Fragrances
    Synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 different ingredients, and there is no way to know exactly what the chemicals are, since the label will simply read "fragrance". Some serious problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper pigmentation, and skin irritation.

Here is a link to the site:













Through some of the research that I have seen, it seems that Johnson and Johnson (a brand that we all know and love) seems to use a lot of the big "no-no" chemicals in their products! Who knew! I've also noticed that the target brand equivalents to J and J products also contain them.

For more information, check out the Skin Deep Website and SafeCosmetics.org

Good luck!

I just bought some bath stuff from the Aubrey line.. I'll let you know how they are!

Reuseable Wipe "Soap"/Cloth Diapers

So yesterday I was talking about how I use reuseable wipes. It's my contribution to a cleaner environment. I thought about doing the cloth diapers thing, but I decided against it. I have a friend who, with her second child, decided to try the cloth diapers.

• Some pros that she mentioned were that she didn't need to use any diaper cream since the diapers didn't have any chemicals in them and obviously it kept costs down for diapers. 
• Some con's were that it was really hard to use them traveling and increased amount of laundry. 

She also said that since she works from home and the babies are with her, it's easier to use cloth diapers. Sometimes daycares don't allow you to use cloth diapers there since it's more work for them (totally understandable!). These are all good points to bring up with the cloth diapers. But of course I didn't go with those diapers, but it would be a good choice for moms who stay or work from home.

Anyway, onto the "soap" I used for the reusable wipes. The first thing that I tried was to fold the wipes so that they pulled out like real wipes. I put some water in the wipes box along with soap and dunked the wipes in. You need to ring them out a little so that its not soaking wet. But after a while, I thought that keeping wet wipes (homemade ones) in the wipes box too long wouldn't be a good thing. The wipes didn't grow mold on them, but they started to have the slightest hint of a "wet dog" smell.

 So I tried to think of another way that I could get the wipes wet, but also not having them sit in the water. My solution was to put the "soap" solution in a spray bottle and spray Lexi's bottom and then wipe with the dry wipes. At first, it was a little weird that I was spraying my daughters bottom, and funny =o), but it was definitely the right way to go. I don't measure the components, but the ingredients are baby soap (any kind you like, just a little), baby oil (again any kind you like, on put a little in), and water. I would say approx. a tablespoon (or a few tablespoons) of the soap and oil, and fill the rest with water.

There are solutions that you can buy, but this works just as well. =o)

Natrual Wipes

I was so focused on sharing my baby food making adventures, that I totally forgot about something else that I do for Lexi.
When she was first born, in the hospital, diaper changing was great. She didn't have any diaper rash, and we had all the things we needed. As you all know, hospitals don't supply wipes anymore, you just use gauze and water. It did the job and that was all that we cared. As I said, Lexi's cute little butt was as clean and clear as a whistle.
We got home, and like every other parent, we used the wipes that you buy at the store. We chose to use Huggies natural care. This worked okay for a a few weeks, but one day, Lexi's bottom started to get a little red. Of course, being a new mom, had no idea what to think of it. I figured it was diaper rash, but it would go away if it kept an eye on it. Well it didn't. Also, it was summer and very humid. I, of course, wanted to be outside as much as possible. I didn't have her in too much clothes, but enough for me to feel comfortable that she wasn't going to get cold (being a newborn and all). This turned out to be a bad idea, going outside with too much clothes on. As my mom said "The diapers worked TOO well." It kept all the heat and moisture inside her diaper and created the prime conditions for diaper rash/heat rash.
Luckily being a newborn, Lexi went to the drs once a month. And lucky again, this was right around the time we were scheduled for a visit. During the regular exam, I asked the doctor to look at the reddness. She said it was irritation, but did not say it was diaper rash yet. She suggested that we switch to water and towels, face or hand towels, to clean Lexi for the time being. So we went ahead and started this regiment right away. You wouldn't believe how fast the reddness cleared up! I'm guessing Lexi's skin is just very sensitive to the chemicals in the wipes.  (I will go into chemicals and other stuff in things you use everyday, at a later time. I need to do more research into the best products to use, especially for baby.)
After that experience with the wipes, I decided to just get rid of using wipes during her diaper changes. I looked online and found that there were reusable wipes. Jackpot! I bought a few different kinds, but ended up sticking with Grovia wipes. 


I like these because they are, white (so hopefully no chemicals for dying), and they are soft. Also there are 12 in a pack. I bought three.

The other two I bought were:





These both are okay, but baby kicks are a little rough, and the thirsties are soft, but expensive.  I did not get the spray included in the picture.

Anyway, this is getting a little long, so I will talk about the way I use the wipes (i.e. make them wet) in the next post.

=o)

Fashion: Maxi Dress/Skirts

I know as a new mom it's hard to stay on top of all the new fashions. And at the same time we're trying not to wear those "mom jeans" that everyone is so afraid of turning into. You know the typical "mom" look, yoga pants/sneakers/t-shirt, or mom jeans/t-shirt/sneakers and on top of all that, driving a mini-van! I can say that I am one of those moms that is REALLY afraid of becoming this typical mom! So I scan through all the magazines that I can (Lucky, Cosmo, People, etc..) to find the latest trends, and also to catch up on my celeb. gossip! Hey! Moms need time for themselves too!!!
But anyway, I came across the most cutest style, Maxi dresses and skirts. I've always thought that they didn't look nice, or were really hot. But with the new looks, they are SO cute!!! So I've been on a rampage looking for maxi skirts/dresses everywhere and trying not to spend a lot of money! Well, I found a black jersey knit maxi skirt at MARSHALLS!! Talk about a bargain, since the ones I've found were from stores like J-crew, Nordstroms, etc... you get the picture. But I'm still looking for more, since you can't just have ONE! But it is the most comfortable thing to wear EVER!. They are easy to wear with almost anything! You can dress it up or down! It's a new change from the daily JEANS!

Here are some ideas:
        

Last tip for baby food...

Hi everyone!

I have been super busy the past few weeks with a baby shower, work, and all the other things a working mom has to worry about! Its also been really crazy in my house! =o) But I've been trying to think of what else to focus on after all the baby food making has decreased. It's not that I don't make her food anymore, its just not necessarily "baby food".
I'm not sure if I posted this tip a while ago, but there is something else I'd like to add to the Peas post.
To make sure that the puree is really smooth, you can push the puree into a sieve (strainer) so that you get all of the skins off and out of the puree. Sometimes the babies don't like the puree with the skins, and I know they give a tip to make it less noticeable, but I think that taking the time to push the peas into the strainer will make it better.

That's probably the last thing I have to say about baby food that I can think of.

Ain't no thing....=o)

      So in my last post I mentioned that as a new parent, you should try and take what the doctors say to you lightly. It's funny that I brought that up because I went out to dinner with some mom friends and we were talking about what doctors say to us. It seems that there are many different types of pediatricians. You get the ones who just let your child grow and develop (without much worry instilled in you. They just want to monitor things just in case), the worriers (they are concerned about every "abnormal" characteristic of your child and get you over worried and stressed), the overachievers (they want to see your child at the top of all development and push that they are), and I'm sure there are varying degrees of each one. Luckily, the doctors in my practice are pretty good and don't worry me too much! Not to say that they don't... haha =o). Anyway, I am always concerned about Lexi's height and weight because she has been, and probably always will be, at the bottom end of the spectrum. The first the doctor worried me about her head, because is was small. This was around 9 months. Don't get me wrong, i really like this doctor. But he was just concerned a little and wanted to make sure that her skull was still fragmented for growth. He was very calm and assured me that he was 99% sure that she was just fine and this was a precaution. But as a mom. you can't help but worry just a little. I didn't let myself get too worried and just kept telling my self she's fine. I mean, she was developing mentally just great! After we got the x-ray results back and everything was fine, I sighed a breath of relief. Though in the back of my mind I still was concerned that she was tiny. Again, shes proportional. shes developing great, eating., and she's a girl (you want them a little smaller.. =o)).
      Even though Lexi is still smaller, and weighs less than most babies 5 months and up. even though she is a year old, I'm not as concerned about her size as before. UNTIL I went in for her 1 year check up and the doctor told me she was underweight. Granted, yes she is not even 15 pounds yet, but shes just tall and lean. So we had to get some extra blood work done just to make sure her thyroid and something else was good. And there I go again worrying. Also around this time. Lexi has been picky about her food and not eating as much as she used to. So it just built up upon each other. But let me get to the REAL reason I mentioned this. We went into the bloodwork place and Lexi's name was called. I was thinking that they were going to o the heel prick just like when she had jaundice. Oh Boy was I wrong! The technician said, okay, pull her sleeves up... I was thinking "WTF.. what do you mean BOTH sleeves, Does she mean mine of Lexi's?!?!?!?" She meant Lexi's. So I pulled her sleeves up and the technician comes in with a pediatric needle. OMG was I freaking out..... They actually had to put the needle in her ARM!!!! Let me tell you SHE IS A STRONG child! haha... But since they had to take 4 vials of blood doing the heel prick would have taken ALL WEEK. Well I probably will never forget about this experience and do not look forward to any time she has to get blood drawn. I don't mind it, and I wish I could have taken her place. You feel so bad when they are crying and trying they hardest to wiggle out. =o) None the less, Lexi tested just fine and I am back to 0.1% worrying. =o)

Mom to Mom advice

Since Lexi is old enough to eat table food, I have been straying away from making food specifically for her. So to keep more ideas flowing to blog about, I'm just going to talk about my trials and errors of motherhood =o) I know that sharing my frustrations and accomplishments with people makes me feel so much better, most of the time! haha.

My one BIG advice to new (and experienced) moms is to get a moms group or just have a few girls, who are moms, that you can turn and talk about your experiences with. I have found my group through signing up for a moms class at the hospital I gave birth at. Let me tell you, it was the BEST decision I have ever made. We get together and talk about our kids and just have some "mom" time. It is the BEST! haha. Some of the girls read this blog as well, HI GIRLS! =o). It is so much better to know that someone, some people, somewhere is going through the same things you are.

Anyway. Getting on to the real topic. Throughout the baby's first year, they have plenty of doctors visits for check-ups and also those dreaded, especially the first, sick visit. I'm always sure that Lexi is doing fine developmentally and physically, but you never know what the doctor will tell you.

Lexi has always been on the smaller end of the spectrum when it came to the three major measurements, height, weight, and head circumference. We have never been too worried about her since her development has been right on schedule if not a little ahead. But it didn't worry me more till the doctor mentioned something at her 9 month appointment. Her head was measuring a little small and he wanted to get an x-ray of her head. He wanted to make sure that her skill was still fragmented to allow room to grow. Not he assured me that everything was just FINE since her development was great, but as a mom, especially for the first time, it gets your mind racing and asking "What if?" Well, I tried to stay calm and brought her to the hospital to her her x-ray. OH MY GOODNESS, it was the WORST experience ever (haha until recently... I'll get to that one later.) Lexi would not stay still and I had to hold her down to keep her from moving. BOY, was this girl strong! haha Anyway, needless to say, her skull was just fine.
So my advice to moms out there, is that take what the doctor says with a grain of salt (unless it is really necessary and obvious that something is amiss. Knock on wood.) Of course being concerned and just to make sure is not a bad thing, but just try not to over think it and worry too much. Being a mom is stressful enough. I know the doctors are just doing their jobs, but sometimes it put a negative spin on things.
=o) I always stay positive and think to myself "Don't worry, Be happy!"
-Mindie

Homemade baby food pouches

So my friend found this website that has the pouches that I was describing in my earlier post on putting baby food into pouches. I figured that somewhere, someone would have made pouches for parents who make homemade baby food to put their own yummy goodness in. Well here is one option! =o)

http://www.zulily.com/e/the-sili-company-020712.html?pos=12

Here is another option:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/482846431/reusable_drink_stand_up_pouch_with.html?s=p

I hope it works for you!

I will let you know if I find more!

=o)
-Mindie

Fish (Excludes shellfish)

I actually put off getting Lexi to try fish because I figured, well if she doesn't eat chicken and tofu, she probably won't eat the fish. (Also, I didn't know how to store it, since it pretty much comes frozen uncooked anyway.) Boy was I WRONG! I made fish tacos one day and decided to give her some, without the coating. She gobbled it down like she's never eaten before! Of course I wasn't going to make battered fish tacos every time I wanted to make her fish, so I had to think of another way.
The tacos I made with cod, so I bought some more FRESH cod from the seafood department. I thought about baking them, which would have been fine, but I decided not to.

I just sprinkled some salt and pepper on the fish and lightly fried them in a pan. I broke up the pieces and gave them to her to eat. And again, she gobbled them up. I couldn't believe, but also was relieved, that she liked fish so much.

Since I didn't want to keep having to buy fresh fish every time I wanted to make fish for Lexi, I bought some frozen fish (which is just as easy). The only thing is that you need to defrost it first. No big deal since fish defrosts quick. I also bought frozen fish sticks to give to her as well. She doesn't like the breading, but it does give the fish a nice flavor.

Lexi has tried Atlantic cod, tilapia, pollock, and salmon. 

A time frame on when to introduce fish to your baby is controversial, but I would wait till at least 8-9 months to give the baby fish JUST IN CASE. Luckily our families don't have a history of any type of shellfish/fish allergy, but I would just keep an eye out for this.

Another concern about fish is that some larger fish have a tendency to have a higher mercury count.

This is some information about fish that I found. (the Website: http://www.organicconsumers.org/Toxic/safe-fish.cfm)
Fish to Avoid
High mercury: Atlantic halibut, king mackerel, oysters (Gulf Coast), pike, sea bass, shark, swordfish, tilefish (golden snapper), tuna (steaks and canned albacore).

High POPs (PCBs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which accumulate in animal fats.): Farmed salmon. Limit to once a month if pregnant/nursing. Check TheGreenGuide.com for updates on POPs in other farmed fish.

Fish to Eat
The gift of crab.
Moderate mercury: Alaskan halibut, black cod, blue (Gulf Coast) crab, cod, dungeness crab, Eastern oysters, mahimahi, blue mussels, pollack, tuna (canned light). (Children and pregnant or nursing women are advised to eat no more than one from this list, once a month.)

Low mercury: Anchovies, Arctic char, crawfish, Pacific flounder, herring, king crab, sanddabs, scallops, Pacific sole; tilapia, wild Alaska and Pacific salmon; farmed catfish, clams, striped bass, and sturgeon. (Children and pregnant or nursing women can safely eat two to three times a week.)

Take note, though, that low-mercury but overfished or destructively harvested species -- such as Atlantic cod, Atlantic flounder, Atlantic sole, Chilean sea bass, monkfish, orange roughy, shrimp, and snapper -- should be avoided for the environment's sake.

Low POPs: Wild Alaska and California salmon (fresh or canned).

So just be aware of the concerns when giving your child fish. Otherwise it is such a great source of protein, omega -3s, and much more nutrients for you and your child. =o)

Have fun eating!
-Mindie

Moving away from Super Pureed food

So Lexi is at this stage where she doesn't really need the super pureed food anymore, but still needs the food a little softer, since she only have 4 complete teeth and 2 are just budding. So I've been racking my brain to find things that she can mush up in her mouth, but also things that she can feed herself.

On the site that I mentioned way at the beginning has some finger foods which I made and tried to give to Lexi. She wasn't really enjoying them. The one thing she kind of liked was the broccoli and cheese bites. But again, I will need to try to feed her those things again. So I made the turkey meatloaf (as I call it, I forget what it was called on the website), the baked tofu squares, and broccoli bites. I ate them all and thought they were pretty good.. haha =o) Anyway, besides these things, it has been hard to decide what to feed Lexi.

Since my doctor, at the 9 month appointment, literally said "anything goes" for food, I've been giving her a whole bunch of stuff to eat. Pretty much table food at this point.

So all I do is cut up everything large enough that she was feed herself, but small enough so that she won't choke on it. Recently I made velveeta shells and cheese, cut up some meatballs, and threw some broccoli pieces in. She LOVED this! =o)

I'm trying to come up with new and exciting food, since Lexi seems to get bored with the same thing over and over again ( I wonder where she got that from?? haha.. i'm the same way). If I think of some cool ideas, I will let you know!! =o)

Have fun!

Trying to blog from phone....:) let's see if this works!

Chicken

What a week this past week has been!!! Lexi's First birthday was Saturday, and her birthday party was on Sunday. Talk about a lot of planning!! Luckily I had off, spring break, to plan for it. Of course I didn't have time to write about much. I'm nearing the end of making my own baby food though. Lexi is eating table food and as I said before, she is refusing to eat when I feed her. Who knows what I will talk about next??? =o)

Anyway, After tofu, Chicken was the next "protein" that I introduced to Lexi.
I wasn't sure how I wanted to cook the chicken. At first I tried to boil it in a little water and the baked it. It worked just fine for cooking the chicken, but I think it ended up being  a little tough. When I tried to "puree" the chicken, the chicken was very piece-y and not the texture that Lexi liked. The next batch I decided to just boil the chicken. This made the chicken softer and easier to "puree" in the food processor. It was easier to incorporate into the other purees and Lexi liked it better. I also thought about if I should freeze it, so I tried it. It worked out just fine, the only thing was this the chicken was a little dry. But by mixing it with purees, after defrosting/heating, that were a little more watery, i.e. fruits, it worked just fine.

So here is the procedure:

• Cut up chicken breasts into strips, or use chicken tenderloins. (I found that the strips made it less likely that the chicken would over cook.)
• Boil some water, put enough in the pot so that it looks like it will cover the chicken.
• Put the chicken in and boil for 15 minutes. (I forget the exact time, but just take a piece out and check it for 'done-ness'. [Remember the keep the cooking liquid. I actually froze the cooking liquid to be used when cooking other things like lentils in.]
• Place the chicken in the food processor and "puree". (Puree is in quotes because it doesn't really puree completely.)
• Put in ice trays and freeze. 

Have fun!! =o)
-Mindie