Her taste buds are changing and I'm not sure the direction. I'm trying to talk to other mothers and find out what works for them. I remember when I was at a complete loss over what to feed her. I'm open to suggestions at this point. This is what is working for me so far and I thought I would share. :)
BREAKFAST: we are a banana or applesauce first, plain oatmeal second family. She eats it every morning without fail and still loves it.
LUNCH and DINNER:
Easy Mac: When your kid start screaming and you have nothing prepared....bust it out!
Morningstar Veggie Patties. They are jam packed with soy, broccoli, carrots........she gets her entire day's serving with this.
Quesadillas: if it has sour cream on it, she eats it. Is that weird? Maybe it's the cheese.
Wheat pasta with veg: the trick is to steam some broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower then puree them down and mix them in the tomato sauce. We use the spiral wheat pasta and just toss in the sauce....grains/veg all in one!
Hummus on toast.
Chicken nuggets: FYI---Some companies will actually grind up the bones in there--EWW! We try our best to read the packaging carefully.
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich on wheat toast. Grill it to make it fancy!
Grilled Cheese: adults love 'em too!
Pasta Salad: just use your imagination with some Italian dressing.
the old standby:
Fruit or Fruit Cups
Graham Crackers
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Regular Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Carrots
Sliced deli meat (turkey or chicken)
Yogurt
Whole Grain Waffles
Cheddar Cheese
EGGS!
Rice
I try to remember that just because she doesn't like it once, doesn't mean she won't like it ever so try to keep introducing it---even at the same sitting sometimes. Also, toddlers tend to like some foods more when they get their molars, so watch out for those.
Also, I was shocked to learn that toddlers only need a couple of servings of protein, fruits, and vegetables a day, just a one or more tablespoons. They need more diary servings and the most important---a grain at every meal.
Something that worked when she was just starting----
Banana Bites
Slice banana's in tiny bites. Smear a little peanut butter on them (not too much for choking hazard), then roll in graham cracker crumbs. YUM.
Easter Egg Hunt at the Clinton Library
March 27th--Clinton Library Easter Family Festival and Egg Hunt: From 10 am - 2 pm at Clinton Presidential Center Park. Meet the Easter bunny and hunt for six thousand plastic eggs filled with goodies and very special prizes. Designed to somewhat mimic White House Easter egg roll.
Free Pics with the Easter Bunny!!!!!
Free Pics with the Easter Bunny!!!!!
The 411 on Rhea Lana's vs Duck Duck Goose
I am a saver. I do consignment. I love it. I remember having NOTHING as far as baby equipment and feeling like my eyes were going to bug out of my head when I saw the prices of pumps, furniture, and Baby Einstein toys. But let's face it, these things are important. If you're like me and need a run down-here are basics of what you can find there--
Nursing? --Get the BEST pump you can find because it will be worth it IF you want to buy a used pump. I bought one and never had a problem out of it. I got a Medela Pump In Style Advance for $150 vs $350.
Bottles: Do yourself a favor and get the easy to clean ones and a good bottle brush. (Don't buy at consignment just throwing that in there.
Changing Station and Crib: You will use this everyday--be sure to get a dark colored changing pad cover.
Rocking Chair: SO HELPFUL in soothing baby in the middle of the night when you are exhausted. (I got mine from a garage sale for $40 but they had a good selection.)
Baby Einstein Play Gym: My daughter started using this at about a month old. When we positioned her where she could kick one of the arms and the star would light up--she instantly started learning motor skills. WOW! Price $16.
Car Seat and Base (I suggest getting the Stroller combo): Get the Car Seat at Target or Wal-Mart, get an extra base at consignment for around $25.
Swing: The most used asset in their first 4 months on the earth. Found a top of the line one for $40.
Baby Bath Tub: Great condition, $8.
All in All going consignment we paid under $400 for the ENTIRE nursery down to the curtains---this not including shower and mother/mother-in-law gifts.
My advice----
Rhea Lana's is really the place to buy your equipment. You can get a New Mommies pass if you sign up with them ahead of time.
http://rhealana.com/
Duck Duck Goose is a clothing bomb. You can find any size, shape, style there. They are more organized with their lines and quicker in and out. If you go really early they have equipment but it goes fast.
http://www.duckduckgoosesale.com/
Happy Shopping!
Nursing? --Get the BEST pump you can find because it will be worth it IF you want to buy a used pump. I bought one and never had a problem out of it. I got a Medela Pump In Style Advance for $150 vs $350.
Bottles: Do yourself a favor and get the easy to clean ones and a good bottle brush. (Don't buy at consignment just throwing that in there.
Changing Station and Crib: You will use this everyday--be sure to get a dark colored changing pad cover.
Rocking Chair: SO HELPFUL in soothing baby in the middle of the night when you are exhausted. (I got mine from a garage sale for $40 but they had a good selection.)
Baby Einstein Play Gym: My daughter started using this at about a month old. When we positioned her where she could kick one of the arms and the star would light up--she instantly started learning motor skills. WOW! Price $16.
Car Seat and Base (I suggest getting the Stroller combo): Get the Car Seat at Target or Wal-Mart, get an extra base at consignment for around $25.
Swing: The most used asset in their first 4 months on the earth. Found a top of the line one for $40.
Baby Bath Tub: Great condition, $8.
All in All going consignment we paid under $400 for the ENTIRE nursery down to the curtains---this not including shower and mother/mother-in-law gifts.
My advice----
Rhea Lana's is really the place to buy your equipment. You can get a New Mommies pass if you sign up with them ahead of time.
http://rhealana.com/
Duck Duck Goose is a clothing bomb. You can find any size, shape, style there. They are more organized with their lines and quicker in and out. If you go really early they have equipment but it goes fast.
http://www.duckduckgoosesale.com/
Happy Shopping!
Praise Queen Elanor!!!!
NO! NO! NO ELANOR! ELANOR NO! NO MAM! I said NO!
"No" is the word of the year. I fire it at my one year old about every five minutes. I feel like a NO siren. When they start moving around, touching, exploring, or just THINKING about stuff you will learn many ways to say NO!--I really enjoy saying her full name instead of no sometimes and now I finally understand why I sit straight up when I hear mine. :)
So it was pretty simple at first. She got it. It was great. I would simply watch her and say "no" when she was about to hit the danger zone. I was a parenting goddess! Then the tables turned. My little angel became a tyrant. She laughed when I said it. She ignored it and turned on the dishwasher anyway. She froze for a second, looked at me, and continued to turn the oven knobs. She heard "no" and charged for whatever she wanted. SMART KID!
So like any brilliant mother I started trying different approaches as follows.....
-restraining her arms and saying NO while pointing at desired object (she hates that)
-spatting the little hand (I hate that)
-saying NO and moving her to another room (the distraction method)
none of these worked great as toddlers are determined and stubborn and they are testing themselves, not just you.
My brilliant sister-in-law Stephanie sent me an article regarding praise and discipline. Basically, it said to manage the tone of your "NO!" by how important it is. If she throws food on the floor, that's a mild no-no. If she is turning the knob on the gas stove that's a BIG NO! The urgency in your voice is noted because she doesn't understand what I'm saying.
Also, it said to show her consequences of her actions and have her help you "clean it up" or "put it back" and PRAISE HER WHEN SHE DOES SO. It was hard to remember to do this, but the results have been AMAZING!!!!
related link:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-discipline-tool-kit-successful-strategies-for-every-age_1475318.bc
"No" is the word of the year. I fire it at my one year old about every five minutes. I feel like a NO siren. When they start moving around, touching, exploring, or just THINKING about stuff you will learn many ways to say NO!--I really enjoy saying her full name instead of no sometimes and now I finally understand why I sit straight up when I hear mine. :)
So it was pretty simple at first. She got it. It was great. I would simply watch her and say "no" when she was about to hit the danger zone. I was a parenting goddess! Then the tables turned. My little angel became a tyrant. She laughed when I said it. She ignored it and turned on the dishwasher anyway. She froze for a second, looked at me, and continued to turn the oven knobs. She heard "no" and charged for whatever she wanted. SMART KID!
So like any brilliant mother I started trying different approaches as follows.....
-restraining her arms and saying NO while pointing at desired object (she hates that)
-spatting the little hand (I hate that)
-saying NO and moving her to another room (the distraction method)
none of these worked great as toddlers are determined and stubborn and they are testing themselves, not just you.
My brilliant sister-in-law Stephanie sent me an article regarding praise and discipline. Basically, it said to manage the tone of your "NO!" by how important it is. If she throws food on the floor, that's a mild no-no. If she is turning the knob on the gas stove that's a BIG NO! The urgency in your voice is noted because she doesn't understand what I'm saying.
Also, it said to show her consequences of her actions and have her help you "clean it up" or "put it back" and PRAISE HER WHEN SHE DOES SO. It was hard to remember to do this, but the results have been AMAZING!!!!
related link:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-discipline-tool-kit-successful-strategies-for-every-age_1475318.bc
102 and counting...
So my little angel is not a complainer. She is currently cutting four teeth. The pediatrician will tell you that they don't run fever when they are teething, but trust me---THEY DO! So, anyhooo back to it--she has been fussy to say the least. Well, all the sudden she had yellow ooze coming from her eyes so we took her to the doctor. She had an ear infection in both ears. I just thought it was the teething! They gave her an antibiotic. She took that for two days and she still would wake up with eyes matted shut. So we called the doc again and they gave her a different antibiotic.
Here's what you should know about this:
When you switch antibiotics you are starting over completely. It's like the infection is brand new again.
She started running a fever that day. That night it went up to 102. Her heart was beating so fast it really scared me. Also, she was panting. I was FREAKING. We called the after hours line and the doctor told us that this is normal. Ya hear that??? Very rapid heartbeat is normal for babies with fever.
I was relieved finding this out. The doc told us to give her a dose and a half of tylenol and let her rest and if it reaches 104 to call again or go to the emergency room. Also, that anything under 102 is considered a low grade fever. Stripping them down to diaper and socks and putting a wet wash cloth on their head or back or chest helps draw the fever out as well.
Here's what you should know about this:
When you switch antibiotics you are starting over completely. It's like the infection is brand new again.
She started running a fever that day. That night it went up to 102. Her heart was beating so fast it really scared me. Also, she was panting. I was FREAKING. We called the after hours line and the doctor told us that this is normal. Ya hear that??? Very rapid heartbeat is normal for babies with fever.
I was relieved finding this out. The doc told us to give her a dose and a half of tylenol and let her rest and if it reaches 104 to call again or go to the emergency room. Also, that anything under 102 is considered a low grade fever. Stripping them down to diaper and socks and putting a wet wash cloth on their head or back or chest helps draw the fever out as well.
Peeing on a Stick to Parentdom
I remember it all very well. Something was amiss. I felt weird. My boobs were a tiny bit sore, but nothing to take note of. I was not nauseated. I just felt, well...weird. My vision was off. My head felt light....but I wasn't dizzy. Little did I know that I would end up peeing on little piece of technology that would say, "Yes girl, you are pregnant".
First thoughts....O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD!!!! How did this happen??? Well, I know how it happened. What am I going to do???? Should I call Justin right now or wait until he gets off work? PANIC PANIC PANIC. I'll call my mom, she will know what to do.......
She laughed at me. So then I called my sister......
And SHE laughed at me too and reminded me that I was almost 30 and I was fine.....
Then I called Justin. That's right, I told him over the phone AND I told him third. I cried the whole time. I freaked out all over him. No magical moment of "Honey! Guess what? I'm having your baby! Isn't that fantastic!!!!!" Nope. I was a mess. I wasn't planning on having a little one and I sure as hell wasn't in my right mind at that time. I cried and worried pretty much through that night. I wasn't upset that I was pregnant, I was just plain scared.
The rest of the night was a brain storm. I went through every sexual encounter in the past month that we had shared trying to pinpoint which one it was. I tried to imagine myself as a mother and Justin as a father. I thought of every bad thing I had ever done in my life and wondered how that would effect my future child and in what way? I babbled prayers over and over that didn't make much sense. I thought about beers I had the other week and if my child would come out with a third ear because of it. The "crazy" took over for a night. One night, that's all I gave myself to grieve for my youth, which had been over for a while anyway--let's face it.
The next day I put my big girl panties on.
I woke up and life was different. Everything was about the mass of bonded cells in my body that would eventually be a living, breathing human being (and what a cute one she turned out to be). I took a couple more pregnancy tests, and for any of you who have never tried peeing on a stick-it's not as easy as it sounds. I suggest getting a plastic solo cup and peeing in that THEN putting the stick down in it--otherwise you end up with a wet hand and that's just not cool. I was definitely pregnant four tests later.
I got a new job that would support our family. I wore gloves when cleaning. I quit smoking, drinking, caffeine, sugar, fatty foods, artificial sweeteners and started exercising. I bought books. I started a journal. I was going to be a powerhouse of MOTHER! The first trimester was really something special for me. I threw up on myself on the way to work a couple of times. My clothes were a little tight, so I just looked like I had a beer gut. All the foods I loved and adored made me ill. The smell of bacon was unnerving. I was a human siren. I screamed my little head off about anything that displeased the Queen (aka ME). Once, I threw a cup of water at my kind, lovely husband. He just stood there staring at me, all wet--by the way, men LOVE these temper tantrums, it is OH SO sexy. No seriously though--the hormones take a sec to get used to.
My second trimester was glorious. The nausea went away. You could tell I was pregnant and not fatty. I could eat again, but only half of my plate before I was so full I could pop and then other half I wanted within the next hour--another weird preggo thing. People started noticing I was preggo and I there were congratulations and bonding with women. I didn't have the weight gain in my face and I looked SO cute in my maternity clothes.
The third trimester I blew up. I had to buy new maternity clothes because the others didn't fit anymore. My belly would show along with other things I didn't want to show. My belly button was poking through my shirt and co-workers thought that was just hilarious! JERKS! I began seeing her move an entire arm across my stomach. Random people in the elevator or on the phone or on the street began telling me horrible stories about how they haven't slept in years or how their epidural didn't work and how much pain they were in and how sick their kids got.....why do people do that??? I was close to delivery and I was afraid of the pain and basically of passing a human through my vagina in general and these insights weren't helping.
She loved her home in my body. So much, that she went past her due date and we had to induce. My delivery went well. She was 8 lbs and 2 oz's. When they laid her on my chest something magical happened when she heard my voice. I heard the drums of all the women that came before me in my head. I was no longer the end of a chain, but a link.
It's been a quite a ride so far. Parentdom makes you feel Parent"dumb" most of the time. Having a child and trying to figure out how to keep it healthy and happy is a challenge. You hear doctors say words you've never heard. You cry when they get shots. You worry if you are doing things right. It can push you to limits. Sometimes it can be scary. I'll be posting a few of my AHA! moments. Please feel free to post what has worked for you as well.
To all you new parents, hang in there.
Kristi
First thoughts....O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD, O-MA GOD!!!! How did this happen??? Well, I know how it happened. What am I going to do???? Should I call Justin right now or wait until he gets off work? PANIC PANIC PANIC. I'll call my mom, she will know what to do.......
She laughed at me. So then I called my sister......
And SHE laughed at me too and reminded me that I was almost 30 and I was fine.....
Then I called Justin. That's right, I told him over the phone AND I told him third. I cried the whole time. I freaked out all over him. No magical moment of "Honey! Guess what? I'm having your baby! Isn't that fantastic!!!!!" Nope. I was a mess. I wasn't planning on having a little one and I sure as hell wasn't in my right mind at that time. I cried and worried pretty much through that night. I wasn't upset that I was pregnant, I was just plain scared.
The rest of the night was a brain storm. I went through every sexual encounter in the past month that we had shared trying to pinpoint which one it was. I tried to imagine myself as a mother and Justin as a father. I thought of every bad thing I had ever done in my life and wondered how that would effect my future child and in what way? I babbled prayers over and over that didn't make much sense. I thought about beers I had the other week and if my child would come out with a third ear because of it. The "crazy" took over for a night. One night, that's all I gave myself to grieve for my youth, which had been over for a while anyway--let's face it.
The next day I put my big girl panties on.
I woke up and life was different. Everything was about the mass of bonded cells in my body that would eventually be a living, breathing human being (and what a cute one she turned out to be). I took a couple more pregnancy tests, and for any of you who have never tried peeing on a stick-it's not as easy as it sounds. I suggest getting a plastic solo cup and peeing in that THEN putting the stick down in it--otherwise you end up with a wet hand and that's just not cool. I was definitely pregnant four tests later.
I got a new job that would support our family. I wore gloves when cleaning. I quit smoking, drinking, caffeine, sugar, fatty foods, artificial sweeteners and started exercising. I bought books. I started a journal. I was going to be a powerhouse of MOTHER! The first trimester was really something special for me. I threw up on myself on the way to work a couple of times. My clothes were a little tight, so I just looked like I had a beer gut. All the foods I loved and adored made me ill. The smell of bacon was unnerving. I was a human siren. I screamed my little head off about anything that displeased the Queen (aka ME). Once, I threw a cup of water at my kind, lovely husband. He just stood there staring at me, all wet--by the way, men LOVE these temper tantrums, it is OH SO sexy. No seriously though--the hormones take a sec to get used to.
My second trimester was glorious. The nausea went away. You could tell I was pregnant and not fatty. I could eat again, but only half of my plate before I was so full I could pop and then other half I wanted within the next hour--another weird preggo thing. People started noticing I was preggo and I there were congratulations and bonding with women. I didn't have the weight gain in my face and I looked SO cute in my maternity clothes.
The third trimester I blew up. I had to buy new maternity clothes because the others didn't fit anymore. My belly would show along with other things I didn't want to show. My belly button was poking through my shirt and co-workers thought that was just hilarious! JERKS! I began seeing her move an entire arm across my stomach. Random people in the elevator or on the phone or on the street began telling me horrible stories about how they haven't slept in years or how their epidural didn't work and how much pain they were in and how sick their kids got.....why do people do that??? I was close to delivery and I was afraid of the pain and basically of passing a human through my vagina in general and these insights weren't helping.
She loved her home in my body. So much, that she went past her due date and we had to induce. My delivery went well. She was 8 lbs and 2 oz's. When they laid her on my chest something magical happened when she heard my voice. I heard the drums of all the women that came before me in my head. I was no longer the end of a chain, but a link.
It's been a quite a ride so far. Parentdom makes you feel Parent"dumb" most of the time. Having a child and trying to figure out how to keep it healthy and happy is a challenge. You hear doctors say words you've never heard. You cry when they get shots. You worry if you are doing things right. It can push you to limits. Sometimes it can be scary. I'll be posting a few of my AHA! moments. Please feel free to post what has worked for you as well.
To all you new parents, hang in there.
Kristi
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