Beet Red Lips

Posted on March 10, 2015 by playinghousewi

Charlotte has clearly been taking style tips from Taylor Swift with that red pout…

Baby’s first lipstick in a perfect shade of beet red… Which also coincides with Charlotte’s first taste of beets & potatoes.

Beet & Potato Mash Recipe
1 lb red beets (this amounted to one decent sized beet for me)
1 russet potato

1) preheat oven to 375 deg F
2) wash beet then put beet in a baking dish (I used a glass dish) and add water so it comes up about a half inch
3) cover baking dish with tin foil
4) use a fork to pierce potato
5) put potato on baking sheet (I lined mine with tin foil because I’m lazy and it reduces clean up)
6) stick the baking sheet (potato) and the baking dish (beet) in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes (I set my timer for 50 minutes, but was putting C down for a nap when the timer went off. I probably had it in there for 60 minutes. Potato was a bit dry, but it wasn’t a big deal.)
7) remove from oven once nice and tender. Let cool a bit.
8) peel the skin off of both the potato and beet
9) chop the potato and put it in the blender with enough liquid to get to desired consistency (I used coconut milk and water, but you can use breastmilk, too)
10) chop the beet and put it in the blender with enough liquid to get to desired consistency (I used reserved liquid from baking, but you can use water or breastmilk)
11) If you’re into “plating” your baby’s food all fancy-like, you can swirl the beet and potato. It looks awesome (according to the photo in my recipe book)… But who has time or energy for that? I just mixed the two together and voila!
12) freeze leftovers in cubes for up to 3 months

Ps: I wasn’t the biggest fan of the coconut milk in the potatoes. They got sticky. But, all in all, it was delicious. Remember, beets stain!

Toby Proves that Male Dogs are Bitches, too

Posted on March 9, 2015 by playinghousewi

Last Wednesday, I was eating my salad at my desk when Charlotte distracted me. I can’t remember what she did, but regardless, something happened to cause me to abandon my salad.

When I looked back, Toby was munching on some lettuce he had stolen from my bowl. “Toby, NO!”

He got in his psychotic dog defense mode. A new level of crazy that Toby has adopted since Charlotte’s arrival.

Anyway, he started growling and being crazy and I yelled again and shooed him away from the remaining lettuce. He then strutted his 6lb frame past me and directly to Charlotte’s car seat where he proceeded to lift his leg and give me a nice, ammonia-laced fuck you.

Needless to say, I was speechless and Toby was banished.

Can you believe that the day before I had actually said that I thought Toby was starting to like Charlotte?

It’s been a rough few days since then, but I think Toby and I are officially on the mend…

75 Weeks Together

Posted on March 3, 2015 by playinghousewi

As of last week Wednesday, my sweet girl and I have been together for 75 weeks… 43 as an inside baby and 32 in this wonderful world.

In the scheme of my life, 75 weeks isn’t that significant of a timeframe, but in the scheme of my heart and life, it’s everything.

Being a mommy to my sweet Charlotte over the past 75 weeks has been the most magical and beautiful experience of my life. It’s hard to imagine a time when she wasn’t in my life. My life definitely went from black and white to color. I didn’t know the richness I would add to my life with such a tiny little love.

In just one week, there has been such joy and change. She’s a professional crawler, she waves, she talks nonstop, she has these crazy episodes of excitement that are just absurd (I’ll post a video soon), she grabs onto me like a koala, she’s getting way better with strangers and non- mommy/daddy folk… She’s just amazing.

Baby Snacks

Posted on March 3, 2015 by playinghousewi

Our streak of good eating has continued. Charlotte is doing SO well! This past weekend, I made her red lentils and brown rice “soup” (it’s pretty thick) and I made lamb.

Before I share the recipes, I’ll preface by saying that I’ve been looking for food-based sources of iron for C to ensure she’s getting enough, as she has not been eating any sort of iron-enriched cereal.

I did a lot of research and decided I didn’t want to give her the iron drops and instead would make sure to incorporate a good amount of iron into her diet. With all of her crazy food/poop drama, she was tested at 6 months for anemia… The results came back totally normal, which leaves me with little concern.

Anyway, I haven’t been ready to introduce beef because of her many other allergies, so after the chicken success, I decided to give lamb a try. It’s another great iron source.

I’ve literally never cooked lamb in my life, but was ready for the challenge. Thankfully, hubs suggested cooking it in the slow cooker so it’d be nice and soft, which worked perfectly.

I didn’t have a recipe, but here’s what I did…

1 big container of low sodium organic vegetable broth
.5 sweet potato chopped
1 onion slices
1 stalk celery sliced
.5-.7 lbs free range lamb shoulder (bone-in)

I literally just tossed everything in the crock pot and cooked it on low for 5 hours. It was perfect.

I pulled out the meat, got rid of the bones, shredded the meat into small pieces and saved the meat and sweet potatoes in some gravy for C and used the broth and other veggies for soup For Mark and I.

The meat is great on its own – Charlie loves it – but it’s also been mixing perfectly with the red lentil and brown rice soup I made. I just mix the two together and she goes wild.

The soup recipe is from my baby and toddler cook book.

Here is the recipe… FYI, I added about 1/2 cup of water once done cooking and the froze it in tiny portions. As I’ve been reheating, I add a little more water or broth from the lamb. It’s tasty!

C has also been loving millet cinnamon raisin toast, apples (of course), sweet potato puffs, and just about anything and everything.

Guess who else has been living Charlotte’s new diet??

Nipple Biter

Posted on February 24, 2015 by playinghousewi

I’ve heard stories of babies biting their mommas’ nips while nursing. I’ve read about moms who sternly tell their baby “No!” and remind them to be gentle. I’ve read about babies who break down in tears at this reprimand and mommies who feel terrible for making their baby cry.

That was not my experience.

I put Charlotte down for her nap and after about a half hour, she was still fussing and complaining. I decided to go back in her “nursery” (aka the conference room at work) to feed her a bit more. Typically when it takes her this long to sleep, she’s either pooped in her dipe or didn’t get enough milk.

Anyway, I went in and fed her. I could tell she was in a punchy mood. She was all over the place. Pulling on my necklace, hanging on the spindles of the rocking chair, being a goof.

So, I’m feeding her and everything is fine until… CHOMP!

I instantly pulled her back from my body and very sternly said “NO! That hurts. You have to be gentle with mommy.” She looked at me as if she was really taking in my words, and then got the biggest stinker of a grin on her face and started chuckling.

I repeated myself, “Charlotte, that’s not funny. You hurt mommy when you bite her. You have to be gentle.”

She then reached out and grabbed my nipple, which sent her roaring once again.

Needless to say, mealtime was over.

I fear for my nipples.

Solid Food Success

Posted on February 24, 2015 by playinghousewi

We have had our first streak of positive solid food experiences since we initially started. The streak has only been a couple of days, but Charlotte is doing so well.

Yesterday I let her try my wheat- and dairy-free, rice and millet cinnamon raisin toast. She LOVED it and ate almost an entire slice.

She’s also continued loving apples. Her favorite seems to be when we give her the core to chew on. And before you go crazy about the seeds, we leave about a half inch of Apple meat on all sides and watch her the entire time.

She also enjoys the cooked apples I made for her. All I did was cut the meat off of the apple core and steam it for a good 10 or 20 minutes until it was nice and tender. Then, I scooped the apple meat out of the skin. I saved some apple wedges and made applesauce with the rest.

For the applesauce, I just blended apples with some of the water I used to steam the apples. I’ve been putting the applesauce in a Squooshi (a refillable pouch). It’s working pretty well, although she usually will only eat about a tbsp to two from this.

This morning, Charlotte ate one steamed mini carrot, a quarter of an apple slice and half a piece of toast! Yay!

Not to mention the fact that she had a GREAT poop today! Yeah, I said it. I’m excited about her pastey textured poo that looked a normal color with no mucous or blood!

My mom brought us chicken from her homemade chicken soup today. Maybe we’ll give it a whirl!

Food is fun today.

Grandparents Galore!

Posted on February 21, 2015 by playinghousewi

Charlie has had a big weekend already. She saw Grandma & Grandpa (my parents) at work on Friday… Although not too much, as she slept most of the day. Then after work, she got to see Nana (Mark’s mom). This morning she got to play with Nana again and then this afternoon she saw her other grandparents (Mark’s dad and step mom)!!

What a great two days with Charlotte’s absolute favorite people.

Unfortunately, I only took (and Mark’s stepmom took) photos this afternoon. Next time I’ll take more photos!

7 Months of Lovliness

Posted on February 20, 2015 by playinghousewi

My sweetie pie pumpkin is seven months. How is that even possible? All of a sudden this month she has become a real person… Or maybe the more appropriate way to put it is that her personality has really developed.

She’s opinionated and funny and sweet. My absolute favorite moments with her are when she leans in to hold her head against mind. When she’s tired, she’ll just sit there with her cheek smashed against mine or her forehead tucked into mine. It’s the most perfect, smushy love time and I’m obsessed. Mark, too.

It’s funny, we’re like desperate teenagers sometimes, begging her for a little face smoosh. She often senses the desperation and pushes our head away. Sigh.

This month was the official crawling – and as an update, she’s now a legit crawling baby with a magnetic attraction to danger. Got a wire sticking out? She’ll yank it! Outlet nearby? She’ll cross the room to reach for it. She’s a curious little bunny, that’s for sure. Time to baby proof ASAP.

She also went on two more trips… PA for sweet Pop’s funeral and FL for her first trade show.

She fell in love with Minnie.

She became very daddy obsessed.

She can finally chase the kitty and puppy.

Oh! She’s waving now and starting to get the hang of “high five.”

She’s screaming like a scary baby who gives her mom nightmares… And can very quickly switch to a laugh if distracted… Which gives mom even scarier nightmares.

She’s a pretty awesome little lady.

Take that, puffs!

Posted on February 20, 2015 by playinghousewi

The tiny one is really starting to master picking up food with her little fingers. She’s not amazing at it, but she’s making progress.

Tonight, for the first time, not only was she able to get the little sweet potato puffy things into her mouth… BUT she actually ate them! She’s only ever had them in her mouth once or twice and it’s always ended in throw up. Poor little gag reflex.

But, again, tonight she did it! She ate at least 10 of the dang things! And, not only that, but she ate little Apple pieces, too! I had steamed apples for applesauce and gave her a little before blending it up.

All in all, a good meal… FINALLY! And, on top of it, she ate some of my oatmeal today, too! Yay for food progress.

I should also mention that leading up to tonight, I have been in a major food power struggle with C. She literally just does not want to be fed. She wants to be a big girl and hold the spoon herself.

To overcome the power struggle, I decided to try a homemade “pouch.” Now, before you yell at me for letting my baby suck on a ziplock bag, it must be said that I was regulating the whole time. Anyway, I decided to make a “piping bag” our of a ziplock, which actually worked.

So, I ordered some Squooshi refillable pouches to try. They haven’t arrived yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

Holy Temper Tantrum

Posted on February 19, 2015 by playinghousewi

This morning, Charlotte lost her… Marbles. She’s been playing with her voice lately and discovering screaming… But this morning, wow. She took her new skill to new levels.

I had given her a little bite of oatmeal and went to grab her sippy cup so she could wash it down with a little water. When I gave her the cup, I realized that I must not have screwed the cap on correctly, because the dang thing started leaking water all over.

I grabbed the cup to fix it and the little one flipped. I’m talking blood curdling screams and tears. It was absolutely terrifying.

I tried to calm her down, but ultimately, I ended up giving her the paci, which quieted her a bit and then taking her out of her seat to breastfeed her.

It’s been haunting me all day.

I hate to be dramatic because this is the first temper tantrum of her tiny life, but is this my future?