Things for Baby

Sunday was the big Memorial Day picnic at Stan and Marci's house. Unfortunately I was working, but Isla was getting to go to the party with her G-Ma. Before I put the cute patriotic outfit on her I decided to sunscreen her from head to toe. Grabbing the Coppertone Water Babies, I started slathering it on. Within a minute she was as slippery as an eel and any rogue dog hair in the bathroom was attached to her skin. As careful as I was, I accidentally got some sunscreen near her eye, or so I thought. In actuality it had gotten into her eye. She started rubbing it like crazy! This took me off guard. Who on earth would create a sunscreen for a baby that stings eyes? Obviously someone who has not had to coat the wriggling child with it. So I read the directions. "Flush affected eye with water." What? Isla does not mind getting her hair washed, but it took me several minutes to figure out how to hold an active baby (actually, being one, she is considered a toddler, but..) with one hand while you pour water over the "affected" eye. Hm...again, whoever has created these directions has not had to actually do it.
It's like the adorable outfit someone gave me. The knit weave was as soft as a baby's butt and striped in pastels. I couldn't wait to see her in it! I unbuttoned the back and then went to unsnap the legs. Oh look! They made the snaps look like buttons! Wait...these ARE buttons. Twelve of them. What person actually thought of having twelve little buttons to fit into twelve little holes every time you need to change the diaper? Well, I'm sorry. It's not happening. That little outfit is going back to the store. Again, whoever designed this outfit has never dressed a baby. I'll be looking for friendly products like baby legs and diapers that look like little Levis that make your baby warm and comfortable while not requiring pants.

101.4

This weekend Miss Isla was one sick little girl! She produced more snot than any 21 pound human should, coughed and gagged on the snot going down her throat and spiked a fever. Other, more experienced Moms would probably brush off a 101.4 fever, but since her temp is using in the 97 range, it was startling to read it on the thermometer. Marc was convinced she had bronchitis due to the painful cough, but an early morning walk-in to the pediatrician revealed a double ear infection. Amoxicillin, tylenol and rest seemed to have had some effect. She is much more bright eyed and cheerful even with the snot. Did I mention snot? Oodles and oodles of snot...if she could run when I pick up the snot sucker, she would! Since she hasn't figured it out, she covers her nose and closes her eyes. Out of sight, out of mind...right?

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

We had so much fun at Terri and Mike's for the Annual Easter Egg hunt. As usual, it was a egg capturing war between Will and Brian. Now that Will is nine, he gives Brian a run for his money! The weather caused a melting of chocolate in the eggs but what beautiful weather!! It was almost 80 degrees! We have not sat outside barefoot for Easter in years.
Since Isla isn't walking yet, she only watched the festivities, but was delighted to find Puffs in her Easter basket! Auntie Erin, Debby and G-Ma went WAY overboard on the baskets. Most Easter baskets do not include a wardrobe! But Isla loved the puffs and finds the corduroy kitty cat's tail delicious.

Feeding Frenzy II

Is every parent obsessed with what there baby is eating? When Isla was eating pureed foods, I went to the baby aisle each time, hoping something new and excited was going to arrive on the shelves, which it didn’t. I tried making my own and freezing it, but after a good sale and coupons, I got a variety pack for 10 cents a jar and realized how easy it was to just pop the lid on a jar. It was so exciting to find bananas with granola! Mmmm…I love granola- I am sure Isla will too! But my granola did not have the sticky, gelatinous consistency that the baby food did. It was like that green slime they pour on people’s head on Nickelodeon in the nineties. Gag.
Now that she has been approved to try anything without nuts and shellfish, it is so exciting! What should we try next? She has had waffles, ravioli, pierogi, couscous, and this weekend we made her a quarter sized cheeseburger using baby waffles as a bun. Although she gnawed on the meat, I don’t believe she actually digested any-most of it was spit out after sucking all the goodness from it. I was worried about her protein intake and that she wouldn’t eat chicken, so I tasted the poached chicken I made-yuck! I wouldn’t eat it either. Last night I made homemade chicken fingers and she liked it. (Of course she did, she takes after Daddy who would eat a sock if were battered, fried and served with a mayonnaise based dipping sauce!) My little girl likes flavor! We tried plain mozzarella, but no, she wants the sharp cheddar!
I guess my biggest concern is: is she eating enough? How much is a baby supposed to eat? Right now she would probably eat an entire one pound bag of peas and a jar of peach puffs at one sitting if I let her, but variety is the spice of life. I read other blogs and am amazed at what kids her age are eating. Aren’t their stomachs only the size of a golf ball? I try not to get too worked up about it knowing she is getting all kinds of nutrients straight from the tap. (aka boobs) Sighhh…I guess worry is part of Mom’s job description.

Feeding Frenzy

Introducing Isla to solid foods has been an adventure! First, she seemed to like it all. Then she banned peas. And green beans. So I hid those green veggies in her carrots. She stopped eating carrots. I tried pureeing chicken to add to her veggies for protein and she clamped her jaw shut so tight a crowbar couldn’t open it. (At this point, I tried the chicken and I don’t blame her, yuck) As for fruit, she likes it all- prunes, peaches, pears, mango, banana…she likes apples but they don’t like her. Yogurt is also a fav.
The one thing she would always eat is Gerber Puffs. In fact, I thought she was turning into a puffs addict, so I have made them the dessert course. She enjoys them so much she actually pointed and demanded puffs by pounding her fist on the chair! After trying the puffs, I don’t blame her. The peach are positively delicious.
Now we are onto finger foods. She has been cleared to try anything we are eating except nuts and shellfish. Interestingly enough her current fav is peas. She refused to eat them from the jar, but she’ll eat them whole. She actually cried when I started cleaning up her tray when I thought she was done!
Isla loved pizza. Her first slice was cheese, light sauce, from the Cabin. We started out with strips cut from the pie, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give her a whole slice and have a photo shoot. The other night we had cheese tortellini with pesto. I left a couple of the tortellini plain and cut it into bite size pieces and she wasn’t interested. Then I gave her a whole one tossed in the yummy pesto and she loved it! After she was in bed I remembered pesto had pine nuts and those are a no-no. I checked on her more times than usual and she survived. Last night we had peas, soft bits of carrot, sweet potato fries and cheese quesadilla. I wish I knew what was for dinner tonight…

Free Food!

As part of my new role as a parent, I am attempting to become a coupon princess.  I know that I can never be a coupon queen, but I will certainly try.  There are plenty of blogs out there that can tell you how to save money.  Yesterday I got food FREE at Walmart using coupons!  I got three Beech Nut Let's Grow meals for Isla by using a $1 off coupon.  I had three coupons-two meals were $1.08 and one was .89 so after taking off the $3-I paid .05 for three!  Also, a couple of weeks ago there was a coupon for Old El Paso side dishes, which are new.  The coupon was for $1 off one (I had two) and I found them in the Dollar Days aisle for $1, making them free.  I got black beans and mexican rice-add a tortilla and a sprinkle of cheese and instant burrito!  I am going to link some of my favorites frugal Mom sites.

Sing a Song of Isla

Although I could never make in on American Idol, I love to sing.  I sing often and not at all well, but after Isla was born I wanted to make a lullaby just for her that could be "our song."  I wrote a piggyback song which is when you take an existing tune and change the words.  Ours is to the tune of "My Darling Clementine." 

Oh, I love you
Oh, I love you
Oh, I love you Isla Rose
You're my darlin'
and I love you
From your head down to your toes

Me and Daddy
We're so happy
That you have come our way
We will love you,
Hug and kiss you
Each and every single day...