Baby Food: Round 2

...Or should I say Toddler Food: Round 1?

Now that Elise is almost 10 months (whaaat?) and eating a whole multitude of foods, I thought it was time for another post about baby food.

Around 5 or 6 months (mommy brain), we started giving Elise puffs (Happy Puffs).  She loved them, and I loved that they allowed me to do a couple of things around the house while she silently ate her puffs. 

When I was a nanny, the parents would bring me finger foods to feed the kiddos.  So, I followed suit with my own child and low and behold, Elise loved eating independently!  The fancy name for this parenting technique is Baby-Led Weaning and there are a plethora of books on the market. But the main gist of it is, baby eats what you eat but in bite-sized pieces and they feed themselves. The only things that Elise has not eaten are peanuts, milk, honey, really spicy things, beef, and pork (the last two are for my own reasons not medical).  She eats 3 meals a day plus a few snacks here and there. 

Some things that are difficult with this path:

1. Babies choke.  99% of the time they will work it out themselves.  It does make your heart drop when it happens but as long as you are mindful of the size you are cutting the food into; there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.  Of course, start your kiddos off on very soft foods (bananas, avocado etc) and work yourself up from there.  Dads are actually the worrywarts in this department.  Mike would always get mad if she choked and tell me to switch back to purees.  As you can tell, I never listened to him.

2. It’s messy!  Our pups get A LOT of treats.  It is a lot easier if you have dogs that are natural vacuum cleaners.

3. It’s Expensive.  Our household has gone completely organic or at least Non-GMO (for things that are not available in organic).  We shop primarily at Natural Grocers, Sprouts, and farmer’s markets because it makes it that much easier to shop (Natural Grocers is the only store that carries all organic produce and most, if not all, of their other products are organic). Our grocery bill has gone up by 30%; however, I do believe this is completely worth it.  I’m feeding not only Elise, but Mike and I, food that I don’t really have to worry about.  I also believe this is so much healthier in the long run.

The PROS:

1. Elise feeds herself.  No need spending time steaming, pureeing, and feeding her pureed food.  Although, I do think parents should start their kiddos off with homemade purees (it’s short lived and helps them get used to food and texture).

2. Elise eats what we eat.  I don’t have to cook another meal every night.  With the exception from above, she eats and most of the time loves what we are eating

3. It’s less time consuming!  Elise eats while we are eating.  Easy peasy!

Some of Elise’s favorite foods:


1. Blueberries- I cut these in half and she devours them

2. Chicken Marsala- This is her absolute favorite dinner.  She eats for about 30 minutes continuously.  She absolutely loves the mushrooms.

3. Peas- Just steamed frozen peas whole

4. Cheese- cut into bite sized chunks

5. Falafel- This was her first favorite food.  Just cut into bite sized pieces

6. Green smoothies- although these are spoon-fed to her.  She has not yet mastered the straw.

Elise loves, loves, loves to eat. She also love flavor.  Funny, because while I was pregnant with her, I ate a bland, bland diet and hated to eat. 

In case anyone is wondering, Elise still nurses anywhere from 6-10 times in a 24 hour period

So, I am interested: What do you feed your toddlers?  Are they picky eaters?





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My Wild(tree) Adventure

I recently became a representative of Wildtree products.  For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a sales-y type of person and I actually believe this about myself also.  However, I really love and believe in this product and what it stands for.  I love that it can make a person’s day a little bit easier and healthier. 

So what is Wildtree?

For those of you who are not familiar with our product line, Wildtree products are organic, non-GMO, and all natural - no fillers, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, dyes or any other additives in any of our products.  We believe that food should taste great, be good for you, and be simple to prepare.    We realize that everyone is busy, so we make adopting a healthier lifestyle simple by providing great resources to our customers.

A good way to explain what we offer is that we represent the “inside of the grocery store”.  If you go to a grocery store, the perimeter is filled with all of your fruits, veggies, and meats.  The inside is usually all of your processed and packaged items.  We sell hundreds of products that replace your pantry.  A few examples of what we sell are seasoning, oils, dressings, culinary blends, and some convenience food items (boxed cake mixes, etc).

The main focus of this company however, is to make dinnertime a lot easier on those of you who are busy, stuck in a rut, or want to eat healthier but don’t really know where to begin or have the time.

How does Wildtree make your life easier?

We offer Freezer Meal Workshops!  The big trend in today’s family life is meal planning.  I, myself, had no idea where to even start with meal planning.  I thought it was too much of a hassle and I didn’t have the time (and quite frankly didn’t want to) to make a meal plan, grocery list, and prepare everything.  I didn’t want to spend a whole day doing this.  That’s where Wildtree comes in.  They do all the planning, grocery list making, and recipe deciding for you!  All you do is buy your meat and veggies, put them in freezer bags, and come to a workshop with some of your good friends, and knock out 10-20 meals in ONE hour!  You go home, put them in a freezer and you have easy meals to put together on busy nights.  It couldn’t be simpler!  You also get to go home with 5-7 full sized Wildtree products and recipes on hand to use them. 

The meals are delicious, healthy, and simple.  I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want that.

This is also IDEAL for new parents or soon-to-be new parents.  I made a few dinners before having E and stuck them in the freezer... I really wish I had so many more meals that were ready to make. I also really wish I knew about Wildtree so I had healthy meals ready to go.  

Becoming a Rep:

If anyone is interested in making some extra money or even if you just want a fun night once or twice a month, you might want to consider becoming a Wildtree Rep. My team leader is on her way to replacing her nursing income with working very part time and our executive director made $83,000 last year and she has been doing this for a little over 2 years. 

I will be having a launch party in late June (invites will soon go out), but in the meantime, if anyone wants more information on this product line, would like to be included in a workshop, would like to try some product, or if anyone would like to join my team and become a rep, you can email me (kbelle873@gmail.com), go to my website at www.mywildtree.com/katierobertson, or comment below!

Happy eating… and Happy Friday!  Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Pinch Me! Elise is 6 Months Old!

Goose, you are 6 months old!!!  It feels like you have been with us forever but at the same time I cannot believe it has been 6 months since you have been born!

It just keeps getting more fun with you.  Even though I miss your cuddling, sleepy days, I love being able to play with you and make you laugh.  You make me laugh and smile more than I thought possible.  Your personality is really shining through and I think you are a good mix of both your dad and I.  I can tell you are going to be a talker around us (you’re a little shy around other family members) and you definitely like things your way.  You definitely love your parents and the life we have given you.

Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

You finally have rolled over both ways.  I think you think you don’t know how to do it because it happens spontaneously and you get this surprised look on your face.  You are sitting pretty well on your own but still sway a bunch so we keep the Boppy behind you.  You’re starting to react to your toys, which is really fun to watch.  You shake rattles, hug and kiss stuffed animals, and reach for your favorite toys.  You have also found your feet and love them!

Bath time is still your favorite time of day.  You have taken up splashing and water is starting to get everywhere.  I have a feeling that once you are sitting up better we will have to move you to the big bathtub. 

I have started running with you in the jogging stroller and boy is it hard.  You don’t seem to mind it much but get a little annoyed with bumps and if it is longer than 20-30 minutes.  You have to be well rested and fed to enjoy things like that. 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  It tells my story...

You grab everything that is in your reach.  You love your door bouncer.  You have just started really enjoying eating.  You love your pups.  You love being read to and looking at the books.  You love being sung to and talked to.  You love mornings.  You love the Ergo (and so do I… I wouldn’t be able to get any shopping done without it)! You love being close to your parents.

Your first time at the park... you aren't too sure about the swings yet.  No tears though so that was good!

You do not like not getting what you want.  You do not like not being able to move from point a to point b.  You do not like when I walk away from you.  You HATE the carseat and “long” (more than 5 minutes) car rides. 

We got a camera this month and I have been having so much fun playing around with you as my favorite model. Here are some of my favorites...

You like life… what can I say?!  I love watching you grow and learn about yourself.  And, I love that you are mine!  

You are my angel, my darling, my star and my love will find you wherever you are!

Love, Mom

Why I Make my own Baby Food

Now that E is starting solids, I want her to have and taste REAL foods.  I really have nothing against store bought/jarred baby food and it is definitely a route I would go if I had less time on my hands.  This may sound funny or silly but since I have been “making” her food since she was born (and even before that, I suppose) I wanted to keep the trend up.   I make dinner for Mike and I so what is so difficult about making my daughter food, too?  Seriously though, it is ten times easier than I thought it would be.

I also love the fact that I get to choose the ingredients and actually see/do the process from start to finish.  I select, wash, cut, steam, and puree it and I know there is no contamination.  I’m “processing” her foods but I am not buying and giving her processed foods.  The hope in doing this is that she will grow up loving the taste of non-processed and fresh foods instead of junky, processed foods.  Also, by introducing her to textures and flavors at 5.5-6 months (instead of giving her “one texture” purees and at a later age), I hope and believe that she will not be a picky eater into toddlerhood.

Processed and fast foods have become such an epidemic in our society, and I am victim to it.  My teenage years were spent eating fast food and drinking pop.  I fell into the slump of eating a lot of processed junk during my pregnancy and after having E and I am just now slowly transitioning back to eating whole organic foods, again.  I’m not going to withhold food from my daughter, but my hope is that she will CHOOSE healthy foods over junk.

I know… high hopes!

So far, E has only had sweet potatoes, avocado, and green beans.  She basically despised avocados (Heck, I hated them until I was in my 20’s), but seems to really like the potatoes and green beans.   I tried rice cereal about 3 or 4 weeks ago but she seemed to get really cranky the rest of the day so I basically skipped the cereals altogether.  I’ll introduce oatmeal later on. 

HATES avocados!

Theres is also the fact that making my own baby food is cost effective.  I can make 10-20 servings for the cost of 2 or 3 of those store bought pouches.  This isn't a huge reason I do this but it is a cherry on top!

The process is really quite easy:

1. Choose organic, in season produce

2. Peel skinned veggies and fruits

3. Wash thoroughly (before being cut and once it is cut)

4. Steam

5. Blend in a food processor or blender (adding cooking liquid to get the texture suitable for your baby’s age)

6. Divide into ice cube trays and freeze

7. Take food out of trays and place into freezer bags (veggies and fruits are good up to 3 months in the freezer)

The only two exceptions are bananas and avocados.  They do not need to cooked and can just be mashed up with a fork as long as they are ripe enough.  They also cannot be frozen.

Veggies need to be cooked until the child is 12 months old to reduce choking hazard.

Foods suitable for 4-6 month olds:

VEGGIES: sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash (acorn or butternut)

FRUITS: pears, apples, avocados, and bananas

GRAINS: whole grain organic cereals (oatmeal, rice, and barley)

Of course, always follow your instincts.  If you don't think your baby is ready for solids then wait.  E loves to breastfeed and nothing has changed from before we started solids. 

Elise is 4 months old!

Dear Elise,

I cannot believe you are 4 months old!  I will probably say this for the rest of my life, but where is the time going?  We sure are having fun though!  We have the cutest conversations and best snuggles at night.

You are the most beautiful baby!  Those eyes could melt an iceberg!  Get used to people telling you that you have amazing eyes... because you are going to hear it for the rest of your life!

This month was full of firsts for you!  First Christmas, New Years, laugh, and sleeping through the night. 

New Years Eve!  You enjoyed the sitar player at Little India!

Your laugh is magical! We were delighted to hear it on New Years day while I was reading you a story.  So far, that was your one and only true belly laugh but you do throw in some squeals of delight and some giggles here and there (you’re a tough audience).  You are babbling like no other and just like your mama, you love to complain!

Your sleep can be all over the place, one night you might sleep from 9-5 and the next be up every 3 hours.  I sure do savor those good nights.

I believe you are in the midst of teething.  You are turning on your drooling machine full blast and you chew on everything that comes into contact with your mouth.  You are able to grab hold of a toy, my finger, or my hair and guide them straight to your mouth (We always knew you were smart).   Just the other day, you started chewing on my chin and my nose whenever I hold you close to my face. 

I don't mind the drool one bit!

A coffe connoisseur just like your Aunt Sara and Loree 

Your first Cowboy boots from your Grandma Baba

Speaking of teeth, not that we had any doubt that you would need braces, but you found your thumb!  I am pretty happy that you found it though, I am not a huge fan of those pacifiers (Gracie sure is though). 

We think you will be able to start cereal soon.  You are always watching us eat and have grabbed something from my hand and put it in your mouth (raisin bread and graham cracker).  You are still a bit confused by your highchair though!

Things you love:

story time

bath time

diaper changes

walking your pups

eating

the camera

your pups

Things you hate:

your carseat

not being held when you want to be held

not being the center of attention

having mama be some place you are not

tummy time

I love you more than you ever will know!   Happy 4 months, Lisee Pie!

P.S. Chloe also had a birthday on your 4 month anniversary!  She is 7 years old!  It is really quite hard to believe.  She has been there by my side every step of the way!   We love you Cocos.

Week 31 of Pregnancy

Where the heck are these weeks going?  So crazy!  9 more weeks to go and Mike and I will have a precious little one.

Our Baby:

I have many different apps that tell me how big the baby is getting every week.  These last few weeks, I have gotten many mixed sizes but I will give you my favorite.  The baby is now 18 inches long and 3.5 pounds (about the size of a head of Romaine lettuce).  This little one is now able to turn their head from side to side and do lots and lots of flips inside my uterus.  Fat is still accumulating and will keep accumulating until it is born!

Physical Changes:

I don’t feel like I have gone through many changes this last week.  My belly may have or may have not gotten bigger.  One big change… though it doesn’t have to really deal with me… is that the baby will push against one side and I can actually feel the little one (probably a little butt).  If I push against the spot the baby will move like crazy… Mike keeps telling me to stop because it must be comfortable if it keeps going to the same spot but I can’t help it sometimes… its so amazing to actually (between muscles, skin, and uterus) be able to feel the baby and see my belly move in all different directions!

How I am feeling:

I am feeling pretty good.  Sleep has been a lot better this week (besides waking up 3-4 times to use the restroom).  Breathing is still getting harder and my heart rate shoots up if I go up and down our stairs.  Other than that… all is good!

Odds and Ends:

Mike is turning 27 tomorrow and this will be the last birthday we get to celebrate without having a little on in tow (outside the uterus)!  I’m pretty sure all of our birthdays will bring a much different meaning once we have our little baby to help us celebrate them. 

We are having a mini-vacation in Colorado Springs.  Mike loves the zoo and so we are going to the Cheyenne Mountain zoo for his birthday!  More to come on the festivities this coming week.

Hope everyone has a great last weekend of July!  I know I am very happy to celebrate it with my husband and welcome in August.