Organically Growing

The offical blog of HappyGreenBaby.com

No Peas Please October 30, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 4:05 pm

Ryder tried peas last night. I thought he was going to throw up.

The first bite got the typical, “hey, what the hell is this?” type of reaction, but I thought by bite two or three he would start to warm up to the green puree. Instead, he started gagging and I thought for sure he was going to spit it all back out.

He didn’t. But he also didn’t want to go with anymore. In fact, his reaction was so bad, I thought maybe the peas were off – so I tasted a little nibble and I thought it was good! Just sweet pea puree. Like you’d find at a fancy restaurant, sauced under a scallop or something.

We’ll try again tomorrow.

 

My Techy Must-Have for New Moms October 29, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 4:04 pm

It occurs to me that the one thing I always have by my side (not including Ryder) is my Blackberry. I’m not obsessed with email or feel the need to respond to each and every message I get in immediate time, but I have to say that having access to my messages (and mobile Facebook app) has done wonders for me over the last 6.5 months. It’s so nice to be able to stay in touch with friends, read what’s happening in other’s lives and upload the occasional (ok, frequent) status update and pictures about Ryder’s little world. I feel connected, like I’m in the loop with people I care about.

As every new mom (or those of you with baby number 2 at home) knows, sitting down at a computer is a luxury we don’t often get! When it’s naptime for baby, it’s often naptime for mom (ha!) or there’s laundry, cleaning or eating that needs to be done!

If you don’t have one already and are at least somewhat technically inclined – I would definitely say get a Blackberry, iPhone or some other “smart” phone that you can stay in touch with. At the very least, you can read a few status updates while you’re breastfeeding.

 

Throw Your Hands In The Air October 28, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 11:32 pm

And wave ‘em like you just don’t care!

After months of awkward waving at Ryder and getting a blank stare in response, the boy finally threw a “buh-bye” wave. Sitation went a little something like this:

We are embarking on a one-day-a-week nanny share with friends who have a little girl just two weeks older than Ryder. Papa Aron brought her over to play for a few hours. When he went to leave, he sent the typical, “buh-bye Ryder” wave to the boy and to which Ryder lifted his arm and twisted his hand in such a way that everyone in the room immediately recognized it to be a wave. I guess this kid knows how to treat a guest in our house.

To quote Marc, it was Ryder’s first form of communication with us!

 

Freezing Avocado for Baby Food? October 28, 2009

Filed under: organic baby food — happygreenbaby @ 10:49 pm

My favorite book of the moment, Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, suggests giving baby 1/2 – 1 food cube of avocado per day (for the healthy omegas and all that good fat stuff). I had to do a re-read on that part.

An avocado food cube? Is Ruth saying that avocado puree can be frozen, like every other veg/fruit that I’m whipping up for the lil’ one?

The answer is yes! In the handy reference section (in which she outlines nearly every fruit and vegetable imaginable with prep and freezing guidelines) she suggests mashing up the ripe avocado on a plate and scooping it into freezer trays.

I have to admit, I was a little dubious. Seems like the puree will become that not-so-appetizing shade of grey, like guacamole does after half an hour. Then I saw avocado halves in the freezer section at Trader Joe’s and I thought – we’re on to something here! If TJ’s thinks it’s cool to sell frozen avocados, then I can most definitely freeze up the puree at home.

This revelation comes none too quickly either – I have 3 uber-ripe organic avocados from Costco in the fridge that need to be prepped tonight!

 

10 Little Piggies Go Into Hiding October 26, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 4:29 pm

It’s officially the rainy season here in Seattle. High temps of 52 degrees all weekend long and steady rain in the forecast. Top it off with our house furnace being broken and we are felling a bit chilled around here! That means it’s time for socks, shoes and footie PJs pretty much all the time.

Ryder’s cute little pigs have gone into hibernation.

The only time I really get to see these cuties is in the tub or during diaper changes. I’ve never looked forward to a diaper swap more!

Ryder (7)

 

First Foods Continue! October 23, 2009

Filed under: Green Eating, organic baby food — happygreenbaby @ 4:52 pm

We continue to expand Ryder’s menu by introducing a new food every 3-4 days. So far we have tried:

Avocado – loved it at first, has reservations now

Acorn Squash – loved it

Organic Brown Rice Cereal – loves it. Loves it plain, loves it mixed with other stuff. Which is so weird because it looks like bland gummy paste to me.

Banana – lukewarm on it. Will keep trying it

Sweet Potato – Crazy for the sweet potato.

Yogurt – Kind of likes it. It’s tart and he makes a funny face, but he still goes for it. Particularly likes it mixed with sweet potato

Next up: Millet cereal, sweet peas and butternut squash. I’m excited to see how the green veggies go over.

 

Back in Action October 17, 2009

Filed under: Breastfeeding — happygreenbaby @ 4:37 pm

Mom was right. Like she usually is. I spent yesterday and today drinking loads of water, and although I’ve had no appetite and am still queasy, managed to eat some yogurt. Ryder has been nursing like a fiend (bottles just don’t cut it!) and I’m feeling like all is back to normal.

Disaster averted.

 

I leave for 3 days and … October 16, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 4:29 pm

Ryder’s whole world changes!

I came home from 3 days in Indianapolis to find my little guy rolling all over the place, scooting toward toys on his belly and I swear he’s grown more hair!

I’m never leaving again.

 

Milk Truck has Broken Down October 15, 2009

Filed under: Breastfeeding — happygreenbaby @ 4:33 pm

I’ve spent the last 15 hours in a hotel bed, nibbling on ice chips and calling the front desk to deliver Alka Seltzer and Sierra Mist (I haven’t had a soda in, oh, a year?). I don’t know what hit me, but it appears to have been a 10ton Mack truck.

Without going into details, I haven’t been able to keep an ounce of anything in my system for more than an hour. I hauled myself out of bed long enough to try and pump, got a measly 2 ounces after 15 minutes. I quickly go into panic mode that I’m going to lose my supply.

A quick call to my mom (registered nurse) and she assures me that if I keep trying to drink water and get busy pumping and nursing when I get home, all with be ok.

Despite the fact that I’m facing a 7 hour flight home today, through delay-ridden Minneapolis airport, all I can think about is losing my milk supply over a damn 24-hour bug.

 

First Party Foul October 10, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — happygreenbaby @ 11:37 pm

After Ryder was born, our first night out at a restaurant was with Scott, Tanya and their daughter Kathryn, who is about 6 months older than Ryder. He sat quietly in his car seat and snoozed away the whole meal.

Tonight, we went out with them again to a new French restaurant in town. I started the evening by being 20 minutes late, which is my typical MO these days. Ryder was super and slept during the entire eating portion of things. He woke up just in time to witness my third glass of wine. He was sitting on my lap when the waitress brought it over and sat it near me … and which I quickly learned was much too close.

With his hellcat-like reflexes, Ryder promptly reached for and toppled the glass over, spilling wine all over my (our) laps and crashing the glass to the floor. Just as swiftly, the staff cleaned up the mess and brought me a new glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Fortunately for me, this learning experience wasn’t with red wine.