A How To (making baby food)

I decided early on that I wanted to make Love Bug's baby food. Nutrition and knowing exactly what she's eating were two major factors in making that decision, but add in that it cost a lot less to feed her when I make it myself, and (ding ding!!!) we have a winner. Jarred baby food is cooked at really high temperatures for lengthy amounts of time so that it can be kept on the store shelf for longer, resulting in depleting the vitamins, nutrients and taste. After some research, I found that steaming your food is the best way to preserve the most nutrients while cooking it, and so I made a trip to my local farmer's market to grab some vegetables. Here's what you do once you get home with your veggies:

Start by washing your hands, then your vegetables. Peel them, chop them and toss them in your steamer (your vegetables, that is)!

I let my carrots steam for 12 minutes, and checked on them periodically to ensure that I didn't over cook them. Once they were to my liking, softness wise, I put them in my food processor with 1/4 cup of water.  (I used a half a bag of carrots.)

Once pureed, I spooned the carrots into my tray, and placed it in the freezer.

Once frozen, you can remove the cubes and place them in freezer bags to store in your freezer. Kept frozen, it will stay delicious for 6 months.

Struggles

We all have them, don't we? Even those people who seem like they got it all, they don't. There is something they're struggling with. I have healthy children, a great marriage with a supportive husband, nice home, dependable transportation, etc. But I struggle too. I struggle with a weight problem. An eating problem. An "I DON'T WORK OUT" problem. I do good, for a few days. I eat healthy, I go to the gym, I walk w/ the kids and then BOOM it all goes down the drain with a few tray of brownies and a bag of chips (with dip!). How do I break this cycle? How do I stop this train? Because seriously, this train must be stopped. I can't keep going in this direction. I can't keep going up on the scale. The number must go down. So please, while I try and find my motivation, send me some tips. Tell me what you do to stay fit and healthy. What motivates you to get and keep your butt in gear. Do you set goals? Do you have partners that you make gym dates with? Where do you find your drive? Can I borrow it for awhile?

A friendly reminder (number 5)

I stumbled upon this quote earlier this week:

"Children don't need much advice but they really do need to be listened to and not just with half an ear." Emma Thompson

I read it a couple of times, really taking in what it said. Too often I'm distracted. Distracted by the TV, the internet, my phone, my iPod, my "to do" list. How easily I forget that I have a young boy, growing by the second it seems, just wanting to be heard. He says my name a hundred two hundred times a day, and each time he does, he wants my undivided attention. Whatever is on his mind is the most important thing in the world and whatever is holding my attention at that moment can wait. Eyes on him. Focused. Ready to listen, not with half an ear, but with both ears.

I've made it a priority to give him both ears, and so my friendly advice to you is to do the same. Listen with your ears and your heart. Listen and look them in the eyes. What they're saying is important, whether we realize it or not. One day we're going to wish we could have those moments back. When all they really wanted from us is to be heard.

Swinging

She swings...

He swings...

They swing.

It's so enjoyable to watch them together. I remember when Little Guy was just a baby, sitting in a big swing all by himself. He's grown so much, and now his baby sister sits in the swing beside him, looking to him for assurance and guidance. He takes his role serious, and talks her through her biggest challenges. I hope they swing together their whole lives. After all, what fun is it to swing alone?

Enjoying the view

I found Wolverine watching our fish, Moses, the other day. I knew he hadn't been there long, because I had just fed the fish the day before. I took a minute and stared at him. I smiled and walked away.

I love the surprises I find around the house these days. It's nice to have Little Guy running around leaving traces of himself everywhere.

Oatmeal

I never thought I'd wait this long. My first born was ready for a steak dinner at about four weeks old, so it's surprising to me that Love Bug's first taste of food happen today, at the ripe age of 5 months and 3 weeks. I have spent many hours the last six months nursing this baby, and my heart was heavy with the decision to feed her food. Real food. Last night while grocery shopping I picked her up a box of Gerber's Organic Oatmeal, and today she gave it a try. She wasn't too sure about it, and neither was I, but we held hands and kept pushing forward...

until finally, she decided, that it tasted really good.

A family hike

"Let's go hiking tomorrow!" my husband said with such excitement last night to me. "Ok...." I said, hesitantly, not wanting to disappoint him. We geared up this morning and headed out into nature. I have never felt so at home in all of my life.

Walking down the trail, taking it all in.

This fascinating spider web was inside of a tree stump. Little Guy couldn't get enough of all of the bug guts.

He decided to start collecting some items midway through the hike. Here he has gathered a leaf and a rock. 

There was a lot of walking involved, we willingly followed Daddy, unsure where he was taking us.

We took on some tough challenges, like climbing this big rock. 

 Enjoyed the peacefulness of being where others aren't. Fantasized about jumping in the water. 

Made sure to keep hydrated, it was really hot out there!

Took a break, and talked about the long walk ahead, back to the car. 

All while, this bundle of joy, took a nice nap. 

 Deep hills and slippery paths were some of the challenges from today, but the reward was great. We are already looking forward to next time.

A memory

My husband and I recently had a conversation about familiar smells, and today while I was napping he wrote this. I thought it was worth sharing and hope you enjoy this guest post from him.

There's something special about familiar smells. They can bring life to memories in ways that none of the other four senses can accomplish. A familiar smell can spark visions and feelings and brings back  moments in time long forgotten.

My mother gave me an afghan that came from my grandparents.  It had been stored in a vacuum sealed bag for years.  When she gave it to me,  I had a vague recollection of this handmade blanket.  But when I opened it and pulled it out of the bag, I was eleven years old and sleeping on the pull out sofa in my grandparents basement.  It was always so cool down there no matter the temperature outside.  A rush of feelings and images passed through my mind and body in a flash.

My wife and mother feel the blanket needs to be cleaned, to rid it of that smell, but I know better.  That is not just a musty old smell, it is a piece of my childhood, forever held within the fabric of that old comfy blanket.

Two peas, both 5 months old

"Do they look alike?" they ask. "Yes..." I'll answer back at them "She's a spitting image of her big brother." But looking at these pictures, both taken when each was five months old, I really don't think they do. There are so many differences between them, but one thing is the same; you could eat them they look so delicious!

When I remember Little Guy at this age, I can’t help but smile. My smile, similar to the one he has in this picture; a wide open mouth smile. He was a very happy baby. Upon meeting him and looking into his baby blues, you’d melt into a puddle. Time hasn’t jaded that smile of his, he still laughs and smiles and finds humor in almost everything. As he grows I hope his passion for life does too, this kid was born knowing life should be lived to the fullest.

 At five months old, Love Bug already understands the importance of relationships and being around people that you love. When picked up, she immediately touches the person’s face, feeling her way through their features. She does not like to be alone, but more than that, she likes to be in the middle of all of the action. Watching her big brother is one of her favorite pastimes. When I watch her watch him, it's obvious how badly she wants to join him in his adventures. In the middle of chaos, surrounded by loved ones, is where she belongs.

A friendly reminder (number 4)

I've always wanted to blog. I read several blogs daily (dooce, girlsgonechild, finslippy - to name a few) and really enjoy what I get out of the blog community. A laugh, a lesson, and sometimes even a good (ugly) cry. When I started blogging, less than a month ago, I felt very intimidated. What if I don't have anything to write about? What if no one cares? What if I'm just doing this for me? Eventually, me myself and I came to the realization that that was OK. What's so wrong with doing something for myself? So what if I get four followers and one of them is my husband, if it gives me some sort of joy and it's not hurting anyone, blog on blogger! And so my readers, that's my friendly reminder to you today. Find something that you enjoy and do it. Do it the best that you know how and can. Do it until your heart is content, for if you don't do something for YOU, no one else will.

A letter to my husband

It was a little over three years ago we found out we were going to have a baby. I remember taking the pregnancy test and when the double blue lines showed up on the EPT test, I cried. And I cried. And then you came to my rescue and assured me everything would be ok. You said that we were ready to be parents, that we loved each other and would have so much fun raising a baby. When our beautiful baby boy was born the following August, we were overwhelmed with joy and fear. The challenges of parenthood were tough; up at night, long days with no naps from him, putting each other last and him first. But we wouldn't change a thing, would we? He made us feel closer than ever. As a baby, we would stare at him in amazement. Looking at him, looking at each other, smiles on our faces as big as they possibly could be. He made us parents, he made you a Dad. He made us wise, and strong, taught us lessons we would have never learned any other way. He shaped us and made us a family. A family I am so proud of and love sharing with you. Our kids are so lucky to have you, and so am I. 

Happy Father's Day to you, my love.

Greek Couscous Salad - party size!

This salad will make you want to slap your Mama (as if you need a reason), yes, it's that good. My husband asks for it, my family raved when I made it for a birthday celebration and everyone that tries it can't get enough. It's a big salad, but believe me, when you take it to a party to share with friends, you won't bring any home. And if you decide to make it for yourself, it's so great left over. Here's the scoop...

WHAT YOU NEED: 

3 (6oz) boxes of garlic & herb couscous 

2 TBSP olive oil

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 cup of mixed bell peppers (green, red, yellow, or orange), diced

1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved

1 (5oz) jar of pitted kalamata olives, halved

1 cucumber, sliced and then halved

1/2 cup of parsley, fresh and finely chopped

1 (8oz) package crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup Greek vinaigrette salad dressing

Cook couscous according to package directions. Once finished transfer to a big serving bowl and allow to cool. Stir to break up clusters of couscous. Meanwhile, saute your onion and mixed bell peppers in the olive oil for a good ten minutes. Once the couscous has cooled to room temperature mix in the onion/bell pepper mixture, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, parsley and feta.  

 

 Gradually stir vinaigrette into couscous until desired moistness is reached. Enjoy!

Let it be

Every time a flower appears in our yard it's sure to be picked. It's very difficult for little guy to let things be. I will say to him once he spots it "Little guy, let that flower be! Give it a chance to grow, we'll check on it tomorrow..." But it doesn't matter. Before I can finish my sentence it's picked, out of the ground and into his hands. It's final resting place will be in a little vase on my counter.

Look! A flower!

I know exactly where he gets it from. That little problem I mentioned above about letting things be. I’m guilty. I have the hardest time with it myself. I don't come downstairs in the morning until all beds are made, and rooms are straightened, constantly through out the day I make sure the pillows are in their correct location on our furniture (yes, there's really a "home" for the pillows on my furniture), I never leave dishes in the sink, and I have started running the dishwasher after dinner and unloading it before I head up to bed. I could go on, but I think my point is clear; I have a little bit of a problem. Usually this problem doesn't get in the way of anything; my husband has come to expect it from me, and understands my need to touch and straighten, but my little flower picker has finally had enough of it. A couple of days ago I went to his train table and started straightening his cars and figurines and when he came over to see what I was doing, he threw a total fit. "No Mama...NOOO!!!!" he said as if I'd messed up everything. Maybe I did. Maybe what I saw as disorganized chaos was actually carefully and meticulously placed, much like my house is before I go to bed. Just because my eyes saw a mess, doesn’t mean his did. I think it’s time I start letting things be around here. No one in this house cares if the beds are made before 8am, so why do I? What difference does it make where our pillows are on the furniture, it’s just damn pillows. I spend more time cleaning up unnecessarily and less time doing what I should be doing, enjoying my babies.  And look at those kids; they are so worthy of my enjoyment!

You scream, I scream, We all scream...

for ice cream! Little guy is obsessed with ice cream, (who isn't?) and constantly asks for it. "I want a treat!" he'll say, no matter the time of day. Occasionally he gets that treat he desires and this is what he looks like once is devoured.  

Tomato Plant

Let's be clear, we can't keep a plant alive at Casa de Lipshultz. I've bought maybe four five six plants, all of which have died in my care. I remember reading  that plants make the air clean & fresh when I was pregnant with little guy and I immediately went out to buy plants. I wanted to fill our house with the cleanest freshest air possible, but ended up wasting money, killing plants, and crying about it.  I believed that because I couldn't manage to water a few plants I wouldn't be able to keep my kid alive either. Sigh.

It's been a couple years since the "kill all the plants in sight extravaganza" and a month ago my husband and I made our way to Home Depot to pick out some victims plants. We settled on two that day, one being a lavender plant (rest in peace) and the other, a tomato plant. We've tended to this tomato plant more than our infant child. Watering it, feeding it, moving it from some sun, to more sun, to "oh you better go move it - it's getting too much sun" places. We noticed a couple of weeks ago that there were some blooms on it, and that was just what we needed to really light the fire under our plant growing asses! Over the last week the yellow blooms have turned into little green tomatoes and it's true what they say "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs" or in my case, you can't keep a plant alive unless you kill a (few) dozen.

A friendly reminder (number 3)

He colors with such passion. His crayon pressed very hard against the paper and every mark he makes is with intent. He doesn't care that it's not within the parameters of the picture. It doesn't bother him that the once outlined image for him to color is now covered with many marks, and it's almost impossible to make out what the clean slate looked like before he started. He knows the value of coloring outside of the lines. His reminder to go outside of the box, to color wherever you may choose, is an important one.

Barley & Tuna Casserole

Speaking of barley, here is a wonderful recipe including the grain. It's an easy one, and uses ingredients that I always have in my pantry.

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 cups cooked pearl or whole grain barley
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, undrained
1 can (6 ounces) water-packed tuna, drained and flaked
1-1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup non-fat milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray your casserole dish with nonstick vegetable spray. Combine your cooked barley, pinto beans and tuna. 

 Once mixed, add in 1 cup of shredded cheese and the rest of the ingredients. 

Place the mixed ingredients in your casserole dish (I used an 8 inch square baking pan) and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. 

 Bake 45 minutes, and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Introducing you to some sunshine

This little girl has changed me. When trying to pinpoint the exact moment it occurred, there are several moments that come to mind. Maybe it was April 20, 2010 when I found out I was pregnant and instantly knew, that my daughter would soon be here (even though there was no confirmation of her sex at that point). Or maybe it was the first time I felt a little flutter of love in my stomach as she moved around, and tickled me. Perhaps it was on August 4, 2010 when I found out I was right, the little love bug in my tummy was the daughter I always dreamed of having. Actually, it wasn't any of those days. It wasn't until she was here in my arms, that I changed. The day that she was born was one that I will always treasure. My heart, sometimes hard and strict and stern, was turned to mush. How had she done this to me in such a short time? My desire to raise a strong daughter, one who wouldn't take any shit from you, was gone. I wanted to keep her sweet, innocent, and pure. When I held her for the first time, I really couldn't believe her beauty, her sweetness. Her soul sang to mine, and our hearts danced. She is a ray of sunshine, a beautiful child of love. I held her against my skin and stared at her the first 24 hours of her life. I never once fell asleep or looked away. As she grows up, I will always cherish that time with her, that first day of her life. 

First friends

We all have friends. Some come and go. Some stay. Some come and go and stay all at the same time. I am so lucky to have such wonderful beautiful friends. Friends from long ago, friends that I just met, friends that touched my life then, and now. I want to introduce you to a few of my first friends, as each of them have such a special place in my life...

My first childhood friend has been by my side for almost 23 years. We grew up, together, in the same small town in southern Virginia, our homes only a couple miles from each other. We went through elementary, middle and high schools together, holding hands. Sometimes we let go, but some way or another our hands always found each other again. We're still holding hands today, and I am so grateful.

My first (boy)friend has been such a light in my life since the day I met him. I'm not sure what it is about him, but I felt a special energy and connection with him, even at a young age. We dated, we broke up, we fought, we made up. Turns out he was never really romantically interested in me, and that's when our friendship took a huge leap towards special. Over the last ten years, we've gone years without speaking to speaking on a weekly basis and haven't missed one damn beat. I love him, and all that he offers me in our friendship. A nice ground to stand on. He is one hell of a man, and treats me as though I'm his queen. 

My first friend in Maryland has been the long lost older sister I've been looking for,  my whole life. Smart, sensitive, mature, and beautiful describes this special woman. I have often found it very challenging in my adult years to make female friends, but she makes it so easy. I am lucky that our paths decided to cross. We have shared our whole lives stories with each other, perhaps too much of our stories, and we make each other laugh. It's so easy to enjoy life when you're around her, and she makes me happy. She's truly a gem, one that I treasure very much. 

Thank you to my friends; both mentioned and not mentioned. Thank you for being you and for being my friend.
I will leave you with a quote that describes friendship perfectly:

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."
--C. S. Lewis

A friendly reminder (number 2)

Me:  I asked my husband to make me an egg sandwich. He went in to make it fifteen minutes ago. I'm still waiting...It takes me three minutes to make an egg sandwich. I can literally make two during a commercial break.

Mom: Egg salad maybe?

Me: Um....no. I keep looking in there at him. He seems confused.

Mom: Lend some advice.

Me: Is hurry up good advice?

Mom: You nut!

***He brought me the sandwich***

Me: He put it on a bagel thin! Delicious.

Mom: I knew he'd pull through! Patience is a virtue!

Patience truly is a virtue, and I'm reminded that every day, even by my husband, who clearly hasn't cooked an egg sandwich since we met. 

Planes, Trains & Auto...err...Little Guy

I wonder if it's in all of us. An early desire. A fantasy. To escape it all. To be somewhere else. To leave it all behind. His fascination with planes and trains has grown the last six months. When a plane flies over us he stops in his tracks. Sometimes he even looks for them. He'll sit very still, eyes glued in the sky, ears perked to make sure he can listen for each detail the outside world surrounds us with. When he hears it, flying over us, he'll jump up to spot it. But spotting it usually isn't enough. It's followed with "I want to ride it!" or "I want to hold it!". I can pretend that this obsession with planes is because he's a boy. A young boy who's experiencing things for the first time. All boys go through this stage I tell myself, every one loves planes. But inside of me I know the truth. I know he's ready to be on that plane or train or in that car. A desire to see what's out there for him. A desire to take on whatever is thrown his way. A desire to travel his yellow brick road by any transportation available.

It's the little things

It's so easy to get caught up in life. So caught up that life just passes you by. I find myself on a daily basis telling myself to slow down. To enjoy the day, the hour, the exact moment that I'm experiencing at that time. It's so easy to be concerned with next week or next time and challenging to enjoy the now. I have some fellows in my life that remind me every single day how precious life is, and how wonderful the little things are. I feel so lucky to have them, to be able to look in their beautiful blue eyes every morning when I rise and last thing every night when I fall. I'm so energized by them, by their way with me. They understand me, even the little guy, who is only 2. He has a great understanding of his Mama, one that can't be touched by any other human being I've encountered. As much as I look forward to watching him grow and mature, I remind myself to enjoy this day with him, today. Right now. 

 

 This little bunny has been showing up in random places for years. My husband and I take turns hiding him in places where we know the other will find him. I am always surprised where he chooses to place him for me to find, and found these two places exceptionally sweet. It's the little things...

Little bunny, hanging from my favorite bottle of wine. 

Little bunny, tucked in with a nice pillow and blanket (made of tissues), ready for bed on my pillow.

Some beautiful flowers that little guy picked for me while walking the dogs with Daddy. He's so proud when he walks in the door with them, and his eyes light up with  my reaction. It's the little things...

This note was first on my husband's plate along with his lunch last weekend. I was surprised to find it recycled in the shower the next morning. It's the little things...

A sweet thank you note from my husband, found in his lunch box when I opened it to pack his lunch for the next day. It's the little things...