Archive for November, 2008

Melody had her first real photo shoot over the weekend! My little girl did very well for the most part She stayed happy all until the photographer tried to position her in a sitting pose. Melody got all upset making that cute little crab like face and began to cry. Awww…. We got some great family pictures!

Over the weekend, I created two photo books. The first was of our family photo shoot and the other was for Melody’s First Halloween. Inku had some really great deals that I couldn’t pass up! I can’t wait to see the quality.

Melody also hit so many milestones over the past week! She is now eating solids, sitting by herself, and crawling! I know her first teeth will be cutting soon and then pretty soon she’ll be walking!

LA Police Gear just may have what you are looking for this holiday season! They have everything from tactical gear pants, socks, boots, guns, jackets, outdoor bags, eye wear, and whole lot more!

One of their many great series is their 5.11 tactical series which offers some great 5.11 Jackets and with a purchase of those the shipping is absolutely free! My husband thought these were pretty cool and would make a great gift even for himself! They come in wide array of styles, colors, and great prices!

So this Holiday season, shop at LA Police Gear for all your tactical gear needs!

Since Melody will be eating soon, I’m starting today to stock up the freezer with homemade baby food. I’ll let you know how that goes! I’ve so far pureed my own carrots very easily and will be trying those out within a month to see how she likes them

Apples are a great first food for your infant because they are mild, easy to digest, and full of nutrients. Homemade applesauce is very simple to make and can be stored in your freezer so that it is always on hand when you need it. Because apples are naturally sweet, you do not need to add any additional sweeteners, leaving the apples in their purest form.

Simple Baked Apples

Baking Dish

Aluminum Foil

Apples, peeled and sliced into wedges

A small amount of water

Preparation

Carefully peel the apples as the peels will be difficult for your baby to digest when he is first starting solid foods. Slice the apple into wedges and layer them in a single layer in the bottom of a baking dish. Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the baking dish and cover the whole thing with foil. Bake the apples at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until they are soft enough that you can easily pierce them with a fork.

For Babies Ages 6-8 Months

Remove the baked apples from the baking dish and place them in a blender or food processor. Process the apples until they have reached a smooth texture. Reserve the cooking water and use it to thin out the apple mixture until it is thin enough for your baby to eat easily.

For Babies Ages 9-12 Months

Remove the baked apples from the baking dish and place them in a bowl. Use a mashed potato masher to mash the apples until there are no large pieces.

Storage

Store your homemade baby applesauce in the fridge for 2-3 days or use an ice cube tray to freeze small cubes of applesauce. Once the cubes of applesauce are frozen, remove them from the ice cube tray and store them in a freezer bag in the freezer for several months. Thaw frozen applesauce cubes in the fridge overnight or under running warm water. Never thaw baby food in the microwave because it can thaw unevenly and create hot spots.

Alternative

If you want to provide your baby with healthy, natural baby food but do not want to make it yourself, you can purchase all-natural, sugar free applesauce from the store. There is no need to purchase baby applesauce. Any sugar free applesauce can be given to your baby as a nutritious first food. Check the ingredients to be sure that there are no added ingredients before purchasing applesauce for your infant. Applesauce should contain only apples, water, and possibly ascorbic acid, a preservative derived from vitamin C.

Adding Applesauce to Cereals

Add some variety to your infant’s cereal by mixing in some of your homemade applesauce. Applesauce can be mixed in with rice cereal, oatmeal, barley cereal, and mixed cereal to create a new taste experience.