Funny videos, #1

Two things about this video:

1) You have to watch this for about 30 seconds to really see him do what I was taking the video for. He's gotten quite good at it, better than is captured here, but I just can't catch a better version on video! (See Funny videos #2)

2) You have to wait until the end to see what my days are like around here. Never a moment alone...

Georgia's Big Ball

I truly feel like Georgia Mae is our first child, and so when life gets crazy and she's been ignored, I will often try to make it up to her (going to the dog park in Dallas in July was one of the worst ideas I've had). I saw this ball at Target last week and had to get it for her. She loves playing with balls this size! ...until she pops it, which she always does.

I didn't realize when I bought it that it would be a toy that they could play with together! He will watch her chase it around nearly all day long. I got too many cute videos to share with you, but did want to post this one, the best one. And I love how gentle she becomes when he gets too close. Her look to me at the end of the video is saying "Mom, could you get him away from this? That's my ball." Almost like she's tattling on him!

Making Baby Food: Corn

Here's how I make Corn for Austin:

-steam frozen corn until well done (about 20 minutes)

-wash with cold water to cool down so as to touch easily

-blend in Magic Bullet

-freeze in cubes

-reheat as needed

This was actually my first time making corn for him as it's on our pediatrician's 10-12 month food chart, and he just turned 10 months. I enjoyed it as much as one can--steaming veggies on the stove while the temperature outside is a steamy 105+! The corn was steaming, and I was steaming. :-) The smell of steaming corn filled the house and took me down memory lane which was both nice and sad. I wished for years gone by, making homemade sweet corn with my extended Mattison family. My heart aches even now, just thinking of it. Anyways, I didn't find corn much different than the other frozen veggies-turned puree and will definitely make it again.

my supplies: ice cub trays, Magic Bullet, foil, Sharpie, measuring cup, and a spoon

This is my second-biggest pot, with the steamer inside.

Two packages of frozen corn. Beware of the brand you use because some companies add salt. Make sure the ingredients list includes just the vegetable and nothing added.

After putting several inches of water in the bottom of the pot, I add both bags to the steamer, and let them cook for about 20 minutes (from the time the water is boiling). (The yellow splotch you see on the cover is not butter, it's a reflection of the hood light.)

the cooked corn, in my big colander, which is sitting in the sink... I do this so I can spray it down with cold water.

I scoop it out with the measuring cup and put it into the Magic Bullet container. I then add some water to the container and puree it.

This has been one of my best investments!

I scoop it out of the container with a tablespoon and put it into the tray.

I would have gotten a little over three trays, but I was making two veggies this day, and needed the two other trays for that veggie. So I froze some in these bowls we have.

sealed, labeled and ready to freeze

what it looks like straight from the freezer..

and right after I take the foil off..

Corn has so far been THE hardest veggie to get out of the trays. I normally let them sit out at room temperature for just a few minutes (like 2), twist, and out they come! But, the corn had me sweating and nearly swearing they were so challenging! I finally caved in and ran some water over the back of the tray to get them out. I don't typically like to do that because it makes the outsides just ever-so slimy/smudgy that they don't freeze as nicely.

Bagged and labeled. Ready to be reheated at a moment's notice!

Austin's FLYING now!

The loud squealing you hear at the beginning is Austin crying out in frustration as Seth was holding him back (not allowing him to walk) because I was working on turning on the camera and getting ready to take the video. He stops squealing as soon as Seth releases him. ;-)

Making Baby Food: Green Beans

Here's how I make Green Beans for Austin:

-steam frozen beans until well done (about 20 minutes)

-wash with cold water to cool down and preserve color

-blend in Magic Bullet

-freeze in cubes

-reheat as needed

Easy, Easy, Easy!

my supplies: ice cub trays, Magic Bullet, foil, Sharpie, measuring cup, and a spoon

This is my second-biggest pot, with the steamer inside.

Two packages of frozen green beans. I prefer the ones that are already cut because it makes them easier to fit into the Magic Bullet, and quicker to steam. Beware of the brand you use because some companies add salt. Make sure the ingredients list includes just the vegetable and nothing added.

After putting several inches of water in the bottom of the pot, I add both bags of green beans to the steamer, and let them cook for about 20 minutes (from the time the water is boiling). (The yellow splotch you see on the cover is not butter, it's a reflection of the hood light.)

The big metal colander sits in the sink, and after spraying them with cold water to preserve the color and cool them enough to be easy to handle, I scoop them out with the measuring cup, into the Magic Bullet container. I then add some water to the container and puree them.

I would have gotten a little over three trays, but I was making two veggies this day, and needed the two other trays for that veggie. So I froze some in these bowls we have.

seal and label

This is straight from the freezer after being frozen for over 24 hours.

What they look like once you peel the foil off,

and what they look like after coming out of the trays.

Labeled, sealed, and ready to go back into the freezer. Ready to reheat as needed.