How to make baby food.. Yes, it is THAT easy :)

 Many people have been asking me about making my own baby food, how hard is it, what recipes do you use.. I like to use this website:

http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyfirstfoods.htm

Feeding your baby homemade baby food is easy and is also an incredibly inexpensive, cost effective way to begin introducing solid foods and create healthy eating habits. It allows you to take advantage of seasonal fruits/veggies and also saves you a lot of money!! These pears were on sale at cub today, 88 cents/pound can't beat that!!

 

Today we're making pears :). Wash the pears well.

Cut the pears.

I personally find if you dice them a little smaller it makes it easier when you get to pureeing.

Put the pears diced in a skillet, add about 1-2 cups of water. It is important to keep the bottom of the skillet covered in a little water, otherwise the pears can burn. Stir occasionally.

My little guy loves to help!

Sautee the pears until they are tender. Test with a fork. Once they are done let them cool.

Add them to the food processor, you can use a blender too if you'd like. Next you just press go! It's that easy. You'll want to stop every few minutes and scrape the sides with a spatula.

There you have it!! Wasn't that easy?!

 

 

 

Add to your tray of choice. You do not have to have a specific tray for making baby food. I've found these are nice since they have a cover, each spot is 2 oz. of puree. This batch made over 25 servings!!!

There you have it!! The babies like to watch and in between steps it gives you lots of time to clean or work on other things in the kitchen. These steps above can be used with a variety of other foods too. Want to make carrots? Just peel, chop and start with the same steps!! It really is easy and you know your child is getting quality ingrediants. 

Stay tuned.. Next we're going to be making pumpkin puree! Great for those fall recipes and also my little man's favorite puree!! 

Have a great day everyone!! 

Love, 

From the Kangas Family.

The Pumpkin Parable

The Pumpkin Parable

(Based on Liz Curtis Higgs' book)

Today I want to tell you a story. It's a special story called a 'parable'. A parable is an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning. In the Bible there are many parables that Jesus told so we could understand His teachings better.

This is a story about a farmer and a pumpkin.

The Farmer lives wa-a-a-a-ay out in the country. On his farm He has a pumpkin patch.

Pumpkins are really special. They start out as small oval seeds that grow into big, orange pumpkins. The farmer plants the seeds, waters, and cares for the pumpkin vines and patiently waits as they grow.

Finally by October there are big, orange pumpkins in his pumpkin patch! Some are tall and lean, some are short and round, and some have bumps and lumps. But they are all pumpkins and all were planted and cared for by the Farmer.

One day the Farmer chose a pumpkin for a special project. He brings it in from the field and washes it off. You have to be careful with pumpkins; they're tough on the outside, but if you drop them, they break into pieces!

The Farmer takes a large knife and cuts a hole in the top of the pumpkin. Inside there is yucky, slimy pulp waiting for Him. That has to go! He cleans it all out and throws it away - never to be seen again.

After that He gives the pumpkin a new face! He cuts two triangles for eyes, a square for a nose, and a big, wide smile!

Then He does something really special. He puts a small white candle down inside the pumpkin and lights the wick.

How that pumpkin glows! As people pass by, they see the smiling pumpkin and smile back. They know that once again the Farmer has taken a simple pumpkin and changed it into a glorious sight!

http://www.amazon.com/Parable-Pumpkin-Patch/dp/0785277226

I love you..... THIS MUCH!!

 I watch Miss Alexa during the week.

Today we decided to make a craft for her mom and dad's offices at work :). So first we started with some scrapbooking paper and traced Lex's hands we folded that over and cut the tiny hands out (she is only 3 1/2 months so they are little!) After that we folded some scrapbooking paper and attached them to the hands. They sure turned out cute!!!

Attempting to show how TINY Miss Lex's hands are!! She is just a peanut!! 

Hope you all are having a great Tuesday!!! 

Love, 

From the Kangas Family :)

The Helmet Diaries

Many of you know, and those of you who do not. My little guy wears a helmet.

For those of you who do not know, he has a condition called torticollis. Basically as a baby one side of his neck was very tight causing him to always lay his head on the same side.

Now as a result of laying his head on the side like this he developed what is called a plagiocephaly. Essentially a flat spot on his head.

While at our two month Well Child check up our pediatrician noticed this and referred us to a physical therapist. Matthew went every two weeks to see Miss Amy, and we did stretches to his neck about 5 times a day.

Did you know, infants are supposed to have at least 45 minutes a day of tummy time?

Even with the extra tummy time (Matthew was up to about 4 hours of tummy time a day) and stretches and PT sometimes the flat spot doesn't totally correct. So you go to the orthotist. After a few appointments you leave with a shiny new helmet!

Matthew wears his helmet for 23 hours a day. He'll have it on for about 3 months total. So if you see a little one wearing a helmet like this don't stare. Just smile!! 

The Cry it out Method

So I'm sure all of you parents have heard of the "Cry it out" method for getting your child to sleep. This is usually suggested when your child is no younger than six months. I didn't do this with Olivia, it was hard for me. I felt the desire to run in and pick up my crying baby and cuddle them in my arms. But this time with Matthew I have been determined to give it a real try. We have been using this method for a few weeks now and wow!!! It really works!!! 

So here it is, our cry it out routine.. 

Create a bedtime routine that works for your family. For Matthew he needs a bath every day with his helmet. So we'll give him his bath then his night time bottle.

Next, lie your baby down, put his blanket on, give him a kiss. Then here is the hard part.. You leave.

Here's the deal, he is going to cry.

And Cry...

And Cry.... 



Now this is the time when you are going to want to rush in and pick him up and kiss him and hold him. But resist. It's the hardest thing in the world... I know. Put a timer on the microwave for 5 minutes... 

And wait.. Do dishes, throw a load of laundry in, go get the mail, read a blog! Do whatever it takes to keep you out of the nursery for five minutes. 

Next go back in and sooth your baby, rub their stomach, talk to them in a soothing voice. Then put their blanket back on, and leave. 



Now REPEAT.

This might take a few nights. I assure you it is harder on the parent than it is the baby... But before you know it, you'll be going in less and less and finally you will just lie your baby down and they will go to sleep! - This is the stage we are almost at with Matthew. Usually he'll just roll over and fall asleep which is amazing!! There were a few of the night where I physically had to leave the house to prevent myself from going to rescue Matthew, Joel was home of course!!! But it's very much worth it! Stick to it and you'll have a sleeping baby in no time!! 


Now Olivia.... That's another story .. :) 

All things fall and a great new recipe! :)

So it's been quite the crazy summer. Things are finally starting to get under control now that it's fall. Olivia is off at school Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Still trying to figure out what is going on with Olivia's sleeping. She's averaging about 4 hours in a 24 hour period. Definitely not enough for a growing preschooler. We have an appointment with a pediatric nuerologist tomorrow and we are praying for some answers.

Matthew is growing up fast. Getting so big! He's off at an appointment with Daddy for his helmet. He has one tooth and he's getting another. He has started crawling, backwards!! It's so cute! I can't believe how quickly this summer went by.

I started watching a little baby named Alexa a few weeks back. She is just darling. She's still getting used to being away from her mommy. Matthew has been loving having a baby to play with! I'm looking forward to getting a new roof soon!! If you would have told me 5 years ago I would be this excited to get a new roof I would have called you crazy. Oh what getting older does to you! Olivia was eating watermelon yesterday and was complaining about the white seeds that were in it. Made me think about when we were kids and having to pick all of the seeds out of regular watermelon!

Fall is so beautiful this year!!! The colors are just perfect! I tried this new pumpkin recipe and it was AMAZING!! I'd definitely recommend it! Hope you all are having a great fall!

Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

Ingredients

• 1 15 oz can Pumpkin Puree
• 1 10 oz can Evaporated Milk
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter melted
• 1 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers or pecans
• 1/2 cup toffee bits (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Spray a 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking/baking spray
3. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine.
4. Pour into your prepared pan.
5. Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top, followed by your nuts or graham crackers and toffee chips.
6. Pour your melted butter evenly on top.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.

Quick notes

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

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