All Things Baby Food

I'd never given much thought before to making my own baby food, but a couple of school semesters ago, I was inspired by a friend of mine who was talking about making sweet potato puree for her son. She talked about how much cheaper it was to make baby food than to buy it and she actually enjoyed the process. I wasn't even pregnant at the time of the conversation, but when Dr. Ramsey gave us the okay to feed Waverly solids, I started to do a little research of my own. Here's what I know...

Gerber 1st Foods Vegetables are roughly $0.26 per ounce. There are 2.5 ounces per cup of food.

I bought a 16 ounce bag of frozen green beans for $0.98; $0.06 per ounce. Follow?

Waverly eats approximately an ounce a meal.

Over time we can save some big bucks on this baby food!

Not only is it cheaper to make baby food, it's quite therapeutic and I may or may not be slightly addicted. There is something very satisfying in making Waverly's food, knowing that I'm saving us money, and giving her all of the nutrient goodness without preservatives  and additives.

There is one good-sized cost in the beginning and that is in purchasing a food processor or whatever you choose to use to puree the food. However, it just worked out for me that my mom had a processor she was willing to give us! I mean, the 1970's called and want their processor back, but I didn't pay for and it works just fine. Even if you did have to buy your own, it would be worth the investment in the long run.

What else do I know? Waverly likes peas.

Things I do "right"

There isn't a whole heck of a lot that I do "right" as a mother; my definition of "right" being those things that are mainstream and popular among my mothering peers. As hard as I've tried, I can't coupon; in fact, I'm pretty terrible at it, but I've compensated by buying store brand products as much as possible, using the coupons that I do have, and taking advantage of good sales and deals. My grocery bill, averaging $100 a week, would be offensive to those couponing, deal-finding experts. 

I'm also a rookie at making things. I would love to make some of Waverly's clothes or accessories, but alas, besides the basis sewing pattern and cross-stitch, I have no aptitude for sewing or altering.

When it comes to cooking, I'm lucky to punch out three meals a week. It's really not my favorite thing to do and planning meals for a week or two exhausts me just to think about it.

I keep wishing, hoping, and praying that I will stumble upon some untapped skill or ability that will completely transform the way we live. I haven't quite found it yet, but I will tell you that I know how to keep a house clean, maybe not tidy, but clean, thanks to my "chore chart". Look, I hated to stoop to that level for two adults, but nothing was getting done and goodness knows I don't have a lot of time to clean the whole house in one felled swoop. So, I resorted to this chore chart: one big task and two little tasks each day, six days a week. My house is cleaned every single week and I love it. When the tub is dirty, momma isn't happy, and when momma isn't happy, nobody's happy.

Oatmeal

*Video coming soon...maybe*

Tonight, Waverly tried her first solid food: oatmeal. We were prepared for her to completely spit it out, but in typical Snyder-fashion, she ate it right up. We're so proud. :)

Please ignore Chandler's and my goofiness as we praise Waverly in unnaturally high-pitched voices and pay extra close attention to Waverly's faces, Fenway, and Waverly's reactions to Fenway.

Below are photos of the monumental milestone...

Notice Fenway...

Thoughts?

Thumbs up, Mom!

Waverly eating cereal is the best thing that ever happened the Fenway.

Happy 3 AND 4 Months!

Chandler and I decided that she really started to fill out in her third month.

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

(three flowers, three family members!)

She discovered her feet about a week before her four-month birthday and has now succeeded in getting at least one in her mouth.

Circle 4 (New Circle Road) junction sign on Harrodsburg Road

Leaps and Bounds

I truly cannot believe how big Waverly is getting! We took her for her four-month appointment; she weighs 16 pounds 7 1/2 ounces and is 25 1/2 inches long, 90th percentile for both! Dr. Ramsey, along with Chandler and myself, cannot understand where she gets her height. In two months she gained four pounds and grew two inches. I'm pretty sure by her first birthday she and I will be neck and neck in height and weight..

She also received her four month shots today and what a trooper! Fortunately, Chandler was there with me today because, unlike the two month shots, I got a little emotional. We were both standing with her, holding on to her and I felt her body tense, then watched her face screw up preparing to let it all go and she did, but only for a minute, then she was fine except for the hurt look on her face. If she were capable of doing so, I'm sure she would've been shooting daggers with her eyes to everyone involved.

Dr. Ramsey also talked about starting her on solid foods. He outlined how this whole process will go and gave us the green light to start cereal as soon as we want. I think we've decided to start giving it to her next week when we get back from our vacation in Missouri.

So, my kid is getting huge, about to start on solid food, she rolled over last week, holds her head up, tries to stand up, and has discovered her ears and feet. Where in the heck has time gone?

Music to my ears