2/24/11 – Adventures in Baby Food – Pears

Well, last night was much better. We had one of those rare only-up-once nights, thank goodness. That, I can deal with! Today was just an ordinary kind of day. Nothing too exciting going on. So, I won’t bore anybody with the daily details today!

Tonight I made a batch of pears! Pears are high in fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. High in fiber, Pears like other fruits, are great aids in reducing the risks of cancer and heart attack and sustaining healthy cholesterol levels. They are also a great fruit to offer as a remedy to help alleviate baby's constipation. Pears are gentle on the tummy and thus are wonderful for babies who may be suffering from reflux. Pears contain no sodium, saturated fats or cholesterol. They contain two types of sugars, glucose and fructose. A pear is very nutrient dense meaning that there are more nutrients per calorie than calories per nutrient. There is no need to peel a pear unless feeding one to a small infant. A pear's skin is easily digestible. Pears make a good choice for one of Baby's first fruits.

Pears do not need to be cooked as when they are ripe as they are very soft and easily made into a smooth puree. Steaming fruits is typically recommended for babies under 8 months old to help breakdown sugars and fibers in fruits. However, as pears are gentle on the digestive system and very watery to begin with, use your own discretion based on your baby's digestive system. If you will be offering pears as a baby food to an infant who starts solid foods prior to the age of 6 months old, give them a gentle steaming.

Take your desired number of pears (I did 3 for my first batch). Peel and de-seed the pears, and proceed with mashing or pureeing, as needed for your baby's preference.

Cost Savings:
- 3 Pears = $1.89 – Makes Roughly 11 Jars
- 11 Jars of Gerber Stage 2 Pears = $6.55
- Cost Savings of $4.66

AND, with that, I have officially paid for my Baby Bullet with the money I have saved by doing my own food (and, I have completed the foods she should have at this point). More to come closer to 8 months. I have currently spent $25.02 on fresh and frozen fruits and veggies for baby food (and have a good stock in the freezer still), whereas I would have spent $87.61 to buy the same amount of food from sir Gerber. WOW! That is a savings of $62.59. Pretty nice, right?!

Here are some before and after pics of the pears. And, one of our little lady cat, Chloe. She’s cute.

2/23/11 – Tiirreed!

Now, I know I’ve said it before. I’m sure I’ll say it again. Last night was THE WORST night, sleepwise, ever! I am not exaggerating when I say that I maybe got an hour combined of sleep last night. Amelia would not go down last night. She would not stay down all night long. I’d feed her, she’d doze off, the by the time I would start falling asleep, she was up again. Olivia also woke up twice. I swear, our house is falling apart! I was a wreck at work. Oh, the joys of parenthood!

Thankfully, due to the super short week, I’m very busy at work, which made the day go pretty fast. I caught a second wind of energy once I got home and managed to do a little cleaning and cook dinner. We all just took it easy most of the night. Amelia was VERY crabby…thanks to her lack of sleep I’m sure, and I think her crabbiness makes Olivia crabby, so we ended up starting the whole bedtime routine a little early tonight. Crabby kids to go bed!

Hopefully tonight will be a better night in the world of sleep. I’m not holding my breath though! I still have no idea when we’re EVER going to be able to move Amelia into her crib and have them share a room. Still does not seem at all possible to me.

Tonight we tried some teething biscuits. As you can see, they are quite delicious!

2/22/11 – Topic #5 – Car Seat Safety

Work was a little hectic after the holiday…plus this Friday is my Friday off, so it’s a very short week for me! It feels like a Monday...but it’s Tuesday…well, work wise, it’s actually Wednesday. Man, I’m going to be all out of sorts this week, that’s for sure!

After work, I washed some dishes and bottles, cleaned up the kitchen and made dinner…you know, the usual. Christian had to return the SUPER loud humidifier we bought for Olivia’s room…there is definitely a reason it was only $17.00! Ha. He then picked up the girls and came home. He did have to shovel out the end of our drive-way quickly…thanks snow plow!

Amelia was OUT OF CONTROL tonight. I was seriously going to lose it. She cried and cried and cried, nothing helped. Held her, fed her, nursed her, burped her, changed her…she cried. We could not figure out what in the world was wrong with her. We finally put the girls to bed, and neither of them were having it. It took forever to get Amelia down…then Olivia woke up and woke her up…I think it’s going to be a loooooong night!

Car Seat Safety
It amazes me how little people seem to know about something as important as a car seat. Your car is literally a deadly weapon, and you drive your most precious cargo around in it…you should definitely know the ins and outs of car seat safety!

First and foremost, in virtually every state in the county (definitely in Minnesota), children must be in a REAR FACING car seat until they are BOTH 1 year of age AND 20 pounds. No ifs ands or buts about it. Weather your child cries or “hates it” or “looks uncomfortable”…it’s the law.

Furthermore, that is really the minimum your child should rear face. Rear facing a child is the safest way for them to ride in a car. The latest recommendations are to the age of 5! Unfortunately, the convertible car seats we bought (while good quality seats), do not have the height allowance to accommodate that much time (at least with Olivia). But, ever child should be rear faced until at least 2 years of age. Think of it like this…when you get into an accident (whether hit via the front or back end), the initial, strongest, impact of the accident will pull every passenger in the car towards the front of the vehicle. Your child’s spine is still relatively small in comparison to their head size, and when they are pulled forward, that impact has a high potential of snapping their tiny little necks. Where, then they are rear facing, the force pulls them into the back of their seat. Yes, rear facing CAN increase the risk of a broken leg/ankle, depending on the kind of accident and the child, but morbid as it is “would you rather cast or have a casket”…

I had never heard of “Extended Rear Facing” until I had Olivia, and became active in an online community. I’m ashamed to admit that we didn’t even know the 1 and 20lbs law until we moved Olivia into her convertible car seat at around 7 months old and I read it in the manual. I REALLY wish the law would change to a 2 years requirement, I really, really wish pediatricians would be more informative about both the law and the benefits of extended rear facing with parents. I can’t tell you how many strange looks and questions we got when people would see Olivia rear facing as such an “old” age. It’s sad really.

In addition to my main focus of Extended Rear Facing, there are other key points everybody should be aware of when it comes to car seat safety:

1. Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.
2. Kids should/must (depending on your state…MUST in Minnesota) be in a car seat or booster until they can be seated property in a seatbelt. For most kids, this is around 8 years old or 4' 9" tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.
3. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.
4. Keep your baby rear facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height first. Invest in a QUALITY convertible car seat, with this minimum.
5. All current car seats pass government safety standards. Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your budget. Some models do have different features; select one that has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY trip.
6. Always read the owners manuals for your vehicle and car seat thoroughly. They often contain specific information about car seat installation that may not be obvious. Some models may vary from what you would expect.
7. Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the car seat fits snugly in your vehicle and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
8. When you buy a car seat, make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit or in case you find you don't like it. Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free.
9. Please be wary of used car seats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts. Car seats DO have expiration dates on them, and for a reason. Car seats that have been in an accident, small or large, should no longer be used.
10. You should never have your child wear a bulky coat in their car seat. Bulkiness interferes with the restraint system of the car seat. Infants should never need a coat…clothes, maybe a sweater, and a blanket wrapped around them (after they are strapped in) should be more than enough to keep them warm. You can then drape a blanket over the seat when outdoors, or buy something like we have, to go over the seat (but does not interfere with the safety straps)…we have something like this: http://www.infantcarseatreview.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pink-kiddopotamus-infant-car-seat-cover.jpg. BundleMe’s and “snow suits” that clip into the harness are NOT safe, and DO revoke the warranty of your car seat. They also sell poncho-style blankets you can drape over your older child in their car seats, or you can simply put a blanket over them once buckled in. To test the safety of what your child is wearing in their seat…put them in the seat, clothed and ready to go, make sure the straps are tight and in place. Then, remove your child, remove their outerwear, put them back in the seat, and check the straps. If they are still tight and do not need adjusting, your child’s clothing is acceptable. If you need to adjust the straps, your child is not safe.

Cheap is NOT the way to go when it comes to car seats. We have the Evenflow Symphony for our girls, and we really like them (other than the height issue…I am comfortable turning them at 2 though). The Britax series is great, and the MyRide 65 is another wonderful choice. Really do your research when picking out this very important item.

Things to look for in an infant car seat:

1. Able to use rear-facing up to 22-35 pounds, depending on the model.
2. A 5-point harness, keep chest clip at armpit level and not on the neck or tummy.
3. Harness strap slots should be at or below the shoulders
4. A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easy to use.
5. Newborns and infants should have a 45 degree maximum recline.
6. Built-in angle indicators and adjusters may help get the correct recline.
7. Manufacturers have differing instructions on where handle should be while traveling. Read the instruction manual to learn if it should be up or down in the vehicle.
8. A rear facing tether or impact foam found on some models may improve safety.
9. Infant seats may fit newborns better than convertible models.
10. Some models include a complete stroller and base system, while others may include just the convenient base that installs in the car.

Things to look for in a convertaible car seat:

1. Select a model with a minimum of 35 or 40 pound rear-facing weight limit and keep your child rear facing as long as possible.
2. Your child should be turned front facing at the car seats rear-facing limit, or if the top of their head is within an inch of the top of the shell.
3. Select a model with a 5-point harness and front harness adjuster.
4. Keep the harness straps at or below the shoulders while rear facing and front facing.
5. Some older models require the use of TOP slots while front-facing (Check your manual).
6. Keep chest clip at armpit level, not on the neck or tummy
7. Make sure you use the correct seat belt path or LATCH hooks intended for front-facing or rear-facing.
8. A 45 degree maximum recline is needed for newborns and young infants while rear facing. Older babies with good head support can have less recline while rear-facing.
9. Upright with no recline is best for front-facing
10. Some models feature tethers that can also be used rear-facing and impact foam for added safety. Some also have built-in locking clips for convenience.

Things to look for in a booster seat:

1. Best used at a minimum of 40 pounds with a lap AND shoulder belt. Your child should remain in a 5-point harness as long as possible. Most high quality car seats allow 5-point harness for front facing up to 65-80 lbs.
2. Use until the manufacturer's weight limit, or until your child can wear a seatbelt properly (check your states requirements as well), usually around 8 years old or 4' 9" tall.
3. Shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder and chest, not on the neck.
4. Lap belt should be high on the thighs or low on the hips, not on the tummy.
5. Use a high back model if your vehicle has low seat backs with no head rests. Some models may offer increased side impact protection.
6. A backless model is fine if your vehicle has headrests, or if there is plenty of growing room from the tops of your child's ears up to the top of the seat back.
7. Many models have open loop shoulder belt guides that don't catch like some guides on combination seats.
8. Many have adjustable head supports and extra padding for added comfort, compared to combination seats.

So, that's my tutorial. There is a lot of research and information available out there...just look for it. Remember, when talking car seats, you truly are talking about one of the most valuable items you'll ever purchase and use.

Now, here is a video of my cutie pie. Don't be jealous of my amazing singing voice!

2/21/11 – Adventures in Baby Food – Peaches

Today is Presidents Day. As a beloved State Employee, I get the day off. YAY. Christian did not, so it was just me and the girls, hanging out all day. Last night was one of the glorious nights Amelia decides to sleep through the night, so I was able to sleep straight through to around 7:00 (except for waking Christian up). It was wonderful.

After feeding her, Olivia was up, and the hecticness began. Olivia has actually been doing better with Amelia…well, I guess that really depends on how you look at it. She doesn’t seem to hate Amelia anymore, and is actually interested in her and helping with her, but she is now a little TOO into hugging Amelia (meaning, squeezing the life out of her) and “helping her”…for instance, when Amelia is trying to pull herself forward into a crawling position, Olivia decides to “help” her sit back up by pulling her arms back. This happens ALL.DAY.LONG. It’s so frustrating. She still rolls all over her and sits on her too. We’ve been trying the whole time out thing, and it’s still not going well. She will NOT stay…she’d play the up and down game all day and night if we let her. We just don’t know how to get through to her. FRUSTRATING!

Amelia spent some time in her jumperoo, Olivia danced around the kitchen and I was able to get the dishes done and the kitchen cleaned up. While they were down for their naps, I was able to clean up the living room and some other odds and ends, and just sit down and relax for a while. It continued to snow ALL DAY. Our local and HD channels on the TV were still out all day, then in the early afternoon we lost all channels. That was no fun.

Christian stopped at the grocery store for me on his way home. Once home, he took over kid duty while I made dinner and a new batch of baby food. We watched a couple of movies with the girls and played for a while. Christian quickly plowed the driveway once the snow looked like it was done for the day. When the girls finished their baths and Olivia was in bed, Christian pulled out the ladder and removed the snow from the satellite and the roof. Definitely NOT something I would be caught dead doing!

Tonight I made peaches. Peaches are high in Vitamin C and Vitamin A and they contain a great amount of fiber. Peaches are known to have a diuretic affect and also are a natural laxative. Along with Prunes, the Peach is a great fruit to give to your baby if constipation has become a problem. Peaches are yummy, sweet and juicy. Babies may begin to eat Peaches anywhere from 4 to 6 months old. Peaches are definitely not in season right now, so I opted to use a bag of frozen peaches. I let them thaw in a bowl, at room temperature, like the bag suggested I do. Once they were just about completely thawed, I pureed them, and that was it! Easy as it gets!

Cost Savings:
- 1 16oz Bag of Frozen Peaches = $2.14 – Makes Roughly 10 Jars
- 10 Jars of Gerber Stage 2 Peaches = $5.95
- Cost Savings of $3.81

Here are some before and after pics of the peaches. And, a couple pictures of Amelia from today…Amelia is the amazingly convenient sling, and another of her getting into the crawling position! She’s growing so fast.

2/20/11 – Mother Nature Has an Evil Bone

Well, after a run of warmer weather, sunshine and *thoughts* of spring approaching, Mother Nature had decided to abruptly remind us that Spring does not arrive for a few more weeks, and that she is not done with us yet. We woke up this morning (by alarm…on a Sunday, not cool). Quickly showered and got everybody fed and out the door…we had plans today…family double date plans with my BFF!

We decided to take Olivia bowling for the first time. And the lanes we were going to had some specials in the morning, so we decided to meet up nice and early. As we arrived to the lanes, Kari was calling, and informed me that she was currently sitting in a ditch. The snow started coming down just as we were leaving the house, and starting sticking, and making everything nice and slippery, instantly. She was an unfortunate casualty of the winter reminder. Christian and I set off to find her and pick her up. Meanwhile, a good Samaritan stopped to help her. He and Christian were able to push her car out, thank goodness. So, we all headed to meet the rest of the crew at the bowling alley.

Olivia used the ramp to bowl and thought it was all pretty cool…for about half a game. Then she was completely over the whole thing. She was distracted by everything, especially the arcade across the building. She did well though. Amelia survived the outing very well herself.

After bowling, we picked up some lunch, the girls took their naps, and we settled in for the afternoon/evening and just watched the snow pile up. Right as the season premiere of The Amazing Race (aka, best show ever) started , we lost the local channels on our satellite. Thanks snow! After an evening of hanging out, playing and the usual kid chaos, we called it a pretty early night. I don’t work tomorrow, but I’ll still be just as busy, so no sense in staying up late!

Here are some of our bowling pics. And, a bonus “this is our life” photo.

2/19/11 – Adventures in Baby Food – Apples

Today was a fun filled, busy day!! The house was up, bright and early. Christian was on dad duty, watching the girls, making breakfast and all that fun stuff, while I made some baby food, showered and got ready for the day. While Christian got himself all gussied up, I got the girls dressed and ready to go. We were heading on a shopping trip today! Yes, that’s right…we are leaving the house…just for the heck of it! Very exciting. We decided it was about time to exchange/return some of our Christmas gifts! Christian got some “long johns” that he wanted to exchange for jeans, I got some shoes that didn’t fit, that I exchanged for a couple cheaper pairs of shoes (because EVERY pair of shoes I own are broken in one way or another) and I got some PJ’s (from Victoria Secret…oh la la) and decided to exchange those for some perfume…but, it turned out the PJ’s were on SUPER sale, and I was able to buy them back for $10! We wandered around the mall for a while, and it was FAR too crazy out there for us.

We ran home so the girls could grab a quick nap, we ate some lunch, and then were on our way again. Tonight we celebrated my grandpa’s 80th birthday!!! Spent a few hours with the family and Olivia had SO much fun with her little 2nd cousins. Amelia did very well too…she let a few people hold her, she showed everybody some of her newest tricks and didn’t disrupt the entire event. YAY for progress. Finally, the girls were getting tired, and it was time to be on our way. We skipped baths tonight, and they both pretty much passed out as soon as we got home. So, we had a successful, fun, eventful Saturday!

Today’s batch of baby food was apples (applesauce really). And YUMMY! As they say, “An Apple a Day”…it is indeed good for your health. Apples are truly a wonder fruit and are also one on your infants first foods. One of the most important nutritional components of Apples is that they contain two types of fiber; insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. Both the insoluble fiber in apples and their soluble fiber pectin help maintain bowel regularity. The insoluble fiber works like roughage, while the soluble fiber helps keep the bowels regular and specifically affects the makeup of the stool. Apples are a great choice for one of an infant’s first food. They are easy to prepare, easy to digest and are full of nutrients. Apples are also very versatile and may be added to almost any baby recipe you find.

Today I boiled my apples…next time, I will be baking them. I used 5 Braeburn apples for my recipe, and followed this simple 4-step process:

1. Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks
2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples and boil/steam the apples until tender. Be sure to check on the water level and stir.
   Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency, however, for this first batch, I decided to puree them completely.
3. Reserve any left over water to use for boiling the apples.
4. Place the boiled apples into your choice of appliance for pureeing and add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree.

That’s it! Delicious applesauce in no time!

Cost Savings:
- 5 Apples = $2.85 – Makes Roughly 16 Jars
- 16 Jars of Gerber Stage 2 Apples = $9.52
- Cost Savings of $6.67

Here are some before and after pics of the apples. I used my apple “peeler-corer-slicer”, but it was kind of a PITA…so I think I’ll just use my pampered chef corer-slicer next time and peeling by hand should be easy enough. I’ve also included a picture of the kids at the birthday party, obsessed with the cake.

2/18/11 – Welcome Friday!

Oh Friday! Friday is even better when A) You had Thursday off and B) You have a 3-day weekend coming up! This is an extra amazing Friday indeed!

Work was very crazy (because of the above mentioned facts), so the day just flew by. My mom had another good day with the girls, so it looks like things really are going much better in that area. Once I got home, I cooked some dinner, did a little picking up and spent time with the girls. Christian had to work a couple hours of OT because some people called in, so it was just me and the girls for a few hours.

I finally searched for an instructional video on YouTube to try to figure out how to wear the baby sling I bought before Amelia was even born. Thank goodness because I finally know how to use it now! It came in very handy while trying to clean up and keep Amelia out of the danger that is Olivia’s way tonight. Love it! I think I’m going to order another one, the next size up, because this one is [unfortunately] a little snug.

Once Christian was home, we ate some yummy homemade quesadillas, watched a movie, played with the girls and had some family time. Just once, I wish I was actually able to stay awake after I get Amelia to sleep though…I, of course, basically pass out as soon as she does though. I’m lame.

Here are a couple bath pics from tonight. Olivia’s new thing is eating the bubbles (ack) and Amelia’s new thing is trying to stand up in the bathtub (double ack)…excuse the baby butt :)

2/17/11 – “Unplanned” Girls Day

I was able to spend the day with my girls today!! My mother in law had to work today, so I took the day off and spent it at home with my little lady’s. However, we have two people in my office with birthday’s this week, and I was in charge of planning a celebration for them…which is happening today. So, I packed the girls up and we stopped in to have a yummy lunch and spend some time with my co-workers. I just love showing my girls off, that’s for sure!! They both did so well during the visit. Olivia ate some lunch, colored and entertained the crew for a while. Amelia never made a peep, let people hold her and was a hit.

It was finally time to head home, and both girls passed out as soon as the car started moving!! We got home, I got Olivia in bed, and Amelia even continued to sleep for a few hours! I even had to pump Amelia slept so long…I couldn’t believe it…I think I need to bring them to work with me more often!

Christian was home from work shortly after the girls woke up. We had some lunch and just spent a relaxing night together. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my bank accounts today and noticed that our state tax refund had been deposited …I filed a couple weeks ago, but everything through TurboTax was on hold until 2/14…my returns were accepted on 2/15, and I already got my state refund! Way to go Minnesota!!

The rest of the night was just the usual. Cleaning up, play, baths and bed. Nothing too exciting going on in our house! Here is a picture I snapped of Olivia, passed out on the way home this afternoon. I think it’s hilarious.

2/16/11 – Topic #4 – Driving for Dummies (Minnesota Style Anyway)

Today was a pretty boring day. Work is still crazy, for both of us. The girls keep us on our toes. We didn’t do much today, nothing outside of the ordinary…work, play, cook, eat, play, baths and bed. Yes, this is our life.

Today I am writing about driving. Quite frankly, people are idiots. I’m pretty sure everybody thinks they are a GREAT driver and thinks that every incident they encounter on the road is somebody else’s fault. Really though, people are dumb and do not know how to drive. This fact is only escalated in the winter. I think people should have to take mandatory “refresher” courses in driving every time they renew their driver’s license, because it amazes me what you see on the road. Here are a couple of my key pet peeves and instructions for those who do not remember how to drive on the highway and use their blinkers:

• First of all, let’s clear this up…On the highway, the lanes actually do have a purpose.
• Right Lane = “Merging Lane”. If you choose to drive in the right lane, realize that you have to deal with the merging traffic. The merging drivers do not have anywhere else go go…so you acting like a d-bag and not allowing them to merge into traffic makes you an idiot. If you can’t merge like an adult, then don’t drive in the merging lane. If there is no middle lane(s), then this can also be considered a driving lane, but on 3+ lane highways, this is a lane for merging traffic. At the same time, those merging into traffic need to realize they are doing so, and GET UP TO SPEED. Don’t merge onto a 70MPH highway at 35MPGH…I mean, seriously.
• Middle Lane(s) = “Driving Lane(s)”. This is the lane(s) you can and should drive in, and have the least amount of issue. If you aren’t passing anybody, and you don’t want to [properly] deal with the mergers, then stay in this lane(s).
• Left Lane = “Passing Lane”…NOT fast lane or driving lane, PASSING lane. There is no such thing as a fast lane, and you do not just sit in the left lane driving a long like you don’t have a care in the world. As you drive along, and come up to slower traffic, you move into the left lane, pass the slower traffic, then move back over. It’s a very simple concept, and not difficult at all. The left lane does not give you permission to drive as fast as humanly possible either. If I’m in the left lane, passing slower traffic (aka, using the lane for its purpose) and you come up behind me, you don’t get to get pissed off because I’m driving slower than you. I will move over once I pass the traffic moving slower than me, then you can be on your way.

• Next, that blinker thingy installed on your car is NOT just for decoration.
• For as long as I have been driving, I have never understood the difficulty in properly using your blinker. Where along the lines do people decide “you know, I’m not going to use this anymore”? It’s easy…pull it UP to turn right, push it DOWN to go left. It’s not heavy, it doesn’t take a lot of concentration, the concept never changes, and it really takes little effort at all. BUT, it goes a LONG way. Believe it or not, that little blinking light helps express your intentions to the drivers around you. Imagine that. Now, HOW to use your blinker…that is the questions.
• When you are turning at an intersection (whether in a turn lane or not)...you use your blinker. Just because you are in the “Left Turn Only” lane, turning left, does NOT mean you don’t need to use your blinker. Cross traffic may not know that you are in a turn only lane…they don’t know that YOU know you are in a turn only lane. The blinker is proof that you are indeed turning, and not going to drive head on into oncoming traffic.
• When you are switching lanes, on any type of road…you use your blinker. Not AS you switch lanes, not AFTER you switch lanes, BEFORE, to show intent. This way, people know you are intending on moving over, and can leave space instead of slamming on the brakes after you begin cutting them off. Along these lines…if somebody has their blinker on, and is trying to move over, don’t be a jerk and act like you are losing out on some kind of prize just because somebody gets in front of you. Trust me…it WILL be OK.
• When you are merging onto the highway…you use your blinker. Personally, I think this concept is ridiculous, but, you do it anyway.
• When pulling into a parking space, into your driveway, into your garage, out of a parking space on the street, etc…you use your blinker. Just because you know “that’s my house” or because you know you are pulling into or out of that parking space…those driving around you do NOT know that. When you signal your intentions, the drivers around you can adjust their driving to accommodate that (slow down, stop, go around you). Seriously people, a little courtesy goes a LONG way.
• Most importantly, use your blinker when you actually intend on turning/switching lanes. Not 2 blocks before you are going to do so, or as you are doing so…use common sense! And remember, it is actually ILLEGAL to not use your blinker, and it actually can come with a pretty hefty fine.

• Finally, just some miscellaneous pointers:
• Brush your CAR off when it snows. That means your windows AND your car itself – particularly the roof. I don’t need the 8 inches of snow on top of your SUV flying at me non-stop as I’m driving down the highway. Stop being lazy, and remove the snow from your vehicle before you drive.
• When you are turning onto a street and/or merging into traffic, you need to do so when it’s appropriate. If I’m driving on a 45MPH street, and you pull out right in front of me, there is no way you are going to get up to speed in time. People should not have to slow down so that you can merge into traffic. Get over yourself.
• Nobody wants to listen to your lame music, feel your annoying bass vibrating their car or watch your cigarettes go flying out the window. R-E-S-P-E-C-T (yes, in my driving career I have been guilty of all of these…but I have grown up and realized the err of my ways).

OK, after all that venting, here’s a cute picture of Amelia to cheer you up!

2/15/11 – Adventures in Baby Food – Bananas

It’s Tuesday! Last night was SLIGHTLY better on the sleep front. First, Amelia has “officially” weaned herself from the pacifier! HALLELUJAH! I hate that thing. I mean, I can totally see the necessity in it after having a child that truly needing it, but I still hate it. I really hope it sticks and she never goes back to it.

Work was good. I was finally able to make a dent in some of the bigger projects I have going on. I left a little early today to head to Target to do my weekly shopping. I have come to the realization that I have an obsession with buying things for the girls. Clothes, toys, toiletries…you name it, I can’t stay away from it. I never leave the store without something for them. It’s never necessarily NEEDED, but I can’t help myself!

I quickly ran home, put everything away, did a little kitchen organizing and started dinner before the rest of the crew got home. We all ate some dinner, watched some TV and got in lots of play time. We have pretty much banned Amelia from taking countertop baths anymore because she has become quite the splasher now. She gets water EVERYWHERE. So, the girls are taking baths together just about every night now. I feel bad because Amelia’s baby bath takes up so much room, but she’s too small to sit in there alone. Poor Olivia doesn’t get much tub space. After baths it was time for bed. It’s been more difficult to get Amelia to bed now (maybe because she won’t take the pacifier anymore). I have to sit in the room, in the dark, until she finally dozes off. I feel like a prisoner, trapped in my own room! I wish she was able to put herself to sleep!

Tonight I made bananas. Yes, we are finally to fruits (other than the Avocado and Prunes she has already had). She has had all of the approved veggies for her age…Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Green Beans, Peas and Carrots. YUM! Now, it’s time to start on the fruits. Bananas don’t NEED to be pureed, but I decided to go ahead and do that for this first batch, just to make sure she could handle it. So, I blended up 3 bananas and some water, and it was simple as that. I’m excited to see what she thinks about the fruits now.

Cost Savings:
- 3 Bananas = $.55 – Makes Roughly 9 Jars
- 9 Jars of Gerber Stage 2 Bananas = $5.36
- Cost Savings of $4.81

I didn’t snap a before picture of the bananas, but it was just 3 bananas, water and my Baby Bullet. Here is the after pic. And, a picture of Amelia, I just think it’s cute. This is what she tries to pull herself up on these days.