There's the link. Wanted to save it so it linked correctly
http://melissafallistestkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/10/freezer-cooking-5-baby-finger-foods.html
There's the link. Wanted to save it so it linked correctly
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Since my first posts about food (a while ago), we have made great progress! The girls usually eat pb & j sandwich or grilled cheese quesadillas for lunch with grapes or apple "fries". For dinner they will have what we eat, sometimes from the night before. They like a lot of adult foods, but sometimes have no interest and we have to resort to the standby sandwich or sweet potato chunks and that's all they'll eat.
The issue still exists that we will often have leftovers from the night before for dinner (and there's only enough for one or two meals), or egg sandwiches, or leftovers from date night out. The problem is that then I have to come up with something else for the girls to eat. So I found this blog about making freezer meals for toddlers. You spend one or two nap times making these mini muffin sized meatballs, and veggie tarts and they can easily be thawed in an afternoon and ready for dinner. ~~~~~~~~~~ This is borrowed from the blog: http://melissafallistestkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/10/freezer-cooking-5-baby-finger-foods.html Love her ideas and tried them myself. Wanted to share what worked for us. My mini-muffin pans were very helpful but you could use cookie sheets with sides too. See this blog for the directions and ingredients. First attempt Healthy Meatballs (24-32) Mini Chicken Parmesan Cups Sweet Potato Fries Shopping list: ground beef, ground chicken, onion (I used dried onion flakes), garlic (I use the squeeze bottle of garlic that they sell in the produce section), 5 sweet potatoes, bread crumbs, recipe suggests wheat bran (didn't have this, just used bread crumbs instead...not sure that worked best?), Italian seasoning, spaghetti sauce, baby food purees (2 containers, I used mixed veggies), egg, mozzarella cheese, parm cheese. Will try next- Broccoli Cheese Patties (20) Spinach Cups (20) Notes: Chix Parm (picture on top) A few got crispy, will be much more careful about size next time and make sure I fill the mini muffin hole (?) to the top. The girls liked these they are easy to pull apart. Meatballs (bottom picture) No changes. These were also a hit. I like that they have veggie baby food mixed in. I didn’t use wheat bran though, worked ok with extra bread crumbs. Sweet Potato Fries- Mine were a little crispy and dark the first time, so the second tray I baked 10 minutes then flipped and did another 10 minutes. I also baked them at 430 instead of 450. I have two tray-fulls of fries from 5 sweet potatoes. Well Weebly or my Tablet just decided that everything I typed wasn't good enough to save. So I guess I'm starting over...
It is so easy to let the day pass you by without getting anything done. I've found myself still in my pjs at 4 in the afternoon, nothing on the to do list was accomplished and I didn't even feel like I really got to sit and play with the girls. Now there are days when you should throw your to do list by the wayside and just play with your babies all day. But if I did that everyday (and I would love to do this ) there would be no food in the house, no clean clothes, the house would be a pit and we would be getting sued by Comcast because I didn't pay our bills. SOOOO.... here are some ways I've tried to get the most accomplished and still have time to play (and get myself dressed!) Weekly To Do List - Instead of making a list for the day, I make one list of all of the housework for the week. Then when I have a few minutes of down time, or the girls go down for a nap (at the SAME time) I can cross one or two things off the list. So Monday, I'd clean all of the bathroom counters and mirrors. Tuesday, I cleaned the dining room floor and cleaned the toilets. Wednesday, I got a little motivated and got a bunch of things off the list so Thursday nap time was mine! :) 5-3-1- Another way to organize my day. You make a list of 1 IMPORTANT thing that you MUST accomplish and this is the thing that will take the most time. Then you list 3 less important items, that will take less time that your #1 item. Lastly you find 5 quick to do list items and that's your list. Example: 1- organize for tax appointment 3- pay Comcast bill, go to Target, Skype with Aunt Amanda 5- empty dishwasher, wash baby clothes, fold basket of dark laundry, watch Trophy Wife on dvr, shower (Yes I put "shower" on my to do list. Unfortunately if I don't do that sometimes my to do list get too ambitious, or suddenly it's 2pm and the girls are waking up and I didn't get to shower while they were napping. Maybe my list should be 1-3-3) I try to make a point everyday to put ONE selfish item on the list. Finish a chapter of my book, organize something that has been bugging me, watch one show that I want to see, call or text or Skype one friend or family member that I miss. Or if I find that I've had a busy week, and haven't had any me-time...THEN I have a whole nap time to myself. I shower, then take my time to do my hair, and read or watch tv for the WHOLE nap time...or nap myself. Tricky balance. ----Disclaimer: SOME of these are my ideas but most of them are from fellow Mommies (or Daddies) who are full of their own magic!----
* Trouble with picking up slimy foods? Roll them in crushed Cheerios to add "breading" to help with gripping. *If your kiddo gets upset when their toys float away in the bath, put a laundry basket in the tub. It will make the tub smaller essentially and help keep the toys closer! *Twin bottle feeding solution- boppy pillows! We still use them when they drink their milk. *I struggle to find ways to include meat and veggies into meals, but found great websites about cooking ahead of time and freezing smaller pieces. Easy to thaw and warm. *Getting ready for babysitters/daycare is a struggle sometimes. (When my babies were little they went to grandparents' houses in their pjs.) Get 5 XL ziplock bags and pack clothes for (in my case both babies) your kiddo with complete outfit and organize a whole week's worth of clothes. Sometimes it is a struggle to figure out what to make the girls for dinner. I got the baby food thing under control, and then I figured out how/what to let them try off my plate. But now that they are eating mostly adult food (still do Gerber yogurt, puffs, some veggie pouches), some nights are a struggle. A few problems exist-- 1) We usually eat late (8pm or 8:30pm once they are asleep) so when they are eating at 5p that day I haven't made dinner yet, 2) Some nights we have things that they don't like, 3) there isn't food for them because we went out on date night, we ate leftovers, or some nights we have cereal for dinner. So.... I've collected ideas for kiddo foods (completely separate from our meals) so that when these situations (above) happen there are solutions. Hopefully I can help give you some ideas (and selfishly I can refer to this blog if I need ideas later!). `````````````````````` Eggs (worked ok but was REALLY messy and ended up in Kasey's hair)-Two eggs, two tbsp. of milk and some cheese. Spray a coffee mug with Pam, scramble the eggs and milk, microwave in the mug (recipe says 1 1/2 min but I had to do 2 1/2 min). Add cheese. (www.incredibleegg.org/recipes/recipe/microwave-coffee-cup-scramble) Bananas and Avocados- crush Cheerios and roll pieces these slimy (but yummy) foods in the Cheerio dust for easy self feeding. Sydney's interest in these perked up when she could grab them better. Canned veggies- easy to warm up, cut to a good toddler size. We do carrots and peas and those seem to go over pretty well. Pasta- penne noodles especially, first cut into 1/3s then recently whole pieces once the girls had enough teeth to take bites. Mac and Cheese- we are making bunny shaped mac and cheese tonight, easier for little fingers to pick up! Sandwiches- pb and jelly cut into stripes for Kasey (who likes bigger pieces) and little pieces for Sydney (who likes things cut up), grilled cheese (same as above), and grilled cheese quesadillas (HUGE hit! I think this is because they are thinner, slightly crispy pieces and that makes for easy eating). Coming soon: Mass prep ideas!!! Starting with ideas from http://melissafallistestkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/10/freezer-cooking-5-baby-finger-foods.html?m=1 who uses mini muffin pans to make perfect portions! One of the biggest challenges of having the twins, was trying to figure out how to do everything (twice) and still get everything else done. In the beginning I was on maternity leave and just starting to figure out this Mommy thing, then I was working and trying to pack for the move (during all of which I had family and friends to help), then we moved and I'm doing all of this with only Kirk to help when he is not working. I'm not working now, but there are many times that I'm struggling to get everything done for the girls, keep the house (relativity) clean, and find ways to entertain myself and keep from going stir crazy. The girls are now 1 but when they were 6 months or so I figured out a method to organizing their food and bottles (formula mix). I'd lay out everything the night before (see picture). All of the bottles, food, and even the formula in little portioned tubes (breast mile storage tubes that I got from the hospital). Eventually I had this organized even better and put it on a lazy susan, while little dividers for each meal (but of course I can't find the picture of that)! So moral of the story here, organizing all of this the night before was A HUGE HELP! The day went smoother, I knew that I had enough formula and food to get through the day, I knew when I needed to plan a trip to the store for more food, and meals moved much quicker! Now that the girls are 1, and eating real food things have changed a bit. When I wash up the breakfast cups (we are doing milk in sippy cups now), I can quickly cut up cheese cubes or fruit for lunch and put it back in the fridge. When all of the cups are clean, I'll pour milk for several meals (and then I just have to grab them from the fridge). I also started a list of twin friendly food that I had on hand so I didn't forget to use the grapes in the fridge, or the chicken that I'd cut up from dinner the night before. Another perk of the girls being a bit older is that I can give them Cheerios or cheese cubes to snack on while I cut up the rest of their food. Then while they are holding their sippy cups to drink their milk, I'm starting clean up. OR I could eat my own lunch during this time (novel concept!). The big thing was that this prep allowed me to not have to think about lunch just before I made it, or not to have to count the formula scoops while someone was crying (or I was holding someone who was crying). Your time, your sanity, and your money (formula is expensive!) is too valuable to waste with food prep if this can help you make things easier I'm glad to save you some of all three! (Cribs are not food)When the girls don't want to sleep (especially if they are angry that they have been put in their crib) they like to chew on their crib rail. My cribs don't have covers specifically for that brand, and I really didn't want to spend money to buy a general crib rail cover (and hope it fit). My sister found this on Pinterest and it worked great! We bought 1 1/2 yd of fleece (60" wide). One sale and with a 15% off total purchase coupon it was 3.80$. Then we cut it into 4 strips (12" wide and 60" long) then we set it over the crib rail, cut strips (like a tie blanket) and tied it to the crib rail. I had a 1 yd piece of scrap fleece, so we did cut that into 4 equal strips and put that on the rail first then tied the top layer on. But you could do it without that extra layer underneath. Seems to work! Their teeth are protected, their crib is protected, and it looks cute too! :) -The challenge of changing diapers!
It isn't just that you have to change TWO diapers every time, but that fact that while you are changing Baby B, you have to watch Baby A. It never fails that she will head directly for one of the following: the door (if the baby gate isn't up), her sister's face /toy/paci, the wipes (and will pull them out one by one until you see her!) or worst of all her sister's POOPY diaper!! It isn't like an older sibling that you can reason with, she is the same age as the one you are wrestling into a new diaper. The fear of the Non-Overlapping Nap! One twin goes down for her nap while her sister is fighting sleep like crazy, and by the time the second twin falls asleep, the first is awake again and ready to move on (leaving you with no baby-free minutes to say clean the toilet, take a shower yourself or do anything that needs to be done without a baby in your arm. The fear of a preferred twin! This is the panicky feeling that you get when it seems that someone bonds with one of your twins and not the other. You flash forward a few years and immediately see the second twin seeing this herself and feeling a little hurt, and it breaks your heart. It probably isn't intentional, and no one means to hurt anyone's feelings (you are probably over thinking it) but you are on high alert to keep things as fair and equal as you possibly can. The hatred of bath time! Going to be honest, I love giving each twin a bath (the time when it is just them splashing happily in the water) but I HATE the prep, clean up and transition of bathing two babies (one after the next). I have tried to bathe them as the same time, but unless someone else is helping, I'm so stressed thinking someone is going to dunk themselves (and how do you grab TWO wet slippery babies at once) and how do you get them both in and out without leaving one unattended (I've brought the walker into the bathroom, drained the tub so the second twin is sitting on the bottom of the empty tub while I towel off her sister) nothing seems to work well--I get stressed just writing about it now! So one-at-a-time it is! AND LASTLY the dreaded questions and comments when you are out in public! "Are they twins?" I get it, mine don't necessarily look like twins (but they don't look like they are 9 month apart either! AND they are usually wearing matching coats!) Regardless, I hear it 3-4 times per shopping trip...Sometimes it is followed by "Do twins run in your family?" or "Are they natural?". Either question, I'd rather not discuss my family tree in the middle of the grocery aisle and they aren't Robot Babies-- so I'd say they are probably natural. "Double Trouble!" or "You have your hands full".... Yep. Thanks for letting me know. Not sure what you expect me to say.... The WORST is hearing someone say "I'd shoot myself if I had twins!". I'm really hoping that you are exaggerating because if having twins makes you think suicidal thoughts you probably shouldn't be a parent at all. Yes it is a lot of work, but is isn't a death sentence. They are adorable blessings and I love them more than anything in the world, so I'm probably going to be slightly offered with this comment. Also you really need to practice your social skills (or at least your whispering skills!) Lastly-- need to end on a happier note... Only Twin parents get the heart-bursting love that you feel when one twin hugs her sister or gives up her own pacifier to her crying twin. The secret jibbish language that they speak to each other and the feeling you get when you all snuggle together. All the blessings of being a twin parent. There are a lot of posts, slogans, jokes, comics and tv show plots that discuss parenting. But it makes me sad when I see ones that are clearly written by people who are missing the most amazing parts of being a parent AND only fixating on the rougher, more difficult, beyond un-glamorous aspects of the job. Most recently:
We spend the first 12 months teaching children to walk and talk and the next 12 years telling them to sit down and be quiet. First, I want to credit my own parents partially for my opinion here. Growing up, aside from being in church or if someone was ill, I don't ever remember being told to sit down or be quiet. Yes there were the rare occasions, such as Easter Sunday at church where the children stay in the "big church" during the whole service, where we had to find quiet activities to keep our little hands and little mouths busy. Yes there were places where it was either dangerous to stand up or run around (when we were in Grandpa's rowboat or walking on his dock). But I think my parents must have embraced the noise and activity of their three children or they just found creative ways to redirect it. (Or it is always possible that my 30 year old mommy brain is misremembering!) Regardless, I don't want to spend the next 12 years telling my adorable little bundles of energy that they need to sit down or be quiet. First, there are so many fun places to take them where they don't have to do either and second, that's not the type of relationship I want to have with my children (and I am NOT the parent that wants to be their friend-- I am their mother first and foremost). We are years and years passed the "children should be seen and not heard" and even further from the "children should not be seen but belong in the nursery" mentality of the Victorians. When we go places as a family, we will go places where they don't need to be shushed and we can save the other places for the date nights where Mommy and Daddy get to spend time together. Maybe you'll think I'm naïve-- but you are welcome to your opinion. I have noticed that a lot of the opinions or comments that I disagree with, a lot of the jokes or shows (about parenting) that other people find funny (and I don't) those are connected to people who don't really seem to enjoy being a parent. Yes-there are THOSE DAYS. Those days include the day where I was pooped on three times, but failed to notice the third poop incident until hours after it happened (yep couldn't figure out where that smell was coming from-- it was ME!). Those days are the days where my child projectile vomited on me (while Skyping with my sister) and then her sister rolled in it leaving all three of us covered in vomit (and hours until Daddy was going to be home from work). There are those days where you haven't slept more than a hour or two at a time. There are those days where you feel hormonal (weaning from nursing), the children are clingy and cranky AND teething, you didn't get a chance to shower or even eat breakfast and it is now 2pm and you just want to scream AND are ready to pay the babysitter to come over so 1) you can shower and 2) you can talk to an adult. BUT those are THOSE days they are not ALL days. And they are not even MOST days. MOST days my daughters giggle and play happily. MOST days they hug me so tight and so often it would be impossible to feel sad or alone. MOST days they amaze me with the new skills they've learned, their compassion and ability to be kind to each other and me (today Sydney tried repeatedly to share her most prized possession-- her pacifier-- with me and actually tried to put it in my mouth for me). MOST days can be hectic and busy but I am so incredibly grateful that we were blessed with our girls. I think back to all of the times that I wished for them and I feel so blessed that my wish was granted. Being a mom is in no way easy, but I love being a parent When you are registering for baby stuff it is so easy to get caught up in getting two of everything. I did a lot of research and tried to find lots of articles about what Moms of Multiples had to say. Here's my take on what has been useful, looking back on the 1st year.
-Cribs- obviously they eventually need their own but we were able to have them in one for the first few months -Playpen (pack 'n play)- we only needed one but we got an extra large one (Joovy Room 2 was the biggest one we could find but we also have a play yard fence that you can use to make a hexagon shaped yard (with an open floor). Some days I wish we had a second playpen (after 7 months or so we couldn't put them both in it together) -Boppy pillows- these were the #1 most helpful item when I was home with my twins without help, I STILL use them when I feed them their bedtime bottle (if I'm on my own) -Highchairs- two are a must! -Booster seats- these are great for travel, restaurants, friends' houses (and I strap one seat to the inside of the grocery shopping cart to provide a second seat) -Infant swings and bouncy seats- we got one but ended up borrowing a second (both girls liked to sleep in their swing in the beginning) -Entertainer- one was fine -Walker- bought one and borrowed one but we could probably get by with only one -Bottles- I'd recommend getting enough for one day (for both babies) total! If you are doing pacifiers (once you find ones they like) I'd buy a bunch. Currently we have eight in our house and I know where only THREE of them are currently located! I hope this can be helpful to someone! :) Feel free to comment if I can share anything else about this topic that would be helpful. |
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