Making Baby Food- Plums!

Plums! Plums! Plums!  Yummy!  We made organic baby food plums a couple of weeks ago!  They are extremely tart.  I have been mixing cereal or apples in with the plums to cut down on the tartness, but Ava seems to not mind.  So on to making plums.....

1. Buy Organic Plums.

2. Rinse and Remove Stickers from Plums.

3. Fill a Small Pot with Water and Begin to Boil.

4.  Once Boiling, Drop a Plum into water for 20-30 Seconds.

5.  The Skin will Peel Easily Now.

6. Repeat Until All Skins are Removed.

7.  Remove the Pit.  2 Options- 1. Use a knife to remove the pit. or 2. Use your hands to rip apart the flesh and rip out the pit.  I chose option 2.  Quick and Easy.  Tad bit messy. Also eliminated the need to chop the flesh.

8.  Place Plum Flesh in Steamer and Steam for 15 minutes or so.

9.  Remember to Save the Plum Liquid from the Steamer.  

10.  Place Steamed Plums in a Food Processor for a few minutes.

11.  Meanwhile, Pour Plum Water into a Liquid Measuring Cup.

12.  Pour Juice into an Ice Cube Tray.  I like to use these cubes to mix into her morning cereal.  I also plan to put them in her sippy cup  of water once she gets the hang of that.

13.  Pureed Plums will look Smooth and Creamy.

14.  Scoop Plum Puree into Ice Cube Trays using a Scoop.

15.  Cover Trays in Saran Wrap and Freeze Overnight.  

16.  Run Warm Water over the Bottom of the Tray.

17.  Bend Tray and Flip Over on Counter.

18.  Dump Tray of Cubes Onto Saran Wrap.

19.  Place Cubes in Labeled and Dated Plastic Freezer Bags and Put Back in Freezer.

Simple. Easy. Nutritious.

Ava enjoying Plums for the First Time....

9 Months!

9 Months!  Another month has flown by!  In three months my little baby will be a year old!  I have started thinking about her birthday bash, but this month I will actually start planning!   So much has happened and is happening!  Ava keeps us on our toes!

Ava- my Love.  Where do I begin?  I love you more than all the stars in the sky and all the way to the moon and back.  Seriously- Your Momma's heart is going to explode.  This month has been a little rough for you and your mommy, but things are getting better!  We just have to work together.  I love you my little bug!

A Little Bit About Ava:

Length:  28.25 inches (Either Ava shrunk or the nurse did not measure correctly last month.)
Weight:  17 pounds
Hair Color: Dark Blonde 
Eye Color: Dark Blue

A Look at Your Daily Routine

7:3-8:00 am- Wake Up! 
8:00 - Breakfast!  Rice/ Oatmeal Cereal and Prunes! 
8:30-10:00- Playtime on floor!  Crawling all over!  Play with toys and Mommy!

10:00-11:30 am- Morning nap!  More like Power Nap.
11:30 am -12 pm- Cuddle with Mommy. Diaper change.  Short Playtime. 
Noon- Lunch time!  2 Veggies and a Fruit.
12:30-2:00 pm- More playtime on floor!

2:00 -2:45ish pm- Afternoon nap!        

3:00pm- Snack time.  Puffy cereal things

3:15-5:00 pm- Various Play between the floor and Mommy.

5-6:00 pm- Wait for Daddy to get home!
6:30 pm- Dinner- Whatever New Veggie or Fruit we are trying and another fruit and veggie
7:30 pm- Bath Time 
8:00- 8:30 pm- Bed Time


Feeding:  You are such a good eater!  You love everything you eat!  The only think that you really don't care for are Avocados.   Mommy was not very good about making baby food this month.  But you started eating Sweet Peas, Peaches, and Spinach.  You also started eating puffy cereal things- Banana, Sweet Potato, Cherry, and Apple.  You also are eating these Baby Rice Cracker things.  Every time I clean the high chair there are fewer and fewer pieces, so I know you are really getting the hang of putting food into your mouth.  Still practicing with the sippy cup.  Mommy only puts water in the cup.  Still Breastfeeding.  9 months of Breastfeeding!  Only 3 more months until we start to wean, so you better get your fill now!  

Diapers: Size 3, Pampers Cruisers and Luvs

Clothes Size: 6-9 Months.  Some 3-6 month dressy clothes still fit though.

Favorite Toy:  You love Bun-Bun!  Bun-Bun is a soft stuffed bunny that Nana and Gramma got you.  Coley named Bun-Bun.  You are all about Bun-Bun.  She goes everywhere with you.  I have a feeling that Bun-Bun will be a long-term love of yours.

Other Things You Do:  You are crawling all over.  Your little knees had bruises on them for a few weeks.  You are starting to let go of things when you are standing- you stand for a split second, wobble, and fall!  You are so alert.  You never want to miss a beat.  

Sweet Things You Do:  Have I mentioned the slobbery kisses?!?  You are always crawling up to me, with your mouth open, ready to slob all over my face.  When I get you from your crib after a nap, you put your head immediately on my shoulder.  It's one of my favorite moments with you.  

Funniest Moment:  You and Cole were playing one morning and you kept taking the balls from him.  He started yelling, "Ce-Ce! Ce-Ce!  Ava's not sharing her toys!"  I told you to share with Cole, but your kept taking the balls.  Finally Cole got up and moved himself and the toy across the room.  What did you do?  You followed him of course!   It was as if you were saying, "Oh no you didn't!"  I thought it was funny.  

Milestones and Other Events:
May 11, 2011- First time to eat dissolvable apple puffs.
May 12, 2011- Doctor visit for face rash (Yeah, that was a fungus.  Sorry Ava for not handling that sooner.)

May 16, 2011- First time to eat peas. Legs were added to activity table.  

May 22, 2011- First time to attend St. Theresa's Bazaar.

May 26, 2011- Uncle Joe-Joe's Birthday and Farewell Dinner. First tooth made it's appearance.
May 29, 2011- First time to swing at the park with Mommy, Daddy, and Coley.
May 30, 2011- Memorial Day BBQ at PaPa's. 
May 31, 2011- First time to eat dog food.
June 6, 2011- First time that mommy left you at the gym day care.
June 7, 2011- 2nd tooth showed up! First time to go to Mother Goose Time at library.

Where did I go?

I went away....Not really, but a lot has been going on and I had to cut something from my busy life.....Unfortunately that was blogging.  Now that things are beginning to not be as hectic, and crazy and rushed I can get back into my old routine...Which included blogging.

Are you happy?  Because I am happy.....

Ava's 9 month blog is coming as soon as I take her 9 month pictures....

Here's a funny conversation from Sunday-

Mommy:  "When you get done playing I really want to take Ava's 9 Month pictures."

Daddy: "Why?"

Mommy: "Because I want to take them before she's 10 months old."

Daddy: "Yeah. I guess your right."

Of course I am right.  I am always right.  I don't even know why he questions me....

Just Kidding....