Foodie

We've started being able to tell William prefers some foods over others.  He's become quite the foodie.

Favorite vegetable - broccoli
Favorite carbs - any bread... if he sees it, look out.  And Ritz crackers.  Who can blame him?

He still has yet to have desserts, poor guy (well, except that one bit of ice cream at chic-fil-A :)), peanuts, and honey.

I can tell when he likes what mom made and when he reeeally likes what mom made.  I've never seem him literally shovel food into his mouth quite like he did with my first veggie lasagna.

Inside: spinach, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, red sauce and lots of cheese

the shovel

His I love it face.  Wish I had a picture of him opening his mouth wide as he reaches for it.

 

Looking for more

"Where'd it go?" face :)

 For breakfast, his favorite is mama's oatmeal.  And he eats so much of it I have to make double.

Recipe: Quick oats + light soy milk + low sugar craisins + cinnamon + splenda + dash of salt... microwave for a couple of minutes and then let sit in microwave for a minute.  Stir and enjoy!

love his eyelashes

Trying to scoop things with the spoon and then feed himself, although unsuccessful

Can sometimes hold his sippy and has learned to tilt it upwards

He has also started sharing his food with us and gets a big kick out of it.  We are trying to really praise him when he does this and so he likes clapping back when we clap.  It's purty cute.

Thanksgiving

For this year's Thanksgiving, my mother and stepfather drove from Georgia to spend it with us.  We had a great time just being together.  My mom and I enjoyed cooking old family recipes while the boys figured out a new woodworking gadget given to us by Matthew's dad.  For the first time, I actually sat to watch some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  (One of these days I must go!) We got to check out all the lights at "Christmas on the Cumberland" located on the Cumberland River in downtown Clarksville, strolled around the neighborhood, took naps, went antiquing, bought a bookcase and was able to bring it home by way of Paul's truck, and of course smothered baby Will with plenty of kisses.  It was a nice time with family.

Big family photo

Our little family photo

William's "Gobble" shirt, which is true to form.

Playing with the grands

Snuggling with PopPop Paul watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Fixin's

Snoozin

Riverwalk stroll at sunset

William's face at sunset when the lights and music came on

"Sleigh bells ring, are ya listenin?.."

Checking out his reaction to all the lights... he was both sleepy and mesmerized.

"What do you think, buddy?" -dad

Sleepy

Next time we will go on the weekend when they have vendors... only thing that would've made this better is hot chocolate!

A Fall Weekend

Matthew has started working part-time at a private civilian dental practice (aka "moonlighting") on Wednesday nights and one Saturday a month to get some experience in that kind of setting and make a little extra dough.  Though he was gone most of Saturday, we still managed to have good quality time together as husband and wife.  And William and I had some fun ourselves on Saturday getting outside to play in all the beautiful fallen leaves.  We all got to share meals together and work on projects outside after church on Sunday.  Weekends are just... therapeutic. breath of fresh air. absolutely necessary.

I just love my two boys and this season - of weather and life.

Roasting squash while drinkin the morning joe and smelling my new pumpkin candle... tiny happinesses :)

Painted dining room a dusty golden yellow this week.  No more too-dark red!

Working on printing and framing as many pictures of loved ones that I can, and of course multiple pictures of our cute lil' hambone

Fall photography session before our walk.  Sorry for so many...I can't resist.

Got a feelin he's gonna love our neighbor's willow tree as he grows up.  Each strand becomes an instant jump rope, tether, whip, gilly suit... I can only imagine...

He smiles every time he sees his new toy from Grandpa - an Aflac ducky that talks

I was anxious to see what color these guys would be in our front yard...  Amazing!

Another attempt at cooking, not being a slave to a recipe.
If Ethiopian met Fall, this soup is what they would taste like.

In a nutshell----sweet n nutty squashes, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, apple, chicken broth, apple cider...1. roast squashes...2. saute veggies in seasonings like garlic, thyme and curry 3. add in mushed squashes with smooshed apple and simmer, thin with chic broth and cider 4. add nutmeg/salt/pepper and cook on low... top with bacon n sour cream

Also yummy with meat (we pan seared a center cut of ham)

Started our hubby/wifey project - making our DR table (yikes)
Table is based on this Ana White plan

tried just gluing the top pieces together without using biscuits, but it was wonky

Using our friend Pat's biscuit joiner to connect the boards better so that they lay flat

Much better

Next step for another day - clamp two more boards together overnight, then put all four together to create the 3' x 6' top

"Take me in for my dinner!" :)

Fall and First Bites

Williams first solid food: spaghetti squash

Date: Monday, September 24, 2012 (almost 5 mos old)

~~~~

I didn't set out to start solids, per se, with William.  I had been thinking about it and wondering when would be the right time.  Our pediatrician said we could start, but whose in a hurry when you have the capacity to make liquid gold??  Breastfeeding is such a joy - not to mention having wonderful health benefits - and they're only babies once.  I also kinda like that his diapers don't stink right now.....

I gathered some information about how to know when your child is ready and the signs to watch for:

. ability to sit assisted upright - check
. showing interest in your food and their little eyes following it as it goes into your mouth - check
. being adequate weight of say, 14 or so lbs - check!

On Monday, I happened to be roasting some spaghetti squash for Matthew's and my spaghetti squash and meatballs dinner that night.  It was then that it hit me that this would be a delicious, nutritious, convenient, and even seasonal way to start solids!  What a way to kick off the fall!

So after digging through copious amounts of things looking for the booster seat, we set it up and began our journey of introducing solids to our little William.  He got really excited just about sitting upright in his seat at the table with us, patting on his tray and smiling and making lots of noises.  Once we fed him, it was as if he'd been eating from a spoon his entire life.  He finished his serving of 2 Tbsp in no time flat, the first night and the next.

Looks like I have another hungry boy on my hands.  :)

Other updates--------------

William's general everyday routine at 4-5 mos:
7:00 am - wake, nurse, diaper change, get dressed, play
8:30 am - 2.5 hr nap
11:00 am - wake, nurse, diaper change, play
12:30 pm - 2 hr nap
2:30 pm - wake, diaper change, play
3:00 pm - nurse, diaper change
4:30 pm - 1 hr or so 'catnap' (sometimes missed when out and about)
5:30 pm - wake, nurse 'snack', diaper change...get pumped for daddy time
7:00 pm - nurse (introducing solids after nursing), bath, diaper change, PJs
7:30 pm - goodnight!
(going on two nights now dropping 10:00 dream feeding)

Looking at the leaves in their changing colors

God's precious gift to us

Had to get these shoes - reminded me of his dad's and granddaddy's duck boots

Love his daddy's blue eyes

First fall!

"Can I chew on you?"

Dinner + baby food prep

His excited face

Blowing bubbles

Ingredients

Getting the right consistency

1 and 2 Tbsp portions

Family dinnertime now has an additional guest :)

Click here--Video of first bites