It has officially been one year since Coraline Rose was born. I almost can't believe it. It feels like the year flew by. She has truly grown so much. I know she is still very much a baby, but I feel like she has gotten so big compared to that newborn who was placed on my chest a year ago today.
Every day, I am in awe of the magnificent blessing that has been given to me and Brian. I marvel at how strong her personality is. Cora is very determined and independent (except for when she just wants to cuddle). She is very vocal about her wants, needs, likes, and dislikes. She will wiggle, squirm, and climb to reach something she wants. She will pinch her lips shut and stare me down in a battle of the wills when I try to feed her a food she doesn't like (unless I hide it under another "yummy" food, in which case she will gobble it down). She walks and crawls where she wants to go, and sometimes it is very hard to convince her to change direction.
Cora is delighting in discovering the world around her. She loves to explore and is always curious about what I am doing. Sometimes, it can be a bit dangerous (trying to check out the inside of the oven or stick a finger in an electrical socket), but usually it is a wonderful thing to watch. Sure, I have to slow down in my tasks, but seeing them through her eyes makes them far less tedious. I love watching her "read" to herself, even though she can't talk just yet. She loves to point at pictures and babble, flipping pages back and forth.
Sometimes she is clingy and cuddly. These times are getting fewer and further between, so I try to cherish them. I love when she sits in my lap, or wants to be carried, or wants to nurse quietly. I know that all too soon the day will come when she doesn't want to do any of those things with me.
Sure, there are days when she is a bit "moody" and can't decide if she wants to be up or down, but those days are few and far between. I am so very happy being a mother, and I love watching Brian be a wonderful father. It has truly been the most wonderful year of our lives, and I look forward to watching Cora grow and blossom in the year to come.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Cooking for baby
Ever since Coraline was born, I have been so excited to feed her "real" food. Our doctor advised us to wait until she was 4-6 months old, and sure enough, a few days after the 4 month mark I was giving her a carrot-breast milk puree. She was anxious to try out "real" food too. She had been staring at us while we ate and grabbing for our food since she was two months old. Now, she is almost 9 months old and we have both been having a blast cooking and eating food.
I love to cook. I love to experiment with new recipes and flavors. Sometimes my experiments are epic disasters, but usually they turn out okay. I knew I would want to cook for my baby even before she was born. Once I learned I was pregnant, I started looking into baby recipes and the equipment I would need to prepare them. I settled on the Beaba Babycook Pro, and so far, I LOVE it. I sometimes use it to blend a little bit of fruit for a one-time, instant meal, but usually I use it to make a big batch of food. I will then freeze the food in 1 oz. portions using these ice cube trays. When it is time for a meal, I will pop the appropriate number of cubes into the Beaba, usually using a tiny container, and heat it up. Cora loves it. She loves trying new foods and textures (except for spinach, which must be disguised by other yummy foods) and I love watching her try them. I am trying to make sure she is exposed to a wide variety of tastes now and praying that it spares us from a picky eater later.
Some of my favorite recipes are from this book, but I also enjoy trying to come up with my own recipes. I also have started blending or chopping portions of whatever dinner I have made for Brian and myself. It is super easy and saves us money. Now that I have the Beaba, I find it to be convenient to have a piece of equipment specifically used for making baby food. However, I think it would be just as feasible to cook for Cora with my regular pots and pans and a blender. I also feel that she is getting more nutritious food than she would otherwise. I recently made a batch of chicken liver mixed with onions, potatoes, apples, and carrots; it is chock full of iron and other vitamins. I do let her eat prepackaged food. Cora loves eating cereal, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, peanut butter, and crackers. She goes nuts for frozen yogurt when we let her have a bite of ours. I don't cook for Cora because I think that store-bought food is unhealthy. I mainly do it because I love to cook and I really love watching her enjoy what I cook.
I love to cook. I love to experiment with new recipes and flavors. Sometimes my experiments are epic disasters, but usually they turn out okay. I knew I would want to cook for my baby even before she was born. Once I learned I was pregnant, I started looking into baby recipes and the equipment I would need to prepare them. I settled on the Beaba Babycook Pro, and so far, I LOVE it. I sometimes use it to blend a little bit of fruit for a one-time, instant meal, but usually I use it to make a big batch of food. I will then freeze the food in 1 oz. portions using these ice cube trays. When it is time for a meal, I will pop the appropriate number of cubes into the Beaba, usually using a tiny container, and heat it up. Cora loves it. She loves trying new foods and textures (except for spinach, which must be disguised by other yummy foods) and I love watching her try them. I am trying to make sure she is exposed to a wide variety of tastes now and praying that it spares us from a picky eater later.
Some of my favorite recipes are from this book, but I also enjoy trying to come up with my own recipes. I also have started blending or chopping portions of whatever dinner I have made for Brian and myself. It is super easy and saves us money. Now that I have the Beaba, I find it to be convenient to have a piece of equipment specifically used for making baby food. However, I think it would be just as feasible to cook for Cora with my regular pots and pans and a blender. I also feel that she is getting more nutritious food than she would otherwise. I recently made a batch of chicken liver mixed with onions, potatoes, apples, and carrots; it is chock full of iron and other vitamins. I do let her eat prepackaged food. Cora loves eating cereal, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, peanut butter, and crackers. She goes nuts for frozen yogurt when we let her have a bite of ours. I don't cook for Cora because I think that store-bought food is unhealthy. I mainly do it because I love to cook and I really love watching her enjoy what I cook.
Cora in January, before I figured out how to disguise spinach :-)
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