Baby Food, Recipes and More!

I have been talking to a lot of friends lately about baby food. I think, especially as a first time mom, you're not always quite sure where to begin and what are the best options. I'm not claiming I'm any expert on the subject, but I have read may research articles and books throughout my undergrad experience, as well as experimented with a few things that seem to work quite well and wanted to share a few tips and tricks that I've discovered. As mentioned in my previous post, "Baby Bible: Save Our Sleep" Tizzie Hall has a lot of great suggestions. Here are a couple pages from her book that I have used as a guide line to making my own baby food. Not only does she break up different foods and when to eat them, but she has an expansive list of  many different nutritious food options. This list has helped me out a lot when it comes to expanding my horizons and giving Livy a variety of delicious food options to try rather than repeating the same foods over and over.

Commercial baby foods are good to have on hand when you need to take baby food on the go, because homemade baby food can't be out as long as the commercial baby food. However I have found a tremendous difference when I've given Livy homemade baby food verses commercial. She thoroughly enjoys homemade baby food a lot more than the commercial baby food. The food is also more nutritious and fresh than the commercial, as well as a cheaper option. I simply buy the baby food I am making that week, peel, core and cook the baby food as necessary (through steaming the baby food because simply dropping them in boiling water loses even more nutrients) and then add the softened food to my Vitamix mixer, or any other blender/food processor. 

The Silicon ice cube trays have been my favorite!

One of the best ways I have then frozen the baby food is by adding them to ice cube trays because then you have smaller portion sizes that are perfect for starting out! I used to waste so much baby food because Livy wasn't eating all of it, and I was trying to mix up the food I would give her each day by giving her one savory and one sweet option per meal time. By the time I got to the others again, they had been in my fridge for the recommended three days and so I would throw them out. 

These jars are the best to store your baby food in because the labels aren't paper so you can easily put them in the dishwasher without paper getting all over. The glass baby food jars are also the best because you can put them in the microwave as needed. However, Livy loves me smashing them and giving her the "shaved ice version" in this Summer heat!

Believe it or not, none of my milk was saved through pumping!
This milk-saver was perfect as I started nursing. The first few
months I was able to save around 6-8 ounces per day!! The next
months I was able to save 3-4 just by placing this in the opposite
breast as I nursed. I now have a lot of  breast milk I can add to
Livy's baby food!

A simple way to store breast milk is
by cutting down a box and storing it in
your freezer. Remember to put the date
and ounces on your milk bags!

Recipes!!

You can create your own as you go but here are some ideas. The pictures above of the zucchini and carrots are straight zucchini and carrots. The pictures above of the baby food in the ice trays and jars I used some strawberries and raspberries because they were in season, and then some added breast milk. She loves it! (*Note: only use thawed breast milk to recipes your child is eating immediately, DO NOT refreeze!) I was also able to get some recipes (made specifically for my Vitamix, but you can do them without a Vitamix you just have to make sure to peel, core and cook your fruit and vegetables.) 

Derived from Vitamix Whole Food Recipe cookbook

Fruit  

2 cups (300 g.) fresh or frozen, thawed

• Bananas, peeled
• Peaches, pitted, peeled
• Avocado, pitted, peeled
• Papaya, peeled, seeded
• Mango, pitted, peeled

2 cups (300 g.) steamed, fresh:

• Apples, peeled, cored, seeded
• Pears, peeled, cored

Vegetable

2 cups (260 g.) steamed (fresh or frozen)

• Sweet potatoes, peeled
• peas
• squash, peeled, seeded
• Carrots
• green beans
• spinach
• corn

Meat

2 cups (280 g.) boneless cubed cooked meat:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Pork 
• Beef
• Veal
• Lamb

Directions for above: Choose one or more items from the list of sample ingredients and prepare accordingly. Place into the Vitamix container along with 1/4 cup (60 ml) water, formula or breast milk and secure lid. Blend for 20-30 seconds. If mixture is too thick, remove the lid plug and add additional water, formula or breast milk, 1/4 cup (60 ml) at a time through the lid plug opening. Continue blending to achieve desired consistency. Serve immediately or freeze excess baby food. 

*To get more nutrients, use the cooking water when blending

* When making batches of baby food for freezing, only use freshly-expressed breast milk- never use frozen breast milk that has been thawed.

Vitamix Recipes by Frankie Lyons

Apple, Pear, Raisin, Cinnamon

• 2 cups natural applesauce
• 2 pears
• 1/4 cup raisins
• pinch of cinnamon

Blend ingredients together

Apple, Pear, Blueberry and Strawberry

• 2 cups natural applesauce
• 2 pears (peeled or not)
• 1 cup blueberry (fresh or frozen)
• 4 strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 banana

Blend all ingredients together 

* You can add spinach

* If you only have one pear that's okay

Tropical Delight

• 2 ripe bananas
• 2 mangos, peeled and diced
• 1/4 fresh pineapple, peeled and diced

Put bananas in blender first. Blend all ingredients together

* You don't need to cook fruit for vitamix. Just have soft ingredients; example: Add 2 cups applesauce

Avocado Cantaloupe

• 1 Avocado, peeled
• 1/2 ripe cantaloupe, peeled and cut into chunks

Blend ingredients together

Butternut Squash Medley

• 1/2 Small squash, peeled and diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
• apple juice

Cook veggies and spices in blender and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup apple juice (or more if it won't blend)

*use tamper stick with Vitamix

Pumpkin Banana

• 1 small can of pure pumpkin
• 2-3 bananas
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg

Blend all ingredients together

add more bananas if you want to mask the pumpkin flavor

ENJOY!!

Baby Bible: Save Our Sleep

So many people have asked me, and my siblings who use this book, how we have gotten our child (children) to sleep through the night and today I am sharing our secret. I was first introduced to Tizzie Hall's book titled, Save Our Sleep, by my sister in-law. She calls it her "Baby Bible" and as soon as Livy was born I completely understood why! This book is seriously incredible. Whether you're a first time mom or a seasoned mom, this book is a must!

 My Sister in-law has used this book for all five of their children and has consistently received incredible results, as well as my Sister for her three children. This book gives expert advice on feeding whether you're nursing, bottle feeding, or a mixture of both. Hall breaks down each stage, along with growth spurts in your baby and has a schedule to work accordingly. Livy quickly started consistently sleeping from 8:00pm-8:00am when she was just 8 weeks old! This not only has helped me to be a better mother, because I have been able to get the rest I need to function properly and play hard when Livy is awake, but it has also been an incredible benefit to my marriage. Ruben and I know exactly when we can have someone come and watch Livy because of her consist schedule, and we also have every single evening available to spend time together or get things done.

Many people have heard of friends that have their children on a strict schedule and have problems such as the baby not sleeping unless they're in their own crib, or they can't go out because they have to stick to the strict schedule. Let me just tell you, this is NOT the case with Hall's book. In fact, she encourages you to go out, go on walks or for a drive etc, in order to encourage your baby to be able to fall asleep in different places during their scheduled "nap" time. If anything I feel like I have more time than most mothers because I know exactly when I can do things and how much time I have to do them before I have to feed Livy again. Hall's book also includes solid food information, medical advice, schedules for parents with multiple children, babies that have colic, disabilities, or other issues etc. It truly is amazing! I could go on and on. If you're looking for a "Baby Bible" this is it! This book will seriously save your life and definitely your sleep!

"Finding Joy in Life"

Lately I realized I have been seeking happiness in the wrong places. I absolutely love doing crafts and am a home decor enthusiast (even though my home projects don't always turn out "picture perfect"). I simply love being able to create something from random things. Well although this hobby of mine is quite fun and can entertain me for some time, it can also get a little pricey. I have been finding ways to still be able to create new projects without spending too much money, however on one part time income, any amount of money spent on something you really don't need can quickly become "too much money". I started to realize that I was depending too much of my happiness on external things rather than realizing the tremendous blessings that bring vast happiness all around me.

I then kept feeling like I needed to look up Richard G. Scott. I came across his talk titled, Finding Joy in Life that he gave in 1996. He simply said, "You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings that God has in store for you." Wow, did that hit me hard. I continued to read and there was one part in his talk that particularly stuck out to me. He describes little children and how they teach us to find joy under even the most challenging circumstances. They don't concentrate on things they don't have, but rather find joy in what is available to them. He describes a little boy giggling with glee while playing with a few simple pop cans, fishing string and a river bank. He says, "Simple rejuvenating experiences surround us. They can be safety valves to keep tension down and the spirit up."

As Elder Scott described children in this manner, I was taken back. I have a bachelor's degree in Family, Consumer and Human Development with a double emphasis in Family and Community Services and Child Development, I've taught preschool for two years and I am extremely passionate about teaching children to create something from "nothing". Essentially teaching them to find joy in what is all around us. However, I realized as I listened to this talk that I was the one who wasn't listening to what I teach. I was placing joy on material things, spending money for date night, getting treats, having a "pinterest worthy" home, worrying about what my clothes looked like etc. Then I started to think about finding joy in what is available to me. What is available to me? I have an incredible husband who works hard so that I can be home with our daughter. I have the cutest 4 1/2 month old in the entire world that I get to wake up to as she makes cooing sounds each morning. I have an amazing support system. All of my needs are met. The list goes on and on. Do we really take time to discover each day how beautiful our lives can be like Elder Scott asks? Although we live in a world that has a lot of flaws, we also live in a world that is extremely beautiful, filled with beautiful people.

I think finding joy in life, is taking the time to recognize what you DO have and thanking a loving God for the beauty that is all around us.

This is a clock I had in my bathroom that stopped working, so naturally I turned it into a craft project for Livy's room inspired by Richard G. Scott's Talk.. It's not perfect, but I absolutely love it!

Why "Rays of Bliss"?

I've decided to start a blog to record lives "Rays of Bliss". One of my favorite things to witness is when the sun rays shine through the clouds just after a storm. I stare in awe as I realize that the sun was never really gone through the storm, just like our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ are always there for us. There are so many times in life when I fail to recognize the Lord's hand in my life during difficult trials or circumstances, but when I look back at my life after the trial is past, I realize that He was there all along. I know that He loves me and has a plan for me. That special moment of  seeing the rays of the sun break through the clouds, when I see the beauty and light amidst the storm, reminds me of when I finally submit my will to the Lord and see the tender mercies all around me. He does not leave us comfortless.

Life is an interesting journey, one that is not shared alone. I am grateful to have grown up in a wonderful loving family with five siblings and two incredible parents. These people are my role models. My family and I are spread across five different states in the U.S. and Ruben and I are hopefully moving in a year (finger's crossed) for medical school.

Here are all of my siblings and a few spouses at mine and Ruben's wedding day.

 Now that I have a husband and daughter of my own, we are experiencing our own little family adventures. I wanted to record "ah ha" moments, tender mercies, joys, overcoming obstacles, and new adventures. I hope you enjoy reading about our little daily life's adventures that may be similar to your own.

My Cute Livy Girl