Baby Eats

Around six months, we began introducing Liv to solid foods via the Baby Led Weaning approach. I loved the idea of exposing her to a wide variety of flavors at a young age. With BLW, baby eats what you eat– ideally wholesome, nutritious foods in their natural form. If you are having steak and veggies for dinner, well then baby gets a chunk of meat and a spear of broccoli to gnaw on too. The method encourages the use of plenty of spices and dispels the myth that babies require bland foods. It makes sense when you think about all the babies in other cultures who regularly eat spicy foods at each meal. Some of our favorites to sprinkle on meats, rice and baked vegetables are garlic powder, rosemary, curry powder and sage. 

Neither Keane nor I are picky eaters so it was really important to us that our children develop a well rounded palate. I also refuse to make a different meal for everyone in our household so out of necessity, our kids need to be able to enjoy foods other than chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. 

Following this method and being liberal with what we offer Liv has really paid off. We get so many comments from family, friends and fellow restaurant goers about how well she eats. There really isn't a food she won't gobble up. Her favorites include kale, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, black beans, kiwi, blackberries, pomegranates, eggs, chicken, and beef. 

The fact that she eats pretty much anything I do makes life so much easier, but I will admit, there are times when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to have to think about making a meal. Times when I decide to eat chips and salsa for dinner or hold off on making breakfast for myself until L's morning nap. That's when having a variety of frozen purées on hand for quick, healthy meal options for her is super convenient. I can simply reach into the freezer and quickly thaw a couple cubes of fruit and veggie blends without any thought or preparation. 

The organic squeeze pouches of baby food are nice to keep in the diaper bag for when we are on the go but at $1.89 a pop, they add up quick. So when we're home, mama's blends are what she gets!

Every three weeks or so, I come up with some combinations I think sound good and stock up on produce. I use a food processor to make big batches which I then freeze in ice trays. 

Here are a few tried and true recipes in our house:

Apple Carrot

Peel, core and slice apples. Place spears in 1 inch of boiling water for 10 minutes or until tender. Peel and steam carrots for approximately 20 minutes. Place both in food processor until smooth. 

Apple Peach Corn Chia Seeds

I used organic frozen peaches since they aren't currently in season. I also used frozen organic corn because that's what I had on hand. Place all ingredients into food processor until smooth.  

Tropical Fruit Spinach 

(Steamed pears, fresh kiwi, mango, banana, and spinach)

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Beets Kale Banana Pear

Clean and peel beets. Cut into small chunks and steam for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Add raw kale, banana, steamed pears and beets to food processor until smooth.

Pumpkin Banana

Blend organic canned pumpkin and banana

Butternut Squash Sweet Potato 

This one is easy because you can pop both ingredients in the oven at the same time. Slice squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place both halves face down in a baking dish with about 1 inch of water. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes to an hour. Let cool, then scoop out the "meat." Puncture sweet potatoes with a fork and place in the same oven for the same amount of time. Once cooled, scoop out potato from skin and process until smooth. Add a few dashes of cinnamon to taste. 

Pear Sauce

 Steam pears. Once cooked, blend in food processor and add vanilla extract and cinnamon to taste.

A few months ago I made a huge batch of beets and discovered they weren't Liv's favorite. So instead of wasting all those wonderful nutrients, I added a little frozen beets to other recipes to pack in more vitamins. The bright pink cube you see in the picture is Pear Sauce with some frozen beets thrown in. They don't change the flavor, and they make everything prettier! Win win. 

If you are making purées with a single vegetable, try experimenting with some yummy spices. Add basil, thyme or tarragon to carrots. Sprinkle garlic powder, sage or pepper on green beans or peas. I don't use exact measurements of anything, I just do a lot of taste testing while I cook. 

Some other combinations you could try are Broccoli Apple, Sweet Potato Corn Apple, Spinach Pumpkin Chickpea, or Blueberry Pear Carrot. The combinations are endless. Just use what you have on hand and taste as you go. Chances are if you think it's tasty, you're babe will too.

Try using organic ingredients when possible and make things in bulk. You'll save time if you steam a whole pot of apples or bake a few sweet potatoes at once, and use them in several different recipes. 

Depending on your baby's texture preference, you can add vitamin rich water from the steamed fruits or veggies to the purées to make them more runny. Breast milk or formula is also a great option.

I really recommend getting some silicone ice trays. I've found they make larger cubes than traditional ice trays and it is much easier to get them out once frozen.  

Making your own healthy baby food doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a little planning, you can create lots of fun flavors for your little one to enjoy! 

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Rosewater Spray

Have you all heard of this stuff? I read about it in a magazine earlier this summer and decided to try it. What really had me sold was the fact that it contains only two ingredients: purified water and aromatic oil of rose.

I love floral scents but have stayed away from all perfumes since having Liv. She is always rubbing her face on my neck or sucking on my wrists and I didn't want her ingesting any yucky chemicals. This stuff is free of parabens, preservatives, petroleum and animal products so I don't have to worry if she gets any on her delicate skin.

On hot days, I keep it in my diaper bag and spray it on my feet and legs when we are out for a walk or at the zoo. It's cooling and smells so fresh. I even use a little right after I get out of the shower before bed. I makes the sheets smell yummy but is not too fru fru for Keane's liking.

Anyone else a fan of rosewater spray? I know it's been around forever but I just discovered it and I'm hooked!

Let's talk placentas, shall we?

I'm was born and bred in Boulder, Colorado. Land of the liberals, where I am a moderate. Home of the dreadheaded trustafarians, of which I am neither. I shave my armpits, I don't drive a Subaru and I rarely play my didgeridoo for a crowd on Pearl Street. Although I love my hometown more than most places on earth, I haven't ever really fit the granola mold. It wasn't until becoming pregnant that I started to realize I had a little more tree hugger in me than I once thought.

My choice to have a natural water birth with midwives outside of a hospital was received with a bit of resistance from most people I told. But what really raised some eyebrows was my decision to encapsulate my placenta and consume it after giving birth.

After researching the numerous physical and emotional health benefits of consuming your placenta, deciding to dehydrate and encapsulate mine was a no brainer. 

Think about it. For 9 months during pregnancy, this incredible organ supports a growing life inside your body. It provides a perfect balance of vitamins, minerals and hormones to create a healthy baby. Once you've delivered that baby, the placenta remains as a viable, nutrient-rich organ uniquely designed for your body, by your body. It is chock-full of protein and iron which help aid in the body's recovery after childbirth. Placenta pills naturally increase energy, lessen postnatal bleeding, and may also help to increase milk supply in lactating women. 

Perhaps one of the greatest health benefits of consuming your placenta, however, is its ability to combat the symptoms of baby blues and postpartum depression. One article I read had this to say about fluctuating hormone levels after childbirth:

"Research on placentophagy is still in its infancy, although there is a large body of research beginning to develop on postpartum hormone fluctuations and health. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that focused on CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone). CRH is a stress reducer, and is generally produced by the hypothalamus. During the last trimester of pregnancy, the placenta secretes so much CRH that the levels in the bloodstream increase threefold. However, it was also discovered that postpartum women have lower than average levels of CRH, triggering depressive symptoms.¹ They concluded that the placenta secreted so much CRH that the hypothalamus stopped producing it. Once the placenta was born, it took some time for the hypothalamus to get the signal that the CRH levels were low, and to begin producing it again. This is just another sign that there is likely a biological cause for the baby blues, directly related to hormone levels." source

Did you know humans are the only mammals who don't eat their placenta immediately after giving birth? While I certainly wouldn't be game for making a placenta lasagna (it's true, there are recipes), I see nothing scary about taking a vitamin that is made from a product of my own body.   

Since I began taking my dehydrated placenta pills just a few days after delivering Liv and she is my only child, I don't have any other experience to compare it to. All I can say is that depression runs in my family and my physical and emotional recovery after giving birth was incredibly smooth. My milk came in quickly and with abundance and I felt that my hormones regulated within a couple short weeks. With the exception of a handful of sleep deprived sob sessions, I didn't experience any of the scary symptoms of postpartum depression.

Placentophagy has been around for thousands of years in eastern medicine practices. For me, that was evidence enough to give it a try. I figured if I didn't notice anything, no harm done. But if it could aid in my physical recovery and emotional health, it would be well worth it.

I would encourage any pregnant mamas out there to do some research on people in your area who do placenta encapsulation. Dig a little deeper, talk to people who have done it. Knowledge is power and it might make all the difference in your recovery after birth.

This semi-granola Boulderite is certainly a believer!

King of all

The lawn outside our condo in Kauai turned out to be a perfect spot for some yoga. On the last day of our trip, I soaked up every last drop of Hawaiian sunshine while practicing my headstands. This pose is considered to be the King of all Yoga Poses.

Here are some of the many health benefits of turning your body upside down:

*Reverses the gravitational pull on the organs, helping to cleanse them and overcome problems in the liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and reproductive system  

 *Revitalizes the entire body and stimulates the mind to help with insomnia, anxiety and stress

*Relieves pressure on the heart and allows new, pure blood to easily flow to the brain

*Ensures healthier and more effective lung tissue

*Stimulates the nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, and cardiovascular systems

Also, it is said that this pose is especially beneficial for people who are...ahem...control freaks since it forces you out of your comfort zone and literally turns your world upside down. I've been doing headstands consistently for about 4 years and unassisted (without a wall) for about 3. It took me 8 months to build back up to them after my spine surgery and they aren't recommended for people with slipped discs unless you have adequate shoulder, arm and core strength. It's important to note that people who have high blood pressure or heart problems should not practice headstands. 

Does anyone else have a love affair with headstands? Notice any difference in your health or mood after doing them? I'd love to hear about it. 

Oh yeah, and husband pretty much masters everything he attempts on his first try so after he took these photos, he decided to give one a shot.

Umm...perfect form the first time. Who IS this man?!

Keane's Quotables

Him: "This lotion smells like rotten sour cream."

Me: "Well my face smells like rotten eggs." 

Him: "Match made in heaven." 

I love apple cider vinegar. I mix it in my water, cook with it and recently started rubbing it on my face at night as a toner. Before you judge, an esthetician recommended it. 

After I wash my face with soap, I mix two parts water and one part raw apple cider vinegar, dab the mixture on my face with a cotton ball, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse. 

A few nights ago, Keane happened to be moisturizing with some really old Udder Cream he found under the sink while I was applying my nightly regimen (See Also: STINKY). 

We were a sight for sore eyes noses. 

A short while later as we were lying in bed, I initiated this exchange:

Me: "Eww, your feet stink!"

Him: "No, Kelly. That's your face."

Me: "Oh. Right...sorry." 

It's a glamourous life we live.