Plum Puree How-To

I made PLUM PUREE yesterday for the babies. Here's how:

These are my tools; A bag of black plums from WIC, a paring knife, a cutting board, and a blender. I few items are not pictured, I realized I needed them later: a potato peeler, paper towels, and a medium pot. 

1. Wash, peel, pit and chop as many plums as you'd like. I had 7 plums. 
2. Put slices into the pot and add a small amount of water. I added about 1/2 cup of water. 
3. Steam the plums for 8-10 minutes (I forgot to time it, I was also making dinner, I just picked out a slice, let it cool, then tested the mushiness).

 4.  Let cool, then poor into the blender.
 5.  I used the pulse setting for about a minute. I'm sure you could use whatever setting, especially if your more experienced with a blender than I am.
 6.  Let cool a bit more, then measure into the containers you choose, label then freeze.

A baby's serving size is 2 tablespoons. I put 4 tbs (2 servings) into a container, because I'm pretty sure I'll feed my twins out of the same container. Measuring into the containers will prepare for sanitary, healthy (disables overeating), and easy feeding times. 

These are applesauce containers my neighbor gave me. At least I think she said they were applesauce, i have never seen them with lids but ta-da! They were perfect. The labels are Evenflo's Smartsteps Magic Labels (disolving labels). They were on clearance at Wal-Mart in the baby section for $2.50 for 50 labels. 

Seven small plums and 1/2 cup of water filled 7 containers with 4 tbs. 

I thought you would like to see what the labels look like. On the left I used regular sharpie, on the right is a ball point pen. Personally, I would like how a medium felt tip pen would look, but I have none. I put the measured amount, what it is, and the date. I added at the bottom - 2 serv - so I remember that one container is for both of them a month from now, ha ha ha!

So, I tasted it, well, I licked the spoon, and it was delicious! It was very similar to applesauce. 

Plums are not a high allergy risk and good for ages 6+ months. They are high in fiber, low in cholesterol, sodium free and contain vitamins A&C. 

Well that's all I got. 

I'm Back!!!!

DEAR FOLLOWERS!!!!
      I AM BACK!!! My twin boys are 5 months old. I am very sorry for not keeping up with this. I was using this to make money with the advertisements, but they decided I was cheating on it. It was very discouraging since I was trying to contribute to our finances while expecting twins. I also did not have very much time or energy to keep up with my Informative Blog. But I do now!!! Let me see if I can catch you up -via pictures!-, then today's blog is about making space for baby(ies) in a TINY space. 

This is how big I got, taken 3 days before I went into labor.

^ Ryan and Elliot ^

Still in the NICU @ 1 week old

^ Ryan Scott and ^ Elliot Shae 

20 days old

^ Elliot and Ryan ^

On their blessing day 

3 months old

Our family

4 months old

^ Ryan and Elliot ^ 

5 months old

Well now your caught up!! So we are a family of four living in a 2 bedroom apartment, approximately 700 sq ft. It's umm... Not as squished as it was in the 1 bedroom but still not as much space as we would hope for. Here is how we make it work:

This is in our living room. To the right is our "adult" area - a rug, couch, and entertainment center. The swings we borrowed from a fellow mom of twins. The toy basket and what I call "The Clean Area" which is a blanket nobody walks on, we change diapers here, lay them there after a bath and just to change their clothes. You can see in the bottom, right corner their car seats. We tuck them under the couch arm. I vacuum this room every night before bed. The boys have their own room, we have two cribs, a laundry basket, another toy basket and two Seed Sprout closet organizers from walmart.com for about $20. Under their cribs we store their bathtub and a collapsible walker. I hope this helps with ideas for your Little Ones space! 

Here's a bonus:

1/5 red bell pepper, chopped                   4 tilapia fillets

1/5 orange bell pepper, chopped              1 cup wild rice

1/5 green bell pepper, chopped

3-4 portabella mushrooms, sliced

Throw 1/3 tablespoon margarine or butter into a medium skillet till melted. Add all peppers and mushrooms, moving till mushrooms are browned, or however you like your veggies sauted. Prepare the rice according to package. Put oven to BROIL. TIP- cover broil bin with foil for fast easy clean-up. Broil fish about 10 minutes on each side (each oven is different). Scoop 1/2 cup of rice on each plate, off to one side. Place two fillets on each plate, next to the rice. Using a spoon, scoop a line of the pepper mix in between the fish and rice. Serve. 

Well, that's all for today!

ABC's of Me...

Age: 20

Bed Size: Queen

Chore You Hate: Washing dishes, I hate the smell, and the grimyness of dirty dishes. However, it is the most satisfying feeling in the world looking a a huge pile of drying, clean dishes on the counter

Dogs: Don't like them; but one day we will have a blue healer, I promised my husband we would. It's his dream.

Essential Start of Your Day: Breakfast and a good morning kiss for/from my husband

Favorite Color: Purple

Gold or Silver: Silver, definitely

Height: 5'1"


Instruments You Play: none, I have learned to play the piano and clarinet though. I just never kept practicing. 

Job Title: .... housewife, mother, nurse, maid, masseuse, church-goer, nutritionist, friend, radio

Kids: 2 ages 1 month

Live: The great state of Texas

Mom's Name: Laurie

Nicknames: Angel; KK. And I'm sure once my mother realizes I wrote a few blogs she will comment with a few that were thankfully left in my childhood. 

Overnight Hospital Stays: Babies delivery, and preterm labor

Pet Peeve(s): When people form an opinion of others before getting to know them
not pushing in your dinner chair
pants not high enough to cover your underwear
Quote From a Movie: "...Yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you either run from it, or learn from it." -Rafiki
Right- or Left-Handed: Right

Siblings: 3 brothers, 1 sista

Time You Wake Up: Several times a night to feed my babies; for good in the morning? around 10 or after their 9 o'clock meal....

Underwear: uh.. a nursing bra and cotton panties

Veggie You Dislike: lima beans

What Makes You Run Late: Loading the diaper bag, and getting hungry when I am ready to leave...

X-Rays You Have Had: Dental, Ultra sounds

Yummy Food You Make: Chicken casserole, Tres leches cake, chicken tortilla soup, and lentil soup

Zoo Animal You Like Best: the big cats

25 Random Things about me:

1. I don't like my first name on a daily basis.


2. My favorite color is purple.


3.My favorite flavor of ANYTHING is the red flavor.


4. I don't really like refried beans.


5. I love white roses, because my dad would get me a white rose on Valentines day... but they are not my favorite flower.


6. Oriental lilies are my favorite flower.


7. I love the internet because I can look up anything on a whim. Like the meaning of giving someone white roses...


8. I don't like letting my twin boys cry when they want to be held, I have to pick them up and cuddle them...


9. I have recently learned what a best friend is, and have released the hurt that I harvested for years because I never felt I had a best friend. 


10. It is very easy for me to truly forgive a person that wronged me. 


11. I have a very good memory for faces and names.


12. I am still scared of the dark.


13. ....and roaches.


14. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain.


15. My oldest son is sleeping to a lullaby station on Pandora satellite radio in the bedroom with my husband while I hold my youngest on a generic Boppy pillow.


16. I always have dry hands because I hate the smell of most lotions.


17. Lots of scents give me migraines, so I don't wear perfume, I don't use aerosol cans for my house, and I am extremely picky about things like body wash and laundry detergent.  


18. I make sure I learn something(s) from EVERYONE that I meet.


19. I was a depressed teenager, but I got through it by remembering that I can start over in a better mood or attitude every second. Also remembering that every morning is a new beginning.[I try to teach my husband that, and I hope I can teach my children that]


20. I really miss my family. [dad, mom, 3 brothers and my only sister]


21. I almost didn't want anything to do with my older brother at one point. Then I let him live with me and I learned that my image of him was very wrong. Now I am proud of him, and proud to be his sister. 


22. One of the few things I disagree with that I learned at church is that pride is sinful. Maybe I need someone to interpret it differently to me but I don't think it's wrong to be proud of my husband, proud to be his wife, proud of my parents and to be a Balderas, proud of my siblings accomplishments and my own, and proud to be a good housekeeper and so on with all the things I am proud of in my life.... 


23. I am scared to death of the day my husband has a real asthma attack. I thought the day was last night when he woke me up gasping my name because his back was hurting very badly. 


24. I have been told that I give VERY good back and neck massages.


25. I am not very good at basic math, like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, but I rock when it comes to algebra.

Last Days as Just Me...

***I don't understand why male humans have this intense need to play electronic games. Andrew plays games on his cell phone all the time - when I'm trying to have a conversation with him, while he is on the phone with another family member [ya, no joke, I'm 100%serious], at times when we used to be able to just sit and enjoy a quiet moment together, when I could really use his help with something and pretty much anytime he feels bored and needs something to do. I really don't understand this. 


These are my last days as ... just Kayla. In less than a month I will be MOM. The most privileged yet abused title in the world. I used to think a woman should earn the title of mom, but lately I have noticed pretty much any woman has that title. I hope I earn the privilege of being called mom, that it's more than just a habit my children grow up with. I remember as a teen, I tried calling my mom by her first name, thinking about it being a privilege. I couldn't do it, It felt so weird. I decided as bratty as I was, and as much as we had our hard times, she had earned the title MOM in my heart. It is going to be seriously weird referring to her as grandma... For her birthday this month, my abuelita gave her a card. She had written inside a celebration of the fact that she is going to be a grandma. I thought it was so cool of my Ita to remind her of this. I'm not sure how I feel about me being mom yet.... I don't feel like I belong in the group, like I'm just pretending. My entire life has been about preparing to be a mom, it's how the LDS church teaches. I messed up along the way, I didn't finish school, I got in trouble with the law, and a few other mishaps....


What I am especially proud of is my partner. My husband is what makes me feel like I'm ready. We had a talk the other night about something random, with us that is usual. I was reminded he does not have such a high opinion of his parents. We talked about him learning from their mistakes, him wanting to not be like them. His parents have quite a background, they put their children through a lot. He knows what kind of parent he wants to be, and I like it. He is going to be such a great dad, he is already an amazing partner and husband. I love it when he kisses my belly and says goodnight to his sons. Anyway, I hope I live up to my own expectations.

Our 'Nursery' is Finished!

We have threaded our baby boys into our home, take a look:

This is where our baby boys will be sleeping the first couple of months of their lives...

Notice the frames with their names above... 

Their pacifiers and teething toys are in the buckets made by my mom. Their little library is also here and the brown basket has the diaper stuff in it...

The top drawer of our dresser has their newborn onsies, burp rags, bibs, socks, mittens, beanies, lotion and hair brushes....

Above Andrews side of the closet We have their collection of adorable and variously textured blankets...

In between our clothes we have their tiny hangable outfits, these are from my grandma...

Below, we just bought these containers. We anticipate putting them in the boys room for toys and such when we get an apartment with their own bedroom....

In the bathroom we have their bathing unit...

Taken at my baby shower, this is me and an old friends older sister. She is due the same time as I...

New Project

I have decided to make my best friend a scrapbook. She has been a really great friend lately, and I think she deserves a heartfelt gift. I noticed a lot of cute pictures on her facebook account, so I am going to print them out and scrapbook them for her. I will post pictures of my progress. I don't know how long it will take. I think I have mentioned in the previous posts that my mom scrapbooks. She has agreed to help me get started. Scrapbooking is kind of an expensive hobby, in my opinion, but very fun. It is definitely a challenge of your creativity, my favorite kind of challenge. I have done a few pages myself, but mostly I have used my moms things for cards and such. This also can be fun. Anyway, this was just a quick post before I forgot to mention it.