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!

In-laws and McDonalds....

Yesterday, my mother-in-law asked me if I was O.K. with them making the tradition of taking the grandkids to McDonalds every Saturday morning. I was so shocked all I could do was laugh at first. I ended up trying to get out that I did like the idea of a tradition of some sort, but that I wanted my kids to eat healthy. She almost totally blew it off. Almost, as in she continued trying to convince me in a way that said, "we already made up our minds, this is just a courtesy." I remembered my mom asking if I knew if they were trying to turn our kids into a "grandparents competition". I am really starting to wonder. She SAID it was so we could sleep in, but I don't know if I believe that. I am actually really looking forward to our kids waking up for Saturday morning cartoons, eating cereal in their pajamas till mom and dad wake up. Thats what we did! Can you imagine the trouble it would cause us if our kids went to McDonalds EVERY FRICKEN SATURDAY?! I''ll tell you what I imagine it would be like - 

1. Way too much salt, sodium, and grease in their little bodies every single week. 
2. We would have to get up ANYWAY in order to get them ready to go out with a grandma and grandpa. That would require baths, cute clothes and teeth brushing.
3. They will be super hyper afterwards and WE would have to deal with it. 
4. How would I get a Saturday routine set for them if that is what they did? 
5. Would I ever get to enjoy a Saturday morning with my kids? What if I plan on making waffles or pancakes with them every Saturday morning? 
6. Would Grandma and Grandpa bring them back when I ask them to? Breakfast does not need to last 4-5 hours. 
7. Would they want to go to McDonalds all the time? Does anyone know how hard it is to say no to a toddler or pre-schooler when it comes to going to McDonalds?! I do remember how it was with my little brother and my parents. We older kids did not help the matter. 
8. I already know Andrew will want to cook them breakfast every once in awhile and his breakfast foods are worse than McDonalds, Burger King, and Jack In The Box put together. But I cannot deny daddy this privilege, or my marriage might suffer [he he he]

It really does bother me. I asked Andrew how he felt about her asking [since it's his mom] and he agreed with my opinion. He was annoyed. Didn't actually say much about it but voiced that it annoyed him. I think this is one of those "don't worry till we get there" things but oh man. During the conversation I told her that it might not happen till the twins are like 5 or something. She blew off the age and was like "oh well I know it's not right away, I can't give them hash browns till they are almost a year." I was like "WHAT?!" I am not sure I am O.K. with my babies eating hash browns at 7 months. I actually read an article in Parents Magazine two months ago that gave us advice on how to say no to relatives that want to feed baby something over the holidays. It put it in an "Aunt Flo and her famous casserole" perspective.  It didn't give much advice on what to say but it did make me realize that I will have to deal with these issues, especially from Andrews side of the family. Now I wonder, is it just because I trust the women in my family on the topic of kids more than his? If my abuelita or mom wanted to feed the twins something I think I would be O.K. But I am picturing them trying things like mashed beans, mashed potatoes, a roll, cranberry sauce, and yams. I know how unhealthy husbands family cooks their holiday and regular food. It's loaded with salt, pepper, heavy creams and lots of butter. Plus his Grandma is just the kind of person to want babies to try her "famous" whatever. Oh, man. 


I am at a complete loss on this. I feel like I'm discriminating against his family, and that's wrong and unfair. But there are things that I will have to monitor from my family too. My family is much more into electronics than I would like my kids to be. But I was able to talk to my mom about this issue and I felt much better afterwards. I even found out she is planning homemade church activity kits that are 100% electronic free. I was ecstatic and felt bad. I never liked my moms disciplinary ways. I hear that is almost ALWAYS an issue between mother and daughter though. [I actually am not looking forward to my MIL and discipline more] I worry I will get told in front of my kids things like -

1. Ya like they understand what you are telling them.
2. Let them do it, it's cute
3. Don't tell them that

Or that they will be told to do it anyways and not to listen to mommy because she is mean. Maybe it will maybe it won't. My mom bought me a really great discipline help book this Christmas so maybe it's not. Now, in conclusion, I know I will not be the perfect mom. I know I will have times I forget and do something I shouldn't. I know I will yell or even ignore more than I should. I also know most moms would read this and say I'm delusional on the way I see how having kids will be. I don't think I am and I will try my hardest to raise my kids as mine and to be better than good people. My goal is similar to most parents and I will have my own way of getting there. My husband is my partner in this task my Heavenly Father entrusted upon us and that is how I see it.