I've been held hostage!

I'VE BEEN HELD HOSTAGE AND SOMEONE DRESSED MY SON UP AS A UT FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE: He's SO CLOSE to crawling!

Ali said it best "Ann, he's so cute, he makes even that UT Jersey cute!" AMEN SISTA!

Only 1 eye black for us.  We couldn't get the second perfect, so we just went with one.

We didn't trick or treat, but we handed out candy.

Next year we'll have a better 'costume'.

I've already laid the ground rules- nothing spooky, satanic, evil, etc.

I'm not all about the 'evil' part of Halloween but I do think its fun for the kiddo's to dress up and get candy.

The view from here...

We're now getting to big to lay down and take a bath. 

Easton wants to be sitting up playing with his bath toys. 

He's growing up too fast! 

I love this view!

Look at that little head and neck and ears and back and booty.

And...look at those little pigs peaking out...

OH.MY.GOODNESS.

I could just kiss every crevice and crease!

I LOVE THIS BOY!

Mmmmm!

This baby melts my heart!

Embrace the Camera- October 28th

 I've been reading Emily's blog for some time now.  She hosts an event called Embrace The Camera.  She encourages us to get out from behind the camera and get some pictures with your kids, spouses, friends, etc.  I love this idea!  The majority of our pictures are of Easton, Easton and Daddy, Easton and Kirby...but where's mom???...yeah, she's taking the pic... 

So, every Thursday I'm gonna turn my camera around and get some with me in it! Your kids will thank you for all the pix of you and them! Come on, join the fun!!!Head on over to her blog and check it out! 

Can I brag a minute???

Lovie made the local Parent magazine!

I mean, look at him, how could he NOT make the magazine???

Ok, I'm a little bias...but hey, what momma's not???

Save your money!

Last week I bought this lovely at Target...

What for you ask???

To make baby food, OF COURSE!

My BFF Brooke has made both her girls baby food and said it was super easy.  I liked the idea of knowing exactly what was in each serving as well as knowing it was fresh and healthy.  Obviously, I also like to make sure that I have a FULL plate and plenty to do!

With that being said, I didn't want to invest in one of those pricey food processors just in case I didn't like making my own baby food.

I made a few batches using my blender and my mixer but that wasn't so easy.  The peas were a mess.  Once I pushed all the skins through the sieve I only had 4 ounces of 'pea juice' to make into food.

ENTER THE OSTER HAND BLENDER!

For a whopping $19.99 I got just what I need to make Easton's food.

This bad boy is ALL YOU NEED!

We've tried butternut squash, peaches, green peas, green beans and sweet potatoes.  And, I might add- the boy loves some orange food- you can keep the green to yourself, but he'll 'lap' that orange right up!

Save your money on those high priced fancy schmancy food processors and buy this hand blender!

And buy these cups (not crazy about how they snap) OR these cups (lids screw on)

then buy these labels to stick on all your cups and you're ready to go.

OH---then go here for all your recipes and a stage by stage guide of what to feed your little one.

Making your own baby food is so easy! 

Take a little time each week to make and freeze your baby food.

I freeze mine in ice cube trays first then pop them out and put them in a freezer bag and label it.

I put the cubes in the cups the night before they're needed for school or I'll just pull them out and heat them when I need them at home. 

Easy peasy!

There you go, your one stop shop for your homemade baby food needs!

There's a method to my madness

Every day I pack Easton's bag, it looks a little like this:

And- because there are those of you out there who think I'm anal and way too detailed...

(I prefer to think of myself as organized)

I thought I'd let you know WHY I do what I do...

Bottles #1 & #2 contain 5 ounces total of fresh and frozen breast milk.

Frozen, then thawed, breast milk is only good for 24 hours.

Bottle #3 is 6 ounces fresh breast milk.

I do this because, in the event I pick Easton up early, bottle #3 is all fresh and I don't have to waste any, I can save it for the next day. 

Throwing out breast milk gives me the shivers!

I absolutely HATE wasting milk- free or not!

Small containers have:

1 ounce fruit for breakfast

today's frut was peaches- and he wasn't a big fan.

I don't think they were ripe enough- maybe a tad tart.

1 ounce cereal for breakfast

1 ounce fresh milk to make cereal

1 ounce veggie for lunch

today's veggie was sweet potatoes.

We're gonna have to get some greens in the diet or he's gonna be orange!

There is also a method to the timing.

At school mainly, it's important for him to be fed at these times so he's fed and ready to go by the time I pick him up at 3:45.  This way he has a full tummy and can get a little cat nap in on the way home.  If he sleeps till 4:30 or 4:45 he's good to go till bedtime!

Now, see there, there is a reason I do what I do!  

Sweet 'Taters

First bite of sweet potatoes

(aw, he's eating from the same silver spoon me and ali ate from when we were lil ones)

So far, he doesn't like butternut squash or peas but

this boy loves some sweet 'taters!

Next on the menu---pears and carrots.  I think we'll try pears tonight!