Make Your Own

Before Holden was born, I knew I wanted to try and make my own baby food. Making your own baby food IS time consuming. I admit that after a few rounds of it, I buckled and bought some Earth's Best organic baby foods from Whole Foods. If not from me, WFM is the next best, right? Pears, green beans, squash - we tried them and gave them a chance, but jars of baby food are just not as good as the real thing. Have you ever seen the faces women make at baby showers when they try the jars of baby food? Now imagine that three times a day for months.

If you have a pot, steaming basket and a food processor/blender, you can do it too. Or, if money is no object, try the Beaba Babycook (we just got the storage holders, and love them!)

I recently made butternut squash and apples at the same time. Baking one food and steaming another allows you to use your time more wisely. Start by cutting the squash in half and scooping out the seeds with a spoon.

Take the squash and place it cut-side down in an oven safe dish. Pour in about 1/4 inch of water and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

While the squash is baking, begin preparing the apples. We usually buy pink lady, honeycrisp, gala or macintosh apples. Wash about 6-8 apples and slice into eighths. You can leave the skin on or off at this point. This time, I decided to peel the skin before steaming.

Place cut apples into your steaming basket and pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water. Steam for five to eight minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. If you have not already peeled the skins, do so when the apples are cool to the touch. Place apples in food processor and puree to desired consistency (add water or breastmilk/formula to thin). Store apples in the refrigerator for up to three days, or freeze for up to three months.

By this time, the squash should be done. Remove the squash from the pan, peel away the skin and cut into chunks. Place squash in the washed processor and puree to desired consistency (add water or breastmilk/formula to thin). Store squash in the refrigerator for up to three days, or freeze for up to three months.

Apples in Orange, Squash in Green

The best thing about making your own food is that you are in total control of what is going in your child - just like when you were pregnant and when you nursed. I pick out the produce (mostly organic) for Holden. We have made apples (his favorite), sweet peas, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, avocados, peaches, bananas, cauliflower, parsnips, and beets, potatoes and lamb are next on my list.

Here is our happy eater with zucchini all over his chin!

Snowed Out

Last week, the Washington DC area received a forecast of four to eight inches of heavy snow. While the Sandell family was home and safe (at the time), much of the area faced severe traffic, accidents and power outages as the snow quickly accumulated. Here are pictures outside of our condo (this was only after a few hours of snow). 

The snow was very heavy and weighed down the trees.

Holden and I watched the snow from inside. I don't think he quite understands what snow is, yet. By next winter I am sure he will be running around in it!

At one point, we let Lyla outside. She explored the snow for a minute, but then desperately wanted to come back inside! Holden loves the cats, so he was eager to let Lyla in too.

Nathan and I tucked Holden in for bed and we were about to start our Bible study. I wanted to make some delicious hot cocoa, and document the moment - hot cocoa during a snow storm and a sleeping baby. Heaven, right?

Just as my drink was ready, our power went out. I started to panic because a power outage means no heat. Normally, that would be no big deal for Nathan and me, but I can't just wrap Holden in layers upon layers. He would not stand for it!

We decided to wait until he woke up (3:00 AM), and we brought him to bed with us. In the morning, we headed out to my mom's (Nonna) house because she still had power. On the way over, there must have been at least ten abandoned cars on major roads (Braddock and Roberts). Tree branches littered yards and side streets, some of them fallen on parked cars. We drove slowly and safely and arrived to a warm house. Holden, Nathan and I enjoyed the day with my mom and after dinner, we headed back home because, praise the Lord, our power came back on!

Our area is forecasted to receive a wintry mix tonight and tomorrow, so we are praying that the power does not go out again, or there might be another round of, "to grandmother's house we go!"