I've been making Parker's baby food for almost two months now, and wow, I didn't realize how money we have been saving.
I looked at Walmart last week. The cheapest baby food seems to be Beach Nut, and the Stage One jars are 0.56 each. The Stage Two jars are .78. Gerber and the organic are far more. Not to mention those little Gerber Graduate meals, which are ridiculously high and a huge waste of money, IMO. Plus, you can buy the organic baby food, but think about it-if Gerber is selling the regular baby food, and the organic, how different can it REALLY be?
Parker so far has tried applesauce, bananas, sweet potatoes, green beans, and newly, carrots. He eats both pureed baby food and also slices of fruits and veggies in his mesh baby feeder. I've made all of it homemade, except the applesauce, which I buy the no sugar added applesauce, and Lily also eats those.
I bought two sweet potatoes for $1 at Kroger. Those made 28 meals. That means, each meal was .03. Less than a PENNY a meal!
I bought a bag of carrots at Walmart for .78. Those also made 28 meals, and each meal costs .02. Also less than a PENNY a meal.
The savings are incredible.I even mix in some breastmilk with lots of my baby food for extra benefits. The best part is, all your baby is getting is the vegetable or fruit. No preservatives or any junk.
I use my food processor to blend the veggies or fruits. Some veggies and fruits do not need to be cooked or steamed, like avocados and bananas. For sweet potatoes and carrots, you can bake or steam them and then puree them. I use the website www.wholesomebabyfood.com for a reference, and I love it!
January 22, 2011
January 20, 2011
I'm sitting in my high chair!
After almost 7 months, and after Parker successfully crawled out of his Bumbo seat, I finally set up his high chair. He is tickled. 
January 14, 2011
Flashback Friday
Only flashing back a year, but here is what I was doing last year: (just got laid off from my first REAL job in marketing, but excited to become a SAHM and bake little P!)
January 13, 2011
Whats Mahaffe-ning?
Not a whole lot-but here is life lately in list form!
1. We have been snowed in for almost 5 days. Lily has been out of school for almost 5 days. We finally ventured to the grocery store today. Shane finally went back to work today. It has been fun spending time with family and relaxing, but I'm going stir crazy. We played countless hours on the Wii, we watched (get ready for this) Nightmare on Elmstreet 3 AND 4, Poltergeist, Felon, Boondock Saints, and Death at a Funeral to name A FEW movies. Speaking of being out of school, I'm glad I didn't plan anything for Lily's winter break because I just found out it was canceled due to this week off school.
2. I have been eating like a crazy person. I finally realized over these 5 days, we have made brownies, a cake, s'mores, and cookies. YIKES. We have also made big breakfasts and ate tons of comfort food for dinner (we've been guests at Shane's family's dinner tables, how could I refuse chili and beef stew and pork tenderloin?)I guess that's what boredom will do.
3. I have eight new Minky diapers coming for Parker (one size, pocket diapers to be exact) and also a new sling to tote Parker around in. I'm so excited for my packages to arrive I can't stand it! I'm also going to order a new wetbag (well, replace the one that broke) but I'm still waiting on the girl to figure out a code to where I don't have to pay for shipping.
4. I had a really bad cold and cough last week, but I am finally feeling better.
5. Shane and I got baptized last Sunday. It was amaaaazing. Our family came to share the special day with us. Unfortunately, I left our wet clothes and towels at church, so that will be yucky to wash when I finally get them back.
6. It's almost baby time! Several friends will be having babies very very soon, and I can't wait to meet these new little friends and snuggle with some newborn sweethearts! Shane would kill me for saying this, but these newbies COULD induce some baby fever. No worries, Parker will still wake me up at 1 am, I can pretend I have a newborn!
1. We have been snowed in for almost 5 days. Lily has been out of school for almost 5 days. We finally ventured to the grocery store today. Shane finally went back to work today. It has been fun spending time with family and relaxing, but I'm going stir crazy. We played countless hours on the Wii, we watched (get ready for this) Nightmare on Elmstreet 3 AND 4, Poltergeist, Felon, Boondock Saints, and Death at a Funeral to name A FEW movies. Speaking of being out of school, I'm glad I didn't plan anything for Lily's winter break because I just found out it was canceled due to this week off school.
2. I have been eating like a crazy person. I finally realized over these 5 days, we have made brownies, a cake, s'mores, and cookies. YIKES. We have also made big breakfasts and ate tons of comfort food for dinner (we've been guests at Shane's family's dinner tables, how could I refuse chili and beef stew and pork tenderloin?)I guess that's what boredom will do.
3. I have eight new Minky diapers coming for Parker (one size, pocket diapers to be exact) and also a new sling to tote Parker around in. I'm so excited for my packages to arrive I can't stand it! I'm also going to order a new wetbag (well, replace the one that broke) but I'm still waiting on the girl to figure out a code to where I don't have to pay for shipping.
4. I had a really bad cold and cough last week, but I am finally feeling better.
5. Shane and I got baptized last Sunday. It was amaaaazing. Our family came to share the special day with us. Unfortunately, I left our wet clothes and towels at church, so that will be yucky to wash when I finally get them back.
6. It's almost baby time! Several friends will be having babies very very soon, and I can't wait to meet these new little friends and snuggle with some newborn sweethearts! Shane would kill me for saying this, but these newbies COULD induce some baby fever. No worries, Parker will still wake me up at 1 am, I can pretend I have a newborn!
January 5, 2011
Fluff
I've been contemplating a cloth diapering blog for awhile, but it took me forever to actually remember to take pictures when I had a good chunk of diapers clean and ready to go. You can Google and learn so much about cloth diapering. It is a whole other world. But here is MY journey in cloth diapering, and it has been both a fun and learning experience!
A bit of a background: I started cloth diapering maybe two months ago, but I feel like I've been doing it forever, it's so easy. My sweet friend Anna showed me how simple it was and even let me borrow a few to see if I like them. I instantly realized that it was an excellent decision for me and my family. We save tons of money, we help the environment, and they are healthier for Parker. Also, my water bill has not gone up, even though I wash more during the week.
I currently have 16 diapers. I would love to have 5 more so I could wash less(well, I need 5 more. I would love to have 16 more!)Here is some of Parker's stash:
The diapers that I have are all pockets (meaning, you have to stuff inserts into them. The point of stuffing the inserts is that when you wash them, you pull the inserts out. They dry quickly and get super clean. There are lots of other types of diapers, but I don't want to be confusing. Google All In Ones, Fitted, All In Twos, Prefolds, Hybrid to get really confused!). This is what an insert looks like (sometimes I use one, like when we are at home, but I use two inserts when we go out or for over night):
The ones I have are also one size, meaning they fit from about 10 pounds to potty training. They have all sorts of snaps to adjust to your babies size. See below.
I got Parker's fluff online from Just Simply Baby and Go Green Pocket Diapers. You can Google either of those. I recommend them both. They are cheaper than most of the CDs on the market, but they are adorable and great quality and do not leak. Now that I've had them for awhile, I want to try other kinds, but I've been on the lookout for sales and what not. I look every day, it quickly turns into an obsession.
Another item you may want to purchase (among a million other things) is a wetbag. It fits in your diaper bag and you just throw your dirty dipes in until you get home. When you get home, you throw them in the diaper pail until wash day. For really poopy diapers, you can spray them off with a diaper sprayer. You can buy those, but luckily, I'm married to a plumber. Here is my makeshift diaper pail and wetbag:
Washing them: Everyone has their own way of washing their cloth diapers. One important thing to remember is to use Free and Clear Detergent (I use plain old All Free and Clear, although there are specific detergents marketed only for cloth diapers). I usually do a cold rinse, then a hot wash with 1/3 of what I would normally use detergent. In the spring and summer, I plan to hang them dry, but for now, I dry them in the dryer (no dryer sheets though!)
Cloth diapers are insanely easy. People should try them, and they will be hooked. It's the only laundry I don't mind doing. The "hardest" part is stuffing the inserts into the pockets, but I don't mind that-honestly! And for those that DO, you can get different kinds where you don't have to stuff or fold anything (All in Ones.)
Fluffy bums are insanely adorable: (even when they are not matching)
A bit of a background: I started cloth diapering maybe two months ago, but I feel like I've been doing it forever, it's so easy. My sweet friend Anna showed me how simple it was and even let me borrow a few to see if I like them. I instantly realized that it was an excellent decision for me and my family. We save tons of money, we help the environment, and they are healthier for Parker. Also, my water bill has not gone up, even though I wash more during the week.
I currently have 16 diapers. I would love to have 5 more so I could wash less(well, I need 5 more. I would love to have 16 more!)Here is some of Parker's stash:
The diapers that I have are all pockets (meaning, you have to stuff inserts into them. The point of stuffing the inserts is that when you wash them, you pull the inserts out. They dry quickly and get super clean. There are lots of other types of diapers, but I don't want to be confusing. Google All In Ones, Fitted, All In Twos, Prefolds, Hybrid to get really confused!). This is what an insert looks like (sometimes I use one, like when we are at home, but I use two inserts when we go out or for over night):
The ones I have are also one size, meaning they fit from about 10 pounds to potty training. They have all sorts of snaps to adjust to your babies size. See below.
I got Parker's fluff online from Just Simply Baby and Go Green Pocket Diapers. You can Google either of those. I recommend them both. They are cheaper than most of the CDs on the market, but they are adorable and great quality and do not leak. Now that I've had them for awhile, I want to try other kinds, but I've been on the lookout for sales and what not. I look every day, it quickly turns into an obsession.
Another item you may want to purchase (among a million other things) is a wetbag. It fits in your diaper bag and you just throw your dirty dipes in until you get home. When you get home, you throw them in the diaper pail until wash day. For really poopy diapers, you can spray them off with a diaper sprayer. You can buy those, but luckily, I'm married to a plumber. Here is my makeshift diaper pail and wetbag:
Washing them: Everyone has their own way of washing their cloth diapers. One important thing to remember is to use Free and Clear Detergent (I use plain old All Free and Clear, although there are specific detergents marketed only for cloth diapers). I usually do a cold rinse, then a hot wash with 1/3 of what I would normally use detergent. In the spring and summer, I plan to hang them dry, but for now, I dry them in the dryer (no dryer sheets though!)
Cloth diapers are insanely easy. People should try them, and they will be hooked. It's the only laundry I don't mind doing. The "hardest" part is stuffing the inserts into the pockets, but I don't mind that-honestly! And for those that DO, you can get different kinds where you don't have to stuff or fold anything (All in Ones.)
Fluffy bums are insanely adorable: (even when they are not matching)
January 4, 2011
A Good Day for a Blog Post
I'm glad I did a favorite 2010 post because I certainly forgot to make a New Year's post. No exciting resolutions to mention, just the usual of gym, eat healthy, etc. Anyways, Parker is napping right now, so I figured it would be nice to do a little post while I'm enjoying my lunch.
We had a great New Years-Lily even stayed up til midnight for the first time. All the kids did in fact. We spent the evening with Shane's family-and it was so nice to hug and kiss everyone and tell them Happy New Year! Since we were up so late (including P, who was ready to nurse and have a clean dipe around midnight),we all slept in til 9 30. It was sooo nice. We spent the day at the mall and had dinner with Shane's aunt and uncle.
Sunday was Parker's baby dedication. It was such a nice ceremony, and it even brought tears to my eyes. Shane's entire family came, and we even had another couple come who are expecting a little one in about five weeks. It was also an AMAZING service, so I was glad everyone came that day. Alas, no pictures.
School has FINALLY started back today! Hooray! Parker and I are just chilling. He is cutting another tooth (he has two bottom ones) so he is already on his THIRD nap today. Poor little guy.
Now, I must enjoy my soup and my DVR!
We had a great New Years-Lily even stayed up til midnight for the first time. All the kids did in fact. We spent the evening with Shane's family-and it was so nice to hug and kiss everyone and tell them Happy New Year! Since we were up so late (including P, who was ready to nurse and have a clean dipe around midnight),we all slept in til 9 30. It was sooo nice. We spent the day at the mall and had dinner with Shane's aunt and uncle.
Sunday was Parker's baby dedication. It was such a nice ceremony, and it even brought tears to my eyes. Shane's entire family came, and we even had another couple come who are expecting a little one in about five weeks. It was also an AMAZING service, so I was glad everyone came that day. Alas, no pictures.
School has FINALLY started back today! Hooray! Parker and I are just chilling. He is cutting another tooth (he has two bottom ones) so he is already on his THIRD nap today. Poor little guy.
Now, I must enjoy my soup and my DVR!
December 28, 2010
Top 10 of 2010
My Favorites of 2010 (all amazing.awesome.important. But not in order!)
1. The birth of our son Parker. Our little family grew on 6/28/10. Parker weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz.
2. Lily starting kindergarten. At the ripe old age of five, Lily joined the world of academia.
3. Celebrating our first wedding anniversary. 5/23/10 will always be our special day. I was sooo preggo though-it was a little over a month til my due date!
4. Becoming a SAHM- I got let go of my first REAL job ever due to layoffs. But, it turned out to be such a blessing that I get to stay home with my kiddos.
5. Becoming members of New Season Church. I blog about this all the time, but what an amazing change in our lives! I was hoping to have pictures, but I will after Parker's baby dedication this weekend. That will be a post itself.
6. Lily's fall tee ball team's undefeated season. These kids were dynamite! Watch out this spring for the Fireballs!!
7. My Golden Birthday-When I was little, I always thought about turning 25 on the 25th. It wasn't the most exciting birthday, but I had a great day, and my childhood fantasy became a reality. I don't know why it was such a big deal to me, but I was really looking forward to it. Now, to stay 25 forever.
8. Lily following in her daddy's footsteps by playing ball. Lily became a ball player in the spring of 2010.
9. Visit from my aunt and uncle. Maureen and Steve flew all the way here from Cape Cod to see my home and visit with our family for two glorious days. It was their first time getting to see where we lived and everything! By far my favorites ever, and I was so glad they got to experience Atlanta-including the Aquarium and Centennial Olympic park and our favorite places to eat!
10. Becoming a mini-van mom. Maybe not the COOLEST thing that's ever happened to us (well, Lily thinks so) but we have SO much room, the van is SO safe, and it is pretty sweet as far as minivans go (we even have a DVD player). Plus, it totally dominates the Jeep on gas mileage.
1. The birth of our son Parker. Our little family grew on 6/28/10. Parker weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz.
2. Lily starting kindergarten. At the ripe old age of five, Lily joined the world of academia.
3. Celebrating our first wedding anniversary. 5/23/10 will always be our special day. I was sooo preggo though-it was a little over a month til my due date!
4. Becoming a SAHM- I got let go of my first REAL job ever due to layoffs. But, it turned out to be such a blessing that I get to stay home with my kiddos.
5. Becoming members of New Season Church. I blog about this all the time, but what an amazing change in our lives! I was hoping to have pictures, but I will after Parker's baby dedication this weekend. That will be a post itself.
6. Lily's fall tee ball team's undefeated season. These kids were dynamite! Watch out this spring for the Fireballs!!
7. My Golden Birthday-When I was little, I always thought about turning 25 on the 25th. It wasn't the most exciting birthday, but I had a great day, and my childhood fantasy became a reality. I don't know why it was such a big deal to me, but I was really looking forward to it. Now, to stay 25 forever.
8. Lily following in her daddy's footsteps by playing ball. Lily became a ball player in the spring of 2010.
9. Visit from my aunt and uncle. Maureen and Steve flew all the way here from Cape Cod to see my home and visit with our family for two glorious days. It was their first time getting to see where we lived and everything! By far my favorites ever, and I was so glad they got to experience Atlanta-including the Aquarium and Centennial Olympic park and our favorite places to eat!
10. Becoming a mini-van mom. Maybe not the COOLEST thing that's ever happened to us (well, Lily thinks so) but we have SO much room, the van is SO safe, and it is pretty sweet as far as minivans go (we even have a DVD player). Plus, it totally dominates the Jeep on gas mileage.
December 27, 2010
Nights of Lights/Wilson Christmas
We took the kids to Lake Lanier Resort for the Nights of Lights. We stayed overnight at the lodge, went to Santa's village, and we had breakfast with Santa. We also got to stop at the Mall of GA on the way there, and we hit Bass Pro Shop on the way home. We then went to have Christmas time with my mom and sisters and ate yummy Italian. It was great having Shane off work for five whole days! I'll let pictures tell the rest...
December 14, 2010
Parties and such
It's been fun around here! We had Shane's company party on Sunday, which was a blast! Lily and Shane's little brother Chase won second prize in the gingerbread house decorating contest. Coldstone giftcards--yummy! The kids got to bowl, play laser tag and bumper cars, play lots of games, and meet with Santa. And of course we got to eat. Shane won $100 in the White Elephant game.
I also hosted my own Christmas party, with a few friends around here and sweet Katherine drove all the way from Sandy Springs to come too. It was fun-snacks, wine, and presents. I really enjoyed it, and P was so good. Shane took Lily on a date night to dinner and see Tangled, and she was just tickled.
Lily has been having lots of fun with Christmas projects at school, and she has her Christmas party on Friday. The kiddos read Polar Express and do crafts and get to wear their pjs. I can't wait to take pictures. I just purchased cute mugs and yummy chocolate for her teachers gifts. So original right? She'll be off for two weeks-yikes...
What else, what else...We are getting baptized on the 26th at church, and Parker is getting dedicated on January 2nd. We love attending New Season, and I am so happy that Lily loves it too. It's been an amazing change in our lives, and we are so thankful!
Hmmm... and of course P. Parker actually DOES have teeth now. His two bottom ones are coming in. Wow, he has been a handful! I love him to pieces, but good grief, Mommy has been worn thin! And has been bitten! He is trying to start crawling, and he is also about to move to 6-9 month clothes. Oh, and I just got him a great Fisher Price Jumperoo, which he seems to like, but man, that thing is huge! I wish I had an extra room for all my baby equipment.
And lastly-here is one of my goals for Christmas break: quiet time (he he he. My mother always implemented quiet time til I was like 12, whether you napped or not. Seems like a good tradition to start around here too.)
I also hosted my own Christmas party, with a few friends around here and sweet Katherine drove all the way from Sandy Springs to come too. It was fun-snacks, wine, and presents. I really enjoyed it, and P was so good. Shane took Lily on a date night to dinner and see Tangled, and she was just tickled.
Lily has been having lots of fun with Christmas projects at school, and she has her Christmas party on Friday. The kiddos read Polar Express and do crafts and get to wear their pjs. I can't wait to take pictures. I just purchased cute mugs and yummy chocolate for her teachers gifts. So original right? She'll be off for two weeks-yikes...
What else, what else...We are getting baptized on the 26th at church, and Parker is getting dedicated on January 2nd. We love attending New Season, and I am so happy that Lily loves it too. It's been an amazing change in our lives, and we are so thankful!
Hmmm... and of course P. Parker actually DOES have teeth now. His two bottom ones are coming in. Wow, he has been a handful! I love him to pieces, but good grief, Mommy has been worn thin! And has been bitten! He is trying to start crawling, and he is also about to move to 6-9 month clothes. Oh, and I just got him a great Fisher Price Jumperoo, which he seems to like, but man, that thing is huge! I wish I had an extra room for all my baby equipment.
And lastly-here is one of my goals for Christmas break: quiet time (he he he. My mother always implemented quiet time til I was like 12, whether you napped or not. Seems like a good tradition to start around here too.)
December 5, 2010
The holidays are here!
I love this time of year...especially seeing it through my kiddos eyes. Promising a blog post/update this week!
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