Charlotte

She's 7 1/2 months! Where did the time go?! 

From this:
(about 1 1/2 months old)

To This:

She is absolutely precious, and I love every minute I get to spend with her! She recently learned a new trick, where she scrunches her face and breathes out of her nose. It is one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

We also put her in a jumper while we were in Montana, and she had a blast in it! Matt said she jumped the poop right out of her! When she was done jumping she had made a nice little present in her pants for him :)

I love re-living the baby stages with her! This time around I feel so proud and excited for each new step she learns, because I remember it with Emma and I know what comes next. It's so fun having little babies around! I figure as cute as my Charlotte is, I can wait a little longer before I get to sleep through a full night again :)

xoxo
The Twistles

Baby Food!

I know my sister is going to give me crap, BUT... did you know you can make your own baby food?!

Yup.

Make it, like from scratch and stuff.

My sister is gonna give me guff because she did this with Sophia and I had totally forgotten about it. That is, until I quit my job and lost our extra income. Paying $1.00 for two packs of baby food seems pretty steep when money is extremely tight.

So to put it in comparison for you...

$10 will get me 20 packs of baby food. 

5 sweet potatoes for $2.40 will get me 24 1 oz. sizes of baby food. Now, that is all one flavor of course, but when you are paying so little, just imagine how much food you can make with all sorts of fruits and veggies!

So far I've made carrots, bananas, and sweet potatoes. I have pears and frozen peas as well that I am going to make. 

I knew I had to start Charly on solid foods, but money was so tight I just didn't want to buy it. I remembered my sister had made it, and I have also seen the "make your own baby food" pins all over Pinterest. So, I jumped online and searched for recipes. When I read how simple it was, I was so angry I didn't do this with Emma! Seriously, SO EASY!!

To make carrots: 

Steam about 8 carrots, 

puree/blend carrots with water until the consistency is smooth and a little runny 

fill ice cube trays with pureed carrots. 

Freeze in the freezer and then put them into Ziploc bags. 

That's it!!!

Sorry, I'm just very excited about this. VERY EXCITED!!

Steaming carrots. I am using our rice cooker that we got for our wedding that I rarely use, until now! 

pureed carrots put into ice cube trays....

Bananas!

EASY!!! You have to do it if you have little babies, HAVE TO!!

Charlotte loves it, well as much as a 7 month old can. Okay, she eats it and doesn't spit it out. That means she likes it. 

The sizes are just right for her, and I will make her two for each feeding. The bananas oxidize quickly, so after you puree them you have to get them right into the freezer or they turn bad. To heat them up, just throw them in your microwave and defrost until they are warm. I add rice cereal to the bananas because they are really runny. 

It is so cheap to make and you get so much. It just takes a little time!

Have you made baby food? Let me know if you have any tricks or secrets! 

xoxo

Rachel

 

Baby Swing

I love this thing. Many thanks to my sister Shannen for the hand-me-down. It. Is. Awesome.

Neither Emma nor Charlotte have been able to combat it's swingy-ness.

They have both surrendered to the dreamy sleep while swinging in this wonderful apparatus. Charlotte fights the tired so badly these days, so during the day when it's time for her nap, I put her in it and it lulls her to sleep. Then, after she's sufficiently passed out (5 mins or so, yeah it's THAT good) I take her out and move her to her bed where she sleeps peacefully for an hour or so. Hallelujah!! 

Ahh, and now it's completely quiet in my house... for now :)

xoxo
Happy Mama!

A New Trick!

I love my Charly, to the point of obsession. 

I just can't get enough of her smiles, coos, and laughs!

I love reliving babyhood again, and watching these souls in little bodies investigate the world they are in. As of late, Charlotte has discovered her cute little baby tongue. As she coos and talks to us, she sticks out her tongue like a little turtle, and then brings it back in and plays with it in her mouth. I got this video while in church on Sunday:

What a cutie pie she is!! 

Here's a few pictures of her cute tongue action:

Can you say, lucky Mama? Saying that I'm thankful for this little one doesn't even come close to the gratitude I feel every day as I look at her sweet face. I don't always feel like I deserve it, but I am indescribably happy that she is ours. Mommy loves you Charlotte baby!

xoxo 

Rachel

Diaper Dumps

I don't think the future Charlotte will appreciate me posting this video, or even recording it for that matter, BUT I had to document it. If you aren't a parent, I'm sorry in advance. 

Once you become a parent, you'll find yourself having conversations about your child's recent bowel movements, spit up, nap times, and scrapes. Well this video falls under--- "recent poops that seem like a lot of work"

Charlotte really gets into her diaper dumps... I mean... REALLY. 

The video is 2 mins long, but worth it to see Charlotte work her magic. 

Sorry Charlotte, just remember Mommy loves you.

xoxo
Rachel