Feb 2013
WHAT DOES AN 18-MONTH OLD EAT
Good foods for toddlers:
mashed potatoes with cheese,
diced tomatoes with pinto beans,
apple sauce,
lental soup drained,
spinich or cheese ravioli
scrambled eggs (with or w/o cheese),
cut up fruit (blueberries, strawberries, banana),
toast with butter or jelly
pancakes w/ fruit...
apple cinnamon pancakes
blueberry pancakes...
hard boiled eggs or omelets,
french toast w/ fruit
grilled cheese w/tomato or grilled cheese w/ tomato soup
cut up chicken or chicken nuggets, veggies (carrots, green beans, peas)....we get these veggie cups at wal-mart...30 secs in the microwave and you've got a toddler sized veggie...they're great, and some applesauce or yogurt
PB&J on whole wheat (or whole grain white bread)...or sunbutter & jelly if she hasn't had PB yet. You could always try cream cheese & jelly.
Quesadillas: chicken & cheese, spinich & cheese, or some other combo
deli meat w/ cheese...either cut up or a sandwich...My DS loves ham & cheese or turkey & cheese sandwiches with tomato.
mac & cheese w/ broccoli (you can even add shreaded chicken for a full meal)
Mini pizza bagels or english muffin pizzas (if you make your own sauce...you can blend in some veggies)
For dinner my DS eats whatever we eat: (and leftovers become tomorrows lunch)
examples: grilled Hawaiian chicken w/ grilled pineapple, white rice, and orange glazed carrots
vegetable lasagna
grilled steak w/homemade loaded mashed potatoes and broccoli w/cheese
hot dog, sweet potato fries, & corn
Snacks: string cheese, yogurt, applesauce, graham crackers, animal crackers, cut up fruit: grapes, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, canteloupe, ...fruit cups (in juice)...pears, mixed fruit, peaches, etc. cut up cheese w/crackers, my DS loves the apples w/ caramel (I try to avoid giving him the caramel b/c it's so sticky)...ummm....
other cereals: try fruity cheerios, apple cinnamon cheerios, honey nut cheerios, jumbo multigrain krispies (my DS's favorite), corn chex, quaker oatmeal squares,
Comments
HOW LONG TIL CONOR CAN START PLAYING THE PIANO
Studies show children don't have the dexterity, patience for repetition or mental capacity to learn piano until the age of 5. Until then, they're just playing. Wait, since when do we have to study how to play? He's already playing. It just doesn't sound that good.
DON'T FENCE ME IN
A strange thing happened this evening after coming home. Conor was awfully fussy and kept wanting me to pluck him out of his high chair where his mom was having trouble feeding him. After I rescued him from his chair, he cried to be let down. But when I let him down he cried to be picked up again. It was very frustrating. I asked him what he wanted but of course, he can't really talk yet. He pointed towards the living room but I couldn't figure out what he was pointing at. So I put him down and offered him my hand hoping he might guide me to what he wanted. Sure enough, he took my hand and pulled me in the direction he wanted to go. At last, we ended up at the front door and he pointed to the door handle. He wanted out. When I opened the door, he smiled and walked to the door frame and stepped out into the rain. He looked pleased and wanted to walk down the stairs. I obliged him. When we finally got to the street Conor let my hand go and he looked around and smiled. He was happy.
Then it hit me, for the last 3 days we spent almost the whole day just sitting in my dad's front yard in San Benito, Texas, soaking up the sun and the fresh air. Conor was now cooped up in the cold Northeast and he wanted to feel the fresh air, even if it was raining. I let him stand there for a couple of minutes and then picked him up and gave him a big hug. I promised we'd take him out tomorrow. I then came back inside, ordered him a raincoat online and will wait on its arrival. There's no reason to keep a little boy trapped inside a house when he wants to enjoy the great outdoors. Even if it's raining or snowing. It's time to get the right gear so he's not fenced in.
GRANDPA TOOK US TO THE ZOO TODAY
Grandpa and Grandma took Conor to the Gladys Porter Zoo today in Brownsville, Texas. The gorillas and chimpanzees were cool. But not as cool as the rocks in the playground area.
GRANDPA TOOK US TO THE ZOO TODAY
17/02/13 09:29
Grandpa and Grandma took Conor to the Gladys Porter Zoo today in Brownsville, Texas. The gorillas and chimpanzees were cool. But not as cool as the rocks in the playground area.
CONOR MEETS A BOBCAT FACE TO FACE IN TEXAS
On Saturday afternoon, the rumor started in the neighborhood that a bobcat had been caught in a neighbor's trap by the Resaca. Not one to be left out of a good adventure, my dad, myself and Conor headed over to see if the rumor was true. Sure enough, a couple of neighbors had gathered 'round to see the frustrated cat in the trap. After a call to the animal control unit, a fearless Mexican American cowboy showed up and asked the neighbors if they minded if he just let the bobcat loose in the neighborhood instead of taking it away from it's natural habitat. After the neighbors agreed, the ten gallon hatted cowboy took the bobcat to the edge of a wooded lot and before he could set the bobcat free, the bobcat banged himself out the back of the trap and busted out. He ran so fast he landed in the lake and had to swim out and run like crazy for freedom. It was pretty exciting to watch. I captured the moment on the iPhone and was surprised at how well it turned out.
CONOR MEETS A BOBCAT FACE TO FACE
On Saturday afternoon, the rumor started in the neighborhood that a bobcat had been caught in a neighbor's trap by the Resaca. Not one to be left out of a good adventure, my dad, myself and Conor headed over to see if the rumor was true. Sure enough, a couple of neighbors had gathered 'round to see the frustrated cat in the trap. After a call to the animal control unit, a fearless Mexican American cowboy showed up and asked the neighbors if they minded if he just let the bobcat loose in the neighborhood instead of taking it away from it's natural habitat. After the neighbors agreed, the ten gallon hatted cowboy took the bobcat to the edge of a wooded lot and before he could set the bobcat free, the bobcat banged himself out the back of the trap and busted out. He ran so fast he landed in the lake and had to swim out and run like crazy for freedom. It was pretty exciting to watch. I captured the moment on the iPhone and was surprised at how well it turned out.
CONOR'S FIRST SLED RIDE
After running around town looking for some snow boots in a size 5 for a fifteen month old, daddy scored. We suited Conor up and set forth for the Nickerson Post Schlitterbond hill. Okay, so I made that name up. Anyways, it was a great place to watch the neighborhood kids and their parents all having a good time in the great outdoors. Conor was unusually quiet as he looked around at all the screaming kids, snow, and sleds. It took him an easy 20 minutes of just sitting on my lap before he got up and began to walk about on his own. He eventually got the hang of it and laughed when people fell off their sleds or grabbed some air. But he never really liked going down the little hill we made for him. I guess he's just got more Texan in him than his birth certificate recorded.
CONOR'S FIRST SLED RIDE
After running around town looking for some snow boots in a size 5 for a fifteen month old, daddy scored. We suited Conor up and set forth for the Nickerson Post Schlitterbond hill. Okay, so I made that name up. Anyways, it was a great place to watch the neighborhood kids and their parents all having a good time in the great outdoors. Conor was unusually quiet as he looked around at all the screaming kids, snow, and sleds. It took him an easy 20 minutes of just sitting on my lap before he got up and began to walk about on his own. He eventually got the hang of it and laughed when people fell off their sleds or grabbed some air. But he never really liked going down the little hill we made for him. I guess he's just got more Texan in him than his birth certificate recorded.
LARGEST BLIZZARD IN 30 YEARS HITS BOSTON
Quincy got 30" of snow overnight. It started at about 10:30am on Friday morning. I took Conor with me to work and after two hours of playing with him and a couple other kids who came with their parents, we all decided to get out the office and go home before the worst of the storm hit. Conor and I picked up his mom and before going home, decided to go to Bye Bye Baby for a snow suit. As all the stores in town were closing down early, we called ahead and they were closing in 15 minutes. We were about 17 minutes away. We picked up the pace and arrived with one minute to spare. It was easy finding him a suit and I picked up this little red sled while I was at it. All the winter stuff was 50% off. The store was making room for swim suits and flip flops. Go figure.
By 6pm the snow was really starting to accumulate. It was fun looking out the window and seeing the landscape change as the flakes fell. At 9:30pm, the electricity went out. And that was a turning point for us. The temperature was at 71 degrees but with a house full of wall-to-wall windows, the temperature started to drop immediately. By midnight, the temp had dropped to 59 degrees. Worse, the news said that those living on the coast should consider evacuation. Tidal waves as high as 28 feet had been sighted. What? 28 feet? Are you serious? So, as the tide rose, I looked vigilantly out the window to give the family enough notice to get ready to evacuate on foot it necessary. We begin to collect family treasures that we would want to save
if the worst came to pass. And we gathered warm clothes for all of us and put them in a central location so we could quickly put them on if necessary. Lastly, because the winds were as strong as 65 miles an hour and the whole house was shaking, we all slept together in the downstairs guest bedroom. And nervously but excitedly, we all settled in.
By 8am, the temp in the house was 51 degrees. Val and Conor stayed in the warm bed while I went outside with a shovel. Shockingly, the snow was up past my knees. I started digging my SUV out. I kept seeing the city snow removal truck two roads away from mine. But it did me no good. We live on a private road and the city's snow trucks look at us and flip us off. At least metaphorically, speaking. For four hours I dug a section of the road of 30" of snow.
By noon I had dug the car out and at the same time, the electricity came back on. Things were looking up. After a big breakfast of french toast, bacon and orange juice, we all dressed for fun and headed out with Conor and his new sled. He was bundled up great but his boots are made for rain and not snow and after a short time out, we returned with a crying baby. Upon pulling off his boots, we realized his feet were cold. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find him some warmer shoes. And then it's out to enjoy a big snowy adventure land that I foolishly moved to 5 years ago from the warm and kind temperate climate of Atlanta.
LARGEST BLIZZARD IN 30 YEARS HITS NEW ENGLAND
Quincy got 30" of snow overnight. It started at about 10:30am on Friday morning. I took Conor with me to work and after two hours of playing with him and a couple other kids who came with their parents, we all decided to get out the office and go home before the worst of the storm hit. Conor and I picked up his mom and before going home, decided to go to Bye Bye Baby for a snow suit. As all the stores in town were closing down early, we called ahead and they were closing in 15 minutes. We were about 17 minutes away. We picked up the pace and arrived with one minute to spare. It was easy finding him a suit and I picked up this little red sled while I was at it. All the winter stuff was 50% off. The store was making room for swim suits and flip flops. Go figure.
By 6pm the snow was really starting to accumulate. It was fun looking out the window and seeing the landscape change as the flakes fell. At 9:30pm, the electricity went out. And that was a turning point for us. The temperature was at 71 degrees but with a house full of wall-to-wall windows, the temperature started to drop immediately. By midnight, the temp had dropped to 59 degrees. Worse, the news said that those living on the coast should consider evacuation. Tidal waves as high as 28 feet had been sighted. What? 28 feet? Are you serious? So, as the tide rose, I looked vigilantly out the window to give the family enough notice to get ready to evacuate on foot it necessary. We begin to collect family treasures that we would want to save
if the worst came to pass. And we gathered warm clothes for all of us and put them in a central location so we could quickly put them on if necessary. Lastly, because the winds were as strong as 65 miles an hour and the whole house was shaking, we all slept together in the downstairs guest bedroom. And nervously but excitedly, we all settled in.
By 8am, the temp in the house was 51 degrees. Val and Conor stayed in the warm bed while I went outside with a shovel. Shockingly, the snow was up past my knees. I started digging my SUV out. I kept seeing the city snow removal truck two roads away from mine. But it did me no good. We live on a private road and the city's snow trucks look at us and flip us off. At least metaphorically, speaking. For four hours I dug a section of the road of 30" of snow.
By noon I had dug the car out and at the same time, the electricity came back on. Things were looking up. After a big breakfast of french toast, bacon and orange juice, we all dressed for fun and headed out with Conor and his new sled. He was bundled up great but his boots are made for rain and not snow and after a short time out, we returned with a crying baby. Upon pulling off his boots, we realized his feet were cold. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find him some warmer shoes. And then it's out to enjoy a big snowy adventure land that I foolishly moved to 5 years ago from the warm and kind temperate climate of Atlanta.
