Cook once, eat twice: Kale Pesto

Having a newborn is rough.  The kid is now 21 months old and I already find myself forgetting how difficult it can be to have a brand new baby.  Having your first kid especially rocks your world.  I felt like my life turned upside down after the kid was born.  It took me over a year to really get my feet back under me. 

It's certainly a wild ride.  But one that is well worth it. 

We visited some friends today and their tiny 1 week old.  They look so tired and a little stunned.  I wanted to tell them that it gets better fast.  That life goes on a little bit at a time.  You have to learn to walk and talk again, but you keep moving forward.  And it gets so fun.  

But I don't think they could have understood.  They are too busy becoming the great parents they are going to be.  I think we all are.  

Those first few months feel like you are drowning.  And then it is wonderful (with periodic moments where you begin to drown again).

Parenthood is amazing!  I wouldn't go back if I could.  

Gathered Spinach Scramble and thoughts on feeding babies

Much to my mother's initial horror, I never spoon fed the kid rice cereal.  In fact I didn't spoon feed him at all.  Before he was born I decided that I would be allowing him to self feed.  When he was a little over 6 months old we put him in his high chair and gave him a piece of avocado...and he LOVED it.  

From there we experimented with steamed veggies, roasted sweet potatoes, peaches, pears, oatmeal balls, veggie pancakes...pretty much anything he could gum.  This method of feeding babies is called baby led weaning or baby led solids.  It's becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons.  One of those reasons is that you don't have to spend hours spoon feeding a baby and you can enjoy meals together as a family.  Another benefit is that children who are introduced to foods this way are less likely to choke as they get older because they learned to chew first, then swallow (while spoon feeding teaches swallowing first).