Two Years.

I love our girls, but oh how I miss this sweet boy...

Two years later and I still think about that goofy face every day.  Probably wouldn't have needed my Snoogle if he had been around for my pregnancy... he was the best spooner.  Love you, buddy!

First Homemade Baby Food Attempt

Since before Sam was even born, I've been stocking up on jars of baby food.  Publix puts the Earth's Best Organic jars BOGO about once a month, so I loaded up.  I'm not a crazy coupon lady, but I am big into stockpiling when stuff goes on sale.  Anyway... despite the half-off price, baby food is still wicked expensive when you consider how cheap it is to make it yourself. 

Initially I thought making my own was a ridiculous idea.  There's just no way I have time for that while working FT, right?  And hell if I'm buying one of those expensive baby food makers.  But after researching it a little more, it really is so darn easy.  Insanely cheap in comparison to store-bought.  And the fancy-pants baby food makers are SO not necessary.  It's called a blender, y'all.  I put baby food makers in the same category with things like panini makers. 

I've got a honkin' huge bag of frozen green beans that I'm going to work with soon, but I went super easy for my first attempt... Bananas.  No cooking required.  Just mushing. 

I simply sliced them up and tossed them in our little mini food processor.  Then I poured into oversized ice trays.  Regular ice trays are totally fine - I just like these bigger ones for freezing bigger portions.  These cubes make for about a 3oz portion.

After letting them harden overnight, I popped them out and tossed them in a ziplock bag.

Now, you know I love you when I am willing to slice up and MUSH bananas for you.  They are on my very short list of foods I don't like.  But Sam thinks they are pretty awesome.  (Yet he hates avocados... is this really my kid?!)

So these 9+ portions of bananas cost me $1.35 (I say 9+ because sometimes he will not finish a serving in one sitting).  Actually a little less because the hub ate a couple of the bananas from the bunch.  I used six.  And since no cooking was involved, this took very little time.  I paid $1 for 4oz of pureed bananas at the grocery.  So clearly, we came out way ahead making our own!

Goodness, me.

Someone just *insists* on getting bigger and bigger.  Sigh...

Last Night's Favorite

I watched this routine like 5x last night. What incredible talent... I love seeing trained dancers, but stuff like this is amazing to witness too.  His two roommates also did similar style routines (and all 3 made it to Vegas), but his was my favorite - just love his personality!  How can you not smile watching this?!

Happy Thursday, all.  Little man and I are out of work and school tomorrow and I'm also taking Monday off.  Looking forward to a nice long weekend!  No major plans, just being.

Kudos, Nordstrom.

As if I needed another reason to love this place, they have the most amazing Mother's Room for nursing mommas!  Pammy and I went shopping with our little ones (who are boyfriend and girlfriend, but it's not serious yet) last week and we took a break at Nordstrom (Perimeter Mall location) to feed them. 

This is a random video I found so you can see what it looks like - the Mother's Room at Perimeter is very similar (but actually a little bigger - ours had couches).  Like in the video, the Mother's Room is set off from the Women's Lounge - so people aren't passing right by you with your boob hanging out.  It's actually quite private.  Which is a huge plus for me as I'm extremely modest!  By far the most fabulous Mother's Room we've found to date at a retail establishment.  I will have to go to my local Nordstrom at Mall of GA to see how theirs compares.  ATL moms, any other great mother's rooms you have found around town?  I've looked around a bit for listings online but haven't found anything super helpful. I know BRU has one... but (a) I hear it's gross, and (b) when am I ever in there long enough to need to feed Sam?  Answer: Never.

Besides shopping areas, other places where a good mother's room is really nice are big conference centers and event facilities.  There are times throughout the year when I'll be at a continuing ed seminar for a day or two and I will have to pump on site.  Worst case, I can run out to my car and do it, but that's a pain in the arse.  Surely some of these bigger locales have nice areas to pump?  I have heard Cobb Galleria has a great mother's area.  Can't confirm that though.  If y'all know of any good ones, please share!

My Little 5K Buddy

Well, more like 3K. Momma got a nasty blister at mile 2 and had to call it quits. But we had a wonderful time nonetheless! The weather was perfect.

The hub said I have to get new shoes before the Peachtree.  So I guess I have to.  My shoes are definitely lousy and that can make all the difference. 

We just walked this one.  I suck at running right now.  Sure wish I could take sweet Sam with me on the Peachtree, but the other 59,999 runners would squish him!  No strollers allowed.