Baby food!

I had some questions from Oliver's fans about Oliver's food - was I really making all of it? We can thank my good friend Allison who hosted one of my baby showers. One of the games involved attempting to guess what food you were actually eating from the jars of Gerber baby food. And you know what? It was not only disgusting, but I had a REALLY hard time with guessing the right food! I was going to make his food anyway, but anytime I think, "Maybe I'll just pick some up just in case I run out," I think to my baby shower and remember... Thanks, Al!

I am no stranger in the kitchen, but this website has been a huge, huge, huge help. Search for pretty much any food and it will tell you how to prepare it, the nutritional content, and what goes best with it. Here is some of Oliver's food:

The green thing is a silicone tray that you can push the food out after it freezes. Then transfer to freezer bags. All you have to do is just defrost, and BAM - ready to eat food! In the tray currently is peas - behind is sweet potatoes that will be roasted in a moment. In the little pots contains carrot/apple/parsnip puree, apple, acorn squash, peas, and more sweet potatoes. He also loves pears, whole grain in formula, bananas and yogurt (the one thing I do not make because, well, making yogurt is a bit tricky).

Oliver is also learning to master his sippy cup. He hasn't figured out that he is the one that is supposed to hold it (we hold it up for him), but he definitely gets that it goes in his mouth... as demonstrated by this quick video:

Lastly, someone wanted to know how much time I spent during the week preparing his food. I usually do it between other things on Sunday (throw some sweet potatoes in the oven, while poaching some pears or cooking some peas). I read a really good blog post from another lady who made her own baby food here. She is also a photographer, so of course her food photos are better than mine. Like her though, we have been doing all organic.

Okay - end long post here - mostly educational, not too Oliver filled. So here's a bonus video for you. Congrats!

Midweek recap

So I had left the camera at work accidentally, so I did not get a chance to post since last Thursday. Oliver first wanted to show you how he spends college football Saturdays... in his Penn State onesie, of course! Amazing that this is already so tight on him. Luckily we have some more in bigger sizes, so he can cheer on as he grows.

It's becoming a rare sight to see him without his bib... but we have to take it off every now and again! He is a real drool monster right now, though!

I also wanted to update you on my knitting. Here is my first "finished" product. Finished because I ran out of yarn, however it is too short to do anything with. I'm proud of my little handy work - however I don't think I can keep it up. With my hand injury earlier this year, it makes my hand hurt pretty quickly.

Lastly, Tim, Oliver, and I went up to my brother's place this evening. Baby Chelsea was discharged today, and she demanded our presence! My S-I-L's family was also over. My mom (TTC) was also in attendance. It was a very full house!

The paparazzi was in full force... with the two babies, my mom, brother, and Tim all started flashing. We're going to have to get some shades for them to blind them from all the flashes.

The new addition!

I was beyond excited when I got a call today from my brother, who shared the wonderful news that they had their baby today! Her name is Chelsea Fahey, born this morning (December 9th) and weighed in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, 19 3/4" long. Here is a boring video of her sleeping. Boring, but cute. I love her.

A few photos (FYI, hospitals have atrocious lighting)...

The lab tech came in while we were there to do a heel tap for blood tests. Just like all babies, Chelsea did not appreciate getting unswaddled. She opened her eyes briefly and said, "Aunt Carrie! Save me!" Luckily, I do a pretty good swaddle. Once she is home, I'll give her a good swaddling. :-)

Welcome to the world, Chelsea! You have so many people who love you... even your cousin Oliver... and you probably thought Oliver wouldn't get a mention in this post... HA!

Oliver laughs at you. Of course he get's a mention. He's Oliver!

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

Sunday, Tim, Oliver and I went to go pick out a tree. Last year, we got a giant douglas, which took up half the living room. This year, we downsized to a 5 1/2 Noble. We go to the same place every year - the people who work there are really friendly and always help get the tree in or on top of your car. Here's the finished product:

A close-up of Tim and my ornament we picked out for each other (they are both a bit creepy this year)

And of course, what kind of post would this be without a photo of little O? Here's Daddy giving tummy kisses.

Santa!

Does anyone else think of the SNL skit where Dana Carvey plays the Church Lady... switching the letters from Santa to Satan... I can't think of anything else when I see the word Santa.

Anyway, Tim, Oliver, and I went downtown to Macy's to pick up some ornaments and see about seeing the big guy. The line wasn't too long at Macy's so we made it happen! He wasn't the best looking Santa, but he had a real beard, and Oliver was okay with it. He didn't cry. He didn't smile either, because he was too busy looking around.

Here's Oliver's first Santa photo!

Life is wonderful.

I just found out one of my other friends just got engaged this week. That makes three couples that make me smile even happier! Congrats, Brooke and Keene, Heather and Sarah, and Terrell and Andrew! The highlighted ladies also have blogs which keep me entertained at work. Thanks!

You know what else makes me smile? My sister in law is about to pop. If she goes on Sunday, I'm the big winner winner chicken dinner of her baby pool. Although no prize involved, I get the knowledge that I know when babies come. We had a baby pool for Oliver, and I guessed closest with that one, too! Go me.

Speaking of awesome babies, Oliver wanted to show you what an avid reader he is:

This weekend, we are going up to Everett for a holiday party, we are also going to try to hit up Macys for the annual "buy an ornament for the other person" festivity. This year we will also buy Oliver an ornament. We may even visit Santa as long as the line isn't too long and he has a real beard. Fake beard Santas make me scream.

6 month checkup!

Wow, 6 months already, Oliver?! He hit the 6 month mark on Thanksgiving, so it was partially thankful for Thanksgiving stuff, and the rest is about Oliver. The time is really flying by. I remember this time last year, I was still pretty nauseous and being crazy pregnant lady... and now we have this little guy who is practically going to college next week. You know, because time is going so fast... oh nevermind.

Little man had his 6 month appointment yesterday and had more shots including a flu shot. Tim reported that he was charming the ladies at the office, but his charm did not avoid the shots. He weighed in at 17 pounds, 3.5 ounces (42 percentile), which actually is not that much more than his 4 month check up. He is 27" long (69 percentile). Besides him sounding congested from his leftover cold, he is the perfect picture of health. Way to be, little O!

I tried him out in his high chair yesterday for the first time. We had been feeding him for a while now while he sits in his bumbo on the table. The problem is that he gets VERY distracted and makes feeding him a challenge. Now with nothing around for him to grab, feeding time goes faster!

Last night, Oliver and I watched Glee. Here he is watching a performance at sectionals.

Oliver says, Kurt! Come back to the New Beginnings! You're such a Gleek, little man.