Posted on 01/09/2004 11:17:22 PM PST by Flightdeck
I know this is somewhat presumptuous that anybody would care, but I found out today that I will be a new father in about 8.75 months. Part of me is scared because I firmly believe that raising a child into a good person is probably the most important thing a person can do in their lives. The only reason I am posting this is that I bet this value is shared by a great many people in this forum, and our anonymity allows a comfortable level of discourse. (Wait, that's two reasons.) Anyway, wish us luck.
Put it in day care (baby prison) as soon as possible for as long as possible
Make sure it never gets any discipline (That might hurt their precious self esteem)
Sit it in front of the T.V. as much as possible for baby sitting
Never ever read to it
Give everything it wants
Sent it to public school
Tell it God is a figment of peoples imagination who are back-wards and ignorant
Oh' map out the quickest way to your local prison because there is a good chance you will need to know that info for the future trips.
Tongue in cheek
They do grow up SO very, very fast.
We have 3 sons - our oldest will be turning 21 in a little over a week (YIKES - I'm not that old to have a 21 year old son- am I? hahaha) - our other two sons are now 17 and 12. Believe me - I do not know WHERE the time has gone - it happened WAY too fast.
I prefer to think of my five children as the love you get for the love you got...
Papa Baby Shower
and my gift to you is my first moment as a dad..
When my baby uttered her first sound, my real life began....As a single father, and this being the new world order and all .. let me throw you a..
The nurse said, "It's a girl"... my girl... it may have been a cry, but it was a glorious sound, and a wonderful gift from GOD, and I have truly never recovered, and remember the moment as if it was an hour ago
.
I was a young ambitious man, full of myself and bursting with life... the world was at my feet and I was infallible, thats when it happened. I was instantly humbled by the tiny sound of my baby daughters' voice. I was hooked, in love instantly, happy beyond belief, and scared to death!To look in my child's unfocused eye is to look within the eye of heaven. Feelings are hard to express with words but the moment of the first eye contact with a newborn is a moment never forgotten. Sacred and intimate the first expression of unconditional love.
I have been blessed with 5 children with many such moments in my fortunate life and am eternally grateful and equally in awe of the memory of each, ....please enjoy your special moments, first sounds, first smile, first word, first kiss, first step, first successful endeavor, first day of school, first report card, first vacation, first dad / child talk, first love, first grandchild......and the yet to be enjoyed firsts... they seem few in number, and happen so fast, but oh so special... it sounds as if you know this already... may GOD bless your child and your family.
Papa Baby Shower
and my gift to you is my first moment as a dad..
When my baby uttered her first sound, my real life began....
The nurse said, "It's a girl"... my girl... it may have been a cry, but it was a glorious sound, and a wonderful gift from GOD, and I have truly never recovered, and remember the moment as if it was an hour ago
.
I was a young ambitious man, full of myself and bursting with life... the world was at my feet and I was infallible, thats when it happened. I was instantly humbled by the tiny sound of my baby daughters' voice. I was hooked, in love instantly, happy beyond belief, and scared to death!To look in my child's unfocused eye is to look within the eye of heaven. Feelings are hard to express with words but the moment of the first eye contact with a newborn is a moment never forgotten. Sacred and intimate the first expression of unconditional love.
I have been blessed with 5 children with many such moments in my fortunate life and am eternally grateful and equally in awe of the memory of each, ....please enjoy your special moments, first sounds, first smile, first word, first kiss, first step, first successful endeavor, first day of school, first report card, first vacation, first dad / child talk, first love, first grandchild......and the yet to be enjoyed firsts... they seem few in number, and happen so fast, but oh so special... it sounds as if you know this already... may GOD bless your child and your family.
FEED THE KIDS FUN AND HEALTH STUFFBambana Oatmeal
Combine rolled oats and 1/2 cup of water or milk. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Slice banana, and puree in baby food grinder; add remaining milk, mixing thoroughly. Stir the banana-milk mixture into the cooked cereal.
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup water or milk
- 1/3 ripe banana
- 1/4 cup milk
Cream of Wheat Fruit Cereal
Puree applesauce, apricots, bananas, peaches, pineapple or prunes in a baby food grinder. Thin with a little milk and spoon on top of cereal. It is better to use fresh or freshly cooked fruits with out sugar. Canned fruits are alright too, as long as you rinse off the syrup before you puree the fruit in the baby food grinder.
- Cooked cream of wheat, rice or oatmeal
- fruit puree
Smuched Fruit
Any fresh, frozen or canned fruit (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, pineapple, or mix 'em)
Wash and peel fruit if necessary. Steam over low heat with a small amount of water until tender. Do not overcook. Cool and press through the baby food grinder. Serve.
Garden Fresh Steamy Beanie
Wash vegetables and peel only if necessary. Steam over low heat until tender. Keep saucepan tightly covered adding additional liquid if necessary. Do not overcook. Cool and press through a baby food grinder. Discard any fibers that may stick o the bottom of the cutting blade. If any liquid is left in the pan it may be used to thin the vegetable puree. Add the liquid slowly until the right consistency is reached.
- 1 cup fresh green beans, diced (use carrots, squash, beets, butter beans, or peas)
- 1/4 cup water
BabyO's
Put water in a saucepan on the stove top to boil. Meanwhile, take oatmeal and whiz it in the blender until it becomes a powder, stir it into the cup of boiling water, turn the heat down to low, and let cook for 10 minutes. Stir with a whisk or fork to prevent lumping and scorching on the bottom. Let cool thoroughly before feeding to your baby.
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup), of oatmeal (non quick cooking)
- 1 cup water
Baby Fruits
Wash and peel a fruit, and thoroughly fork mash, or blender it until there are no lumps and the fruit is so mushy it's almost liquid. That's all there is to it. If your child is still learning to eat solids, you can take a bit of formula or milk and mix it in with the bananas to make it more liquidize.
- 1 ripe banana, apple, peach, pear, mango, or any number of fresh fruits
Teenie Weenie Jambergebies
Take a slice of un-toasted whole grain bread. Remove crusts. (Use crusts for bread crumbs. See section on how to save money by grinding your own bread crumbs from those end slices that no one ever eats.) Spread with jelly or jam. Roll bread up as you would a sleeping bag. Stab with a skinny carrot or celery stick or toothpick to keep from unrolling. Instead of, or in addition to, the jelly, use peanut butter, cream cheese, tahini, humus, or any sandwich spread. One of the sandwich spreads should be a colorful jelly so your child can see the swirl.
- 1 slice whole grain bread
- 2 Tbls. all fruit no-sugar-added jelly or jam.
Shake and Bake Small Fries
Wash and cut, peeled or unpeeled (the peel contains many of the nutrients). Put the cut-up potatoes in a bowl and toss them with melted butter. Spread potatoes on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake in pre-heated 400 oven for 20 minutes or until browned.
- 2 potatoes, cut into quarters, eighths, or French fry shapes.
- 1 teaspoon of melted butter for each potato
Variations: Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese and/or parsley on those fries before they go into the oven delicious! Or use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes for an extra jolt of vitamin A.
FruiceSnowbunnies
Crush ice in blender to make snow. Use ice cream scoop to shape like snowballs and place in bowls. Pour fruit juice over snowballs.
- 4 oz fruit juice, fresh, frozen, canned, or concentrated
Variation: For a sweeter, thicker topping, use fruit juice concentrate mixed with a little water. Use paper cups instead of glass for a refreshing outside summer snack.
Tot Pops 1 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp. orange juice
1/2 cup pureed strawberries
1/4 cup mashed bananas
4 tsp. lemonade bowl popsicle mold stir all ingredients put into molds and freeze for 30 minutes insert popsicle sticks freeze overnight serve--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fish for Babies
1 filet of any fish, unbreaded, cooked 1/8 c 2% or whole milk 1 tbs. melted butter 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 cup mashed peas 1/8 c mashed carrots 1/8 c mashed potatoes put ingredients in blender, blend until creamed babies and small children like it--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teething Biscuits
2 Tbs. Shortening 1/2 C. sugar 1 egg 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp water 1 1/2 C. baby cereal Heat oven to 300 degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, baking soda, salt, vanilla, and water. Mix until well blended. Gradually stir in cereal. Knead until smooth. Pat into rectangle. Cut into 12 1" bars, smooth edges so they will not be sharp. Place on ungreased sheet. Bake 20-30 min or until dry. Store in uncovered container overnight.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes
Baked Apples
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., then wash and core apples. Wrap each apple in a square of aluminum foil, and seal tightly. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, testing with a fork for desired softness. Remove foil, skin, and core. Mash apples. Count on two to three apples to produce 1 cup of mashed apple. You can use the same method for pears, which will reach the desired softness within 15 to 30 minutes.Puréed Meats
Cut meat into 1/2-inch cubes. Trim off all fat. Add 1 cup of stock (either meat or vegetable) to 1 cup of meat. Simmer until meat is tender - 45 minutes to an hour. Drain stock, reserving the liquid. When you purée, use l/2 cup of cooking liquid for each cup of meat. Freeze extra portions immediately.Puréed Legumes
Carefully rinse and pick over 1 cup of any legume. Soak in water overnight or bring to a boil for 2 minutes, cover, and then allow to sit for 2 hours. Drain off the soaking water or the cooking water, then add 3 cups fresh water and bring beans to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until beans are tender (anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your choice of legume). Skim the surface often as beans are simmering. Purée with 3/4 cup milk. Freeze unused portions immediately.Sweet Potatoes
Scrub potatoes and bake at 450 degrees F. for 40 to 50 minutes, testing with a fork for desired softness. Allow to cool. Peel, then mash with a fork, adding vegetable cooking juices, milk, or a bit of apple juice. Acorn squash can be substituted for sweet potato.Vegetable Purées
Cut vegetables into small pieces and steam them in a vegetable steamer over 1 or 2 inches of water in a tightly covered pot. Use this water as a thinner when puréeing vegetables. The approximate ratio of vegetables to liquid is 2 cups of fresh vegetables to between 1/3 to 1/2 cup of liquid. Place steamed vegetables and a little of the steaming water in a food processor or baby food grinder and purée to a soft consistency. To add flavor and protein, try adding an equal amount of baked or steamed potato to the steamed vegetables and purée together. Thin mixture with milk to desired consistency. Freeze unused portions immediately.Combination Dinner
Place 1 cup cooked meat, 2/3 cup cooked vegetables, 1/3 cup cooked white or brown rice, and 1 cup stock in a blender or food processor. Purée, and freeze leftover portions immediately. Yield should be approximately 3 cups.Credits
Recipe from: Baby sense by Frances Wells BurckMini Meat Loaf (Baby Food)
The author says: "This is a terrific recipe for picky vegetable eaters because vegetables are cooked right into the meat loaf. Serve with a glass of milk." --Eileen Behan, R.D.Ingredients
4 ounces ground beef or ground turkey
1/2 cup any assorted fresh vegetables, grated or chopped very fine (carrots, green beans, peas, mushrooms)
1 egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs or crushed cereal such as unsweetened flake cereal (corn or wheat flakes are good)
Catsup (optional)
Instructions
For Babies 12 months and older:
Mix all ingredients (except catsup) together with your hands until they are well combined. Add enough bread crumbs so that the loaf will hold its shape. Shape into a 2-inch-thick meat loaf (decorate with a strip of catsup, if desired). Microwave at 100 percent, covered, for 3 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes.Yield: 1 small meat loaf (2-3 child servings)
Vegetable Custard
Ingredients
1 teaspoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon whole wheat or enriched flour
1/4 cup hot milk
1 tablespoon nonfat dry milk
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup cooked, mashed vegetables
Instructions
For Babies 6-12 months:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 custard cups. Melt butter in medium size saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add hot milk and nonfat dry milk. Cook and stir until thickened. Stir a small amount of hot sauce into egg in small size bowl, then mix egg into rest of sauce. Add mashed vegetables. Pour mixture into custard cups. Place the cups in a pan of hot water that comes up to level of mixture. Bake 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.Yield: 2-4 servings
Tiny Tot Turkey (Baby Food)
The author says: "This is a complete meal in one bowl. Just serve with milk and baby will be eating from all four food groups. It may taste a bit bland to you. That's because no salt is added. Remember, babies don't need added salt and have not developed an appetite for it yet." -- Eileen Behan, R.D.Ingredients
1-1/2 cups water
Dab of butter
1/2 cup white rice, uncooked
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped or grated
1 to 2 ounces ground turkey meat
Instructions
For 8-12 month olds:
Heat water and butter in microwave at 100 percent for 2 minutes in a 4 cup bowl. Add rice and carrots to hot water. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent for 3 minutes. Stir and let rest 10 minutes, covered. Stir and cook, uncovered, 3 minutes more at 100 percent. (Rice should be almost tender. If it looks dry, add a tablespoon of water. ) Add ground turkey and distribute evenly throughout rice. Cover and cook at 100 percent for 2 minutes more. Let rest, covered, 5 minutes, until cool enough to eat and to allow for complete cooking of rice.Variations:
Add peas or chopped green beans, fresh or frozen, at the same time turkey is added. Allow an additional 1 to 2 minutes resting time to cook vegetables before serving.Yield: 3 cups
Serving Size: 1-1/2 cupsBasic Meat Stew (Baby Food)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fat or oil
1-1/2 pounds boneless stew meat, cut in 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup flour
3 cups liquid (water, vegetable or fruit juice)
4 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut up
5 medium carrots, scrubbed and cut up
1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas (or any other green vegetable)
Instructions
For Babies 6-12 months:
Heat fat in a large size heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Coat the meat in the flour and brown in the fat. Add the liquid and cover tightly. Simmer over medium heat for 1-1/2 hours. Add potatoes and carrots. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add frozen peas, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Purée stew in food processor to a smooth consistency. Store in refrigerator up to 2 days; freeze 2-3 months.Variation: Any vegetable can be substituted and 1/2 cup of uncooked rice may be substituted for the potatoes.
Yield: 4-5 cups of purée or 20-25 food cubes.
Baby Dinner (Baby Food)
In a covered pot, and using no salt or spices, combine:Ingredients
1 cup water
1 chicken breast
1/4 cup riceSimmer 20 minutes and add:
3 whole carrots
1/4 pound green beans
Instructions
Simmer 10 minutes longer.For Babies 6-12 months:
Blend or process the meat with enough of the cooking broth to make it moist. Mash the carrots and then the beans Store separately in individual servings in the freezer sealed in plastic sandwich bags, or in a plastic ice cube tray, which must be bagged and tied. Defrost a meal at breakfast, so it's ready to heat for lunch. As your child gets a few months older and can chew better, you can grate these ingredients instead of blending them and you can use your leftovers, too.Sweet Potato and Carrot Pie Without the Crust (Baby Food)
Ingredients
1 sweet potato
1 carrot, finely grated
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 egg
1 tablespoon raisins (optional)
grated nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
For 8-12 month olds or omit raisins for younger children:
In microwave oven, cook sweet potato at 100 percent for 5 minutes, or longer if it is very big. Prick the skin before cooking. Carefully remove the meat of the potato. In a bowl, mix in the carrot and yogurt, then the egg; blend until smooth. Add the raisins and nutmeg sprinkle if you are using them. If the mixture appears dry, add another tablespoon yogurt. Cook at 100 percent, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Stir, cook 1-1/2 minutes more. Let rest 2 to 3 minutes. This tastes best if served as soon as it cools. Serve with a dollop of cold yogurt.Yield: 2 cups
Sesame Crackers (Baby Food)
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup soy flour
1/4 cup sesame seeds (make sure they're not rancid)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water (approximate)
Instructions
For Babies 8-12 Months:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stir flours, sesame seeds, and salt together in medium-size bowl. Add oil and blend well. Add only enough water to make it easy to roll - the consistency of pie dough. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thick and cut into shapes or sticks. Bake on ungreased baking sheet until crisp. Store in tightly covered container up to 1 week.Yield: 3-4 dozen crackers
CHICKEN STEW
For 10 months and older.
1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
1 cup water
1/4 pound ground chicken (may use boneless breast
cut into cubes if it will be puréed)
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup yellow squash or summer squash,
peeled and chopped
1/4 cup prepared barley (prepared according to
package directions)Bring chicken and water to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Add vegetables. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add prepared barley. Mash or purée, depending on desired consistency. The stew may be seasoned mildly with herbs or salt.
Teething Biscuits:
1 beaten egg yolk
3 tablespoons maple syrup or molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 tablespoons oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon uncooked oatmeal
1 cup flour (white, wheat or combo)
1 tablespoon soy flour
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 tablespoon nonfat dry milk.Blend wet ingredients, add dry ingredients. Dough will be stiff. Roll dough thin and cut into strips or desired shapes. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. They can be made without the last 3 ingredients, but they add to the nutritional value.
Why pay more than $1.00 for 1/2 pound of processed commercial baby cereal, when you can make your own baby oatmeal for pennies a serving? Put a cup of water in a saucepan on the stove top to boil. Meanwhile, take 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of oatmeal (non quick cooking) and whiz it in the blender until it becomes a powder, stir it into the cup of boiling water, turn the heat down to low, and let cook for 10 minutes. Stir with a whisk or fork to prevent lumping and scorching on the bottom. Let cool thoroughly before feeding to your baby. It will look just like the commercial boxed baby oatmeal mixed with liquid, but much, much more economical!
Baby's food should be only moderately warm, about 99 degrees or body temperature -- like breast milk. Test for safe temperatures by poking or swirling your clean finger throughout the bowl -- the cereal should feel neither hot nor cold because it should be at body temperature. (If you are uncomfortable putting your finger into your baby's food, remember that it is certainly better than burning your baby's mouth!)
TIP: You can double the recipe and store half of the cooked oatmeal, covered well, for up to two days in the refrigerator.
When warming food from the refrigerator for baby, warm ever so slightly on the stove top or for a few seconds in the microwave, just enough to get the chill out. Stir very well to distribute any "heat pockets" or "hot spots" that may burn your baby's mouth. Then test for proper temperature as described above.
You can buy oatmeal at the supermarket, but take a trip to your local health food store to get certified organic oatmeal. It may be a little more money than the non organic supermarket oatmeal, but it's well worth it for your precious little baby. Who knows what long-term effects pesticides have on your little baby's body?! And organic oatmeal from the natural foods store costs only a small fraction of the over-priced commercial brands of baby oatmeal.
NOTE: Always consult your pediatrician before feeding any foods to your baby. One advantage of using baby formula and commercial boxed baby cereals is the added iron, but you can make up for the lack of iron supplementation in homemade baby cereals by giving your baby over-the-counter (no prescription needed) iron drops. They are sold in any pharmacy and most supermarkets. Make sure you get your pediatrician's OK first.
The Super Baby Food book has instructions for making baby brown rice cereal and other healthy whole grain cereals for your baby. Recipes also include cereals with added split peas, lentils, soybeans, and other legumes, which are just as quick and easy to make. Whole grains and legumes are SUPER FOODS that you want to include regularly in your baby's diet (and in your diet also!). You may not like them, but your baby will. Her taste buds have not yet been ruined by the highly processed, sugared, salted foods to which most of us are accustomed. Why not start her on a healthy diet of homemade, whole, natural foods! You'll save lots of money on baby food bills and, by eating a super healthy diet your baby will be happier and healthier, and your super healthy baby will save you money on doctor bills :-) !!
I'm the father of three awesome boys, they are truly the light of my life. There is NOTHING, NOTHING at all like coming home after a really nasty commute, or a bad day at work and to have your children run to you for hugs - hug them back!
As a personal aside, the nurse that will be there to help you is not a waitress - she'll be a medical professional with years of training and a nature to be helpful and nurturing - so, get your own sodas and food please ;-)
Oh, one more thing - everything all these others folks said about the sleep & ickyness stuff - they are RIGHT!
Flightdeck, congratulations!
God is performing another miracle as we speak!
I understand what's behind your statement, but in 28 years of being a parent I've never encountered a conflict between the two roles.
This is Baby Logan.
He's the world's adopted child.
He is our miracle baby who was born preemie with less than a twenty percent chance of survival.
Here is his story:
Get your priorities straight!
It's easy to cop out in later years and say that you had to be gone a lot to provide for them.
That won't stop the ache in your heart because you weren't there for birthdays, holidays and special events in their lives.
You only get one chance to be a parent, and each day that passes is precious.
Use it, be thankful for it, and enjoy it to the fullest.
Congratulations!
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