Baby food pt. 2

Growing baby girls calls for a growing variety of flavors to introduce!

I'm loving this stage the girls are in. New foods, new flavors, and new textures!!! Before we get into what I'm making these days, I have a few pictures from first snacks and finger foods. Unfortunately, the Gerber teething biscuits we gave Hunter at this age are no longer available. They make them, but for toddlers. So, we tried Baby Mum Mum's! Big hit, but super messy and a pain to clean up. But as desperate as I am for ways to occupy my children I don't mind the extra time it takes to clean up. Next we introduced the graduate puffs and yogurt melts. Mainly to work on hand-eye coordination and using their fingers. And with our "vacation" in Oklahoma, the girls are trying cheerio's and graham crackers thanks to their Mimi.

Now, on to a GRAHAM CRACKER!

Alright, let's get cooking... steaming... And pureeing.

About once a week is when I do a major baby food "cook off". Instead of spending a ton of money on the cute baby food storage containers, I use the Glad 1/2 cups. They're a perfect "feeding" size! Bigger storage containers hold what I'll freeze for future use, since you should feed your refrigerated foods within 5-7 days.

What we've tried so far...
Banana (both allergic)
Apple (Emma allergic)
Sweet potato
Carrots
Green beans
Peas
Mango
Pears
Brocolli* NEW
Acron Squash
Butternut Squash* NEW
Organic Yogurt* NEW (Emma possibly allergic)
Tofu*** NEW for everyone!

I have never in my life seen or tasted tofu, well at least I don't think I have, but it was nothing that I expected. I guess I was under the impression it was "meat-like" and that's not so true. It's more "solid block of cottage cheese-like". I went with the "firm" organic kind for the first time and then just looked at my go to baby food website when I don't have my Williams-Sonama cookbook near by. Here's the link! It can explain any and all foods to make for your baby, but it had awesome ideas for tofu. So far it is a hit!

Helpful reminder: cover in water when storing, change water every day to two days, and keep no longer than seven day!!

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!

And we're back! After a long day of flying to Dallas then driving to Tulsa we are at my parents and slowly getting settled in. I am so thankful for ALL of my children being good travelers, especially flying. Hunter is an old pro but he's getting a little cramped being a lap child. Words of advice when flying with kids: try to get snacks, juices, bottles, and quiet toys all in the same bag! Having one bag for everything helps with the clutter and tight seating. Layovers are good! Gives babies time to stretch and change diapers. I always change my babies in their stroller, I'm a germ freak so avoiding the bathroom is what we shoot for.

But, I can't believe we're here, without Jake, yet again. We will carry on until it's time for our family to be reunited though. Which from today is 70 days!!! I finally heard from my sweet husband via email at 3:50am. He is doing well, they are just hanging out for now and apparently getting to catch up on some sleep. I love hearing from him though, it completes my day and calms my heart.

The babies are adjusting. Something I took into consideration before deciding to relocate again. I fear that this will somehow affect them in a negative way but for my sanity and I'm sure theirs too, we will have lots of family and friends around! As a mother I also worry about my children remembering daddy coming and going. I know this is something my husbands thinks of constantly. He has worried about this even before Hunter was born. I try my hardest to show pictures and talk about their daddy everyday but I wonder what they think. (come on Brittany, your children to over analyze or even analyze like you yet)

May 15th is our countdown to Jake
May 21st SIL's wedding
May 22nd Hunters second bday

You think I would be good at this by now

Goodbye's are apart of our life, I get it. But, I feel like someone has kicked me in the stomach and now I can't even catch my breath.  I hate this feeling! I know this feeling! Exactly a year ago we said our goodbye's to Jake as he headed off to Afghanistan. I was 3 months pregnant with the girls and Hunter was 9 months old and just starting to walk. Fast forward to late last night and we ALL said our goodbye's to Jake yet again. This time it was sudden. There was no time to mentally prepare for this(if that's even possible) and there was no time to enjoy the last few moments with my husband. Jake put each baby to bed to say his last goodnight for awhile and then packed up to head to base. I think I was still in denial when I kissed him goodbye.

Today was supposed to be an exciting day. My mom and grandma flew in for a little vacation to see the babies(and Jake and I). Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and so very thankful that they are here now because who knows how I would've handled all of this on my own with 3 babies. But, Jake's gone. My husband was not here when I woke and he won't be here when I go to bed. He wasn't here to help put the girls to sleep or to read Hunter his bedtime book. I don't think I am ready to go back to a life without Jake in it. We didn't get enough time to enjoy him home.

Let's skip ahead a couple days...

My mind has been everywhere! I finally decided we WILL come back to Oklahoma while Jake is gone. With the media and the lack of information on Jake's end, we just don't know how long this deployment is going to be. This seemed like it was going to be an easy and quick mission for them, but the way I see it in the news makes me worry, ALOT! We didn't have any news coverage of Afghanistan, but hearing them talk about Jake's ship and his unit gives me a little bit of anxiety(not the angry kind Jake).

I will try to blog as much as I can from Owasso and also try to fill you in on any information regarding Jake(within reason due to security), but I want to thank you all for your prayers already. You don't understand how much we appreciate them or how powerful they are for my husband and his unit!

Flying to Dallas in the morning then driving the rest of the way with my mom and dad! Can't wait to see all our family and friends and hopefully enjoy some nice weather!! (it better not snow)

Being a mommy is sometimes tough...

...on your heart and your mind.

When Hunter was born I literally felt my heart grow. Then when Emma and Riley came into our lives my heart almost felt the need to burst. I also felt my mind filling up at the same time. "To-do" lists for everything I need for us to function, my OCD multiplying, and the my ongoing worry and fear for the safety of MY children. Sometimes my heart seems more manageable than my mind.

My heart handles the following questions. How can I love three sweet, innocent babies?? How will I show them love every single day no matter what kind of day they might throw at me?? And the biggest one, how will I have time to show my husband how much I still love him!?!?

First off, I think loving more than one child just comes naturally. There's no "trying" to love any one child more than the other, you just love them. Second, I have learned/still learning how to show love every single day no matter how stressed I may be, no matter how cranky one is/all are. When I brought the girls home from the hospital I had an enormous support system. Jake still had a little over a month left in Afghanistan so not only did I have my family and Jake's family close by(we were living with my parents in OK during the deployment/pregnancy) but I had my wonderful Aunt and Cousin from Texas come up and help with literally EVERYTHING. I was also blessed with my Nana Calaway staying with me and the 3 kiddos for 6(long)weeks. She was even with us up until we were moved in to our house in North Carolina. I am eternally grateful for all that she did for us. To be honest, I was terrified the day EVERYONE left us in North Carolina and when Jake had to return to work. But, I managed and I am still managing with all 3 babies at once.
Now, for question number 3. How will I show my husband how much I still love him? This one is tough and something I struggle with still. I try to tell him as often as possible, but I find it hard to switch from mommy mode to wife mode. I am "on call" as a mommy 24/7 but I forget that I am a wife too, so once I master this one I'll blog about it!

For my mind, my "to-do" lists will forever be apart of me, I actually enjoy them. They help organize my mind and remind me of the things I continually forget.  My OCD has actually calmed since having two more babies, but mostly because I physically don't have time to sanitize every thing they come in contact with . The order of my house is a compulsion I cannot ignore, no matter how exhausted I am. It drives my poor husband crazy. Finally, worry and fear for my children... something I know I'll never rid myself of. But, I need to learn how to control it and make it a positive. Fear of their safety can help me to be continually grateful to God for them being in my life. I still to this day check on Hunter, who is almost 2 years old, while he's sleeping(like most mothers). Whether it's a nap running long or before I go to bed at night, I have to see all three of them breathing with my own eyes. Another thing that drives my husband crazy! But this will continue until they are grown and out of the house... if not forever. (Their future spouses might not appreciate this)

I came across this blog through Facebook the other day, and many of you may have seen my post of it on there already but I wanted to post it again, on here. If you read her older posts you can understand the full story. <---click here.

My intentions in posting this are not to make you sad or to cry, even though it is impossible not to feel sadness for this mommy, but to possibly open your eyes. This mother's strength and courage has opened mine as well as my heart. Whether you are already a mommy or soon to be, be thankful. Be calm when your child/children is/are driving you crazy, and just sit and pray. I have been doing this more often throughout the day because I know that by doing so I can be a better mommy to these three sweet blessings.

hunter's world

Hunter is the first of three little blessings for Jake and I. He is a sweet, silly (little) man of few words... actually no words. I guess when you are as busy as he is you don't really need to talk. With only 20 months under his belt he has already experienced so many incredible things.  Traveling to over 15 states, getting 2 brand new baby sisters (at once), reuniting with his daddy after a 7 month deployment to Afghanistan, and moving all the way to North Carolina for the second time. His ability to adapt to anything around him has made me appreciate him even more though. This might not seem like a big deal, but when you're a new mommy, pregnant with twins, and without your husband, having an easy going child makes everything else around you a little easier to handle.  That is something any mommy can be thankful for at the end of the day.

One of Hunter's favorite things is being outside and now that he is getting older he is becoming more and more independent *insert tears* and I find myself just watching his little imagination at work while he plays.  And now that his sisters are more active I think he's actually enjoying having them around.  He loves to "show" them things, give them toys and when its time to go "bye bye" he will try to pick them up to hurry the process of going out the door.

Food has always been a friend to my little boy, but lately he has been eating like a Big Strong Man.  All he wants is BEEF! No buns on his hamburgers, no tortilla with his taco meat, and no noodles with the meatballs... But I can always count on his eating fruits and veggies!

Here are some other fun and or/strange facts about Hunter:

Grabs, plays with, and sometimes even sucks your ear.
He literally "pops" up every time he wakes up.
He loves any and all dogs and tries to whistle when he sees one.
Enjoys rolling balls down the railing on the stairs to hit me in the kitchen.
He is reaching his "terrible two's"... quickly.
First haircut was at 20 months.
Dances at the end of Despicable me EVERY time.
Loves to spin in circles until he can't even walk.
Always has a smile that makes anyone's day better.




 Many more memories to make with the sweetest little boy a mommy could ask for...                                                        

                              

                               



                      

Be Mine x4

I am so thankful that we were able to spend another holiday together as a family! This time last year we were packing up our first apartment together, getting Jake's gear organized for Afghanistan and preparing for his 7 month deployment just a few weeks later. But, he's home and we enjoyed every second of the long weekend as a family.

Good Morning, my sweet Valentine's!

L*O*V*E

is for lots of laundry, lack of sleep, little kisses, laughing babies, loving family.

is for ornery boy, overtired, OSU, opened cabinets, ocean visits.

is for veggies being spit, visitors needed, van full of groceries, vibrant and very loud babies.

is for early mornings, energy drinks, empty bottles, energetic toddlers, eBay finds.











We are getting ready for Valentine's day around the Johnson house!! My mom always made every holiday exciting for us, so I cannot wait to pass this on to my kids! Here's some of the LOVE going on around our house pre V-day! My Papa C always used to write on our tummy's when we were little so I had to pass this on to Hunter. The heart magnet is one of my favorites, the cards of course describe my sweet husband, and the popcorn was a snack I prepared for Hunter today. He is obsessed with popcorn and the middle is filled with St. Louis Cardinal poop(chocolate covered sunflower seeds). The rest is a little docor we have around the house that I tried to imitate from other blogs.

We've made it six months...

...now it's going to get crazy!

The girls turned 6 months old on the 30th of January and now we're just waiting for the "twins get easier after 6 months" to kick in.  Every twin parent we run into tells us this, but I don't see how it could be possible. Mobility is not easier and we are rapidly approaching it.

Waiting for the doctor in our bumbleride indie twin... best stroller, ever!

Where are we on the charts?

Emma: 17.6lbs/75th percentile
           25 in/25th percentile (I think she may be a little longer, the nurse had her head crooked on the uncomfortably hard wooden table/ridiculous measuring system they use).
     
Riley: 17.7lbs/75th percentile
         25 1/4in/50th percentile

I honestly can't even remember what their heads were measuring... let's say big though. They have their daddy's head.

What are we doing around the house?

Due to limited mobility and lack of mommy arms we are constantly rotating babies from activity center to walker, bumbo, highchair, floor, bouncer, and to swing.

On rare occasions we wander to the back yard and enjoy some fresh air on a blanket while Big brother slides and digs in the dirt.


Any teeth?

Still none, but they are there... hurting my babies and driving me crazy.
Thanks to Sophie the Giraffe, cold teethers, and the occasional dose of Tylenol and Orajel we are surviving.

Speaking of teeth, who forgot to mention to me that there are 2 year molars??? This is a mean joke someone is playing on us... 3 teething children!


Any new foods to spit on mommy and daddy?

We're going GREEN!!! Well, we're eating green! This week starts green beans, avocados, and peas! Not all at once of course, but one per week to watch for any more food allergies. Dang, bananas!

I guess our "first foods" were Oklahoma State inspired.... Orange Power... Mango's, carrots, sweet potatoes... yummmy!


Any new milestones?

Even though my girls are expert "rollers" they are perfecting the infamous backward scoot right now.  Combine that with a few rolls and we have Emma wedged under her crib last night during bath time.  Bath/bedtime is complete chaos right now, babies are everywhere and never where you lay them.

Riley is our top sitter right now, but Emma is close behind. We cant wander far though, they tumble quickly.

 Riley is proud of herself!

Both girls are pulling their knees under them and getting in the crawling position. The day they both take off will be a very scary/exciting day for us.

Go Emma!


Sippy cups are being used and are loved by everyone... yes, even Hunter loves drinking water from his sisters tiny, pink Tommee Tippee cups.


That pretty much sums up where we are as of today...still busy.. still laughing... sometimes crying... occasionally sleeping... and always changing.

Sisterly love

(if you have an iPhone get the instagram app and find us, bjohnson22, for more fun pics)