Baby's first food!

It was a hilarious time for both mommy and daddy... maybe not so funny for the Muffin Baby. :P  For his first venture into the world of "solid" food that is really just all mush, we are at the moment loving two very helpful resources :  the book "Good Food For Kids" by Dr. Penny Stanway (author of best-selling "Breast is Best") and the website Wholesome Baby Food.com.

The Muffin Man and I knew from the beginning that we were going to make wholesome homemade baby food for the Muffin Baby, with the exception of organic baby cereals for outings and trips, for easy travel, hehe.  Having recently been "converted" to being more conscious about the food we eat -- thanks to Jamie Oliver's controversial documentary "Eat To Save Your Life" -- MM and I try our best to keep our junk food and fast food intake to a minimum, and we want to do the same for MB.

Happy Father's Day, My Muffin Man :)

Just when I thought I couldn't be any more in love with you than I already was... I woke up to this that fine December morning... :)

Happy Father's Day, my love ♥

Linkshare: Can you afford to be a Stay At Home Mom?

photo by www.catilo.net

Sharing a great article today by Rhee of Rainy Days on Mom Days : Can You Afford to be a Stay-at-Home-Mom?

She made a table that you fill up to help you calculate if you can afford to be a stay-at-home mom, or even a stay-at-home dad for that matter, hehe!  You can tweak it to match your current lifestyle and situation but overall it's a pretty good list of what to expect in terms of budgeting and child-related expenses.

When you become a parent, you are faced with a lot of decision-making -- Breast or bottle? Carrier or sling? Home-school or regular school? Cloth or disposable? And so on...and so forth. 

Mother's Day blues

Being a new mom... the feeling is indescribable.

So many emotions all at the same time.

To love to hear him laugh, and see him smile...
 ... but feel my heart break when he cries.

 To ignore the sore feet, tired hands, or aching back...
 ... to lovingly tend to his that are much, much smaller.

To bring him outside, let him travel, and show him off to world...
 ... but at the same time want him home with us instead, safe and sound.

To want to give him anything and everything he will ever want or ask for...
 ... but to be mindful not to spoil him.

To teach him what is good and right,
 ... and to discipline him when he does something that is not.


To be so excited to see what he's like growing up...


and yet...

to wish that he could stay just like this, forever.

Song of Ruth

Ruth In The Fields by Merle Hugues, 1876

"Wherever you go...I shall go. Wherever you live, so shall I live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God too."

We used to sing this song at church, and sometimes during weddings. At the time I just understood the lyrics as they were, but now knowing the story behind the song, it seems a bit odd (?) singing these verses at a wedding, now that I think about it... but I digress.

Have you ever been at a difficult situation... I mean a REALLY difficult one, one that took you out of your comfort zone, and clinging to God seems to be either your only option, or the last thing on your mind?