quinoa and cod liver oil. yummy...

i am not sure if i mentioned before that i have been making all of quinn's food thus far.  except for yogurt.  but everything else has been prepared by your's truly.  now that he is 10 months i am trying to get more creative with what i feed him and have been trying to introduce more protein into his diet.  he has never had cereal, rice or oatmeal.  just veggies and fruits, tofu, and yogurt.  so i decided to try some quinoa the other day.  i believe that we introduce  grains and rice too soon into babies' diets and are thus setting them up for diabetes and obesity (check out mercola's thoughts here).  but quinoa is actually a seed.  i combined cooked quinoa with some homemade chicken stock and some pureed peas.  no go.  i tried plain quinoa.  not gonna happen.  i mixed it with some steamed zucchini.  nah.  i gave up.

today i fixed myself quinn's leftover cooked quinoa with some lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  quinn looked intrigued.  maybe it was the preparation or maybe it was the big person spoon but he ate spoonful after spoonful.  success!  and then he happily accepted a spoonful of cod liver oil as well.  huzzah!  this baby is a powerhouse of good eating.  i only hope it continues.

here are some facts about quinoa taken from www.wholesomebabyfood.com:

Quinoa, pronounced "keen wah", this little jewel is actualy a seed and not a grain. It has been grown in South America for more than 5,000 years. It is harvested both in and around the Andes Mountains. Did you know that the Incas called Quinoa 'the Mother Grain'?

The Incas gave quinoa this name because they thought that eating the grain meant good health and longevity. Quinoa is becoming a popular grain in North America however the sweetest and most flavorful quinoa is that grown in South America. Quinoa is packed with fiber, calcium, iron and folate to name a few of it's nutrients.

Quinoa (one cup, cooked) Protein - 22.27 g

VITAMINS Vitamin A - 0 IU Vitamin C - 0 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - .33 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - .67 mg Niacin - 4.98 mg Folate - 83 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

MINERALS Potassium - 1258 mg Phosphorus - 697 mg Magnesium - 357 mg Calcium - 102 mg Sodium - 36 mg Iron - 15 mg Also contains small amounts of manganese, copper and zinc.

check out their website for some recipes as well.  

as for cod liver oil, check out the weston a price organization's website here to find all sorts of good information about it's benefits.  

smitten list

rainbow sandals
cause it just means summer is around the corner and i will be living in a pair of these.  guess i should get these hooves back into flip-flop shape.  in a previous confession, i divulged that i had not painted my toes since before quinn was born.  still true.  6 months later.  as you may have guessed, mike isn't all that into feet (luckily).

theory cordell maxi dress
my new maxi dress because i L.O.V.E maxi dresses and this one is the softest and most comfortable i have found yet.  and it is stretchy enough that i can yank it down and nurse baby boy.  tmi?  i don't think so.  

orgain organic protein shakes from wegman's
perfect for the nursing momma who needs the extra protein and calories.  and it does taste good.  i buy them by the case.

sukan owls pillows
i think i just may be into owls and never really realized it until now.  i bought a stuffed owl for my sister's baby-to-be, i have an owl paper weight and owl salt and pepper shakers.  hmmmm...

heather lins home numbered edition coasters
i think they are super cute and i love numbered things.  is that weird?  i thought about stenciling numbers on the backs of my kitchen chairs but haven't gotten around to it yet.  so maybe these will quiet that need for a bit.

my smitten list

quinn's smiles

my son quinn is now 13 weeks old and though he does not like to sleep much these days, his smiles make me swoon. he awakens in the morning looking something like this. i live for these smiles and they make the sleepless nights seem a bit less severe.

early christmas gifts from sisters

i recently received this package in the mail with this fabulous necklace waiting inside. my sister bridget and i always exchange the most fabulous gifts and never seem to be able to wait until christmas to open them. she purchased this lovely number from lisa bruemmer (treeandkimball) on Etsy. can't wait to wear it!  thanks bridget (and lisa).

stila apricot lip glaze

just the right amount of glisten and tint so that you don't look like a porn star and it stays on for quite some time.

ginger

since flu and who-knows-what-else season is upon us, it is imperative that i keep my immune system as healthy as possible. ginger soothes sore throats, treats nausea (hello pregnant women), and has anti viral, anti toxic, anti fungal, and anti inflammatory properties. it even aids in digestion and can lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. i make a tea using fresh ginger root, water, honey, and any caffeine-free tea bags i happen to have (celestial seasonings country peach passion is my latest fav). boil a pot of water, add a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root sliced into thin pieces, bring to a boil, add 4-6 tea bags and honey to taste. cover and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. strain the tea and enjoy! i make a big batch and refrigerate it, though i prefer it warm so i reheat it on the stove.

my new frye harness boots
my husband spoiled me this year and bought me these fabulous frye boots.  i have coveted a pair for what seems like forever and i have ogled those people that own a pair.  now my feet are very happy.  thanks michael.