Let the Planting Begin!

Last Saturday the weather was amazing! So we went to, two plant sales, which were total flops, but we did score at the farmers market. We then scored again at a local nursery where we got more dirt and vegetables. Baby Aiden was a pretty good through all the stops even if he does hate nature. When we returned, I put Aiden down for a nap and then headed out to the garden to help my family! We had a great time gardening together and bless little Aiden's heart he slept for four hours, so we all got tons done!

Here is the tomato bed, no tomatos yet, but the marigolds are in and ready to keep the bugs away! Oh and the volunteer garlic that has come up randomly in this bed. My goal is to plant a few tomatos this week, but I am still a little concerned about the weather.
Here is the broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprout and parsley bed! I know its a lot, but when you have limited space you have to cram it all in! I am very excited about the purple brussel sprouts that are in my future! YUM!!!
My peas have still not come up yet which is leading me to believe that the seeds may have been to old or they drowned in the monsoon of a rain storm we had the other day. They were only a year old but they were not temperature controlled and they might have gotten wet in the move from St. Louis! Ooops!

There is still tons to be planted but I need the weather to get better and more consistent! The two beds not shown here are empty but they will be full soon!

Baby Tuesday

Well I have began to swim in the gigantic sea of nutrition and baby feeding books. Good Lord, everyone has opinion and boy, do they like to share it. So far I have accumulated some well know sources and decided to start with the most traditional of theories. As a gift I was given the Dr. Sears book, called The Baby Book. I really like this book as it goes step by step through all stages from infancy to toddler hood.

I have read the two chapters on starting solids. Wow, so much to learn and to do to prepare. Who knew. From when to start to how to start. Traditionally, you start with rice cereal and move through different foods. Also you introduce water in a sippy cup, that ought to be interesting. Since my last memories of sippy cups are with my friend Erica and lets just say there was never water in them. First you start with a very thin mixture and move to more textured foods as time goes on. Most important thing that I have read so far besides all the allergy warnings is not to pressure or push food on a baby, but let them try and decide what they want to eat.

So thus begins my plan of what foods I want to try and when. I need to plan this far in advance since I want to grow a lot of what eats. I know, I am crazy. We are going to the doctor tomorrow for his two month check-up ( first shots, YIKES!) and I know it is super early but I will ask her when she thinks the best time to start solids is. Aiden already likes to eat, and consumes A LOT! So I think we might be starting earlier then 6 months.

Harvest Monday

A very sad harvest but a harvest at that. More, more and more Oregano. My wonderful hubby will have to make something with all of this.
Here is an aerial view of the garden area. It looks kinda sad at the moment, but it holds so much potential. Saturday was a beautiful day, so my family and I spent all afternoon outside adding dirt, planting, weeding and scrubbing the decks! It all looks fabulous and ready for the summer!
Last summer I participated in Harvest Mondays over at Daphne's Dandelions so this year I am starting earlier. I love seeing everyone else's harvests. I am so jealous of all the other people that live in warmer climates. Hope everyone has a better week than me, I have to take my baby boy for his two month check-up and first set of shots!!!! I am dreading it!!!

Best Friends

Toni loves Baby Aiden! She is so patient and kind, Aiden is learning to pet her. It's very cute to watch him look at her and smile.

YAY gardening!

This last Thursday was a good day...my parents had their landscaper come and put in two more garden beds. (the ones on the right in this picture) I was very excited about this since 3 beds was just not enough in my opinion, but I am also of the opinion that you can never have to many garden beds.
Here are the two new beds, I wish the guys would have put more dirt in them, but I guess we will have to do that.

We are headed to TWO PLANT SALES and the FARMERS MARKET today! I am hoping to get some seedlings that I can't start like broccoli and such. Can't wait to get everything in and growing. Hurry up SUN!!!!!

Happy Family

Baby Tuesdays

I have decided to take on a new mission. Well it's a personal mission....learning all I can about baby nutrition when it comes to starting Baby Aiden on food. Now I know I have some time before I need to actually start, but there is no time like the present to learn. So I am dedicating every Tuesday to posts about what I have learned and as time goes on what I have tried. So my goals (I have two, well three, I guess) 1.) To learn as much as I can about introducing healthy organic foods to Aiden; 2.) Try to have everything be organic or as close to as possible and lastly; 3.) Grow as much of the food as I can myself.

I am pretty excited about this mission and have already reserved some books at the library and plan to probably buy a few along the way. I want Aiden to have the best possible, but I also want him to understand that food doesn't just come from the grocery store but from the ground or from an animal. I also want him to try everything and have the biggest variety he can.

So thus far I have planted 3 things that Aiden will get to try, carrots, beets and peas. It's a start.