Muffin Tin Monday - Apples

The theme this week for Muffin Tin Monday is apples.  What a great theme, especially leading into Rosh Hashanah at the end of the week.  After a busy morning, I wasn't sure what D would eat, but thought we would give it a try.  

I was getting lunch ready and wanted to a take a picture of the "apple" shaped grilled cheddar and apple sandwich.  (I believe it is really a pumpkin cookie cutter, but hey... D doesn't know).  

Here is the completed muffin tin.  The top row starts with apple sticks, then apple cinnamon rice cakes, and apple chunks.  The bottom row is Applesauce Noodle Kugel and the grilled cheese sandwich.


D enjoyed her Kugel and did a great job eating.  Eventually, she decided that the food would taste better on her tray.

And of course a meal is not complete, if we're not wearing it.

We also read Dr. Seuss's Ten Apples Up on Top! to go with our apple lunch.  D thought the pictures were funny and enjoyed the story during lunch.

Swimming Day 1

Today was our first official swimming lesson.  We are getting lessons from Baby Otter Swim School.  So far I am very impressed by their classes.  They have a program to teach little ones how to get out of the pool if they fall in.  They took D into the pool and showed her how to kick her feet and then gently dunked her under the water.  Though not always happy D did a great job.  The also showed her how to swim to the stairs.  We were told that she did awesome.  She kicked her feet (and even tried using her arms, and maybe a little butterfly) to get over to the stairs.  I was really impressed.  Even though she wasn't thrilled by the whole experience D did everything she was asked to.  And even though her instructor was making her do things she didn't really want to D was comfortable enough to fall asleep on her.  So far so good.  


My only issue is their rule about diapers.  Which I do understand, but as a cloth diaper user, I have invested time and money into getting good quality reusable swim diapers.  Well they want 2 swim diapers and a bathing suit on D as she swims in the pool.  I normally just put a rash guard and swim diaper on D (or a gDiaper without the insert), and have had no problems.  Today she had on an iPlay swim diaper (which does retain water, not sure what I think about that) and then a My Pool Pal Swimster.  Then I bought her some boy swim trunks because her girly bottoms wouldn't fit over the 2 diapers.  I will have to get a pic of D in her swim diapers.

Muffin Tin Monday

I learned about the Muffin Tin Mondays a while ago, and have decided that it is finally time for me to get in the game. I think that using a muffin tin to put together D's meals is great. I am able to make sure that I am giving her a balanced meal, and she has fun checking out all the little nooks and crannies. I have tried this out a few times. Here is what I have done.

This is our meal for this week. There was no theme.

Top Row: Edemame, cheese and mini bowtie pasta

Bottom Row: Plum, there was milk in the empty spot but D pulled it out as soon as I put it down and crackers

D enjoying her Muffin Tin Meal (MTM).

This was my first try at a MTM. I was worried about D taking the whole tray and throwing it on the floor, so we tried individual cups.

Green: Banana Rings Yellow: Baby carrot sticks

Red: Yellow Bell Pepper strips Blue: Cheddar Cheese

I made this one when we got our new "tin" to see if D would dump it all on the floor or not. Thankfully, she didn't, at least not as soon as I gave it to her. I will say that the bottom row did go first.

Top row: Cucumber sticks, shredded cheese, American Chop Suey

Bottom Row: Cherries, pretzels, apple cinnamon rice cakes.

I tried making an MTM to go with Goodnight Moon, which has been D's favorite book recently, no matter what time of day.

Top: Grape Tomatoes -- red balloon, Bunny Cheddar Crackers -- bunny in the story, mozzarella cheese -- cow, apple cinnamon rice cakes -- moon, macaroni and cheese -- bowl full of mush, and brussels sprouts -- rabbit food, and something green for the great, green room.

I am looking forward to doing this regularly for D. Though she's a little young to really get the connections, we're getting there, and Mommy is having a lot of fun!

To learn more about Muffin Tin Mondays.  To see what some other Muffin Tin Moms and Dads did this week.

Yummy, Yummy Waffles

Well, I finally ordered my new waffle iron. This one is to replace the one that fell off the table and broke. I'd been debating which one to buy and finally decided on the Villaware Uno Belgian Wafflemaker (thanks to America's Test Kitchen and Amazon). We decided to put it use this morning and have some waffles. We used the Waffles I recipe from AllRecipes.com, with double the sugar (I used brown, I was out of white), double the vanilla, some cinnamon and some ground flaxseed. The came out great.

They looked great thanks to the new waffle iron, set on 4. And Dylan thought they were yummy. She ate 1/2 a waffle!