Category Archives: Life

Our GoGo Squeez Applesauce Skeptic

02/19/2015 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

I used to laugh at those little portable pouches of squeezable fruit puree and never understood the point of having them. Then we received a GoGo Squeez Applesauce pouch as a party favor for our neighbors’ 1 year old son’s birthday party.

Packaged food is highly scrutinized before I allow it in our home. IF it’s a gift and if it doesn’t pass, I politely (sometimes not so polite) decline. But the pouch gave me no reason to reject as it’s certified organic and only has apples and apple juice concentrate as ingredients. I could’ve really picked at it since it’s basically a lot of sugar with little fiber like you’d get from eating a whole apple, but I’m trying to pick my battles here.

Plus, the girl’s crazy and runs rampant every day, she needs the carbs! That said, I opted to give Avery the pouch to see how she liked it. Here’s what I think went on in her head as I offered this strange, non-bottle for her to eat…..or is it drink? Slurp? Ahhh, whatever!

Okay, I see he’s holding something and it’s getting closer to my face, but I’m not sure what to do about it. Is it a bottle? Do I eat the whole thing?

Looks like I’m supposed to get whatever it is from that white spout. Seriously wish I knew more about what Dad puts in my face. And why does he always give me green things?!

Well, here goes nothing, no turning back now.

Weird. It’s definitely NOT milk or liquid that I’ve ever tried! But, I think I like it.

This feels very strange in my mouth, like someone already chewed my food for me. More!!

Good, he got my message through telepathy. More pre-chewed goodness coming my way!

Mmmmm, if only I knew how to hold things for myself. Meh, Dad is my servant and I’ll make sure to “milk” it as long as possible.

I love the last photo with her beautiful blue eyes! I wouldn’t say I’d go out of my way to buy more of these, but it is nice to know she’s accepting of them. Just in case we’re out and about and I forgot to bring my own homemade goodness along.

Do you give your kids squeeze pouch foods or have you before?

Any favorite flavors/brands?

I’ve seen the reusable pouches where you make your own puree, maybe I’ll try that sometime.

Life, Parenting

Surfing in the Kitchen

02/17/2015 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

She just turned 15 months old and she’s already moving on to bigger and better things. Like, for instance, surfing……in the kitchen.

It’s everything you’d see a real surfer (please note: I have absolutely no clue about surfing) do when out catching the waves. Starting with paddling out away from the shore.

Then it’s time for action as she gets in her goofy footed stance and acts as if she’s taking “the drop” down the face of a gnarly wave.

But, oftentimes she get’s a little too daring while carving the other direction and will eat it.

No worries, though, it takes more than that to dampen this girl’s spirit! She just shrugs it off with a cheesy, close-eyed shimmy smile and prepares to try again.

Awwww, bummer! It’s flat; no waves!

That’s it for surfing today, but the party has just begun. She just hangs up the wet suit and gets to dancing all ~~night~~ day long.

What kind of unconventional activities usually done outdoors does your kid bring inside?

Life, Parenting

Getting “Down With the Sickness”, Literally

02/13/2015 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Something doesn't feel right..... — Something doesn’t feel right…..

You know that crappy feeling when you get sick? Yeah, I wrote about my experience here. And then the awesome feeling once you recover? Of course I wrote about that, and you can read it here. Well, that crappy feeling is back, but not because I am “Down With the Sickness” (old song by Disturbed), it’s because now my family is.

Probably no thanks to me. Before I turned ill, all was honky dory in the house, and then Blam-o (or some other weird word for a noise), my body hurt and I was decommissioned. Several days and excellent spousal support later, I was feeling better and ready for a pint night date night with Kelley.

Not so fast, the sick bug or whatever it is/was must’ve grown tired of my old carcass and wanted to move on to something better. Like, for instance, my wife and Avery. Damn you, bug/virus/whatever you are!!!

After returning home from our date night, we had just enough time to read a book to Avery before she went to sleep. A few hours later, in the early morning, we woke to the sound of our daughter crying. Nothing new there, but it was worse and lasted longer than normal.

Kelley and I were both in her room and it was confirmed; poop. She had just let a hefty poo out for G-Ma while we were out, so we figured we’d be safe for the night. Ha ha, rookie parents, you’re never safe from poo!

This has happened before, so we cleaned her and Kelley nursed her to sleep. Done, problem solved. Ooooorrrr, problem just starting, rather.

Not long after getting her back in her crib, no baby monitor was needed to hear a hacking cat sound throughout the house. At first I thought is was our cat, hacking, but instead is was Avery, throwing up. Oh yeah, another first! She’s spit up plenty of times, but this was a first for real food to appear.

Poor girl, it was all over her sheet, blanket, and pajamas. Off with everything dirty, and replaced with clean items, Going Mom, looking a little weary (besides the fact is was 2am), nursed Avery to sleep yet again. Or so we hoped. Instead, she had round two, all over her new pajamas and Mommy.

More cleaning ensued while Avery seemed unusually happy as she flashed us smiles while we scurried around in clean-up mode. Kelley needed to take a shower and was only looking worse, so after we finished cleaning, I took a shot at just holding and rocking Avery to sleep. Milk seemed to not be what was needed anyway.

Upon finishing her shower, Kelley needed to get some sleep and went to bed after checking on Avery and me. Luckily, after tossing and spinning around my lap, Avery found a suitable position to fall asleep and we stayed like that for around 3 hours. I was in and out of sleep, and after G-Ma (she stayed the night since we’re close to her work) got ready and left, I laid Avery in her crib and made it back to our own bed.

Our freakin’ nursery chair doesn’t recline, so laying in our bed was like having giant pillow hands gently lifting me off my feet and soothing me into a nice sleep. I woke up to find Kelley still in bed and found out she turned even worse and was staying home for the day. Time for me to pay her back for helping me so much!

I cooked pumpkin teff for her and Avery in hopes they would keep it down, which they did, and tried to help them relax. Avery had several “runny” messes through the day on Thursday, but seemed to get over her symptoms by night came around. Kelley was weak all day and not up to much, but thankfully she’s kept everything down, unlike yours truly.

At the time I’m writing this, both of my lovely girls seem to be on the mend. Mommy has an extended weekend with us, so I gave her strict orders to get better so we don’t have another weekend of sickness!

How do you feel after giving your illness to others in the house?

What can we do differently to limit this happening, or is it just something that must “run its course”?