Miss Leyba has worn all pink for the past two days. I can’t help myself. I consider it a sickness.
With David at work and all our company (i.e. extra hands) gone, it’s just the girls at home! It’s exhausting, but so fulfilling. I even look forward to time just the two of us, though I am still so thankful and relieved when David gets home and then I can take my time going to the bathroom or filling up my water glass. Occasionally I can even take a shower or grab a bite to eat. Ah, the little things.
I am still really short on calories and need to be eating more. I know it seems like a dumb thing to complain about, but I’m constantly hungry and having trouble coming up with easy, quick, healthy, gluten-free, low sugar, non-meat, non-processed meals (oy, what a list of criteria!). We are planning on stocking the fridge with healthy snacks and meals this weekend. David can hold Miss Leyba and I can cook! Do you have any menu suggestions? I may break down and eat an ice cream sundae or two this weekend. Or maybe something with an alfredo sauce. Clearly I’ve started eating dairy again.
The flip side to this is that I am just a couple pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight with having done essentially zero exercising since she was born (though I could cry about the lack of exercise — heal, body, so we can get to the park already!)… Of course, it helps that my baby accounted for approximately one third of my total pregnancy weight gain! How incredible is that?! (For the first few weeks, anytime I needed a pick me up, I would look at the birth photos and remind myself that I gave birth naturally to a 9 lb. 5 oz. baby who was 80% larger than I was at birth. Oh, the pride!)
She’s getting so big (we’ve officially outgrown all 0-3 month sized clothing and some 3-6 month sized clothes as well) and remains such a voracious eater. Oh my goodness, I love her milk breath! I can’t get enough of her yawns in my face. I know it seems a little narcissistic, but not in a bad way, right?! She’s just so delicious. It’s too bad I can’t upload her smell onto the internet to share it with you and preserve it for posterity. How cool would that be?!
Anyhow, back to my super healthy baby, we are ready to jump up to the next cloth diaper cover size. We had been using organic merino wool covers, but Miss Leyba’s chunky thighs are too much for them, plus we think they are just a little scratchy, so now we’re giving polar fleece covers a try. With free shipping, we figured we’d work our way down the list of covers available. Does anyone have any diaper cover suggestions? (We are using organic prefold diapers underneath.)
Miss Leyba is now able to occupy herself and I try to give her some awake time on her own every day (with me nearby, of course). She adores her vibrating bouncer (thanks, Jenn!) and especially likes looking up at the ceiling, out the window, and at our wrought-iron headboard. She isn’t really into stuffed toys yet, though I ordered a wooden teething rattle that I am hoping she’ll dig (oh boy does she like grasping our fingers).
Other fun activities: Miss Leyba loves it when we sing to her (even when it’s completely off key!) — she lifts her head up off our chest (if we’re holding her) and stares up at us wide-eyed. Occasionally she’ll try to sing alone. After a while, she’ll put her head down and drift off to sleep. I’m getting really good at making up ridiculous songs that incorporate listing all the objects in the room or our favorite books or how much I love Miss Leyba. I really need to expand my repertoire (and take some singing lessons!). Thankfully, she’s too young to complain…
is there gluten in chickpeas? hummus + [uh, something else w/o gluten] = quick and filling for an easy snack..
I can totally eat hummus! Is there a brand that you like? I used to make it from scratch, but now don’t have the time.
Hard-boiled eggs (you said you’re eating dairy, but I’m not sure about eggs)? I like to eat just the white (I don’t like the yolk, but it also has the benefit of focusing on the protein and avoiding the fat) with a little salt and pepper. I also love carrots or apples with peanut butter – easy and filling (without the peanut butter, I don’t stay full very long). Raw almonds are also one of my healthy snack staples. Also, oatmeal (you can make it in the microwave easily without using the processed/instant stuff) if great – but I’m not sure if oats have gluten.
I love the Sabra brand of hummus! A friend of mine told me it was like a different food, and I entirely agree. I’m not sure whether it has ingredients that you might not want, but I learned about it from a pregnant orthodox Jewish bar review classmate who was sitting behind me and eating it one day. It’s kosher, if nothing else. :-) So good, especially the kind with pine nuts! The woman from bar review had these little Sabra To Go containers where one side is hummus and the other is pretzel chips. They are my savior on nights when I have to work late!
By the way, dal (Indian lentils) is great, too. Throw in a few spices as the pan warms, then dump in water or gluten-free stock, dal, and any other flavoring of your choice. Voila! Gluten-free meal whose flavor can be changed countless times depending on what you throw in. Lots of online recipes available if you’re looking for inspiration. Not as filling as pasta, but it’s definitely on par with hummus. I understand it freezes well, too, but I actually haven’t tried it. Yum!
I agree with Alexis. Sabra is by far the best Hummus this side of Jerusalem :) It’s the closest we’ve found in the states that tastes like what we have in Israel. Love it! Peanut butter and bananas is always a good filler upper too.
Because my daughter is allergic to dairy and wheat (but luckily not soy and some spelt), we’re constantly on the lookout for things that fit that menu. We do eat meat, but it’s getting harder to find meat that’s not…scary, so that might change. If you are craving something creamy and non-dairy, I recommend coconut milk ice cream. It is so good and I’d happily go without the dairy version. There’s also hemp milk which is far creamier than rice or soy milk. I think the biggest problem with being diary and wheat allergic is the fact that a lot of the fake meat products are made of gluten. I could get you a list of other items we frequently buy, so let me know! Rice crackers with hummus is always great.
What an awesome lit of suggestions! Thank you, everyone!
And, wow, does coconut milk ice cream sound good. We’re so going to have to track that down.