Brewing

For some time, I've been interested in brewing my own beer. I really had no idea how much time or effort brewing would take, it just sort of sounded like fun to me. Kory, who has been brewing his own beer for awhile now, offered to spend a day showing me the ropes. Turns out, brewing beer can be as easy or difficult as you want to make it, but if you are a true connoisseur, then brewing is a lengthy process. From choosing grains to mashing to cooling the wort, you're looking at a sun-up to sun-down all day affair. 

We had a good time making a milk stout, and now we have a carboy full of beer in our basement fermenting away. It should be ready just in time for my birthday! A fun introduction to home brewing, thanks, Kory and Jamie!

On To Veggies!

We started out with sweet potatoes as Isaac's first vegetable. I pureed them for him, which I really enjoyed doing. Making his food means I know exactly what is going into his body, plus I have a sweet new cookbook with tons of fun baby puree recipes.

He loved the taste of sweet potatoes, no surprise there. A few photos of his first days eating them:

Believe it or not, he does manage to actually eat some, too.

In other news, bath time has become a nightly routine. . .

Second Day of Solids

I did not realize how much fun it would be to feed Isaac solids! 

Solids

Isaac is nearly six months old now. He's been watching us eat, reaching out for our food and bringing spoons, sippy cups and food to his mouth on a regular basis. Since he has a good handle on sitting up, we decided it was time to give solids a try. I've been hemming and hawing about how we should approach the introduction to solids: should we try the baby led weaning approach? The rice cereal first? Purees? Ugh, so many options. Rather than stress about it, I decided to just go with organic whole grain rice cereal and if he liked it we would quickly transition to homemade foods.

And it didn't take long to figure out that Isaac loves food:

Isaac's first spoonful of cereal.

"Forget the spoon, Mom, I'll eat straight from the bowl!"

"You're not cool with that? Well, at least let me feed myself!"

"Are you sure it isn't easier if I just eat straight from the bowl?"

"More..."

"... more ..."

"... more!"

"That was so good." 

So solids he shall have!

The RMNP Tour

Many Parks Curve

Continental Divide

High Park Fire burning 80,000 acres and counting. And we have record-breaking heat ahead. We need a miracle. 

To (the base of) Mount Evans!

Isaac Meets Cousin Travis

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to you, Daddy! You have become the most amazing dad, we love you!

First Cold

Here's Isaac on his five month birthday with the start of what became a two-week cold--two weeks of hell. Holy man, going back to waking every three hours to nurse Isaac was cake compared to what we dealt with while he was sick.

Our sweet, sick boy:

Isaac watching TV.

Let me tell you, this boy would watch TV all. the. time. if we let him. But we don't. In fact, we don't let him watch it at all. He only catches glimpses of the screen during floor play or when dad has him on his knee patting his back to put him to sleep, or when he's in his bassinet in the living room when mom gives up trying to put him down to sleep after an hour of crying. (I have to mention that Isaac, being a breech fetus, did not appreciate the "Happiest Baby on the Block" football hold. You are meant to swaddle the baby and lay him across your arm, placing his head in the palm of your hand so that his feet are slightly above his head, and jiggle him to soothe him. Isaac? Well, he'd rather sit upright on your knee with his face cupped by your hand. That's the sweet spot!) When we was just six weeks old, Ben was holding Isaac across his lap, cradling his head. Isaac could hear the TV behind him and tried with all his might to turn himself around to see it. I'd say he has his father's genes, that's for sure.

But, the poor kid was sick. So if he wants to stare at the screen for 10 minutes, so be it.

Happy Boy

Isaac and the Carrot

Hike to The Loch