I need serious help...

I am a very challenged cook. I just hate cooking. Now, for many reasons this is a huge problem, but besides the obvious reasons... when you have a gluten free eater at home, that on the top of that could use to loose some weight... or at least stop gaining weight... the problem becomes even more difficult. Oh and did I mention this same member of the family is super picky! Yeah, to make things even harder.

I have gotten to the conclusion that I need to take on this issue as a job, since it is not about fun for me. I have to tackle the pickiness, the allergies and the weight management. It would take more than a good chef to tackle all of these issues, it would take serious organization, planning and lots of help.

After browsing through tons of cooking books, these two were my selection:

These two books are a perfect combination, the Stella book actually has tons of gluten free recipes because he avoids using wheat flour, and his cooking is low calorie and low fat, and the Sneaky Chef has several pre-made purees that you can freeze until needed which is another great idea for me since I am always in need for quick meals. I am still reading The Sneaky Chef. It is more than a cooking book. It has a few chapter on the philosophy of the book. It is actually very interesting. I am yet to order the Stella book. But I will next week. I am also using several good websites. Then I need to sit down, and start figuring out some menus and then the shopping list. Huff! I wish I liked cooking... at least a little bit.

Fleece soaker

I got more fleece at Walmart. It was only $2.50 for half a yard. Here is the second soaker I made. I love it! I made an application of a whale on the back. I can't wait to make more... I think I am finally getting the hank of this sewing thing... LOL!

I used the same patern from Katrina's blog. 

Wanting to knit a Baby Surprise Jacket

I am really itching to make a  Baby Surprise Jacket for my baby... I have always been curious about the popularity to this pattern. Now Schoolhouse Press offers it in all sizes and gauges which is very convenient plus directions to add a hood, pockets, etc.

The only Elizabeth Zimmerman book that I have is Knitting Around, and there is another cute baby jacket in it called the Bog Jacket. I think the finished product is cuter than the Surprise Jacket but for some reason people just love to make the BSJ. Maybe is because of the cool construction of it? I had been looking at both FOs from other knitter's at Ravelry but still can't make up my mind...

There are some good videos in Youtube on how to make the BSJ, even though it is probably not needed if I buy the new pattern with detailed row by row directions. The directions for the Bog jacket in Knitting Around are a bit general to me and it does not say what ages will the FO fit so I would have to do some calculation if I try that one...  

Babies get it everyday...

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with my husband and the baby. Normally I don't buy dairy products but we had a craving for ice cream and I had a craving for liquid yogurt. I opened the yogurt bottle on the parking lot and started to drink it, the baby started to whine asking for some, I let him have a tiny bit, barely a taste of it... To my surprised my husband seemed very upset with the idea of giving milk to our baby... He said: "Are you going to give him milk!????" At 13 months old this was the first time my baby tasted any milk products... I don't plan on feeding him dairy until he is much older but I just wanted him to have a taste of it. So I replied: "Babies get this stuff everyday..." My husband pause for a few seconds to think... and then said: "You are right... Wow! Our kids are so luck you breast feed them!

It was very interesting to me to see my husbands reaction, the way what's normal for our family is completely different from what is normal on other families, but specially it was interesting to me how he has completely learned from me the different ways to raise my children and why do I do it, from breast feeding to cloth diapering and homeschooling, a formerly normal mainstreamed guy has become a total believer of natural alternatives and homeschooling. And after many discussions to explain to him why I wanted to do things differently, it was so nice to get this kind of reaction from him because it tells me that he finally got it! And most of all, he appreciates it!!!!

It felt so good...