Healthy Eater

I try to feed ButterBean nutritious, organic food whenever possible and have tossed around the idea of not feeding him meat. To test it out, a few weeks ago I made him some "tofu fingers" minus the cayenne pepper the recipe called for.

I was ButterBean was so hungry that I didn't snap a picture of the tofu fingers until our second helping. He gobbled them up so fast I hardly got a bite during our first round! Since this time he has also surprised me with his willingness to eat cooked kale! He has always like cooked spinach, especially with eggs, but I was expecting a gag or two when I gave him kale. I made this African Kale Stew, which sounded weird, but was good! I added black beans to up the protein factor for ButterBean. He passed up a banana (a tried and true favorite) for more kale! I've been blessed with a very NOT picky eater. He's just not a big fan of plain cheese. Other than that every texture, flavor, spice, and food group is fair game for him. I attribute some of this to my own diverse eating habits both while he was in the womb and while I was breast feeding him. And like his mama, he won't turn down dark chocolate!

African-Style Stewed Kale
adapated from Bon Appetit

Heat 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil in a large saute pan. Add 1 chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves and saute until soft. Stir in 1 Tbsp. ground cumin and 1 Tbsp. ground coriander, then 1 28-oz. can of crushed tomatoes and chopped stemmed leaves from 2 heads of kale. Cover and cook until kale is just tender, about 15 minutes. Add one can of black beans. Stir in 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves or 3-4 cubes of frozen Dorot cilantro and simmer for 10 minutes; season with hot pepper sauce, if desired. Serve plain or over couscous.

Mr. Clean

ButterBean has taken to cleaning. I hope this lasts! Give him a paper towel, wash cloth, wet wipe, or napkin and he will wipe every surface he can find. 

My very own Cinderella (Cinderello?)

"Don't worry! I've got it under control!"

He got a hold of a dust pan today and tried to work his magic with that too

What a big helper! Now, if only this translated to putting all of the food back in the pantry after he empties it...

Keep up the good work ButterBean!!!

Easter cuteness

I cannot get enough of this picture of ButterBean from Easter!!! Does this make me vain in an indirect way? Oh well!! Little boys that look like miniature men are a weakness of mine. Melts my little heart! I'm lucky to have gotten a picture with his hat on. Last year I was able to get his Easter hat picture because he wasn't big enough to pull it off yet.

2011- his first Easter

We had a very nice Easter with family. We attended mass on Easter morning where ButterBean behaved the whole time - an Easter miracle!! Then we had a delicious brunch of eggs, cinnamon rolls (made by yours truly!), and fruit with my family.  ButterBean doesn't quite get the concept of looking for eggs yet, but neither did his aunties. They think egg hunting is a contact sport. 

Tackle

Run

Payback

He got a shovel from GrampyJ and GrammyEm, which was a favorite. He also got some fun books, carrots, green beans and crackers (thanks for the healthy Easter basket!)

After an afternoon nap we went over to Gatsby's parents and had a great time chatting and letting the cousins play outside. I think this was the first Easter I didn't stuff my face with so much candy I got a gut ache. Maybe that means I'm an adult now ;)

Happy Easter 2012

What will he be?

I love to postulate about what ButterBean will become some day. Lately he has been showing off his athletic abilities. These are the sports he might be good at so far:

1) Hockey or golf: He likes to run around with a fly swatter and push things around the floor with it

2) Lacrosse: He also runs around his grandparents backyard waving a lacrosse stick

3) Soccer: He is an avid ball kicker

4) Dancer: He's got skills! So far he twirls with arms above his head, kicks one leg out, flaps his arms, bops up and down, and can even "get low". He'll dance to any music - TV commercials, radio, cell phones, you name it

I'd be fine with any of these options, although I'm hesitant about hockey given recent events in high school boys hockey. I guess I don't really need to be worrying about this right now.

ButterBean has received his first Band-aid worthy boo-boo this last week. He was happily helping in our garden when he fell on the concrete and scraped all the skin on his finger. He was a big boy about it and stopped crying as soon as we washed it off. This is only the first of many of my reckless son's adventures I'm sure!