Baby Bullet Product Review

Making your own baby food has never been easier. Parent's growing commitment to healthy living has led many new Moms and Dads to prepare fresh, additive-free pureed fruits and veggies as their baby's first foods. It's also very economical. You don't need to be a tree hugging Martha Stewart to pull it off either, with lots of cool products on the market you can become a ga-ga gourmet in no time. 


Since pregnancy I'd been eyeing the Baby Bullet, made by the creators of the Magic Bullet. For approximately $60 the system includes: a large batch bowl/blender, short cup with lid for individual meals, power base, soft tip spatula, baby blend blade, milling blade, pocket nutritionist guide, user manual and cookbook, 6 date-dial storage cups and a storage tray for freezing. The Baby Bullet does not have an all in one steamer like other systems, but the date-dial storage cups were more of a must-have for me. Baby Bullet does make a Turbo Steamer which I have not purchased.  The steamer is currently running as a bonus item for free if you purchase the Baby Bullet system online. 


The pocket shopping guide was a great score. I take the manual along with me on my shopping trips to Whole Foods for organic produce. I use the recipe guide to pick fruits, veggies and grains that are age appropriate. We started with basic items like oats, sweet potatoes, apples, pears and eventually tried more interesting options like eggplant, kale, cantaloupe, avocado, watermelon and mango. Even if your baby is older than six months and has been eating prepared foods for a while consider making food at home. The system allows you to make smooth pureed food as well as more textured meals, even with meat and pasta for older infants. 


The Baby Bullet box and all it's trappings make you think it's more challenging to use than it actually is. After thoroughly reading everything I came to the conclusion, I probably could have figured it out with common sense. It's pretty much a glorified blender with various blades and basins. The milling blade works beautifully for oats and lentils. I'm plan to try black and garbanzo beans next month. Fruits and veggies are a breeze as well. Steaming anything from apples to potatoes usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Pureeing less than two minutes. From start to finish; prepping, steaming, blending to storing I can make a week worth of food in a little over an hour. Clean up is a snap also. The BPA free parts are all safe to place in your dishwasher, though I tend to wash them by hand. 

My baby girl has always enjoyed mealtime, but since using the Baby Bullet to provide the freshest food possible she is even more excited! Her little taste buds can surely tell the difference between her new, improved selections and the bottled stuff. I've tasted everything I've made and it is delicious. I'm talking utterly scrumptious!  


In all I have been very pleased with the system contents, ease of use, quality of product and clean-up required. I highly recommend it to parents concerned about nutrition. Making your own food guarantees that you know what's going into your baby's food and subsequently into their little bellies. 


MommyMorphosis Grade - A 


For more information about the pros and cons of making your own baby food check out this article by Gina Shaw on WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-food-nutrition-9/making-baby-food

If you like the idea of a steamer/blender combo item check out the $120 Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/beaba-babycook-baby-food-maker/

A Precious Message

As I type a wonderful woman, and one of my best friends, is in labor. She's preparing to welcome her little girl into the world and I felt compelled to share what I was feeling after I met my little ones for the first time. She and I have spoken a lot over the past nine months. I'd like to think I've helped her figure out what to expect while expecting. No conversation can truly clue you in on the miracle of becoming a Mom. You go from feeling a little person in your womb, to holding your newborn baby in your arms. Nothing can compare!

Dear Nigel and Nikke,

You are my biggest joy. I've never known a love like this. You are brilliant and beautiful. And though you are teeny tiny right now, I know you are powerful! Your Dad and I will prepare for you to take the world by storm one day. In the meantime we will do anything we can for you; anything to make you happy, keep you safe and secure. It is our job to let you know that you are loved more than anything in this world. A genuine miracle, a blessing beyond measure. Enjoy the wonders of childhood. Chase rainbows, play in puddles, spin in the sunshine and laugh until your tummy hurts.

You are innately wiser than you know. You are a King's kid. Learn to trust yourself. Use your noodle. Discover what makes you unique and always be yourself. Don't ever feel like you need to compare yourself to someone else. Know that you can achieve anything and that there are no limits to what you can achieve. Dream BIG. Love God and when the Spirit speaks to you - Listen! Be brave enough to make your own decisions. Listen to your parents and loved ones, we're pretty smart. See a vision for yourself, develop a plan and take one step at a time. Know that I love you and the Lord loves you.

Double Duty

I have recently made the transition from grad student and working Mom of a 4 year old son, to STAH mother of two. Caring full-time for two is a COMPLETELY different ball game. When people tell you that having two kids is easier than one, please believe this - they are lying! Up until I brought my baby girl home, I thought I had this mothering thing licked! I considered myself kind of a "natural" at being an educated, engaged, and loving nurturer. I'm still all of those things - just short on sleep, patience and "me" time. My daughter is super cute and sweet and absolutely lovable! She is also demanding, a bit colicky and seems to enjoy seeing what's going on in the world every morning around 4:45am. It's been true of my experience that your second child will have a totally different personality than your first. My Nigel was a calm, quiet baby; my Nikke, well let's just say she's "expressive." She's a little feisty, and wants to be held, fed or entertained constantly. When I give into her desires to just cuddle and stare at each other all day we grow more & more attached, but other duties get shirked. When I am able to get some items checked off the daily to-do list silence is elusive. Someone is always hungry, crying, shouting or pooping! Even I talk too much, I say "pretty, pretty girl" and "be careful!" more than I'd like to admit. I feel like I'm always wiping something... bottoms, noses, counters, eyes, etc, etc. I don't want to seem grumpy, but I have been taken off guard by how hard it is!

I remember having notions that being home with your kids was the carefree, good life. I'm learning it's great, but far from June Cleaver domestic glam. While is it rewarding to be my children's primary caregiver, it is far from easy. There aren't enough hours in the day for all that needs to be done! Cleaning, laundry, gardening, bill paying, entrepreneurship etc. Don't even talk about pediatrician appointments, grocery shopping, summer camp and other errands that require us to leave the house. It takes two hours to get ready and into the car! Being the COO of your home means you're always on call - without overtime pay. Even though my husband and circle are supportive it's hard to believe they really understand what my days are like.

Though multi-tasking can't be avoided, I've allowed myself to take it one task, one child at a time when I can. The realization that once again I've entered uncharted territory has finally sunk in. I am spending this precious time getting to know Nikke and her quirks. She is a distinct baby, her own person, and I am discovering life with an infant all over again. What has been most stressful is having to prioritize which child gets my attention first. Of course, my big boy has been forced into a little more independence. (The Melissa & Doug magnetic responsibility chart has been a lifesaver!) Luckily because he's four, it's developmentally appropriate and not too distressing for him. But, because Mommy is "always busy with baby sister" he's gravitating more to Dad, who he likes "the 100% best". They have "man secrets" and honestly it hurts my feelings a little. I find myself obsessing about whether I'm being fair. I worry he won't "like" me anymore, or worse, resent his sister. I worry that she'll resent me because she doesn't get the uninterrupted attention he's been the recipient of for 4 years. That's a lot of worrying! Of course, it's probably for naught. Nigel adores Nikke, and she thinks he's hilarious! Both likely think Mommy is a little kooky.

Friends and family ask when/if we'll have another child. At this point my hands, home and heart are full! I am overjoyed with the brood we have, we're blessed to have one of each - a handsome son and beautiful baby girl. I can't say for sure that baby fever won't infect us in a year or two when Nikke is a toddler. By then we'll have forgotten about the sleepless nights and scores of dirty diapers. For now I'm happy to get used to my new role and concentrate on raising my dynamic duo.

Teamwork is crucial - Get it together!

When I began thinking through this post I was entering my 40th week of pregnancy. On maternity leave, counting down the days until my baby would arrive... and feeling like a woman on borrowed time. During the first half of my second pregnancy I was a BUSY lady, doing perhaps a little too much. Finishing graduate school, practicum, working part time and planning a wedding. Needless to say when things slowed down and classes were complete, nuptials were exchanged, I felt entitled to chill. My husband shared this sentiment and he became even more of a supportive partner than usual. He's already a really involved Dad, but he went above and beyond with our son as my belly expanded. Breakfast? Done. Dinner dishes? Done. Cars cleaned and gassed up? Done. Laundry, cleaning, you name it? Done. It was amazing. I remember mentioning this Superman syndrome to a girlfriend and wondering if this attitude was pregnancy inspired or part of our "Honeymoon period". I wasn't trying to "milk it" but the perks were goooood!

As my induction date approached I worried that my right hand man might be less hands on when the baby arrives. Now our daughter is 3 weeks old and my worries were for naught. Hubs continues to be as involved with both of our children and the operation of our household. As he's explained to me his actions during pregnancy were an act of partnership - not a short term exercise of obligation. He was simply picking up the slack as needed, something that we have done for one another throughout the course of our relationship. This got me thinking about how important partnership is in relationships, especially when children arrive to turn a couple into a family.

Give and take, sharing the load - we'd think that these ideals are standard within committed relationships. However some couples are polarized by their gender roles, or operate as separate but equal as they manage distinct domains. Nothing will make parenting harder than adhering to that mentality. In successful, well functioning families there is one page, and Mommy and Daddy better both be on it. I suggest first time parents take this to heart. Surely expectant fathers are quick to dote on their honeys during maternity. It is important that men realize that continued care and support will be just as critical post-partum. Just because baby is born doesn't mean Mom will be immediately back to "normal". In fact from that point on there is a "new normal". Hormones are still fluctuating, sleep is evasive, priorities shift, schedules change and baby rules the roost for quite some time. Moms and Dads must work together to rethink how life will best be managed by them as a team - a unit committed to collective success.

Moms have to watch their moods and attitudes, though being a little grumpy is to be expected. A lack of sleep and the "baby blues" can be a bad mix which leads you to take your spouse (and other helpers) for granted. As they vacillate from feeling euphoric to underwhelmed or overwhelmed, at times new Moms may be unable to appreciate what a magical time this is for your growing family. Dads need TLC too. At times it may be hard for them to compete with baby for Mommy's attention. They're less funny, charming and adorable with an infant in the room. They may feel as if they can't do enough, or compare themselves to their super spouses who juggle it all with ease.

The long and short of it is simply this, GET IT TOGETHER. Take the advice of friends and extended family to heart, but spend time alone figuring out what works for your partnership. Don't let your notions of gender roles and rules hinder your ability to work together. By building your solidarity you will find the toughest parenting patches easier to traverse. You will undoubtedly be less exhausted, and you just might find more time to spend together doing grown up stuff. This solidarity will be on display for your children and will give them their first cues about coupling. The habits you exhibit will equip them for healthy personal relationships in the future.