Perfect Fit

A shift in season is upon us. 

A shift in kid’s wardrobes is also upon us. 

Year after year, season after season I come to the same shocking discovery.  The clothes our kids were wearing last year have shrunk.  How do they shrink every year?  Do they wane on hiatus over the months of waiting patiently for our kids to take them out to play as a sulking tactic?  Surely there’s no way our little ones could have grown so aggressively that neither pants nor socks cover their ankles, bordering on shins, anymore?  No, I think it’s got to be those mischievous clothes.

Let’s hope the hand-me-downs scored last year which were in line with the season’s temperature requirements, but required too many pant cuff or sleeve roll ups, will fit to perfection now.  Fingers crossed.  Good old hand-me-downs.

We’re lucky to have lots of friends with little boys a little older than our youngest to reap the benefits of their wardrobe.

A cute song called “My Big Sister” comes to mind from The Barenaked Ladies’ 2008 Juno award winning children’s album “Snacktime”.  Although the band name doesn’t scream “kids r us”, they created one of the most clever and fun albums out there for kids (and adults who like to pretend they’re kids).

My Big Sister

By the Barenaked Ladies

I like my big sister

But I don’t want to wear her coat

Maybe black, it may fit perfect

But you and I both know, it’s a girls coat

Now I can handle some hand-me-downs

Shirts and sandals are out of bounds

Balls and games, and such, I don’t mind

But a coat, is over the line

 

O.K. time to cook.  I’m thinking potatoes, both sweet and white and add in some spinach for a Solid Food Apprentice iron boost.  These are perfect pureed for ages 6 months +, or mashed for those Solid Food Intermediates out there who are 8 months + and can handle some more texture.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

Popeye’s Potatoes

 

Age – 6 months +

Ingredients

·         3 white potatoes

·         1 small sweet potato

·         2 cups of baby spinach leaves

·         1 tbsp. of butter

·         ¼ cup of milk

Baby Steps

1.      Peel and chop white and sweet potatoes and put in steamer set over boiling water, cover and cook for 15 minutes.

2.      Meanwhile, clean and pat dry baby spinach well and then add to potatoes.  Continue to steam for 2 more minutes.

3.      Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.

4.      Transfer to a food processor, blender or bowl to use hand held blender to puree, or you can mash if baby is 8 months +.

 

5.    Add in butter and milk and puree or mash.

6.      Once pureed or mashed, let cool for a few minutes then transfer to freezing trays in the freezer to be used within 3 months, or to food storage containers in the fridge to use within 48 hours.

Makes – Approx. 11 servings (1 serving = 2 tbsps.)

Note:  These are a great adult side dish as well…just add a bit of salt and pepper for added seasoning if your heart desires.

Now it’s back to assessing the new season’s wardrobe needs or else my little guy will be a “big guy in a little coat.”  I couldn’t resist this Chris Farley of Saturday Night Live fame reference.  Enjoy.