Soaked Oatmeal

I have discovered a wonderful and nutritious breakfast I would love to share with you.
Soaked oatmeal . Ok the name doesn't conjure up the taste buds, but once you taste it.
Delicious and smooth!

Why soak the oatmeal?
Several reasons.
1.) Basically soaking (with an acid like yogert) helps to break down phytates in grains which prevent proper digestion of the nutrients and allows the body to properly absorb all the good content of those whole grains!
2.)It cuts the cooking time of old fashioned organic oatmeal to only about 5 min, if that!!! (It usually takes about 20-25 min.)
3.) Soaking expands the oatmeal so it yields more servings. Which makes oatmeal a very frugal meal!

I like to add dried fruit (not treated with sulfites) like cranberries and apples, slivered almonds, coconut flakes and flax seed to the mix too. Soak it all overnight in a glass jar or tupperware container on the counter (I have found the oatmeal isn't as smooth if you soak it in the fridge).
Top it off with a little soy milk, maple syrup or honey and you are on your way to a super nutritious breakfast!


What arephytates?
Phytic acid is found within the hulls of nuts, seeds, and grains.[1] In-home food preparation techniques can reduce the phytic acid in all of these foods. Simply cooking the food will reduce the phytic acid to some degree. More effective methods are soaking in an acid medium, lactic acid fermentation, and sprouting.[5]

Phytic acid is a strong chelator of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, and can therefore contribute to mineral deficiencies in people whose diets rely on these foods for their mineral intake, such as those in developing countries.[6] It also acts as an acid, chelating the vitamin niacin, which is basic, causing the condition known as pellagra. [7] In this way, it is an anti-nutrient.[1] For people with a particularly low intake of essential minerals, especially young children and those in developing countries, this effect can be undesirable. (Copied from Wikipedia link provided above.)

There have been some studies about the chelation effects of phytic acid in depriving cancer cells of iron. Something I have just started learning about and interested looking into further. Phytic acid's same mineral binding properties may also prevent colon cancer by reducing oxidative stress in the lumen of the intestinal tract.[12] Researchers now believe that phytic acid, found in the fiber of legumes and grains, is the major ingredient responsible for preventing colon cancer and other cancers.[1][13]. (copied from the phytate wikipedia link provided above). Also grain fed animals who do not produce phytase excrete large abouts of phosphorus into the environment because of the phytic acids chelation effects and binding properties with phosphorus. Phytase is used as an animal feed supplement - often in poultry and swine - to enhance the nutritive value of plant material by liberation of inorganic phosphate from phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) and, thereby, to reduce environmental phosphorus pollution.

TVP helper...makes a great meal!

I am notorious for not thawing out the meat I planned to use for dinner. Tonight was no exception. To my defense I had actually planned on making these Lentil burgers that sounded really good. BUT I had used up all my onions in my pot roast and my eggs for breakfast. (I didn't plan ahead...I need to really work on weekly meal planning). SO...coming in on stage left...TVP!!! TVP is a wonderful product. What is TVP you ask? Texturized vegetable protein. It is a soy product. You buy it near the natural grains area in the market. It is a dry good and stores well for extended periods of time. In my effort to cook 2 meatless meals a week TVP helps a lot. I actually forgot all about it. I used to use it alot when I was single and making an effort to decrease my meat consumption. Guy is much more of a carnivore than I. Now in the midst of a financial crunch and trying to save money on groceries I "rediscovered" TVP. What brought it back to my attention is the book I am "reading" called, "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. It is packed with great ideas. I do with she would have edited her book a little more and kept it a little more simple. Either way, her book has lots of great vegetarian recipes, one of which for TVP skillet dinner. Now, those of you who know me I can't stick to a recipe ever. (I wasn't one of those kids who liked coloring books either, I didn't like to color inside of the lines...I liked to draw my own pictures.) I have to tweak it here and there. I used Ruth's recipes as the skeleton on which I made my version of "TVP Helper".

TVP Helper
(this is a great way to stretch your meat. Any ground meat, turkey, beef, pork.)
I happened to have 4 meat balls in the freezer. What do you do with just 4 tiny meat balls? Stretch them to feed two people with TVP!!! Here is how I did it.

2 cans of crushed tomatoes (juice and all)
2 cups of filtered water
Bring to a boil
Add 1 cup of noodles (I used whole wheat elbow noodles)
1 cup TVP
1 can navy beans (drained)
1 TBSP Italian seasoning (you can use what ever you have on hand)
dash of onion powder (I ran out of onions remember)
dash of garlic powder (too lazy to mince a clove...honest but true)
dash of caiane pepper
dash of red pepper flakes
dash of Lawry's seasoning (I normally don't use this BUT I was trying to trick Guy into thinking this was all REAL meat)
Couple twists of the pepper mill.
1/4 c of shredded cheddar cheese stir this in.
Optional 1tsp of ground flax seed (I have a designated coffee griner for spices and bread crumbs I use to grind up seeds etc...I would HIGHLY recommend having a designated grinder. I can't tell you how many dollars I have saved in making my own bread crumbs with it and by using up those dried up older bread butts and heels that would normally go to waste.)

I sprinkled a little more cheese on top for "garnish" again to sell it to my husband.
He took a couple bites and was like, "WOW babe this is great...so what is in this. Is this all meat?

The great thing about TVP is it has the texture of ground meat and takes on the flavors of the dish you are making and doesn't lend a weird flavor like tofu sometimes can if it is cooked wrong. If you really like a beef flavor you can soak the TVP in beef stock. I warn you it can become really salty if you do this, so use a low sodium stock.

I have been really proud of Guy lately trying new foods and expanding his palate!

Sorry no pictures...think of hamburger helper...that is what it looked like.

Grace

I have been having difficulty having grace. Grace for my fussy teething daughter who is very cranky most of the time while working on those pesky teeth. Grace for myself. Grace to not feel defeated everyday looking at my condo and seeing how much I need to do just to get organized. (We moved to a new place when Amelia was 5weeks old.) I had our old place organized to the max while I was nesting. Our new place...is well not organized at all and I am finding it hard to find motivation to organize in addition to caring for Amelia and keeping up with laundry, dishes, cooking and working part-time. I feel like I have this dual personality. At work (I am an RN for those who are reading and don't know me) I am very VERY type A. I have myself very organized and I have a routine on how to do things and hopefully get them done. I am fussy about details and policy. I am very anal and a little hyper about it. People at work can't believe I can actually allow myself downtime.

Welcome to the other side of my personality. At home I am what I call a frusterated perfectionist. If I can't do it perfectly or at least to my standard I don't usually do it at all. And with a 5 month old...doing things to my standard (and not just half way) isn't really an option. So I am faced with lowering my standards or not doing anything. I am also plagued with a lack of routine. As I find a routine Amelia and I can fall into...I have to go back to work...grandma, etc...takes care of Amelia and it's all out the window. I feel like somedays I am starting from scratch with her and I and this makes it very difficult to get things done around the house.

I am very overwhelmed. Guy helps as much as he can in addition to working and going to school. He has a very overloaded plate also.

I guess "trying" is the best I can do...but I don't like to just "try" to do something...I like to actually "do" something. And it's really REALLY hard with a babe who is crying ALL day LONG!!! Unless we are outside walking in the moby. (I can't do housework in the moby...too hard on my back.)

Breathe...prayer...grace.

Update:
Guy and I talked about the stress I have been having about keeping up the home, Amelia and just myself. I asked him to pray with me about grace, focus, and reprioritization. I felt like this weight was lifted and I could actually breathe.

Double trouble...Grandpa Mattson and Campbell grandparents visit!!!

After Guy and I returned home from the farmers market. We met up with Steve "Grandpa Mattson" for brunch at the Neighborhood Cafe. Amelia had fun exploring Grandpa's face and mustache.

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Sweet potatoes for Pumpkin!

Last week I started solids with Amelia. It was more of a "sensory experience" than a nutritional experience. Amelia spit it all out and made the cutest sour puss faces. So...we took a break from solids for about 4 days. Today I introduced Amelia to sweet potatoes. She gobbled them up. Very little spitting and squirting it out of her mouth. She finished a whole cube of food. I was impressed. She wanted to put the spoon in her mouth, herself. So I let her help me guide the spoon into her mouth. She is a very determined (AKA stubborn) little girl. (I love it!)

Here are some pictures Amelia's first tastes of Organic homemade sweetpotatoes I made for her. I also tasted the puree...it was REALLY good. And so fresh tasting...I was a little jealous of her lunch.

Baby shower fun!

Amelia is growing by leaps and bounds. She loves to stand holding on to hands. She has even balanced next to the coffee table with my help. Amelia now can turn over both ways and roll from her tummy to her back sometimes. She can get her butt up and her knees under her and her torso up with her arms...but hasn't quite mastered doing them both at the same time. I am cherishing the time I have with her not quite so mobile, though I am looking forward to this new stage of development.

Today we attended Cousin Isabella's baby shower. Isabella is Steph Eiden (Guy's step-sister's daughter) she was born in early September of this year. (Sorry I can't remember the exact date!) She is so darling. I don't remember Amelia being to little, but she was. Kinda...repeat...kinda makes me want to have another one.. just for a second but then the insanity subsides and I come back to reality. It was really fun to see all the great baby stuff Steph got. I was glad I didn't have to find a place for it all at home! Amelia was so well behaved the whole time. I was so blessed. She didn't cry once even though she was being passed around all day. She especially liked Aunt Nancy's necklace, earings and fun design on her shirt. (and looking down her shirt too...no food in there for you!)

For those of you who know about my breast feeding woes. Amelia is starting to take more feedings at the breast. YES!!! She had 3!!! today. That is best she has done in months! I think it was part my fault too that Amelia started to strike. I needed to be more patient and calm. I think I was treating each feeding as a chore and not a wonderful time to bond with my daughter. I am sure she felt that and started her nursing strike. Tonight she actually refused the bottle and wanted the breast. That is a first. Wish us luck on lactaction journey. I also have a "Lactation Station" in the house too where all feedings take place. So Amelia has that routine and can know what to expect when we sit in the glider. We are figuring out our routine together. It's hard because as soon as we get a good routine going that works for me and for Amelia it is time for me to start my stretch working and it all is thrown out the window. Oh well, it will come. At least at this time Amelia is sleeping through most nights.

We started solids last week. Amelia loves pears. She is indifferent to rice pudding and apples. .I used my home made baby food. It was really great, easy to use and tasted great. No wonder why she gobbled it up. We are going to try sweet potatos next. Stay tuned for pictures.
Thanks for reading.
Blessings
Kristina Mattson

10 year (non) reunion

I can barely believe it has been 10 years since I graduated from high school. BUT when I think back to all I have accomplished; I can believe it. I attended Gustavus majored in Nursing. Worked as a staff nurse in southern California for almost 3 years. Moved back to Minnesota worked as a travel nurse. I have currently worked at the U of M for over 3 years. So I have been a nurse for over 6 years. I also thought back to all the experiences outside of my career. Falling in love and out of love several times. Finally meeting the man of my dreams, Guy, and actually marrying him! (I am very lucky!) Making new friends, growing past friendships and reuniting with childhood friends through the Internet. Seeing friends get married and divorced. Everyone having babies, including myself. Having my daughter Amelia (besides marrying Guy) is my biggest accomplishment in the last ten years.

I unexpectedly got the day off from work and thought...hmm maybe I will attend my reunion after all. BUT I found out pretty much most of the people I wanted to see where not attending. They were all meeting up at Brits Pub. Change of plan...and I met up with a bunch of people I hadn't seen in 10 years. It was a little awkward at first but once I relaxed I had a pretty good time. (The Irish Car Bomb didn't hurt either). It was really great to see everyone. We all are pretty much the same...which is comforting. Hopefully it won't take 10 years to all get together again.

First Day of School

Amelia had her first day at school last Friday. We started a birth-6mo ECFE (early child and family education) class. Of course she was all dressed up for her first day of school. Cute little purple onesie with an elephant and rainbow, hand knitted sweater (I didn't make it.) Little black bubble skirt and legwarmers (I made these). She looked like a little '80's baby. I loved it!!! A person in class said she reminded him of the movie "Flash Dance" and started to sing "She's a Maniac" to her. Very funny!!! I think Amelia liked class she was smiling and looking at all the other babes. Towards the end she was all tuckered out and fell asleep in my arms. Falling asleep in class...we'll have to work on that. But all in all it was a great fun time. Can't wait to go again this Friday.



Here is another picture of the leg warmers I made for Amelia.

Farmer's Market

This Sunday Guy, Amelia, and I went to the Saint Paul Farmers Market. We had a blast. Guy and I got breakfast at one of the stands. Fall is in the air and so are a lot of the fall vegetables. I was like a kid in a candy store, except it was a veggie paradise! We bought acorn and butternut squash, sweet potatoes, green beans and broccoli. I made sweet potatoe baby food for Amelia when I got home. (I am freezing it as she isn't quite ready yet for soilds). I plan to cook the butter nut squash and make some of it also into baby food to freeze for Amelia. It was so much fun to get out as a family for an outing. Amelia was loving it. Looking at everything. She loves to people watch. By the end she was tuckered out.

Cloth diapering

Since about 2-3 weeks old I have been using cloth diapers for Amelia. I have to say it's really easy and not too bad at all. I am saying this before starting solids though, so we'll see how it goes once the stools change. BUT for now...everything is going pretty smoothly. I am even making some of my own diapers for Amelia. I am an OK seamstress. I thought, "I could make this". So I did. My version is flannel fitted pocket diaper which requires a cover. (The butterfly patterned fabric I used is adorable.) I really don't care for the AIOs (all in ones) because they take SO long to dry and don't seem to get completely clean sometimes. I love my Bum Genius' but they are quite spendy. I got the idea for the pattern from a diaper I bought on EBAY from a WAHM (work at home mom). I have made 4 so far. It has already paid for it's self making them vs. buying them. I spent about 30 on fabric. I would have spent that easily on 3 fitted diapers. Amelia never has rashes and I don't have to go to the store when I run low...I just wash them at home. It is actually more convenient than towing Amelia to the store.

First Immunization

Today Amelia received her first immunization, DTap. She didn't even flinch, she just smiled at me the whole time. WOW, what a trooper!!! Here are her measurements 15lbs 12oz (90th%), 26.5in (95%), 16.5 in head circumference (50%).




Amelia also has another fun thing she LOVES to do, whenever she has a chance.
TOUCH HER TOES!!! It is too cute!

Bedtime Stories

I have attempted reading to Amelia on several occasions, more for my benefit than hers, but tonight she was paying attention. Amelia and I read 2 board books tonight, "The Big Red Barn" and "Baa Baa La La La". I have read, "The Big Red Barn" to her so many times now I have it nearly memorized. When I read it I point to the animals and make their sounds. Amelia is usually looking at the wall paper or my face and or whining to stand on my lap. Tonight she was poking at the pictures and actually helped turn the pages. (See in the picture to the above.) It was SO much fun. I think Amelia was more interested in turning the pages than the story. So we "read" aka turned the pages of the book 3 or 4 times through. I didn't care, we had our first interactive story time. I am so excited and hope she has an interest in reading like Guy and I do. It kept her attention for about 10 -15 minutes. I am impressed!

Good intentions

I had good intentions of finally taking Amelia in for a professional portrait at Target (I had a coupon). As we were leaving the mall for Target Amelia puked up big time all over her cute little outfit. It wasn't meant to be. I remember seeing portraits of Marky and I that were everyday. My mom would decide on a whim at the store to have our pictures taken. I think those pictures of my brother and I were the best. We were not little kids squeezed into uncomfortable outfits and forced smiles. My hair a little wispy, my brother with drool on his shirt. We were happy and the picture captured happiness. So perhaps tomorrow or some other day I will on a whim have Amelia sit for a professional photo and it will hopefully capture my happy child and not a perfectly matched outfit. Happy is what is important.
I am happy. Being a mom rocks!

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"Bumbo Time"

Guy meets "Bjorn" & Amelia's new friend

After a couple of months of persuading Guy to try the Baby Bjorn, Guy came home from work and said out of the blue, " I would like to Bjorn it over to cheapo with Amelia". I was AMAZED!!! It had been weeks since I had last suggested the Bjorn. Here are some pictures to prove he actually wore it. I think he liked it too!!! Amelia sported her Minnesota Twins hat for the first time. I have been looking forward to when this hat would actually fit her. (our bathroom in the background)

(yes, that really is a huge picture of Bob Dylan on the wall.)

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Amelia's New Friend Bergan
One of my friends from book club Carrie invited me into her "Highland Park" mom group. It's so nice to meet up with other moms and touch base. It's also nice because we are all on the same page about many aspects of raising our little one which is awesome too! I meant to take more pictures of the girls and their babes but I forgot. Here is pic of Amelia with her new boyfriend Bergan. Watch out Finn you may have competition. :-) Bergan is about 2 weeks older than Amelia. Thanks Jenn B. for hosting mom group this time and for all the yummy treats!

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Fun New Pictures to Share

Holding on to Mama while she sleeps. Too cute!

Our little "drama queen"

Our little girl is growing up!!!

Amelia Mattson 3 months, 3 weeks old

Amelia loves playing with her "Baby Einstein" gym. Thanks Grandma Pat!

She is too interested in showing off turning over (and over again!) to bat at the hanging toys.

Amelia is so close to crawling, it won't be long.

Amelia loves her "Bumbo" chair. Thanks "Gramma" Bette!

This is her favorite dolly at the moment. She loves to chew on the wooden arms.

She also loves to play the "drop it and have mom pick it up" game!

Learning cause and effect has never been so fun! :-)

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Amelia is changing so much everyday. She is turning into a little girl before our eyes. It is AMAZING how much she has changed in 4 months. She can turn over, lift her head up, scoot around on her tummy at little, stand with assistance, sit for a second or two before taking a nose dive, track objects, grab objects and of course put them in her mouth, laughs, giggles, coos and gurgles, recognizes mom and dad, sleeps through the night...most nights we are going through a phase right now.

She has doubled her birth weight or is close to doubling. I think it is the most amazing thing to see Amelia growing so well off of my breast milk. It really makes me proud.

Grandma & Grandpa Campbell visit

Rollie Pollie Pumpkin

Our little Amelia rolled on the floor for the first time today. She was just hanging out under her play gym as I was catching up on some emails. One minute she was on her back the next minute I hear little grunts, she was on her tummy. I couldn't believe I missed it. No worries though she did it again 3 more times in the span of 5 minutes. I put her back on her back and she would roll right back over. I am so proud of our little Pumpkin!!! She was able to roll over on softer surfaces like our bed...but this is a first on the floor. Now the fun begins! I can't wait. I fear we will need to baby proof before we know it.

In other news, I sold my baby. Yep, my other baby. My first brand new car, The Sentra. We decided we needed to upgrade with our growing family. Despite the increasing fuel prices we are going to get an SUV. We figure they are well priced now that the gas prices are up so that would off set the price of fuel for us. We live in the city and don't do a lot of long commutes. We were going to get something smaller like a Rabbit but then decided we needed to get something we could grow into and drive for a long while. I don't like SUVs. I think they are a menace. I think they are gas guzzlers and road hogs. Oh well! Sign me up. Half the time I walk to where ever I need to go if I can anyways. (In the summer). It is sad to give up the Sentra. It was the car that signified to me...you made it to adulthood. I bought it the fall after I graduated from college and got my first job. I was out in California. Out on my own, starting my career as a RN with my new car. It was a good little car...it only had about 50,000 miles on it. We got a good penny for it which is nice for the down payment for the preowned SUV's we are looking at.

In other, other news. Amelia may be starting to teethe. Yep. She is a drool monster! She likes to bite on her hands and whatever she can get into her mouth. We bought her this teething pacifier. It is HUGE...it is hillarious to watch her suck on it. HA! Pics will be posted soon!

Well gotta go, it's late and I need to get ready for bed.

Videos

My maternity leave has drawn to a close. My first day back to work was a sad, sad, day for me. As I was leaving for work Amelia was crying uncontrolably (which is very unlike her) . Bette was there and I knew she was in good hands and I just had to leave my babe, crying. I almost cried on the way to work. I had to think myself out of the tears and blink them back while I was driving. I wanted to call and check on her but I forgot my cell phone at home. (I don't know Bette's number by heart, though I know I could have called Guy and he could have given it to me had I really, really needed to call.) The first day back was a little shakey, kinda like getting back on a bike for the first time in a while. You remember how to balance but just are not quite comfortable with all the gears and brakes, yet. By the end of the night I had my groove back and by the end of the second night I was rockin' and rollin' again. It did feel nice to get out and work again...but honestly I just really love being a mom right now. I am enjoying motherhood much much more than I ever thought I would. I LOVE it. I can not wait to have more. Honestly. I am a baby person...who knew. I sure didn't.

Video of Amelia "Talking" with Dad.

Yay! I can't believe I got it to work. Enjoy!

I can't believe it!

Our little "Swashbuckler" is 12 weeks old!

I can't believe our little girl is going to be 3 months old, already! It's amazing how fast time flies! It is also amazing how much Amelia has changed from a floppy-headed newborn to a little babe with an awesome personality. She smiles, giggles, has curious eyes and seems fearless already.

Here are some milestones our little gal as achieved: Controls head, turns head from side to side, can bring objects to her mouth, holds head up at 45 degree angle, tracks objects with her eyes, smiles, coos, babbles, giggles, ROLLS OVER (this is so scary!), bears weight on legs supported, can sit supported, attempts to hold bottle in mouth, sleeps through the night (YAY), reaches for objects, is starting to prefer parents over strangers. (Shucks), I think she is also starting to conceive the principal of permanence.

Amelia is a "Daddy's Girl" through and through... She saves up her smiles and coos just for him. I am a little jealous at times, but more I am happy they have this special bond which allows for this interaction. Amelia and Guy have a little talk every evening when he comes home from work. She just talks and talks and talks to Guy. It is BEYOND precious! (I have it on video. Once I figure out how to post video I will post it.) She moves her hands while she talks. It's as if she is telling her Daddy all about the adventures of the day. "First we got up and I played with my rattle, then Mom and I went for a walk to the food store. It was cold in some places. Then we went outside again and walked and walked. I fell asleep, when I woke up we were home. Oh, and did I tell you Dad, I ate a lot today and I kept most of it down. Mom put me in the baby carrier. I really love that and guess what I fell asleep AGAIN! Yep and I woke up in another new place. People were looking at me in the carrier and saying things I couldn't understand yet, but I think they were good things because they were smiling...so I smiled back and they laughed...so I laughed. I think people like it when I smile so I do it more and more. Especially for you Daddy. I love you! " I think the conversation would have gone something like that. :-)

Well here are some new pictures of our little cupcake! Enjoy!

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Amelia hangin' out with her buddies Dugan and Finnian