we eat: 9 months | nuby giveaway

feeding your infant table food can be one of those really fun things and really stressful things simultaneously happening at the same time.  I mentioned a little about out mealtime routine in Baker's 9 month update.  

she is such a hot mess. as much that gets to her mouth goes into her hair, too.  

which means that bathtime is required every night!

at nine months Baker's most favorite meal is probably nut butter toast + sliced banana.  her mama eats this breakfast every single morning and she will all but tackle me for a bite!  last summer the american academy of pediatrics endorsed that it was acceptable and even recommended that the introduction of peanuts be done sooner rather than later in infants (ages 4-11 months).  SO- that being said, Baker has indeed had peanut butter as well almond butter.  

definitely talk to your pediatrician and use your own parental judgement! 

the only food we really steer clear from is honey.

I'm not a huge meat eater and neither are my big girls.  they will eat grilled chicken and of course chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs, but other than that they stick to the veggie and legume proteins. this habit has spilled over into Baker's mealtime, too!  lots of vegetable and grain proteins- chickpeas, lentils, beans, quinoa, brown rice.

she's got a texture thing with avocado, but I continue to offer it several times every week in hopes she will eventually accept it- we are making progress!  babies and even big kids (ahem, adults, too!) can show aversion to a food for up to 10 times before they finally decide that yes I like it!

she LOVES chicken meatballs (I buy them at Target) and I've made black bean cakes and homemade turkey meatballs a time or two.  the best part about that is the big girls eat, too!  so I am not always prepping three different dinners for everyone in this house.  

Baker loves most veggies and fruit!

broccoli + brussels sprouts + asparagus + green beans + butternut squash + sweet potato

strawberries + watermelon + grapes + bananas + blueberries + mandarin oranges + apples + honeydew melon + cantaloupe 

whole milk yogurt mixed with a couple tablespoons of almond butter is on the menu at least once a day.  I usually buy the large 32oz containers of whole milk greek yogurt - again I get this at Target.  I do usually keep the individual baby yogurts on hand just for ease of taking it on the go or when her BB or a sitter is feeding her.

feeding essentials 

the chair.  we love our boon highchair!  we bought a couple of graco highchairs for the twins- we liked them okay but my one complaint was that they got SO messy.  smooshed food in all crevices.. and we basically disassembled the chair to clean it.. and I'm embarrassed to say that the effort to clean it was far outweighed by 'just cleaning it up after breakfast tomorrow' 

which turned into lunch.  then dinner.

you get the point.  it was a nasty mess of a cycle and I'm so glad we don't have to deal with it this time around. 

the bibs.  we wear a bib about half the time.  sometimes its just easier to let her just make a huge mess.  maybe its third child problems but I think I bought like two or three new bibs for Baker and I can count on one hand how many times she's worn them.  

table wear.  following a loosely termed baby-led-weaning routine we don't use utensils except when I am feeding Baker yogurt.  everything else she uses her hands or sucks down purees from a food 

pouch. I love these spoons and I have had a set of these bowls since the twins were tiny.

we were so excited to try out nuby's most recent addition to their tremendous line of baby and toddler feeding tools.  I mentioned this mat in our 9 month favorites post, and it is true. the nuby sure grip miracle mat has quickly become our favorite at meal times.    

 chicken meatballs + avocado + watermelon

 quinoa + roasted butternut squash with cumin 

 the mat suctions to the tray so that is doesnt move around or is easy for Baker to just pick up and toss her entire plate of food to the ground.  

oh, but that doesnt stop her from trying.

I've teamed up with one of my favorite baby brands to offer not just one but TWO lucky winners a chance to win their every own nuby sure grip miracle mat before its even available in stores and online!  these mats will be available at babies r us in June and on Amazon in July. I'm always on the lookout to making the lives of fellow mama friends a little easier:)

Enter for your chance to win in the rafflecopter giveaway below.
giveaway runs from Wednesday April 20th through Saturday April 23rd.  Winner will be selected Monday morning!

GOOD LUCK:)
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