Avocado: Eli’s first food
Besides pool water and my salty pretzel fingers, Eli had his first taste of solid food today.
We decided to skip the baby cereal because we just couldn't find any benefits to it as a first food. We didn't want to give Elijah something that we wouldn't eat ourselves and our purpose for starting solids isn't for nourishment - but rather exploration of texture. We'll save oatmeal for later.
I’ve been researching (are you surprised?) and reading about solid foods and talking to other mamans, and decided to go the baby-led weaning approach to feeding (but we might occasionally make some purees because there are some really yummy sounding recipes - and who doesn't love apple sauce? yums.) Anyways - BLW is essentially having the baby feed themselves, instead of you feeding them (and to quote Jen, "Isn't that just called eating?") They'll eat however much they want (sounds a bit like breastfeeding, doesn't it?)
I gave Rob the job to pick Eli's first food. He chose avocado, both because it is nutritious and full of good fats, and because we love eating avocado ourselves. So, after a first nap and feeding, Rob made us a late breakfast, and we sliced up some avocado for Eli to try. I covered the chair and floor with garbage bags.
At first, he didn’t even notice the food on his tray, so I placed a (slippery!) slice in his hand and he started squeezing it and then finally gumming it. He then started picking it up himself. A lot of it ended on his face and hands and chest, but he did manage to swallow some (evidence to come later). We had a wee bit of gagging (but apparently that is just how baby's move the food around in their mouths - and not to be a cause of alarm), but he seemed to chew (aka. mush) the avocado pretty well.
He seemed to really enjoy himself. He was squealing and flailing his arms a lot. I put a bit of mushy avocado on a spoon and gave him the spoon to explore. He put it in his mouth a couple of times. Near the end, Rob mushed up the chunks he didn't eat and let him "finger paint" with the avocado.
I am excited to try again tomorrow.
oh that beautiful video [i'm a copycat]
First, Stacy posts this awesome video on facebook.
Then, I forward it to some preggo moms that I know and make one cry.
Then, Joelene writes a blog post about it here.
Then, Chris writes a blog post about it here.
Next, I write a blog post about it. (because I like to copy)
Finally, Aly comments with her additions.
[look! I used the outline of procedural writing]
Things that I would tell myself before my dear baby Eli was born.
- Listen to other people's advice, but pick and choose what fits you. [and don't feel bad]
- Share & celebrate with other new moms - they know exactly what you are feeling.
- You'll share your bed with your baby - and you'll love it.
- Don't let that nurse be too controlling - you are going to be a super breastfeeder!
- You'll realize how selfish you used to be.
- Let people take care of you.
- You aren't a bad mom if you don't have a bedtime routine.
- Life will be different, but more fulfilling. You'll be more inspired than ever.
- You'll realize what a super-mom your mom was (is!)
- Having a baby boy is more wonderful than you could ever imagine.
xoxo LLL ladies.
6 months.
weight. I think you are around 17-18 lbs
height. many of your 6 months pjs are too short.
eyes. big, blue and sparkly. you rub them when you are sleepy.
hair. you have a little bit more hair after every nap.
feeding. yum yum yum. quick and efficient. we'll probably let you taste some avocado/squash/banana/sweet taters soon
sleeping . still taking those regular 3 daily naps. yahoo! You have been going to sleep at about 8-830 pm now!
pooping. the occasional. i love that g-ma cata keeps winning diapers for your cute bum.
things you love. music, grabbing things, morning walks with dad, bouncing, swimming, chewing things, playing with your feet, mom's singing, chewing Sophie, laughing and laughing and laughing.
things you don’t love. Not too much. You're pretty chill.
other [new] awesome things you do. pulling things towards you (think plates on the table and dad's jugular), push up onto your hands and feet, scoot backwards on the floor, almost sitting up, reaching out to touch my face
xo Elijah.
leg wrinkles.
In less than one week, our little baby will be 6 months old. Hardly a newborn anymore. He can sit up for short periods of times and is lunging forward and backwards on his hands and knees - just aching to crawl. He reaches for and grabs things, recognizes his name and babbles/sings for long periods of time. Although he is hitting so many milestones and chunking on the pounds, you will all be happy to know that he still has some of those newborn knee wrinkles. <squeeze!>
Just clowning around…
Come one, come all to the Greatest Show on Earth!
Starring Angry* Stong Man Eli (look at those muscles!), Kennedy the juggling phenom, Easton the Incredible Lion Tamer and Clown Laia with her polka-dotted charm.
Another scene by the Fab Four. This time I thought I'd include a "behind the scenes" photo (thanks Becky!) to give you an idea of the chaos (amazing super-fun time) of creating a scene with multiple babies.
*Note: Eli looks upset in this photo, but in many of the ones we took he is perfectly happy. This one captures the character well.
[and just in case you forgot about my other scenes: Superman, Tub, Beanstalk, Mario, Candlestick, OZ]
We’re off to see the Wizard…
... The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Here is scene-making at a new level. Originally inspired by Adele (and then Aly!), I started making baby scenes- here and here and here and here and here. (and I'm happy to say my scenes jump-started the creativity of other moms!) The sisters Elliott decided that we should do a combined baby scene - and of course we jumped at the chance! We lugged all of our stuff over to Aly's and set up scene. (We actually did two scenes.. I'll post the other one a bit later. Suspense is wonderful, isn't it?)
This was so much fun - and quite hilarious- to put together. We had the scene set in place, but then three of the babies fell asleep. We had some delicious lunch and the babies chatted on the lawn. The babies got hungry (surprise surprise) and then we finally got back to the scene. Well, of course the fourth baby (mine) decided that he was tired and passed out on the floor! He slept through almost the entire WofOz photo shoot. (even when wee Lannaia started pulling off his Tin Man costume - mesmerized by the shiny foil.) - but I think he looks adorable anyways.
ps. Doesn't Becky's "surrender Dorothy" look amazing? And she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie.
pps. Check back later for our other collaborative scene.
swimming.
Elijah loves to swim.
He's always loved bathtime (with dad) and splashes and giggles about, but his first real swim was at my parents pool about a month ago. We swam with Cata almost every day we were visiting and he didn't fuss once. I even dunked him under a couple of times. He was a little stunned, but then started laughing. After the swim he gets all snuggly in his towel, nurses and passes out. Ah, the life.
Rob has also taken him swimming in the lake a couple of times, equipped with his sunhat and shades. He likes the waves, splashing about and bobbing up and down. (Dad also has a Grover voice - that makes everything more fun)
Yesterday we spent the day at Aly/Ryan/Laia's house who have a great big salt water blow-up pool. Aly took some underwater video of Eli and saved some cool still shots. She taught me to start him on his belly, count to 3, dunk his head first and then pull him towards me completely underwater (to avoid water up his nose). The coolest thing about babies in the water (besides the giggles, of course) is that they know how to hold their breath and are not afraid to open their eyes under the water. How cool is that? We can't wait to go back!
Next *new pool adventure? Texas at the end of the month. We can't wait!
ps. I've got a couple of cloth swim diapers - a monkeydoodlez, a swimmi and an applecheeks. Love them all :)
Jack be nimble…
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candle stick.
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[more scenes: superman, rub a dub dub, beanstalk, mario]
Sleepy.
I'm sure most babies do the same, but I find Eli's sleeping arm positions so hilariously adorable and felt the need to share with the world.
"Being so loveable is hard work."
"I'm out!"
"That's right, I'm made in the shade."
fyi: Eli naps pretty much everywhere and anywhere: in my arms, on the floor, in the cradle, in the pack'n'play, on a bed, in the sling, in the stroller, in the carseat. He doesn't have a "set" nap place. Lately though, I've been "putting him down" in the middle of the big guest bed with pillows on the edges in case he rolls, and he's been sleeping for 2-3 hours a couple of times a day. Whhaaaaaat? My little cat napper has finally figured out how glorious afternoon naps can be.
