Looks Can Be Deceiving

The above picture may lead you to believe that the joy of solid food is back. Oh how far from the truth that assumption would be. This picture was taken after one of our alternative method feeding sessions. James was given a bowl (one that Jordan and I use--a grownup bowl) with some pureed sweet potatoes in it. He was, of course, first stripped down to his diaper. Then we let him go to it while he sat on my lap. As you can see, he painted a pretty picture on his face, but that's about as close to his stomach as the sweet potatoes got.

This is a rather difficult time. All I can say to anyone approaching the introduction of solid foods is to take it slowly. It doesn't matter how much they eat. Getting a half a baby spoonful each day for months and enjoying eating is much better than what can result when you try to urge them to eat just a little more (i.e. refusing to try anything and vomiting whenever food makes it into the mouth). Follow your child's cues. When he/she turns his/her head, let that be the end of the feeding. If anything, give the baby less than they may want to keep the desire alive.

This of course is just my experience (however an excerpt I read in a pediatric book today confirmed my sad mistakes). I simply feel the need to warn that I may possibly prevent anyone else from making the mistakes I did. I also feel that there is no need to rush thickening the cereal...I think that was what pushed James over the edge. Humans have their whole life to eat...no need to rush things. Make it a happy, fun, pleasant experience. Don't worry that they need to eat more. Trying to persuade to eat more seems only to lead to eating less. If only I'd known how important and fragile those first two weeks were.

The good news is that James is happy and healthy in spite of his distrust of anything but mother's milk. I am just thankful he doesn't have any teeth yet, because I have a feeling I might be nursing him a little longer than I'd planned. Hopefully there will be a great turn around when he can pick up the food on his own and get it to his mouth. His doctor provided me with that hope. So, hope I will that it turns into a reality.

Happy eating!

Our Frightful October

What? My baby is how old? I can't believe James is already 7 months old and that he is crawling! This is the skill he is currently perfecting. The boxes in the background are to keep him from crawling to and eating the doormat and the shoes that have been left by the front door.

James had his first big boy bath sans baby tub.

Super wedgie all night long? Poor James...
(This caption is Jordan's contribution to this post).

This is just cute.

Grrr...

Lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

On the prowl...

Meet Igor.

Yikes Jordan...what's that on your eye? James sure got you good.

Biscuits? Maybe I'll try that recipe again sometime. I may have mixed the dough 13 times too many.

Photo Tag

How perfect--a Halloween picture. This picture was taken in October of 2005 when we were engaged. I dressed as a clown for the Halloween party at North Star Elementary during my practicum in 1st grade. Jordan, of course, is...scared.

I tag Tiffany, Beth and Dan, Scott and Jessica, and the Langstraats. You must post the fourth picture in the fourth picture folder on your computer.

Thanks Amanda!

Oh The Joys of Solid Food

I have been eying the stuff Mommy and Daddy stick in their mouths and swallow for quite some time. The day finally arrived that I was allowed to partake myself, but to my dismay it was not the food that Mommy and Daddy had upon their plates. It was instead a glue-like substance called rice cereal. It was new, so I must admit I was interested at first. I ate it. The texture was different than anything I'd ever experienced. But, eating glue day after day with no variation gets old. Apparently, my gag reflex thought so too, because the last couple of times Mom and Dad have fed me, I've promptly gagged. Last week, Mom decided she'd try something new: oatmeal. She held it up on the spoon, I turned away...no more gluey muck...please give me real food. She managed to bring it just in front of my lips under my nose. I opened my mouth, but only to gag. I didn't even taste the stuff, but something inside said, "No." Mom and Dad have decided to give me a break for a little while...I think they're hoping that I'll forget or that my gag reflex will forget. Mommy says that my pediatrician told her to feed me cereals for 4-6 weeks before introducing any other foods. That's why I decided to post. My Mommy wants to do what the doctor says, but if she hears that there is another way from others, just maybe she'll try something else. If you know anything about starting babies on solid foods, could you, would you comment and tell my Mommy what she can do to overcome my gag reflex and bring back the joy of solid food? Thank you for listening. I look forward to the quick resolution of this very sensitive matter. --Sweet Baby James

A Blog of Gratitude

Things I am oh so very grateful for as a mother:

indoor plumbing
washing machines
clothes dryers
disposable diapers
stain remover
burp cloths
bibs
ceiling fans (James could watch our ceiling fans for hours...we pretty much have a "mobile" in every room he plays in)
carpet (less worry over head bumps and no mopping!)
bathtubs
baby towels with hoods
Boppy nursing pillows
washing machines
clothes dryers
bathtubs
running water
(did I mention some of those things already?)
hand sanitizer
refrigerators
baby smiles
owning more than one blanket and baby outfit and crib sheet...I think I'll be purchasing an extra mattress pad as well
black-out shades
car seat
Baby Bjorn
crib
a full night's sleep
picture books
dimples
laughter
having a front row seat to see the development of one adorable and fun little boy

Things James Can Do

A cute after (cold) morning walk face.

A cute after morning walk smile with both dimples!

"Read" his wordless book.

Wear his pants fashionably high.

Cuddle with Daddy while sporting a cute pouty face.

Look into the wind with joy.
(See the playa in the background? It is a natural phenomenon here...look it up.)

Sit up.

Grow long hair so that Mommy can play bathtub salon.

Eat fish.

Read upside down.

Turn his mobile on with his foot when he's done with nap time.

Chill.

Study the scriptures.

Unroll himself from his blanket.
(He now just wears a sleeper to bed to eliminate suffocation hazard caused by his new found mobility.)

Freeze.
(So that Mommy can't see him when he has unrolled himself from his blanket.)

Turn into a red marshmallow during Texas rainstorms.

Splash water all over his face in the bathtub. (If you look really close...)

Pretend to be a kitty cat, so that Daddy can relive childhood memories on his back porch in Lindon.

Smile big for the camera.

Pretend to be superman.
(His bib always seems to turn around backwards...)

Stick out his tongue one direction, while looking the other direction.

Roll. (He had been on his belly looking at his book).

Express elation upon accomplishing an impressive baby feat (rolling that is).

Stand with minimal support.

Swim indoors...on blankets or carpet.

Get his face stuck in a ring suspended from his bouncer.

Suck his thumb through the ring in which his face is stuck.

Look casual after managing to get his face stuck in the ring suspended from his bouncer.


Migrate across the room using the "rolling" method.
(He started out on his blanket.)

Thank You and I'm Sorry and Yay!

Thank you to all those who posted suggestions after my last post. James is doing better now. He can roll back on his own now. I also found some breathable baby bumpers that I will be purchasing.

I'm sorry that I have not posted for some time. I have been working on a slide show to tell the tale of the last couple of months. Downloading pics takes quite a while with our connection, so progress has been slow. I haven't been able to do it in one sitting. I will be posting it shortly. I will start posting current events in the meantime.

For those of you who are Utahns currently or who will be vacationing in Utah in December, we will be there for close to a month. Jordan gets a beautifully long winter break. We hope to be able to make lots of visits and play lots while we are back home.