Feed Me

So if you have read Chris's blog or my blog then you know there has been a case of gross rash in our house that is being treated with medication of the steroid variety. Luckily, Xander has not gotten it. But he is still being affected by it because I can't nurse him.

Suddenly, eight months of breastfeeding came to a screeching halt. I know it doesn't make me a bad mom and I've done nothing wrong. But it was just going so well! And to have to abruptly stop is just like a quick punch to the gut.

So here is how it is playing out. Xander was already up to two solids a day. I was going to up it to three, but that hasn't actually happened yet. I kept two sample tins of formula I received in the mail, so I'm covered in that area. I had some frozen milk, but after barely using any I just let the stock deplete. I'd give him a bottle of milk before bed and we ran out of that last night. For my own sanity and to keep up the supply, I am pumping a couple of times a day and then dumping it.

I've got to say I don't like formula. It smells funny and I have to clean bottles. Every day. Xander did not take to it at first but he's better about it now. He knows what the bottle means and grabs for it.

The hardest part has been bedtime. Nursing was part of the routine and apparently a bottle, even if it is milk, does not fit into the routine. So we've had a couple of rough bedtimes. And I'll admit that when he wakes up at 4 am, I'll still nurse him. The medicine should have been mostly pumped and watered down and I'm too tired to get another darned bottle. I'll probably blame every problem he has in the next year on doing this though.


Yesterday I was able to feed Xander homemade pureed peas by mixing them with some cereal and water. He still tried to make raspberries, so sprayed green goo everywhere. One big splat landed on his tray. X saw it and tentatively reached for it. He wrapped his fingers around the spot, slowly closed his hand and raised his hand up to eye level. And looked thoroughly confused as to where the spot went.

Pavlov's Mom

What? You'd like to see the yoga positions Xander does?

Cobra


Downward facing dog



I couldn't get the Tabletop pose or Plank because he would see me and roll over to smile.



Xander is conditioning me to get him up out of the crib in the morning or after a nap. His crib is pretty sparse, there is only a blanket, pacifier, aquarium mobile and a frog that hangs in that you pull to play a lullaby. Instead of yelling or crying when he wakes up, Xander will roll around and play. And the only toy in reach is the frog. So in the morning I know it is time to get up if I hear that lullaby going. Or if I'm downstairs I'll suddenly hear it being played over the monitor. And I know if I don't get him soon there will be crying.

The little guy is getting very vocal as well. He will sometimes go on sprees of 'da-da-ada' (like on Mother's Day - thanks for the love, kid). The past few days there are more high pitched squeals that make you want to cover your ears. But the best is when Xander sighs and it turns into a rolling 'r' sound.

Mmm, tastes like Chicken

So we are slowly advancing on the solid foods front. For a few days Xander declined all solids due to teething and having a cold. When he felt better we started up again but he suddenly hated cereal. Well, no child of mine will hate cereal. It's taken a few tries, but he is downing it like a champ again. I'm also mixing prune puree into it to ease the constipation.

Xander is loving the green veggies. Really, he can't get enough peas. He likes the green beans except for last night when he choked on them. I guess he was trying to eat too fast.

He tried applesauce over the weekend and that did not go over well. He ate it and looked concerned and started hacking and coughing. Something about the cold and the texture he just did not like.

Yesterday Xander tried peach puree for the first time. With every bite he'd lean forward and open his mouth and gobble it. But then he'd get this look of concentration like he was trying to decide if he really liked it or not. Then he'd lean forward again.

I'd like to make some purees myself. I tried with peas, but the food processor I have is a cheap version that came with the blender. It took forever to get it even remotely pureed. Then the peas had such a strong taste that Xander completely refused them. I'm hoping to make potato puree to mix with it in order to tame the flavor.

Xander is working hard to crawl. Or stand up. Mostly he just accomplishes downward facing dog. Then he lays down and gets into cobra. Then he wiggles his head and his legs. Then he laughs and rolls around for a while.

As a side note, Xander has fallen asleep in his jumperoo twice today. It's hard being a baby.

His daddy is a shark

Ok, where are all of these teeth coming from?? I thought babies got one or two and then waited. He's working on two more teeth on top and you can see where there are two more on top lined up after that.

At least he's not grinding his teeth anymore. That was the most horrible noise ever.

We printed out pictures from vacation a couple of days ago. I showed Xander some of the pictures and he smiled at a few. Then I realized he was smiling at the pictures of himself! So I riffled through and pulled out the close ups of him. I would show him and he would smile. On the pictures where he had a big grin, Xander started laughing. I wish I had gotten video. Being able to laugh at yourself is a good life skill, so I'll chalk that one up to my superior parenting skills.