..I've been concerned about Rachel's propensity to cough a lot -- in her sleep especially. This morning Drew and I were woken up by Rachel's coughing, although she didn't actually start stirring until 7:45 or so.
I've been wanting to take Rachel to the doctor, but Drew has held off.
Now, it seems, we have a plausible explanation: Teething. Drew was talking to a source of his at the failed Washington Mutual bank. She's a mom, and told Drew that the coughing is probably a result of teething. The teething creates excess saliva, which pools in her throat, which then causes her to cough.
That's a relief. I was worried she had a serious chest aliment, like pneumonia.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Rachel's boyfriend
..his name is Jahmari, he has a wild mop of curly hair and is extremely cute. And, apparently, he loves playing with Rachel!
And she loves carrots (she ate half a jar at day care yesterday) and turkey vegetable baby food dinner. She no longer sits politely, waiting for me to scoop food into her mouth. She lunges for the spoon and tries to grab the jar.
Rachel is also getting too big for the baby tub, although I hate the idea of having to take her out of it, it's just another sign she's growing big. I love singing "Kumbaya" to her while I gently rub the washcloth over her body. She's so smiley when I bathe her, I hope that bodes well for swimming lessons later on.
Another sign Rachel is getting older: She no longer sits passively when I unstrap her from the car seat. She wriggles her shoulders and holds out her arms as if to say, "Mom! Get me out of here already! I've got a world to explore!"
And she loves carrots (she ate half a jar at day care yesterday) and turkey vegetable baby food dinner. She no longer sits politely, waiting for me to scoop food into her mouth. She lunges for the spoon and tries to grab the jar.
Rachel is also getting too big for the baby tub, although I hate the idea of having to take her out of it, it's just another sign she's growing big. I love singing "Kumbaya" to her while I gently rub the washcloth over her body. She's so smiley when I bathe her, I hope that bodes well for swimming lessons later on.
Another sign Rachel is getting older: She no longer sits passively when I unstrap her from the car seat. She wriggles her shoulders and holds out her arms as if to say, "Mom! Get me out of here already! I've got a world to explore!"
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Baby crush
Rachel has her first admirer (boyfriend?). He's a little boy who usually leaves day care even later than I do because he's the son of one of the day-care ladies.
Suzanne, one of the infant minders, said the boy usually makes a beeline for Rachel and plays right next to her. They've been touching each others' faces.
Rachel continues to be very social, playing with the other babies and scooting all over the playmat. And, of course, laughing a lot. Her laugh is adorable, especially when I tickle her tummy.
I'd love to watch her at day care, unobserved, for a day or so. I bet I'd learn a lot.
Suzanne, one of the infant minders, said the boy usually makes a beeline for Rachel and plays right next to her. They've been touching each others' faces.
Rachel continues to be very social, playing with the other babies and scooting all over the playmat. And, of course, laughing a lot. Her laugh is adorable, especially when I tickle her tummy.
I'd love to watch her at day care, unobserved, for a day or so. I bet I'd learn a lot.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Rachel's new nickname
is "Toothy." Looks like a third one is trying to push its way forth. We are about ready to have her start gumming on Zwiebacks and other cracker-like foods.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Bathtime
I had a very poignant moment last Thursday when I was giving Rachel her nightly bath. (I would have posted this on Friday, but I was too sick to do much more than lie in bed and whimper, blow my nose and feel cruddy).
I had hoisted her out of the water and onto the towel that I'd spread over the kitchen counter. I was rubbing her skin dry when she looked up at me with those trusting blue eyes of hers. Suddenly it flashed through my head that I would always remember this moment.
And then I just lost it. I burst into tears and hugged her and told her I'd always remember giving her a bath, even when she gets older. And that even though we're sure to have difficult years -- years when we'd fight bitterly and she'd tell me she hates me and break my heart -- I would never forget when she was young enough for me to bathe her.
Mommyhood: It does bring out all sorts of unexpected emotions, even when I thought all the pregnancy-related hormones had washed out of my body.
I had hoisted her out of the water and onto the towel that I'd spread over the kitchen counter. I was rubbing her skin dry when she looked up at me with those trusting blue eyes of hers. Suddenly it flashed through my head that I would always remember this moment.
And then I just lost it. I burst into tears and hugged her and told her I'd always remember giving her a bath, even when she gets older. And that even though we're sure to have difficult years -- years when we'd fight bitterly and she'd tell me she hates me and break my heart -- I would never forget when she was young enough for me to bathe her.
Mommyhood: It does bring out all sorts of unexpected emotions, even when I thought all the pregnancy-related hormones had washed out of my body.
Feeling better...
after a nasty cold that kept me out of work Friday and in bed, resting, for most of Saturday. Drew took care of The Little Girl until I was able to deal with her on Sunday morning.
We watched a VERY lame Academy Awards broadcast Sunday night. Hardly worth the four hours out of my life that it took. Rachel spent part of the time playing, shouting, and napping in my arms. I'm sure when she gets older she'll enjoy it more.
We watched a VERY lame Academy Awards broadcast Sunday night. Hardly worth the four hours out of my life that it took. Rachel spent part of the time playing, shouting, and napping in my arms. I'm sure when she gets older she'll enjoy it more.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The diaper brigade
The day care ladies suggested yesterday that we buy size 3 diapers, an increase from the size 2 we've been using. I was in disbelief and told Drew so over the phone, since he was in Seattle.
"Her butt's not that big!" I protested.
"Yeah, but her hips are," he replied.
It still doesn't feel that she is ready for such big diapers, although Drew remarked recently that he had to change her into a new outfit because "we had an escape from the containment zone."
In other news, last night during her bath, Rachel shook herself like a puppy to get the water off her hair and eyelashes. First time she's done that; she's not as passive in the tub as she used to be. And when I take her out and dry her (we bathe her in a portable tub in the kitchen sink), I can sit her on the counter and rub her skin dry instead of having to wrap her up immediately to stop her from screaming. And the sweet thing is, she usually leans her face against my chest when I do so.
"Her butt's not that big!" I protested.
"Yeah, but her hips are," he replied.
It still doesn't feel that she is ready for such big diapers, although Drew remarked recently that he had to change her into a new outfit because "we had an escape from the containment zone."
In other news, last night during her bath, Rachel shook herself like a puppy to get the water off her hair and eyelashes. First time she's done that; she's not as passive in the tub as she used to be. And when I take her out and dry her (we bathe her in a portable tub in the kitchen sink), I can sit her on the counter and rub her skin dry instead of having to wrap her up immediately to stop her from screaming. And the sweet thing is, she usually leans her face against my chest when I do so.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Rachel's on the move
..to the "mobiles" part of St. James! Yesterday at day care, Drew found a note attached to Rachel's daily report charting how much she eats, pees, poops and sleeps. It seems that she is rapidly outgrowing the playmat in the infants section, so the day care ladies are planning to bring her to the mobiles section for "visits" until she is ready to move there permanently.
She STILL doesn't seems to crawl much at home, but maybe that's because I tend to hold her a lot. Tomorrow night I'll let her have playmat time while I sit nearby, reading the newspaper or a book.
And tonight she gets her first newspaper assignment. I plan to take her to a neighborhood meeting in North Portland, to listen to how people feel about a police precinct closing because of budget cuts. Drew's in Seattle, our families don't live in town, so...I'll be toting Rachel to the meeting. My hope is that there will be other kids there (or at least enough understanding adults) who won't mind the presence of a 7-month-old. And who knows, it may get me better interviews!
She STILL doesn't seems to crawl much at home, but maybe that's because I tend to hold her a lot. Tomorrow night I'll let her have playmat time while I sit nearby, reading the newspaper or a book.
And tonight she gets her first newspaper assignment. I plan to take her to a neighborhood meeting in North Portland, to listen to how people feel about a police precinct closing because of budget cuts. Drew's in Seattle, our families don't live in town, so...I'll be toting Rachel to the meeting. My hope is that there will be other kids there (or at least enough understanding adults) who won't mind the presence of a 7-month-old. And who knows, it may get me better interviews!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tooth alert, Part II
Rachel is definitely getting teeth, we can see them! They're two adorable white buds with ridges on top that have just made it past her bottom gum line. I can tell because last night, when she grabbed for my finger and began biting it, it hurt. A lot. "Ouch!" I yelled, and yanked my finger out. She thought that was the funniest thing imaginable.
"This is when a lot of women stop breast-feeding," Drew said. Which is not an issue with me -- Rachel has been on formula exclusively since about 6 weeks -- but I am really looking forward to the day when we can consolidate feedings and she won't wake up at 5:30 a.m., hungry.
Of course, there are disadvantages to solids, too. To put it bluntly, her poops stink. I can already tell that I'll miss the days of harmless, green, non-smelly formula-based poops.
Guess this is a sign my baby is growing up.
"This is when a lot of women stop breast-feeding," Drew said. Which is not an issue with me -- Rachel has been on formula exclusively since about 6 weeks -- but I am really looking forward to the day when we can consolidate feedings and she won't wake up at 5:30 a.m., hungry.
Of course, there are disadvantages to solids, too. To put it bluntly, her poops stink. I can already tell that I'll miss the days of harmless, green, non-smelly formula-based poops.
Guess this is a sign my baby is growing up.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Rachel discovers "War and Peace"
..well, not really. But Drew noticed that last Friday, after he had left her on the playmat to take care of some things around the house, she had discovered books in a semi-meaningful way. Usually she just gums the soft-sided, waterproof book she has. But on Friday, she was lying on her stomach and FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES.
"Oh, I wish you could have seen her!" Drew said.
I may give her a book report to do by the end of the week. She seems ready.
"Oh, I wish you could have seen her!" Drew said.
I may give her a book report to do by the end of the week. She seems ready.
We've joined a fraternity!
Last night, Drew and I were walking along the waterfront with Rachel. It had been a beautiful day; I took her there in the early afternoon as Drew raced back from Seattle where he had been working a weekend shift. Rachel and I love the Eastbank Esplanade; it got me through the warm months of maternity leave, when she would fall asleep as I wheeled her around the 1 1/2 mile loop and read the Oregonian and the NY Times. (And sometimes fell asleep in the sun...)
Anyhow, we were finishing up our walk when we saw a father and a little boy. Drew asked how old the boy was; he was 1, and then Drew and the father got into a discussion about our stroller. Turns out the dad has the same one.
After they left, Drew remarked for the umpteenth time how much his personality has changed since he became a dad. He's no longer averse to starting up conversations with total strangers who have kids in tow. He asks them about the kids' eating and sleeping habits, car seats, etc.
"We're part of a club now," Drew said last night. "Phi Kappa Parent."
Anyhow, we were finishing up our walk when we saw a father and a little boy. Drew asked how old the boy was; he was 1, and then Drew and the father got into a discussion about our stroller. Turns out the dad has the same one.
After they left, Drew remarked for the umpteenth time how much his personality has changed since he became a dad. He's no longer averse to starting up conversations with total strangers who have kids in tow. He asks them about the kids' eating and sleeping habits, car seats, etc.
"We're part of a club now," Drew said last night. "Phi Kappa Parent."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Rachel, head cheerleader
When I pick Rachel up from day care, I always ask the ladies how her day has gone. Last night, one of the women smiled and shook her head. Apparently Rachel spent the day smiling, giggling and playing with the toys. She giggled so much that she got the other babies laughing, too! It was a giggle-fest!
It's clear they really like her at St. James. We're happy she's thriving in such a loving atmosphere.
On the food front, she LOVES strained peas (yuck, her mommy says, but good for her nutrition). I started her on them two nights ago and she has lunged for the spoon every time. She still gets so messy that I have to give her a bath afterward.
I think we'll try pureed carrots next. I am working up the nerve to mash grown-up food in the Cuisinart and try to feed her some of that. At the very least, we'll start bringing baby food to day care next week.
It's clear they really like her at St. James. We're happy she's thriving in such a loving atmosphere.
On the food front, she LOVES strained peas (yuck, her mommy says, but good for her nutrition). I started her on them two nights ago and she has lunged for the spoon every time. She still gets so messy that I have to give her a bath afterward.
I think we'll try pureed carrots next. I am working up the nerve to mash grown-up food in the Cuisinart and try to feed her some of that. At the very least, we'll start bringing baby food to day care next week.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
7 months old today!
Rachel at 7 months:
-She has more and more hair every day. Looks as if it will come in a lovely light brown rather than red (sorry Mom & Dad...)
-She's sitting up on her own and can stay absorbed in her toys on the playmat for what seems like hours (really more like 30 minutes before she gets antsy and wants to be held)
-Likes pureed pears, squash and sweet potatoes. And, occasionally, rice cereal.
-Likes being cuddled, but only briefly. Then she gets squirmy and wants to explore.
-Grabs for the bottle and holds onto it, but then keeps missing her mouth when she tries to take a drink. You can almost hear her saying "Mommy, I want to do it MYSELF!"
-Doesn't mind having shirts and dresses pulled on and off. Maybe her skin is growing less sensitive as she ages?
-Smiles a lot, especially when mommy and daddy are in the room!
-She has more and more hair every day. Looks as if it will come in a lovely light brown rather than red (sorry Mom & Dad...)
-She's sitting up on her own and can stay absorbed in her toys on the playmat for what seems like hours (really more like 30 minutes before she gets antsy and wants to be held)
-Likes pureed pears, squash and sweet potatoes. And, occasionally, rice cereal.
-Likes being cuddled, but only briefly. Then she gets squirmy and wants to explore.
-Grabs for the bottle and holds onto it, but then keeps missing her mouth when she tries to take a drink. You can almost hear her saying "Mommy, I want to do it MYSELF!"
-Doesn't mind having shirts and dresses pulled on and off. Maybe her skin is growing less sensitive as she ages?
-Smiles a lot, especially when mommy and daddy are in the room!
Tooth alert!
Over a late dinner last night after The Little Girl fell asleep, Drew told me to check the bottom part of her mouth. "I felt teeth!" he said. He thinks there are two just waiting to burst forth.
I'm hoping the experience will be less painful for her than teething usually is.
I'm hoping the experience will be less painful for her than teething usually is.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Baby elbow?
My wrists are killing me these days and I've been racking my brain for the cause. I haven't been to yoga class in weeks, so I can't blame it on too many downward dog poses. Haven't lifted weights in a long time, either.
Then, yesterday, it hit me: It's from lifting Rachel -- out of her crib, off the playmat, out of her high chair. Not only do I not have upper body strength, I don't even have wrist strength.
I mentioned this to Drew last night and he said he's experiencing the same thing, but in his elbow. "It's like I have tennis elbow, but instead it's baby elbow," he explained.
"Is this because we're old?" I asked.
"Yes," he answered.
Great. Forget about running after her when she's a toddler; we'll be hobbling from Charley horse. And by the time she's ready for high school, we'll be too broken-down to care if she stays out late.
Then, yesterday, it hit me: It's from lifting Rachel -- out of her crib, off the playmat, out of her high chair. Not only do I not have upper body strength, I don't even have wrist strength.
I mentioned this to Drew last night and he said he's experiencing the same thing, but in his elbow. "It's like I have tennis elbow, but instead it's baby elbow," he explained.
"Is this because we're old?" I asked.
"Yes," he answered.
Great. Forget about running after her when she's a toddler; we'll be hobbling from Charley horse. And by the time she's ready for high school, we'll be too broken-down to care if she stays out late.
Monday, February 9, 2009
She's crawling! Well, sort of...
For those of you who are wondering whether Rachel is moving independently yet, the answer is a qualified "yes." That is, when she wants to reach for a toy on the playmat, she'll sort of heave her stomach forward and move just far enough to grab it. Last night she was banging her feet against the carpet as if she really wanted to scoot. She didn't seem mad that she couldn't do it, though; she was smiling and seemed relaxed about the whole thing.
It's hard to believe that the day care folks are saying that Rachel should be moved to the "mobiles" room, which, as I understand it, is for kids who are almost walking. Apparently she manages to move around a lot when we're not around.
Drew, who is with her more than I am on weekends, swears he has seen her crawl...but backwards.
"It's like she only has one gear, and it's reverse," he said thoughtfully. "I'm worried that when she starts walking, it'll be backward."
It's hard to believe that the day care folks are saying that Rachel should be moved to the "mobiles" room, which, as I understand it, is for kids who are almost walking. Apparently she manages to move around a lot when we're not around.
Drew, who is with her more than I am on weekends, swears he has seen her crawl...but backwards.
"It's like she only has one gear, and it's reverse," he said thoughtfully. "I'm worried that when she starts walking, it'll be backward."
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Nothing Is Safe...
I was absent-mindedly dressing Rachel this morning on the changing table. (She tends to like sitting up when I pull shirts and dresses on and off her body instead of being forced to lie down). While I was trying to wriggle her out of her sleepsuit, she somehow managed to reach over to the Vaseline container, uncap it and stick her hand in the goop before I realized what she was doing.
A friend of mine made me laugh this weekend when she said that she and her husband are retroactively baby-proofing their house. That is, when their 9-month-old son starts rapidly crawling toward an unsecured object, they say, "get it out of his way"! then swoop it up. I sense that time for us isn't far off.
A friend of mine made me laugh this weekend when she said that she and her husband are retroactively baby-proofing their house. That is, when their 9-month-old son starts rapidly crawling toward an unsecured object, they say, "get it out of his way"! then swoop it up. I sense that time for us isn't far off.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Rachel, Ruler of All....
I was at an Oneg Shabbat Friday night when a woman from my synagogue, an Israeli, asked "and how is that beautiful baby?" When I told her that Rachel had started day care, she asked, "you aren't feeling guilty, are you?"
I said no, but was kind of taken aback and was preparing to get extremely defensive about keeping her in day care until the woman said, "That is good, because the children who were raised on kibbutzes ended up being the leaders of the country. I know, because my family founded one of the early kibbutzes. And the children were able to be leaders because they socialized with other children."
Our Rachel: Leader of the rebel forces.
I said no, but was kind of taken aback and was preparing to get extremely defensive about keeping her in day care until the woman said, "That is good, because the children who were raised on kibbutzes ended up being the leaders of the country. I know, because my family founded one of the early kibbutzes. And the children were able to be leaders because they socialized with other children."
Our Rachel: Leader of the rebel forces.
Rachel gets the giggles
She has given us a preview of her laugh before -- a moderately deep belly laugh that will end up sounding like Julia Roberts' laugh when she gets older. But the other night I had finishing bathing her and smoothing lotion over her limbs when I leaned down and softly kissed her tummy. She thought it was the funniest thing imaginable...giggle giggle giggle. It went on for a solid 10 minutes before she turned fussy and starting crying. So I quickly got her into her sleepsuit and sleep sack (we've been done with swaddling for about a month and a half now -- she wiggles out of it and wakes herself up) and started rocking her and feeding her, and she was out like a light.
Speaking of giving up swaddling, Drew moved our (borrowed) bassinet up to the attic today; she has been in a crib for months now and we were using the bassinet as a sort of glorified end table. Sure felt a pang to see it go, though. I'm not surrendering it completely, just in case we have another. Ditto our swing, also borrowed from our almost-relatives, Doug and Linda. Drew has insisted we need to dismantle it because she's really too big for it and we haven't used it since before we left for Hawaii last November. I told him she still fits into it which, technically, she does. But the whole chair sagged when she sat in it today, so I reluctantly assented to have it taken away. This means our living room looks more like a living room these days...until we have to set up the playpen to keep her from crawling into the fireplace!
Speaking of giving up swaddling, Drew moved our (borrowed) bassinet up to the attic today; she has been in a crib for months now and we were using the bassinet as a sort of glorified end table. Sure felt a pang to see it go, though. I'm not surrendering it completely, just in case we have another. Ditto our swing, also borrowed from our almost-relatives, Doug and Linda. Drew has insisted we need to dismantle it because she's really too big for it and we haven't used it since before we left for Hawaii last November. I told him she still fits into it which, technically, she does. But the whole chair sagged when she sat in it today, so I reluctantly assented to have it taken away. This means our living room looks more like a living room these days...until we have to set up the playpen to keep her from crawling into the fireplace!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Spitup in the Wind (courtesy of Bob Dylan)
I've been meaning to share this with everyone since Drew and I made it up months ago. We were changing Rachel's diaper when she was, oh, four months old or so, and started a jam session out of sheer loopiness (and frustration with the volume of spitup and damp clothes we were forced to wear). So, here is "Spitup in the Wind," sung to the tune of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind":
How many times must the baby be bathed
Before she comes out clean?
Yes and how many times must the baby be fed
Before her poop turns green?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
How many binks must a baby suck
Before you can call her a girl?
Yes and how many socks must the baby kick off
Before her toes start to curl?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
How many diapers must the parents change
Before the baby is dry?
Yes and how many wipes must the parents use
Oh please, won't you answer my cry?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
How many times must the baby be bathed
Before she comes out clean?
Yes and how many times must the baby be fed
Before her poop turns green?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
How many binks must a baby suck
Before you can call her a girl?
Yes and how many socks must the baby kick off
Before her toes start to curl?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
How many diapers must the parents change
Before the baby is dry?
Yes and how many wipes must the parents use
Oh please, won't you answer my cry?
The answer my friend
Is spitup in the wind
The answer is spitup in the wind
Monday, February 2, 2009
What I love about the Pacific Northwest....
...is that we're close to family. This weekend, aunties Amanda (Drew's sister) and Jenn (Amanda's roommate) drove down from Seattle to spend a short weekend with us. We exchanged belated holiday and birthday gifts (Amanda was born New Year's Day). Rachel got a lovely piggy bank and I got a great set of pajamas, handmade by Jenn. I made Amanda a birthday dinner of roast chicken and potatoes, salad and chocolate cake with her mom's recipe for chocolate frosting.
On Saturday I was so zonked out from lack of sleep that I napped for three hours in the afternoon. Then we all went to Mt. Tabor to take a walk. It's a lovely place -- lots of trees and winding paths -- and is the only extinct volcano in a major metropolitan area. After Rachel went to sleep we managed to watch a movie, "Burn After Reading." Which, frankly, was a bit of a disappointment. I've seen better from Joel & Ethan Coen.
Sunday we had a late breakfast, then Drew & I walked to our errands (yet another reason I like where we live). We shopped for new juice glasses and picked up a framed black and white picture of me with Rachel from the local mall -- within walking/biking distance of our house! I can't wait to tell Rachel to walk to the mall instead of driving her everywhere! -- then walked home. I tried to go to bed early but still managed to wake up with a start at 3 a.m., expecting Rachel to start crying. (She has done this for the past week. Oh, how I miss sleeping through the night!) Instead, she kept us on our toes and woke at 4 a.m. Which meant I didn't get to sleep until 5, and then the alarm woke me at 6:45. So combined with the cough and cold I've developed, probably from Rachel, I'm feeling a tad run-down today.
But I still made it into work. I am terrified of using up all my sick days and not being able to take time off from work to take care of Rachel if she gets sent home from day care or, later, school. Which means that I'll be working when I'm sick for years to come.
On Saturday I was so zonked out from lack of sleep that I napped for three hours in the afternoon. Then we all went to Mt. Tabor to take a walk. It's a lovely place -- lots of trees and winding paths -- and is the only extinct volcano in a major metropolitan area. After Rachel went to sleep we managed to watch a movie, "Burn After Reading." Which, frankly, was a bit of a disappointment. I've seen better from Joel & Ethan Coen.
Sunday we had a late breakfast, then Drew & I walked to our errands (yet another reason I like where we live). We shopped for new juice glasses and picked up a framed black and white picture of me with Rachel from the local mall -- within walking/biking distance of our house! I can't wait to tell Rachel to walk to the mall instead of driving her everywhere! -- then walked home. I tried to go to bed early but still managed to wake up with a start at 3 a.m., expecting Rachel to start crying. (She has done this for the past week. Oh, how I miss sleeping through the night!) Instead, she kept us on our toes and woke at 4 a.m. Which meant I didn't get to sleep until 5, and then the alarm woke me at 6:45. So combined with the cough and cold I've developed, probably from Rachel, I'm feeling a tad run-down today.
But I still made it into work. I am terrified of using up all my sick days and not being able to take time off from work to take care of Rachel if she gets sent home from day care or, later, school. Which means that I'll be working when I'm sick for years to come.
Lip-smackin' good
For several weeks now, we've had Rachel on solids. Only once a day, usually at dinnertime, so she gets used to eating with us as a family. (She has been in a high chair so long that we don't remember a time when she wasn't at eye level with us). We started with rice cereal, and when she let most of it dribble out of her mouth, we switched to the good (i.e., interesting) stuff: Squash and sweet potatoes. All organic.
I was going to save the sweet foods -- fruit -- for later, until she had gotten her fill of veggies. But when she appeared to be headed toward constipation last week, I broke down and bought pureed pears and prunes. (New moms take note: Any fruit with a "p," I'm told, will get that baby poop flowing fast again!) Well, she LOVED the pears. The prunes, not so much. Tonight she ended up getting most of them on her arms, her fingers, her mouth and cheeks. We switched to rice cereal in the middle of it, and she lunged for the spoon as if we'd been starving her to death.
Mind you, she seems to be much more interested in grownup food. I can no longer safely hold her on my lap when I eat. At breakfast on Sunday, her little hand shot out for the crumb-topped coffee cake, and I had to put her back in the high chair where she happily played with her toys.
She also smacks her lips at odd moments of the day. It appears to have nothing to do with mealtime -- she'll just press her lips together for the sound it makes, then stop. But her mommy is still dreaming of the day when Rachel asks eagerly, "What's for dinner, Mom?" then proceeds to hoover up everything on her plate and end with, "Mom, you're the best cook in the whole wide world!"
I was going to save the sweet foods -- fruit -- for later, until she had gotten her fill of veggies. But when she appeared to be headed toward constipation last week, I broke down and bought pureed pears and prunes. (New moms take note: Any fruit with a "p," I'm told, will get that baby poop flowing fast again!) Well, she LOVED the pears. The prunes, not so much. Tonight she ended up getting most of them on her arms, her fingers, her mouth and cheeks. We switched to rice cereal in the middle of it, and she lunged for the spoon as if we'd been starving her to death.
Mind you, she seems to be much more interested in grownup food. I can no longer safely hold her on my lap when I eat. At breakfast on Sunday, her little hand shot out for the crumb-topped coffee cake, and I had to put her back in the high chair where she happily played with her toys.
She also smacks her lips at odd moments of the day. It appears to have nothing to do with mealtime -- she'll just press her lips together for the sound it makes, then stop. But her mommy is still dreaming of the day when Rachel asks eagerly, "What's for dinner, Mom?" then proceeds to hoover up everything on her plate and end with, "Mom, you're the best cook in the whole wide world!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)