Mom Life: Starting Solids

Olivia is just a week shy of 7 months old – and should be well on her way to enjoying solid foods. I say should lightly because I don’t REALLY agree that babies should master certain milestones by certain ages. That being said, most parents begin to feed their babies solids around 4-6 months. Since we were in California when the clock struck 6-months… we delayed just a bit past the target window. Almost 2 weeks ago, at 29 weeks, we finally decided to take the plunge…

Many month ago, I picked up a copy of Tyler Florence’s “Start Fresh” and started planning. All along, I’ve known that I wanted to make Olivia’s food. Mostly, I’m concerned with the amount of preservatives and additives in even the organic varieties available on the shelves. Obviously, we also considered the cost-factor as well – knowing that it would be significantly cheaper to DIY. I love Tyler’s one-family, one-meal mentality… Kids should eat the same meal that the family eats for dinner. Mom WILL NOT make multiple meals to please multiple family members’ tastes. Very much aligned with the “You don’t have to like it, but you have to try it”  rule. His book includes recipes slightly altering “the family meal” for babies, toddlers and younger kiddos.

Buy Here

Totally in-line with our pediatrician, Tyler suggests starting with cereal (rice or oat) for the first few weeks then moving to veggies for the first month or so before introducing sweeter (more desirable) fruits. He suggests creating combos (adhering to the 3-day rule) after baby has mastered several foods, at around 9 months. His cookbook includes wonderful combos and stage II/III meals for older baby/toddler.

My daughter, who puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, and I do mean EVERYTHING, doesn’t want ANYTHING to do with food. Two weeks of our most desperate attempts to get Olivia to swallow even ONE bite… and she’s STILL completely uninterested.

We started with 3 days of Rice Cereal, then 3 days of Oat Cereal, followed by 3 days of sweet potatoes, 3 days of avocado and now we’re making our way through 3 days of carrots. I’m out of ideas…. Ready to call the pediatrician on Monday if things don’t turn around. OR give it a break and wait a few more weeks. I mean… what’s the harm? She doesn’t seem hungry, or cranky… and there’s lots of earthy-crunchy material suggesting that it’s perfectly healthy for babies to exclusively breast feed until 9-12 months.

Oat Cereal

Sweet Potato

Avocado

Believe it or not – we did start with a plastic bib… when she seemed more interested in eating it… it came off and I decided that Rice Cereal wouldn’t stain and I could easily just toss her outfit in the laundry… then came sweet potatoes… knowing that those might stain, we tried a cloth bib… after a week+ we’ve resolved to eating in the nude. Still followed by a hose-down in the sink…

Note: Ignore the fact that I still need to DIY a high chair cover… notice that even it got caught in the crossfire and ended up in the laundry before Avocado day.

COOKING GEAR: We decided against the uber fancy BEABA or Baby Brezza mainly because of the cost. When we put in perspective the span of time that we would be making pureed foods – it just seemed silly to invest. We even decided to forgo the BabyBullet  in favor of using the high end blender/food processor we own. With limited freezer space (we’re storing close to 500 ounces of frozen breast milk) I’m still unsure of the most compact way to store prepared food. We have some of the Oxo Tot 2oz and 4oz containers that I like (and will probably buy more of as I have 20% off coupons to BBB/BBB).

Interested in trying these Tovolo Silicone Ice Cube Trays too.

Recently I’ve done some more searching online and found some other great resources that are worth sharing…

Momtastic’s Wholesome Baby Food – A friend referred me to this site – Awesome nutritional information, suggestions on what foods to start with, recipes, etc.

Tyler Florence’s Sprout Organic Baby Food – Tyler Florence’s line of organic baby food + more recipes.

Mash Your Heart Out Baby Food – great recipe and combination ideas

 Featured Image Here

 

Olivia: 6 Months

6 Month Wellness Check-Up

15 lbs 14 oz

26 inches

Size: “6-9 months”, “Size 2” Diapers

Nicknames: Sneekle Freetzie, Liv, Liver Dude

6 Months

Loves:

“Freezie Treats” (Freezable Teething Toys)

The “Liv, Liv Liv” Song

The Longtime Sunshine Song

Loves faces – Pulling on noses, eyes and mouths

Moby Wrap

Swimming @ Gramma B’s

Playing with Ice Cubes at the dinner table

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag

Uncle Chippy’s beard

Sleeping in Mom + Dad’s bed

Nursing

Listening to Dad play Piano/ Guitar

Poppa G’s Watch

Play Dates with Charley (+Momma Michelle)

Dogs – Especially Gramma G’s Yellow Lab Terra and Auntie Maggie’s Toy Poodle Bella

Cranks:

Getting in the car seat

Not being able to be outside (in the Texas heat + threat of West Nile virus)

Taking a bottle

Infant Life Vest

Milestones:

Sitting-Up alone!

First trip to California to visit Gramma + Poppa G

First plane ride

Hiking on Dad’s back in the Snugli Carrier

First trip to the San Diego Zoo

Hanging with the Giraffes at the San Diego Zoo

Riding like a big girl (forward facing) in the stroller

First time in the Johnny Jump Up (Bought Here)

First time meeting 2nd Cousin Alex + Great Aunt Pam

VERY interested in food + drinks (Starting Solids this weekend!)

Blowing lips to make high pitched motor boat noise

Giggling / Belly Laughing

Rolling, Scooting, Moving, Inching… Everything but crawling.

Not Where I left my baby…

6 Months

Daily Routine:

4:00 AM Nurse in bed – Snuggle/ Sleep with Mom + Dad

7:00AM Nurse – Wake Up

9:00AM Nap (45min-1hr)

10:00 AM Nurse

~12:30 PM Nap (30min – usually in the car)

1:00PM Nurse

3:00 Nap (1hr-2hrs)

4:00PM Nurse

6:00PM Nurse

6:30PM Hangout in the Highchair while Mom + Dad eat dinner

7:00PM Read a few books with Mom in bed while Dad gets the bath ready

7:15PM Bath time with Dad while Mom cleans up in the kitchen

7:30 Lotion + Massage, Teeth Gum Brushing, Hair Brushing, Vitamin D

7:45PM Nurse

8:00PM Snuggle with Bunny Blanket for Bedtime Prayers + Songs (Usually a few rounds of Longtime Sunshine)

Between 10:00PM +11:00PM Nurse

(Usually wakes up right as Mom + Dad are winding down for a final snack, Occasionally Mom attempts a “dream feed”)

Mom Life: Baby Signs

Lately, I feel like Olivia is trying really hard to be able to communicate. She’s started making the most annoying precious “MMMMMMMMmmmm” noise when she’s frustrated. I’ve been doing some reading on baby sign language and I think we’re ready to give it a go. 

Buy Here                   Image From Here

“Baby Signs” says that it’s best to wait until your baby shows interest in communicating. The authors suggest asking the following questions to determine a good time to start.

  • Is baby at least 6 months old?  ALMOST!
  • Baby is beginning to point at things. Not yet
  • Is baby bringing toys or objects to you and looking for a response? No, Not really
  • Is your baby beginning to wave “bye-bye”? No
  • Is your baby beginning to shake head yes or no? Not at all
  • Is your baby beginning to show an interest in picture books? Mom says YES, Dad says NO
  • Is your baby frustrated when you don’t understand what she needs? Yes.
  • Are there still important things your baby doesn’t have words for? Duh.
  • Are you an over eager parent? Will you ignore the number of times you answered NO to the above questions and start signing anyway? YES.

That being said…

We’ve already started waving and saying “bye bye” when someone leaves a room and beginning to point at things and talk to her about them. For example, pointing to the fountain and talking about water (Have I mentioned how much my child LOVES water? Swimming in it. Looking at it… Her latest obsession is ice cubes.. great dinner table distraction when mommy forgets to bring a toy). We’re hoping that she’ll start pointing on her own so that we can help her assign words to things she sees. (From what I gather, this is the general direction that the book suggests)

We’re going to start with 5 signs. (I didn’t make it past the first 50 pages – after reading that I was breaking all the rules by starting early… I abandoned everything but the dictionary of signs in the back of the book)

  • Milk
  • Diaper
  • Bath
  • Book
  • Sleep

Milk

Diaper

Bath

Book

Sleep

Great Resource + Images above found Here

Featured Image: Natural Wooden Baby Signs Blocks Here $45

Anyone have any pointers on signing with baby?