Solid As A...

Now that Baby Z is the big 1 year old, we switched to cow's milk instead of formula. Not only is this the next step in consumption for infants-turned-toddlers, we were hopeful it would help with the big C. Constipation. Poor kid has had it more or less for 6 months or so. Even the switch in formula kind of stopped working after a while. So far, Baby Z has taken to milk without a problem. And I think it's helping with the big C.

Also along the SOLID lines, I've been trying to give Baby Z more solid solids. In the past he has almost immediately gagged when I tried to give him something chunky -- independently chunky, that is, such as a small cube of apple or pear or cheese. He also doesn't like the puffs (the infant ones sold at the grocery store). I could feed him pretty chunky mixes of food like broccoli and kale by the spoon. But one little bite of something solid set that gag reflex a heavin'. The only thing he would feed himself was a teething biscuit. So, genius that I am, after 3-4 months of frustration, I decided to try crunchier textures instead of soft (which I gave him thinking they would be easier to eat). First stop: Cheerios (or the generic organic brand anyway- sorry Baby Z). Eureka!! He likes it, Mikey! (Oh, that's the other cereal) He did have a gag-vomit on his first sitting, but now he's gotten to be a pro after 4 days of trying. I can't tell you how much this breakthrough means to me.

Since the Cheerios, I've tried toast, cooked potatoes, roasted chicken, apple. The apple was a gag-giver again-- he actually made a face as soon as he touched it. So we'll try that one again a little later. Anyway, I'm hugely encouraged that Baby Z won't be eating pureed food at his prom.

Making this transition from eating his own soft baby food to sharing food from the family meal is huge. The change is as big a deal for me as it is for Baby Z. Once again I feel overwhelmed by the change, but after some hints of progress, I'm up for the challenge.

1 Year Ago

A year ago on Monday, Baby Z came into the light of day bigger than we expected and earlier than we expected (by 4 1/2 weeks). He has been exceeding our expectations ever since. I am thrilled to look back on the feelings of Baby Z's birth day and realize how much we have all grown. The 2nd night of Baby Z's life, John and I looked at each other and mutually thought-- how could they trust us with this little tiny person. We don't know what the heck we're doing. Now we often think we don't know much about what we're doing but we wouldn't for a second expect him to be with anyone other than us. For all our first-time parent mistakes and overly cautious reactions, we're doing great! We have a happy, healthy (except for the cold he contracted in honor of his 1st birthday, and then generously shared with the rest of us) little boy who is quickly growing into his own person. We still have LOTS and LOTS of time with him as a dependent (in the literal sense not the tax-form sense), but I see how quickly the time is going to go by. So, I'm off to enjoy his latest stage of emptying drawers and bags and scattering the debris all over the house. Because I don't know how long it will last.

Flying High on Birthday Goodies

It was my birthday this weekend. John was out of town for Eia's Fiance's Bachelor Weekend, so I managed to fill up my birthday with lots of girlie fun. Shopping with my Mom, breakfast with the girls, drinks with the girls. It was fantastic! I got lots of great gifts like books and socks and seriously professional tweezers. Getting gifts is so much fun!!!

And John left a gift behind for me which I found on Sunday when I got home from church. A gift so good I jumped up and down and had to smother giggles lest I wake Baby Z. Are you ready for it? .......

Flying Trapeze Lessons!!!

Ha!!! It's freakin' AWESOME!!! I am so excited about it. And nervous. But mostly excited. I'm probably not going to do it for a couple of months, but when I do, you bet I'll be writing about it.

I am so thankful for all my friends and family who know me well and get me wonderful things I enjoy. And I'm especially thankful for my husband, the adventurer, who knows my secret (and not so secret) desires and pushes me to experience them.

Stand Up for Yourself, Baby Z

I mentioned that Baby Z has started to pull up and stand. I thought perhaps our house wasn't the best for a baby practicing his pull up skills, but that was before I watched Baby Z pull up on just about everything imaginable in the house, including a collapsable stepstool that... collapsed... oops.

Needless to say, my time in the last week has been much more devoted to keeping an eye on Baby Z lest he pull himself up on, the toilet, say. Oh, I forgot to mention that he's not very good at the getting back down part. Combine that with the time change and we've had a few mornings of sudden screaming in the 6am hour. The first time, I went in and found the little dude holding onto the side of his crib for dear life, tears streaming down his face. He looked terrified. Poor guy. I felt bad for him on day 1. Now I'm just wondering how long he'll cry before he just lets go. Boom. On the bottom. No big deal, right? Sigh, I'm sure this new development in his life is life-altering and challenging. So I'll give him a break. Or I'll try.



Not only can Baby Z physically stand up for himself, he is also getting more adept at asserting his wishes. Baby Z has suddenly grasped the gesture of shaking his head (as in "no"). It's pretty funny when he hits it right and he really means no. However, it's actually funnier that we realized he shakes his head any time something is stated in the form of a question. The lilting up syllable on the end is enough. You want more bottle? Shake-shake- No. You want another book? Shake-shake-No. You want absolute freedom to do whatever you want? Shake-shake- No.

Ha!! I outwitted a 1-year-old.* Hee hee.



*Baby Z will turn 1 year in 11 days. But it's easier to say 1-year-old than 11 1/2-month-old.

More Buzz

By popular demand, I give you Baby Z's Bee Stinger butt:



He's cute, but don't get too close...or you'll get stung! Ha!