Adventures in Solids

Pediatricians say that you should wait to start solids until your baby shows definite interest in food. 

Mila, with her two little chompy teeth, started grabbing for spoons and our food around 4 months. I was initially hesitant to start any solids because, selfishly, I enjoyed that I was the only person who could really feed her (as she has never been into bottles). But, with my return to school looming, I decided to wait until about 5 months and then started her.

While we were in San Diego, she had some banana and water. Mila LOVES water and wants it all the time. Good luck to you if you decide to drink water around her and think she isn't going to get that little drooly mouth all over your cup/water bottle.

After we got home and recovered from our delightful family-wide stomach bug (even Fernando and Amelia the cat puked a few times), we tried out some rice cereal. 

NOT Mila's favorite. 

We have since switched to baby oatmeal cereal, which she clearly prefers.

I made a bunch of home-made baby food: pears, apples, and carrots in the Baby Bullet (an absolute MUST-HAVE for making delicious baby meals). 

Basically: pureed fruit or veggie +oatmeal cereal+ water or breast milk= yum

In theory, anyway.

Mila loves eating, but has made the following decisions: 

1. carrots are gross.

2. pears are delicious

3. (oddly enough) peas are pretty good, but best if served while already happy

4. everything is better if you can drink it.

So we dilute her food in milk or water and she chugs it right down.

 You can see the water all over her mouth

 Adventures in carrots. Lesson: add milk or water because the thick texture is not appealing for babies used to an all-liquid diet.

 Not too sure about those carrots.

 "Why would you make me eat this?!?"

As a true independent woman, Mila was much happier once we let her feed herself.

Mila only really eats solids when I am at work (which is 3.5 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and often isn't really that hungry when she is hanging out with her daddy.

So far, she has had:

banana

carrot

apple

pear

peas

oatmeal cereal

rice cereal

I am eager to try more veggies to get some iron into her tummy.

We are working on the signs for "more" and "water"--- which are coming along nicely!

She loves feeding herself, by which I clearly mean flinging food everywhere BUT her mouth, and chugging as much water as she can possibly get.

The only weird thing really is the change to her pooping schedule. 

Aren't you so excited that I am going to tell you about this?

Because of the adjustment to new foods, Mila has gone from insanely active (perhaps hyperactive) bowels to rare appearances with plenty of hype. By this, I mean that she poops about once a week and farts constantly. 

No constipation, just stinky as all hell.

So that is where we are now. I am looking to test out sweet potatoes and mangoes in the next couple days. Wish us luck.

6 Months Old!!!

I can hardly believe it, but our little ladybug is SIX MONTHS OLD!!!

To celebrate, she drank milk, ate some carrots, took a long nap, read a couple books, and got a check up and four shots (she was not too thrilled about this).

Mila has been introduced to solid foods and she isn't too into working on their relationship. She enjoys pears, but only if they are so liquidy that she can drink them. She likes bananas and oatmeal cereal, but pretty much hates everything else.

She now has TWO TEETH! They came through in mid-December. We could feel them one day and they were through within two days. She did pretty well through it, though we are dreading molars. She loves biting spoons and cups AND nipples.

She is doing much better with tummy time and rolls over quite a bit on her own, though she always seems shocked by it.

We signed her up for a parent/tot swim class that starts in a couple weeks. I am super excited about this because she loves to be in the water and I know she is going to have a blast! Other babies from our mommy/baby group are doing it too! Austin is going to be able to come, which only adds to the family fun! We are trying to figure out the GoPro camera so we can get some underwater footage.

I got her a swim diaper and the cutest suit ever: (link below)

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=948383002

I am back at work now... it was a little difficult going back and leaving her, but I feel really lucky to have a job where I am only gone for 3.5 hours 2 days out of the week. Austin takes care of her and they are loving their together time. There is nothing better than the smile I get when I see her face after a morning of teaching.

Anyway, here are some Mila details!

MILA LOVES:
dancing, reading books, feeling everything-- especially the cat and the dog, trying to put things in her mouth-- especially the cat and the dog, being tickled, sitting up like a big girl, read and feel books, music, pulling hair, bath time, brushing her teeth, playing in her activity center, and laughing/smiling in general.

MILA DOESN'T LIKE:
tummy time (she'll do it, but not without complaint), not being held, not being with her mama, having boogers removed from her nose, bed time, and not being allowed to pull on or eat the cat and the dog.

hanging around

Ole, Mole!

Before you ask, Austin is looking at my mom, who was also holding a camera

It was so much fun to be down in San Diego with my little family!

Here is a picture of us at one of my favorite Mexican food spots, Casa Guadalajara in Old Town.

We went there because Austin was really curious about trying mole (I can't insert an accent)

and they have the absolute best!

Needless to say, he loved it.

And Mila loved the warm weather and being able to let her dogs out (go barefoot)

San Diego Family Time

 Feeling out her Uncle Adam

 Nana and Grumpy

 Three generations of women (and smiles)

Great Grandparent Love

back in time with Nana

My mom bought Mila an outfit for Christmas

and it resembled something an old-timey grannie might wear to bed.

The hat really made the look.

Just like her mama, Mila's face tells us all we need to know about her opinion.

Enjoy!

We tried the hat again on its own...

Besties

This past month, we got to go to my home town of San Diego and Mila got to meet my friends and family.

Additionally, she got to meet her bestest friend in the whole world: Cece!

Here are the two in their first ever photo session. 

I decided to keep the entire sequence because it is just too cute and the action is adorable.

 "Stay back, Mila, I'll check out this big black flashing box and see if it is safe"

 Speaking of besties...

It was so amazing to get to spend time with Angie and Cece (and Jerry too, of course)!

We have known each other since we were 12 and now we are hanging out with our own little girls.

Angie was so wonderful throughout the pregnancy. She was 3 months ahead of me and offered advice, guidance, and hilarious stories that I cherished and really needed.

Having her meet Mila and having our girls meet was really incredible!