Rice Cereal mixed with breast milk
Rice Cereal mixed with water
Rice Cereal mixed with carrots
Carrots
Rice Cereal mixed with apples
Apples
Peaches
Bananas
Rice Cereal mixed with peaches
Rice Cereal mixed with prunes
Apples and Sweet Potato
Sweet Potatoes
Squash
Sweet Peas
On deck: pears, green beans, meats
Our food goal for Daniel is for him to get his primary source of calories and nourishment from milk, so he always nurses an hour or so before he had a meal. Our goal is to have a solid meal at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I offer him food at these times. He usually will not take anything for breakfast, but will eat solids around 11:45 AM, 3 PM, and 6 PM.
I am introducing the foods to him gradually to look for allergic reactions. Usually the first time he tastes anything he acts as if I am feeding him poison! He will always come back for a second or third bite even if he makes a terrible face!
I
decided to buy some of the prepared baby food at the store before making much of my own to find out what consistencies he tolerates. His first food was Gerber Organic Carrots. Since he liked them, I steamed some fresh carrots and froze once size portions for him. The next jarred foods he had were bananas, peaches, and prunes. He hated the bananas, even after two days of trying them. I am glad I didn't make those ahead of time! I didn't prepare peaches or prunes because they aren't readily available and I thought they'd be cost prohibited.
Daniel's favorite food so far seems to be anything mixed with apples. He will eat rice cereal mixed with any new food to sort of dilute the flavor a bit. I was surprised that he was so ready to eat squash and peas. He had those without being mixed first and seemed to want more than just the teaspoon full I fed him for his trial of the food. I am preparing homemade butternut squash and peas for him this week.
I am excited for him to try avocado soon. I think it will be fun to watch him feed himself this squishy food! Plus, its one of my favorites, too. I would like to eat similar foods with him during meals, so applesauce and avocado seem more appetizing to me than mushed rice or carrots.
Dr. Wheeler gave me some interesting information about first foods. It seems that the guidelines will change in the next few years about what babies actually need to consume. They lack a source of protein and minerals if they are exclusively breastfed, and most fruits and veggies don't contain this. Therefore, he suggested I give Daniel meat! I have already prepared pureed ground turkey, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I think Daniel needs more practice with textures, so I might try an apples/turkey or apples/chicken blend first. I think its really funny that babies need to eat meat! I am not sure why, it just strikes me as funny when I picture Baby Daniel at a steakhouse!
This was the first "normal" week for you. No more baby sitter. My teaching job is over for the semester. This means that I am home with you in the week and we are working on our normal errand running, play time, and exploring the house routine. \
That weekend we also visited your great Grandma Cooley. She is my grandmother. She lives in Rolla. We had lunch with her at our favorite Chinese food restaurant. Aunt Jessica was there, too. It was a nice time. You gave both of them kisses. Sloppy ones, on the mouth. Aunt Jessica also learned just how it is to change your diaper these days. We basically have to wrestle you and pin you down with our legs! You love to roll and roll around and wiggle.
You were really active at my parents' house, too. You rolled from one end of the living room to the other! We thought for sure you'd start crawling this week, but you didn't. Instead, you would get on all fours and rock back and forth. That was sweet to watch. You were fascinated by their gliding rocker chair. I am not sure why you wanted to explore it so much, but we had a hard time keeping your fingers from being pinched in its gears/joints. My dad really enjoyed playing with you and couldn't believe how much you'd grown in three weeks! Both of my parents are nuts about you (and your other grandparents feel equally the same!)
As you can see from the photos, you are not easy to photograph these days. I have to distract you with toys and then hope to capture one or two good images. Sometimes it works. Other times you grab the sign and try to eat it! The last photo is really funny to me. You make this open mouth, blank stare a lot these days. It is funny to me because I have seen photos of myself looking this way. Its neat to see myself in you, because usually you look so much like your father.
