F: Food

This is a part of my ABCs of (my) Parenting series.

I've had a few posts already about introducing solids to Jeffrey, so it's probably already pretty obvious how we're approaching it. Basically, we're taking it easy. We've been doing a modified Baby Led Weaning approach, but I'm thinking that's going to be changing here sooner than later. I, being slightly type A when it comes to my child, made a list of what and when we were going to introduce foods to Jeffrey. We've already started veering off the list, which we knew we would do. So, we're getting closer and closer to just regular ol' BLW where we just give him what we're eating. We're still going to use the list as a reference for what we should be making so that he tries all sorts of foods. For example, we'll be making roasted sweet potato sticks as a side dish for dinner tonight. This should definitely make us starting eating healthier again, too!

For the most part, Jeffrey has been doing famously with solids. He does much better when he's given his food at the same time that we're eating. It's almost as though he understands that it's not meal time when we're not eating. Banana still seems to be the preferred food, but he still at least attempts to try everything. He has more fun playing with the food, but that's par for the course at such a beginning stage of BLW. Eventually, he'll be eating more and not causing as much of a mess. In the mean time, we're just enjoying watching him experiment! So far, he has tested out banana, apple, avocado, rice cakes, puffs, cornbread, and scrambled egg.

Bullets and Pictures

I'm still working on getting back into the groove after our vacation. I've managed to keep myself pretty busy and haven't been on the computer nearly as much. I used to do my internet time during nursing sessions, but 10 minute feedings and an active baby have managed to keep me away. So, here's a few updates in bullet form...

• We have a crawler. Yup, a full out actual crawl. 
• He's becoming quite adept at pulling himself up
• his baptism is tomorrow morning
• he has now had avocado and it's quickly becoming his favorite food
• he has consistently been sleeping in longer stretches and only waking up once to eat- all with ZERO issues going to sleep. YAY!
• separation anxiety is beginning to rear it's ugly head

Now that you're basically filled in, here are a few pictures from our trip...

Chicago- riding the train, gazing at the giraffes at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Skydeck at Willis Tower

Michigan State University/Odyssey of the Mind World Finals:

Naperville:

Is this not he cutest thing you've ever seen?

Home Sweet Home

I'm definitely feeling that post-vacation haze/exhaustion, but it's good to be back. Overall, it was an amazing trip. Jeffrey is a superb traveler and could not have been a better baby. We're still trying to get all settled it (we just got back yesterday), but I'll try and get some pictures up in the near future. We've only got a little over 2 weeks until our next vacation! It should be a much calmer and more relaxing trip- a cruise to the Bahamas. I'm pretty excited about it.

As for travelling with a baby, I'd say to not worry about it. Jeffrey took to everything with no problems and just had a blast taking it all in. Super stimulation. It made for some great sleep progress! He was napping amazingly and sleeping great at night! We even got SEVEN hours one night!!!! Awesome. We're hoping that it carries over into our normal lives. Last night showed that it was- only woke up once and fell back to sleep on his own. Maybe vacations are the new sleep training?