Starting Solids

We started introducing solids slowly when McKenna turned 6 months, likely in a way that is new to many people.

We are currently introducing solids by an approach called Baby Led Weaning. I won't go into it in depth because there is a BUNCH out there (just google), but it is a form of introducing solids where you let baby set the pace and give them what you are eating.  No purees, No spoons (yet), Just Food, Fingers, Fun, and a whole lot of mess! It sounded like an approach that I would love... no preparation (other than our typical meals), but in reality there are several benefits to introducing solids this way (again, google is your friend).

 

It is awesome to cook dinner and have McKenna sit at the dining room table with us and eat. She enjoys it even more when we eat what she's eating (and how she's eating it!). It is also great in helping develop the pincer grasp and assists in hand-eye coordination. She's even taken to straw cups AND regular cups (with a little assistance, of course).

 

With all of the research I have done about Baby Led Weaning, I have found many of the mom blogs that describe their experience have been blessed with babies with very small gag reflexes.  Man, that must be nice.  Well, here's a nice addition to the BLW "literature" in cyber world: my child gags, and gags, and gags, and gags. It is by far the most unnerving feeling to ever experience.  The idea behind it is to trust that your babies are exploring and know what they are doing. They will spit out what they can't handle. Babies' gag reflexes are much further toward the front of their mouth as they are younger so when they GAG they are not choking.... You mustn't get these two mixed in the BLW world! It is also suggested that it is beneficial for babies to learn to use their gag reflex earlier rather than later as they would with purees and the conventional form of weaning. Many BLW proponents will suggest that there is no more of a choking hazard with BLW than with introducing with purees.

But each mealtime I get more and more comfortable with her eating (READ: PLAYING). We have really started very slowly, introducing cooked fruits and steamed veggies. There are plenty of moms that jump right in and offer WHATEVER the family is eating. I just can't. And while I may not know exactly how much food McKenna is eating (because 98% ends up on the floor), babies don't need much in terms of solids yet. And her diaper has told me that she is in fact swallowing food. YES, I took pictures of a shitty diaper to send to Kevin because I was so excited, but no, I will not post them here. You're Welcome.

This is a lengthy video for the virtual scrapbook. But for those that are curious to see some of the gagging in particular... you can jump to 2:25, 2:55, 4:30.



The gagging can be a bit more dramatic than these (I just so happen to have never been filming), but nothing that she doesn't come out giggling on the other end. I always try to keep a happy face on for her so she is never startled or concerned.

I am by no means against purees or the conventional form of introducing solids... I haven't even taken it off the table for us (if for whatever reason we decide to switch). I have attempted to stay open-minded regarding ANYTHING as we learn with McKenna. But once I heard about this approach it sounded like something I definitely wanted to try. And I was so happy Kevin was on board!

This style of solids introduction is not fully mainstream... yet. If you want more information about Baby Led Weaning, I encourage you to look into the Gill Rapley set of books. We have the cookbook, which basically summarizes the original along with recipes that would work with the whole family. I also encourage you to google search and search YouTube. Aside from the books, much of the information available out there is through other moms.

So far we are enjoying Baby Led Weaning. There is no pressure on her. McKenna gets to sit with us at the dinner table and essentially imitate us... it is a lot of fun. The mantra is: Food before 1, Just for Fun. We will continue this route as long as McKenna is healthy and it is enjoyable and beneficial for all of us.

McKenna's first tooth!

Ahhhhh. There is so much I want to blog about and not enough time!! I'm super backed up on some topics I want to hit, not even counting the fact that McKenna is doing all sorts of new things like the tripod waddle while sitting,

and ultimately landing on her belly,

 

Or rolling from her back to her tummy in her sleep,
 

Or babbling up a storm.

[though she never wants to do it on camera]

But a big one hit us by surprise. I'm not even sure how I noticed, but McKenna cut her first tooth on Saturday!
 

 

As with all infant growth spurts (at least with all of McKenna's), you don't really recognize what's going on until it happens. Looking back she was fussier and was sticking her tongue out while puckering. Just all around acting different and strange. AND she got this serious looking rash on her face we could not figure out what from. 

Well it all adds up. (Though, we're thinking the rash is a combination of multiple things.. we have a ped appointment on Thursday). I caught a glimpse of the pearly white on Saturday and screamed for Daddy to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Sure enough, a small little dagger pierced through her bottom gums!

 

I thought I would be sad because yet another milestone hit, but in all honesty I was super excited! She is growing by leaps and bounds and it is so incredible to witness.

 

McKenna's new play area: McKenna's Corner

Now that McKenna is sitting upright and occupying herself, I wanted to be able to have her play in the living room so I can get chores or work done. Until now, we have spent most of her floor/sitting/tummy time in her nursery, really limiting MY productivity. 

I had been on the lookout for those padded mats for several weeks. I didn't want the usual Alphabet mat, unless I was able to find one super cheap. Then my aunt spotted just what we were looking for at Sam's Club. Large squares with NO cutouts. 

Fewer pieces and fewer cravaces to worry about cleaning dog fur out of (even though the mat is off-limits to dogs!). 

With this new purchase we decided it was time for the infant swing to be put up. It served its much needed purpose in the early months and just hadn't been used recently. I'm not going to lie, I cried. It was just one of those little moments that remind you baby is growing everyday. 

BUT, McKenna is loving her new corner. And I can keep an eye on her from the kitchen. 

We've already been discussing buying another set and just "tiling" off the whole area for when she starts crawling! 

My birthday!!

I turned the Big 2-9 last week.  Entering my last year in my twenties. I still don't feel like an adult, and I'm going to be 30 next year!

Birthdays seem to take on a whole new meaning when you become a parent.  I could really (honestly) have cared less if we did anything for my birthday.  We did brunch with my parents and grandparents the previous weekend.

On my "real" birthday, we had a typical day.... which always means... photoshoot! Because I just can't get enough of this little creature.

 

My new teething necklace just so happened to arrive on my birthday.... I'll write a separate post on that because I'm in love.

 

We went to dinner as a little family at a new place we were dying to try. Coal fire PIZZA.

McKenna tried a piece of sourdough bread at dinner and wasn't impressed.

Kevin made me a tearjerker of a movie as my gift (he FINALLY listened to me when I said I didn't want him to spend money).  It's probably one of the best gifts I have ever been given. It is pictures of McKenna from birth to 6 months.

Overall I had an incredible birthday. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful little family, and I'm so excited for the year ahead to round out my twenties with Kevin and McKenna by my side.

World Breastfeeding Week

This week is World Breastfeeding Week!!! Well, I'm a little slow, it's almost over but World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7th.


Picture courtesy of Lee Memorial Health System

McKenna and I kicked off World Breastfeeding Week by taking part in the Big Latch On, a synchronized event where women around the world came together to breastfeed simultaneously.


Picture courtesy of Lee Memorial Health System

At the event! The woman I'm looking at sitting on the ground was tandem nursing. I don't know if they counted her as one or two!


Big Latch On Nursing Selfie

I'm appalled there are so many people out there that find this ^^^^ offensive. My child looks like she's sleeping!

My way of thinking has evolved so much since before McKenna was born, I never thought I would participate in such an event! My way of thinking has evolved even since she was a newborn, when we never really left the house anyway. I naively believed that breastfeeding should be a private thing that takes place between a mother and baby. Then reality happened.  Am I supposed to be expected to sit at home all day long until I am done breastfeeding my child (at whatever age we choose to stop)? Am I supposed to be exiled to my car in the parking lot in order to feed my child when we're away from home? The safety issues alone makes me perturbed this would even be suggested (though we do it from time to time by choice when McKenna needs a break and we enjoy a DVD and A/C). Or even worse am I expected to let my baby temporarily go hungry or be expected to straddle a toilet in a public bathroom? I have never done this nor will ever do it, but I know moms who have and it saddens me.

I won't lie. Before McKenna, I judged. I was ignorant and didn't know any better. I had never really been around breastfeeding.  I thought women who breastfed their babies in public were exhibitionists. There, I said it. Well, don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. Looking back I'm embarrassed of myself to even admit I've thought this way. A mother's milk is the best gift you could offer your child, why does society find it necessary to make it more difficult to do what is best for our babies? It took research (to know how important breastfeeding is) and experience (to realize that my baby comes before ANYONE else's comfort). Followed by a whole lot of "you got a problem with this??". It's one of those things: the more you're around it, the more you realize how NOT big of a deal it is. So come hang out with McKenna and I for a day!

After all of the struggles we endured to establish a wonderful breastfeeding relationship, I am proud of McKenna and I! It is the biggest part of our lives, the activity that occurs more frequently than any other (other than sleep). It's what keeps her healthy, nourished, and growing, and I am incredibly grateful I am able to give her this gift.


Happy Nursing!!+

6 months... A half year!

Words cannot describe how fast the last 6 months have flown.  People tell you how fast time flies and you really just kind of push it aside, "yeah, yeah, yeah."  But NO REALLY, I want time to STOP. My little angel is perfect. And she is a Half a year old!

McKenna is just shy of 17 pounds and recently stepped up into size 3 diapers (though we are spending a lot of time using Cloth Diapers, still not a big enough stash for full time). Her closet is full of clothes that no longer fit her.

Her inquisitiveness floors me.  Watching her learn and discover is the most incredible experience.  She is beginning to explore and test her boundaries, often resulting a faceplant or bumped head (from attempting to grab something just outside her reach). She grips impeccably, and anything she grabs is automatically in her mouth. You can see a tooth wanting to emerge on the bottom, so it's understandable she wants anything to rub on her gums.

She giggles up a storm now... they are little grunty giggles complemented perfectly by a that gummy grin.  She absolutely loves the walker. While the jumper has always been her favorite place, she seems to wish she was in the walker when she's in the jumper.  She blatantly drops toys off of the high chair for me to pick them up for her. I know it's blatant because she flinches before she even lets go.

She loves her puppies. Chief Osceola doing ANYTHING is the funniest thing in the world. She loves playtime on the nursery floor when Boogs comes in to visit.

Most of all she loves her Daddy.... when he walks in the room, she stops whatever she is doing and flashes the biggest, most bashful grin.  She now leans and reaches when she wants someone to hold her, especially daddy!

Here's a glimpse of mid-photo shoot trying to get McKenna's giggle factor into effect.