First "solid" Food

It is called solid food, but it hardly counts as solid anything. We combined baby rice cereal (not rice crispies) and breast milk to create a sloppy meal. He didn't seem to mind the flavor at all, but his main concern was that it took far too long to spoon each little bit into his mouth. He ended up with equal portions on his bib and in his tummy.

We will try this for three days to see how he agrees with it. Then we will move on to his baby meat mush. We have chicken to test out first.

Our Laughing Boy

New Schedule

Babies are great. Just when you have a good thing going they remember their job is to throw a curveball. Oliver and I were working things out really well, so that I could plan my grocery store trips, when to do the laundry, etc. As of yesterday he decided that 6 feedings a day is not enough. He introduced an extra feeding at 4 a.m. and one that goes in between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

We are going to give him a taste of solid food today and see what he thinks. We will take lots of pictures and post how it goes later.

Update

So the wake up was not bad at all. I felt fairly coherent too although there are lapses in my memory. I am doing fine and the pain has gone down, but...the world's population of chipmunks have nominated me their honorary queen for the time being. And the combined mass of my cheeks now makes my head have a gravitational pull that rivals that of our planet earth. How long will this last?

Wisdom and Anesthesia

I don't quite know why I am so worried about tomorrow. The funny thing is that it is not the normal stuff that is scaring me. I am getting my wisdom teeth out. Me and dental appointments don't have a great history. I try to be very tough and act like I don't have a problem with it, but I always have something that needs to be fixed. Always. Unfortunately, college and pregnancy have been particularly hard on my chompers and they need LOTS of work - equivalent to plane tickets lots of work (oh, and that is after insurance).

So you would think that I would be afraid of the fact that they are going to have to break two of my teeth in half to get them out. Or the fact that I will probably be in pain (I had a baby remember). I am not even that worried about Oliver because my mom will be taking care of him for me. No, the part that scares me the most is that I will have to be in that awful state of being after waking up from going under anesthesia.

My tough little boy has endured that sensation 3 times already. I am just thankful that he doesn't have to remember those times when he grows. Me, the wimp, have only gone through it once before, but it was one too many times. I remember feeling very thirsty, tired, and cold all at the same time. Each of those emotions alone is enough to make me a terrible person to be around. Combine them all together and you have got a whole lot of unhappy.

I have watched some of those youtube videos that people post after dental visits. I shouldn't have watched them. Even though the film makers are having a grand ol' time, I just know that the poor victim is not at all comfortable. They shouldn't be expected to say anything intelligible; they just got their wisdom teeth out. The clips make my sympathetic heart hurt.

So tomorrow while you are chomping into your meal, think of me, and then thank your lucky stars you are not doing what I am doing at that moment.

The Nation's Pastime

I grew up going to baseball games with my dad. I hardly ever watch baseball on television, but I will never pass up an opportunity to go the stadium and enjoy a game. I love the baseball environment: a bunch of crazy heckling fans, stadium food, and fireworks after the game. It reminds me of fun afternoons throughout my childhood and I feed off the energy of it all.

Last week I mentioned to my father that it did not feel like summer to me because I hadn't yet been to a ball game. He swiftly sought to rectify the issue and we were at the local stadium the following Monday evening for family night. It was Oliver's first baseball game and you could see the pride glowing from his Pompa. He treated us to all the joys of the game and we had fun watching the home team win. Oli was a good sport through it all and slept through the fireworks. He will be a baseball fan yet!

leeches.

So I guess the time has come for me to stop leeching off the blogger world and start being a contributor. I really feel that leeching is the best way to describe it. There are so many wonderful SB mommies out there who post stories of hope, comfort, and some of the hard stuff too. It was enlightening and encouraging to be able to read what they share and for a short little while it was my life blood. Now it is time for this parasite to start giving back. To whom you ask? Don't know. You, I guess - you are still reading. Maybe to other new and old SB mommies who are looking for someone else who is enjoying their little miracle every single day!

This blog is dedicated to the joys and hardships our little family experiences as we journey to "Holland." We have been so blessed to receive the love and support of family, friends, and even acquaintances.

We delight every time we see Oliver kick his legs and wiggle those toes. He is our miracle boy. We have been so blessed in our struggles and just know that he is going to teach us so much.