New Stuff Part 2

I didn't really finish the last blog. She has more new things that I didn't have time to blog about last time. But based on my history of "saved" blogs not really being saved, I published it.

But this time, I have pictures! Ok, so the newest thing of them all... today was Toni's first day of solid food! OK, she's only four months and 3 weeks, but they say anywhere between four and six months. She seemed like she might be ready. She watches me eat and always has this chewing motion going on. Plus I figure, I'll try and if it doesn't work out I can try again in a few more weeks.

So I fed her rice cereal (for babies of course!) with breastmilk. Not very much either. Just about one tablespoon. HAHA!!! Wow... what a MESSY thing to do! haha! I mean, duh Gail. What did you think? I don't know why I wasn't thinking about the messy factor. Seemed to just slip my mind for a split second until she reminded me. OK wait. so let me go back to the beginning.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked her dr if we could try introducing her to solids. And he said the number one thing is if they can hold their head up which she does amazingly well. Everyone that comes across her is so amazed how strong she is overall for her age. And she really is. I mean REALLY! So we bought her rice cereal, but just haven't given it to her yet because of the whole hurricane thing and getting her used to daycare and the bottle again... we just didn't want to inflcit too much change all at one time for her. So now that she is back in school and doing 100% with the bottle, we're back in our own home I figured, NOW I can try to introduce her cereal.

I sit her in her infant chair and let her play with the toy on the tray for a bit, which is actually another new thing for her. She's sat in it before and was fine. She'd look at the toy and study it and soon she was over it. She wanted out of the chair and was over the toy. Well today when I sat her in it and was putting the tray on and was already grabbing for the toy and immediately put it in her mouth. She spun the the little toys and was playing. Mostly putting it in her mouth, but playing! That is totally new. So I let her play for a bit beore feeding her.

Ok. So here I am ready to feed her and who's the new mom on the block. (waving my hand in the air) That would be me! I have the bowl in my left hand, spoon in my right and I am holding the spoon right over the bowl and coming towards her with it. UH NO. She reached for the bowl right away! And I had to catch it from spilling everywhere. I laughed at myself. I thought, 'duh... why would you hold the bowl so close to the baby?' hahaha! Lesson learned. But the spoon must still come close to her, obviously. So as I try to feed her the first time, she grabs for the spoon. I manage to get SOME of it in her mouth but most of it in her hands, the tray, her bib (thank God for bibs). After that first try and she saw where I was going with putting hte spoon in her mouth with food, she seemed to understand on some level what I was trying to do. I say that because the next few times were a little more successful. Don't get me wrong, she would still try and grab the spoon and not all of it made it in her mouth but the undestanding seemed to be there. Did she eat any? I'm not sure. haha! I think she's still learning how to eat and so after getting it in her mouth her tounge would push some of it out but it really did look like she was trying to eat. And everytime I fed her she was eager to have the spoon back to try again. So I think that's the most important thing is that she is willing and eager... even if she didn't actually eat anything. I still nursed her afterward anyway. I MAY try again tomorrow or maybe wait until next weekend just to get her used to trying to eat.

She's much better at tummy time also. Did I blog about that last time? haha.. I don't know. But she can really stay on her tummy for a good while and even hold her head up really high. Sometimes she even leans on one arm or tries to reach out with one arm at a toy. The best part? She tries to crawl! I mean she isn't actually crawling but the effort is there. She is lifting her butt and sometimes pushes off her feet. But her head is down when she does this. haha! It's normal for babies to do that anyway. So I see it as another milestone!

Toni is also very talkative! I mean obviously she's just cooing but she does it with such passion and really loud too! It's great!

Thursday night was the first night she slept in her crib all night. Well... mostly all night. She would have if not for me. haha! Seriously, I think she is ready to grow way faster than I am ready for. God please don't let me hold her back for my own selfishness! haha! So she's pretty hot natured. I mean she sweats EASILY. She gets that gene from me because I'm like that but she is worse! So I usually just have her sleep in a t-shirt and diapers. Well that night she was in her crib and I had a blanket over her. Usually she kicks the blanket off. That night I woke up at around 1am. Just one of those things. I wake up every few hours even if I don't have to. It sucks. ANYWAY, so I decide to check on her. She didn't kick her blanket off. I figure she must feel cold. Her arms, which were out from under the blanket, were really cold! So I feel for her legs under the blanket and they are a tad cold too. My poor baby! So I took her out and brought her to bed where she'd be kept warm... and also for my own selfishness. haha!

Well Friday night, she slept through the whole night! This time I dressed her in her pj's with the footsies, but the material was just plain cotton so it was not real thin but a little bit. I still covered her with a blanket. She did fine, although I would prefer that she be kept just a tad warmer since she still had cold arms. So tonight, she is dressed in pj's with footsies but the material is a tad thicker and the blanket is too. And checking on her, she seems just right. Aww... my baby is grown! And if she kinbd of wakes up, she is able to put herself back to sleep by sucking her thumb. So she doesn't depend on me or junior to put her back to sleep. I'm so proud and a little hearbroken too. haha! selfish mom!

Last night, she and I went to my friend Muna's house for her son's first birthday! Sachin is about 6-7 months older so they will be in the same grade! It's exciting! Anyway, there was a point in the night where Muna's brother in law was holding Sachin and her brother holding Toni. And they are talking to each other. It's so cute! Well here's my fast growing daughter, and she reaches over to Sachin as if to hug him... it was so cute! But the look on his face was so funny. He looked a little scared. haha! Later than night when we were about to leave, Toni was already in her seat and Sachin just kept talking to her. Sooooo cute!