Back to the coalface...

So I've decided to go back to work. *sad face* At this stage just two days a week (Tues & Thurs) but it will be very hard to leave Oliver. He is going into a childcare centre, so hopefully all goes well. They are happy to take cloth nappies, and seem to have a really good approach to kids and free play. Not sure how the food thing is going to go, I have a settling visit with Oliver tomorrow so hopefully we can discuss it then. They have an in house chef and you aren't allowed to bring any food in. I presume to avoid allergy/sharing issues. I don't think they are very knowledgable about baby led intro to solids, and the food they prepare probably isn't with baby led in mind. Apparently they puree the lunch for the smaller kids. I've had a few suggestions as to how to approach it. Let them puree feed him for two days a week, its only two meals (not keen on this one). No food at all, just milk,on childcare days (can't see this one working as he is starting to actually eat now!). Tell them to give him the same as an older kid (he'll be eight months) and don't worry if he doesn't eat anything. I know there is a bunch of baby led stalkers out there.. do you have any suggestions?

And now my time to blog has run out, I'm trying to limit my computer time in an effort to get the other million things I need to do done! Time for Ollie pics

Ollie really loves his daddy, and David gets lots of smiles at dinnertime

this picture really cracks me up. Ollie does this alot at the dinner table. And.. if you look REALLY closely you might be able to see our new bottom teeth! Woo!

lamb kofta ... YUM

my beautiful happy boy

Three weeks into blis...

Chickpea patties were on the menu this week. I was starting to think Ollie had an aversion to pattie shaped foods as he was just ignoring them (including chickpea patties last time we had them) but last night he really got into them! It would appear a fair bit was consumed!

We are now three weeks into our baby led introduction to solids journey! I've been amazed nearly every day about how far Ollie has come! He actually eats now! Chews and swallows! Though sometimes his nappies show that he could chew a little more....  but we are definitely seeing evidence of food consumption!

I do still need to occasionally remind myself that it is not about the volume of food consumed, but about the experience! I am so glad that we chose the babyled route (thanks darling cousin for encouraging us in the first place!) and it is most definitely the right way for us. We are opening Ollie up to a range of tastes and textures, and I try hard to avoid passing on my food aversions! (Liver pate. Looks/smells like catfood. Ew! Ollie LOVES it!)

Ollie is so excited to get into his highchair, and waits expectantly for food to appear on his tray! No turned face, or pursed lips when a spoon approaches, just fun every day!

I purchased the baby led weaning recipe book, and so glad I did. They have some great recipes, and a good summary of how to begin baby led weaning and what food is appropriate. It was pretty daunting when we first started, and I stuck to true "finger" foods (in finger shape!). Now, we are a bit more adventurous with steak, patties, and casseroles.

Even the rats are loving our babyled adventure - they get the leftovers! Even our lovely old flat-footed man rats come running to the cage door, when Ollie and I appear with "lunch".


The other upside is I'm definitely thinking more about what David and I eat, because if Ollie can't have it - we probably shouldn't either! Let's hope we become healthier family because of it! (especially after David's recent scare.. more on that later!) I am also loving the sitting down to eat dinner as a family. I'm sure it is good for David and I - I actually get a chance to ask "How was your day, dear?". Eating earlier is proving to be a bonus too.

I've definitely appreciated the resources and support from the university study, really good guidelines to get me going. For example, include an "easy" food, an iron-rich food, and an energy-rich food with every meal.

For those wanting to know more, I keep a record of each days food and a few comments (depending on how my day is going) at a separate blog - here.  I've had quite a few messages from people who are interested to find out more, and those hoping to do a babyled approach with their own kids.It isn't for everyone, but definitely worth a look!

we have a meat-a-saurus in our midst

We're still moseying along with our baby led solids journey. It has been going fantastically. We are having a ball! Who said kids shouldn't play with their food?! We're learning about food and textures, and not worrying about swallowing. It is amazing how far he has come already! I gave him a banana a few days ago and he struggled to hold on to it, finding it too soft and slippery. Today I gave him a peeled banana half and he easily picked it up and put it in his mouth! He is learning how much pressure to apply to foods, and while he still loves to smoosh things, he is bringing everything to his mouth like a pro. Same applies to pear - too slippery a few days ago, straight into his mouth today.

I've been reading the original "Baby Led Weaning" book by Gill Rapley which the NZ study was founded on. Gill's approach is quite different, and focuses on including baby in all meals and let them choose what they want to eat, meaning all meals need to be baby friendly. So with that in mind, we've altered Ollie's bedtime routine (and our dinner time!) to include him.

Dinner last night was our usual staple of stir fry, it was Ollie's first go at meat (thin strips of beef). He absolutely loved it! It barely came out of his mouth - in fact it hung there while he picked up his veges! Our cheeky little boy is indeed a carnivore (at the least an omnivore).

I'm also trying to interact with him less while he eats, and let him at his food. This unfortunately means less photos. Tonight we had steak and steamed veges and I would have LOVED to get a video of Ollie attacking (!) his steak! He really got into it, chewing it and sucking all the juices out and even ripped it into two.

I have to think a bit harder about what I'm going to have for lunch in order to make it baby friendly, but that can only be a good thing - as it means we'll always be eating fresh healthy food. Hopefully that will help to kick start my (much needed) weight loss.

i must really love my baby...

Feeling shell shocked and really upset after the Christchurch earthquake. Have found myself in tears many times. We've been so lucky and all our friends are safe and well. There has been so much loss, and I can't even express how it has made me feel. I am very thankful for my wonderful family, but also terrified of what could have happened if it were us.

Today I made pate. From real chicken livers. It was the most disgusting thing in the world. Next time, David is making it. (It still makes me retch thinking about it). The pate is for Ollie, as an iron rich food in his baby led solids journey. As Scone said to me this evening, I must really really love Ollie to make it. The recipe made heaps, so I think I'll have to add some salt and pepper so David will eat some. I also made Ollie hummus. Going to really try and widen the food I give him this week as I've gotten a bit lazy 'cause he loves toast so much. Despite the love of toast, he doesn't actually ingest all that much yet! He isn't supposed to, but it is weird considering we spend a fair bit of time "eating".

Last night we went to my step-sisters for a BBQ. It was great to finally meet our newest niece! She is absolutely gorgeous! She was born premature, and is now nine weeks old (four weeks adjusted). She is doing so well!

 Ollie got to try out his cousin's baby automatic swing, he was rather impressed and even went to sleep in it (eventually!!). I can definitely see the appeal of those swings - it kept him really happy when he was mega overtired. Definitely not a necessity, but great for subsequent babies so you can deal to the older kids!

Ollie is six months old next week! I might have to do some kind of "the last six months post" like our buddies Ree & Alex. (Ain't she a cutie!?)

a toast to toast

tasty toast

We had a great time today with toast! Being the weekend, David was home and Ollie really enjoyed him being there at food time. Ollie was so enthusiastic! Lots of highchair banging and bouncing! He loved his toast, and even after gagging twice (resulting in vomit!) he was quite happy to pick it up and chew again! I love that we are teaching him how to chew before he swallows! It was amazing, he got the food out, and then just carried on eating! Go the gag reflex!We also had avocado and purple kumara - tasty!

More food pics and rambling here

I hate that the weekend is already over - it just isn't long enough! It wasn't long enough when I was working Monday-Friday and it definitely isn't long enough now that Ollie and I are home without David Monday-Friday. That said, I am very thankful of the awesome weather we've been having!

Food is fun, til you're one

So I introduced Ollie to solids today, in the form of steamed orange kumara! Also a wee bit of avocado. It was so much fun - he really enjoyed squashing his kumara sticks,  I'm not sure that he actually ate anything - but that is to be expected in the early days with baby led. If he did, I'm sure I'll see it in his nappy tomorrow *blerk*.  I'll try to make the kumara a bit firmer tomorrow - it was far too easy for Ollie to squish. Think we'll also try some toast......

I'm planning to do a dailyish update on how things go but won't post it on the main page. So if you care.... I've created another page here!

Whole foods?

this ain't food

We are preparing to introduce Ollie to food that isn't mama-milk. Depsite the recent "study" that suggests food should be started at four months, we're going with a more baby led approach and waiting til six months (ish). Part of me is still in denial that that he has grown so much....it all feels like yesterday! Ollie has been very interested in food for several weeks now and often tries to steal our food. I've tried out the highchair and Ollie is quite happy in there, but not so keen on the lack of food! 

I've been along to the Plunket "food talk" and while the Karitane nurse was very nice, I really didn't get that much out of it.  I'd read a wee bit about 'Baby Led Weaning' and thanks to my awesome cousin, found out about a study being run by one of the universities,which we've been accepted into. They provide resources and support which will help our baby led journey. In short, baby led means no purees, no spoon feeding, and Ollie eats what he wants. We plan to start this week.