[Kay]

Yea I have tried the breast milk thing. I don't mind the extra work pumping and all, it just didn't make a difference to her. I am convinced it is a textured thing because she likes the taste of the whole food, but will not eat it mashed up. You know I am not too concerned. I think she is just an opinionated little thing (I wonder where that could possibly come from?) and eventually she will come around. None of my kids are picky eaters so I am not used to this, but we will both make adjustments.
Kay

[Daney]

Congrats Marlee on the food!! Did it help her sleep better?

Kay is it going any easier for you? Hope so looks like you tried all the tricks maybe she will just go to real food

SO the only thing Paker hates is carrots the face he made was priceless!! He even wimpered when I tried again! Too cute! Anyway so he much rather have food than his bottle and I am having some trouble getting him to finish his bottles he just looks at me like I want the good stuff!!
How much is everyones baby eating now formula/milk and food? He cut down to about 30oz and eats 2x a day sometimes I give him lunch but I want him to have his formula

Are any babies talking yet? The only thing he says is mmmm and a lot of babble and screaching not even close to mama or dada or anything I dont think is this normal?

Oh yeah I make some of his food now I have made apricots and apples but he seems to like the jar and I use the beechnut they have no preservitives so it works
hope everyone is well

[Kay]

Hi Daney-
I think Clara is coming around a little. She seems to want to be in control of the whole process though. I think I have a stubborn one on my hands. We tried pears today and more went down than any other food before it. maybe we are clearing a hurdle.
That is great that Parker is taking so well to his meals. He is a big boy and probably needs more to fill him up. Do you have stock in Costco? I have a feeling when he is an adolescent you will need to buy in BULK!
Clara is doing the same as Parker in the verbal department. She doesn't really use vowel sounds. Most of her communication is screetchy and gutteral. She also uses her eyebrows a lot! It is the funniest thing.
Can you believe we are (or almost) at the 1/2 year point. Yikes where has the time gone?!
Kay

[bunniswife]

We haven't started food yet, Georgia still eats around every three hours and gets 7oz of formula at a time. She generally eats around five to six times a day and has started sleeping from eight at night to eight in the morning with little catnaps during the day. I can't believe how fast the time is going by. Our babies will be toddlers in no time at all *sniffle*, and I'm not liking the fact that she's growing so fast. She's my last baby and I wish she'd stay little for awhile longer....As for her speech, no dicernable words yet, but she's definitely become more vocal over the last month, she squeals and giggles, hollers when she's annoyed or poopy, and makes this irritating noise like whining when she wants to be picked up. God I love her....Glad to hear all the babes are doing so well.

[hopefull79]

Avery is at about 30 oz of forumla, which she still loves, but definately loves the real food as well!! She gets about 2 tablespoons of rice cereal in the morning, and a veggie and fruit at night. When she hits the 6 month mark I plan on increasing her solids more. As of now she, she gets cranky at dinner after her veggie and fruit because she wants more!! This child truly loves to eat!!

[infertilitynovice]

I can't believe how close we all are to the 1/2 yr mark! As much fun as I am having with her now, I just want to cry thinking about how fast is flying by. Margaret, Marlee is very likely to be my only one, so I know what you mean about this being it for the baby stage! The last time you'll see all these firsts...oh God, I'm going to start crying if I don't change the subject!

How often do you increase the amount of cereal/oatmeal? They recommended starting with 1tsp of cereal to 4-5tsps of liquid. I've been giving solids for 3 days now. Should I increase the amount I'm feeding her? When do you increase the thickness or should it always stay really runny? I feed her in the morning and in the evening too. I've already decided not to wait til she's 6 mos to start fruits and veggies. That didn't last long, right? Most of the moms in my mom's group agree that if I do, I run the risk of having her become bored and deciding she doesn't like solids anymore. I did let her try a fingerful dipped in avocado from my sandwich at lunch today...she LOVED it! So much fun!

As for talking...Marlee, too, has become very vocal lately. She "screeches" at her little friends in group...so cute! She's started making the "mamamama" sound when she's upset now, but she's not saying anything.

[hopefull79]

Melissa - I give Avery 1 - 2 tbsp of cereal in the morning, it's usually pretty obvious when she's done. I only made it runny for a few days, she really likes it thicker!! I would just take Marlee's lead. I don't think you're going to over-feed her!! So she liked the avacodo?? I've been debating making some for Avery. So weird that it's a fruit!!

[Daney]

Parker eats alot of food about 3tbs with fruit in am and veggie in pm and only takes 4 6oz bottles now I misx his oatmeal with formula so I hope he is getting enough but he seems so much better on food rather than formula no more gas or tummy pains or constipation Im so happy for that
The only thing he doesnt like is carrots!! He hates them and he loved avacado but I will never give it to him at night again I dont know if it was a coincidence or what but he was full of energy all night!! I could not get him to go back to bed after 3 he was wide a wake so now he gets it in the am!!But its one of his favs

Heres some recent picsgo wings
his 1 month old friend luke..I miss the baby stage!!BIg boyHIs little friend

SO close!!
Nope I crawl backwords!!lol

[hopefull79]

Daney - Parker is sooo cute!!! And sitting so well and getting close to crawling!! Avery still topples constantly while sitting and I don't think we're anywhere near crawling!! I too miss the "baby" stage, I was holding a newborn last night and I so badly want another already!!

[Kay]

Daney- Parker is amazing.... I think you might have an athlete on your hands. I think it is so funny to see them crawl backward. You know they really want to go forward, but can't quite figure it out.
Kay

[infertilitynovice]

Parker is super cute! So great that he's sitting so well. Marlee really, really wants to, but she just can't quite yet. She does great if I prop her, but not on her own yet.

I had a dream last night that she was crawling. I really miss the newborn stage too. Now when I nurse her she's so long that she's way longer than my lap. When she was little I loved that her head would rest in the crook of my elbow and I could cup her butt in the palm of my hand...no more though...so sad

I started mixing the cereal/oatmeal thicker the other day. She likes it much better that way too.

Last night she woke at 3ish. I listened to her "play" for a while then she started getting fussy, so I went in to check on her. She had completely! removed her whole body from her swaddle. Sometimes she's able to break out an arm or two out, but her whole body was free! And she was completely backwards in from the position I had put her in...it was really funny. I think she was extra motivated b/c it was crazy hot in our house last night. Some freak heatwave has hit New England and we hadn't broke out the air conditioner units yet. DH and I slept without a sheet or anything on top of us, a fan overhead, and 2 fans on either side of the bed blowing on us! I ended up bringing her in bed with us b/c our room was a bit cooler than hers. I never sleep very well when I know she's next to me though.

[Kay]

Melissa- I hear ya about our babies getting so big. I love the developing personality and how fun Clara is getting, but I do miss the infant stage. Every stage has its great points and not so great, but those baby baby times go by so fast.
Marlee is getting to be a swaddle Houdini. I start Clara out in a swaddle still, but often she escapes in the night too.
Kay

[infertilitynovice]

Kay, I didn't realize anybody here still swaddled their LOs. Have you tried her out without it? Do you have a plan on how to break her of it?

I tried last week but the poor baby just can't sleep otherwise. I tried 1 arm out. She did *okay* but still does better completely swaddled. You know that "they" say no one should swaddle anymore? wth? I swear, just wait cuz what ever we're told to do right now, will the worst possible thing you could ever do tomorrow! lol!

[hopefull79]

I still swaddle Avery, and I often think of how I'm gonna break her of it. She sleeps sooo well, and I really think the swaddle has a lot to do with it. Why do they say not to swaddle anymore?? A friend of mine swaddled her LO until he was 7 months old. She said one day he just started screaming when she was swaddling him, so she just stopped and he did great. I somehow don't think it will be so easy for me... So the one-arm thing didn't go so well?? Please keep me posted!!

[Kay]

Clara does sleep much better when she is swaddled. I also like it because I think it keeps her warmer in the night. We are still in the 30's here at night. I cannot keep her swaddled in just a blanket anymore she is in the Halo swaddler which stays together with velcro. I figure it is like a lot of things.... eventually she won't need this anymore, but right now it is keeping us both sane.... worth it I think! I don't feel like there is a danger to doing this. I plan on doing it as long as she fits the Halo and needs it to sleep.
Kay