Paul is eight months today! (Part 1)

Reflections on his eating habits

August 13.  Paul is eight months today!  And he keeps on growing.  I was looking through some of his first months’ pictures yesterday and it’s amazing how much he’s changed in such a short time.  This past month has been an incredible time of development for him.  Once, when I went in his room to get him out of bed, I caught him on his knees, his upper body up against the railing of his crib, arms stretched out reaching for the baby monitor.  He saw me with this big smile as if to say, “Look what I can do, Momma!”  That was the end of the half-raised crib rails.  Three weekends ago, again as I went in to get him out of bed, he was standing on his crib, his little fingers grasping with all his might the top of the now fully raised crib railing.  I was so excited, I yelled at Steve to get out of bed to see his boy even though it was his day off and I know he would like to stay under the covers for just a little bit longer!  We were gushing and I was clapping and stomping my feet, laughing and grinning from ear to ear like a madwoman.  I think Paul was quite amused.  I don’t know if my reaction is normal but I guess I really don’t care that much.  I’ve decided a long time ago that I am a crazy woman and it’s ok that people think or call me that.

This boy’s pincer grip is spot on, man!  He’s the king of tags – on his clothes, toys, blankets, bibs, you name it.  When he sees one, he pinches it like a pro and brings it to his mouth.  Ah…the glories of teething and just plain curiosity.  For the longest time though, his use of his pincer grip was limited to just food and tags.  He ignored little pieces of lint, paper, or some little things on the floor as he crawls until just recently.  So far, he hasn’t been successful putting any of that in his mouth, mostly because I’m right there to intercede but it won’t be long when he’ll be chewing on who-knows-what and the game of open-your-mouth-and-let-me-take-that-out will commence!

One of the highlights of my day is our morning breakfast ritual.  Paul is at his happiest after waking up in the morning.  He usually lasts in his exersaucer for as long as it takes me to cook my one-minute-oatmeal and prepare his oatmeal.  Then we both sit at the table, him on his high chair and me in Mommy’s chair and gobble up oatmeal together.  As for other foods, he’s so far been eating sweet potatoes, peas, avocados, carrots, green beans, broccoli, kabocha squash, butternut squash, potatoes, and chicken – mostly pureed and some cut up in chunks – with no problems.  Obviously, the first time we introduced these foods were the most fun – oh, the faces he makes!  I’ve tried yogurt, apples, and bananas separately but have not had success.  The only bite he’ll take is the first bite, understandably, his test bite.  I thought for sure he will instantly like bananas because of its natural sweetness but I think he has trouble more with the texture than with the taste.  He almost always acts like he’s about to gag.  The same goes with the yogurt and bananas, except this one he makes this sorta shivering act after eating a bite and then he closes his eyes and puckers his open lips – must be a bit sour for him, or he just thinks those foods are nasty!  I don’t blame him but I do hope he’ll come around to eating them.  For the most part, his meals are uneventful – no tantrums and throwing food on the floor – oh wait, he’s not there yet!  Well…he is a good boy when it comes to eating his food.  He eats three times a day and still nurses full time day and night.  He also made sure I learned that when he clamps his mouth and looks away when I give him a spoonful of food that that means he’s either done or dislikes it.  Subtle signals are important to decipher in the life of a little man who cannot verbalize what he’s feeling yet, I’m discovering.  It makes both of us a lot lot less cranky.