He was ready, but I wasn't

I have been putting off giving Isaac solids for a while now because I wanted him to have only breastmilk and delay solids as long as possible since he is growing so well on it alone. The pediatrician had also said to definitely wait 6 months, but I wanted to go longer. I had done the research, and many people feel it is best to exclusively breastfeed with nothing else as long as possible during the first year, because solid foods aren't really needed until 1 year old. I planned to watch his cues and wait until he was interested or needed the extra nutrition. He hasn't been the least bit interested in solid foods up to this point. But then tonight at dinner, he was watching us eat longingly and started making chewing motions, which he's never done before. I have been contemplating giving him a bite of something soon just to see how he'd respond, since the doc suggested at his 6 month checkup yesterday to think about starting something soon. So, this morning, I made a big batch of steel-cut oats (which are so good) in the crockpot for our breakfasts this week. I took a bit of that, put it in the blender, mixed in some breastmilk and heated it. Now, we fully expected him to thrust that spoon right out of his mouth, make an awful face, and spit the food out.

He sure surprised us! He knew just exactly what to do with that spoon. By the third bite he was opening his mouth in anticipation and trying to pull the spoon to his mouth. He loved it. I only gave him 7 or 8 bites and he would have taken more. I haven't even researched how to make my own baby food yet, which is what I want to do. I don't even know how much or how often to feed him. I thought I had much more time, but he is obviously ready. I am so proud of him, but a little sad too. My baby is growing up.

So, over the next few weeks, I will be starting him off by giving him little tastes of whatever veggie we happen to be eating that day, mashed up and unseasoned of course (the doc suggested squash, peas, and green beans). We're going to take it slow for sure, but he sure seems excited about it, even if I'm not so much.

Half a Year!!!

6 Months ago today, Isaac unexpectadely entered my world. I remember that day so well, and I've been reflecting all morning. After getting permission to toss the terbutaline pills and pump the day before and being told the 15 painless contractions I was having every hour didn't appear to be doing anything to my cervix, after 2 long months of strict bed rest, I was sure I was in the clear for at least another 3 weeks, idiot that I was. So, what did I do? I slipped up. I started walking around, went to Wal-Mart, met Steve for lunch, ended up in L&D that night, only to be sent home that morning. Within hours, we are back in the hospital and I end up going into active labor, dialating from a 2-10cm, and delivering tiny little 4lb 15oz Isaac Lee all within 3 hours with no meds whatsoever!! Not the way I expected that day to end. It was the scariest day of my life. It was 4 excruciating hours after his birth before we saw him or knew anything at all about how he was doing. But God was watching over him and protecting him all the time.

Now, just 6 months later, he is a whopping 17+ pounds - all breastmilk except for the high-cal formula he got those first few days in the hospital. Breastfeeding was such an incredible struggle in the beginning, and I faced just about every hurdle imaginable. Now we are going strong on 6 months and loving every moment of it, and I am so thankful that God gave me the strength I needed to push through the rough spots. He is able to sit on his own just about, loves to stand, smiles and giggles, and is the sweetest most precious thing in my entire life. He is in my thoughts every minute while I am at work. The last 6 months have gone by like a whirlwind, and he looks so different and has learned so much. But he is still my sweet baby boy.

1 day old