Shocking News & Other Related Items

I hope the title of this post prepared you... because there is some shocking news I need to share.  You see, the son of Brian and Ellen... likes to eat!  (This was probably a lot funnier for me to write than for you to read... you should know I giggled a lot).

Yes, ladies and gentlemen (if there is a gentleman who reads this blog), Evan has been eating solid food for almost 2 months now and has decided he really likes this new phase of life.  He now eats 3 meals a day (and still 4 bottles) and I think he would be okay if we introduced linner (meal between lunch and dinner... think about it) but that won't be happening any time soon.

So, what does Evan eat?  Check it out:

Foods Evan Likes: (currently he is eating Earth's Best food so all of these combinations come from their line)

• Apples and Apricots
• Apples and Bananas
• Apples and Blueberries
• Bananas
• Bananas, Peaches, and Raspberries (this is a new favorite)
• Pears
• Pears and Raspberries
• Peach Oatmeal Banana
• Carrots
• Garden Vegetables
• Green Beans and Rice
• Peas and Brown Rice
• Sweet Potatoes
• Winter Squash
• Chicken and Brown Rice country dinner
• Chicken Tomato Pastina country dinner
• Harvest Squash turkey country dinner
• Summer vegetable dinner
• Sweet Potatoes and chicken dinner
• Creamy Chicken Apple Compote (smells as nasty as it sounds but this one was a super winner)
• Tender Beef Spinach
• Barley Teething Biscuits

Foods Evan Could Do Without:

• Whole Grain Rice Cereal with formula (and any fruit available mixed in as an incentive)
• Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal with formula (and the fruit trick again)

Morale of the story... the boy likes food.  More important morale... prunes will come nowhere near my child... he does just fine on his own.

I love this picture because it shows everything so clearly.  Evan's mouth covered with food.  Grandpa trying to feed Evan but he is distracted by anything new.  And, of course, DJ Lance on in the background.  It's perfect.

So, if you don't yet have any children or have a baby who hasn't started on solid food yet, let me clear up some things for you.

1. You know how they say the bowel movements will change depending on what baby eats... it's true.  It's very very true. 
2. Remember what your baby ate for dinner last night before you freak out about the color of the bowel movement. Trust me.
3. Go ahead, try some of the food (even though my mom claims that with 4 children she never once tried it).  That way you will understand why my baby doesn't like the rice cereal - blech.
4. Baby food with meat smells nasty.  Be warned, it may make your stomach turn.  Don't try this food... pureed meat just ain't right.
5. Listen to the little cues your baby gives you.  For instance, if he flings the spoon out of your hand and sweet potato goes everywhere, he is probably done eating.  I'm just saying.
6. Make sure that the baby spoon full of orange and green food is nowhere near your baby's mouth when he goes to sneeze.  Apparently the whole "covering your mouth while you sneeze" is a learned skill and not one that comes naturally.
7. When you go to wipe your baby's mouth or in the tub, check in between the fingers, under the nails, in the neck folds (or that might just be my baby), behind the ear, along with all the usual places like the mouth for dried food.  Because you see, your baby will rub his fist on his mouth that is covered with baby food and then put his hand all over his entire body in the 2 seconds before you are able to capture his hand and wash it off.  Believe me, they are wily creatures.
8. Finally, food is fun and that is okay.  If some drops on the high chair tray, let him make little Van Gogh paintings.  He is going to get it all over the place anyway so why not nurture some artistic talent at the same time?

Moms - any advice / information you want to share?  Go ahead, leave a comment for someone else.