There's lots of guidance out there for new moms on baby feeding.  How to nurse; how much to nurse; how to get over nursing issues; how to bottle-feed; why bottle-feeding is okay; how to get over bottle-feeding issues; what formula is best; what if your baby is allergic to formula, ... the list goes on and on.

Interestingly, all of this information ignores the fact that, at anywhere from 4-6 months of age, your precious little liebling will start craving things other than breastmilk or formula.  Like, food.

I read somewhere (my new source of information = "somewhere") that when your baby starts paying attention to the food you eat, you might want to consider feeding them baby food.  Jack has been watching us like a hawk lately.  Okey dokey -- now what do I do?

Enter, rice cereal.  So far, so good.  I'll take better pictures soon, but was so enchanted by the fact that he liked it that I had to bust out the phone:

Even more exciting than pulverized rice is that fruit is next!

Hope this finds you well,
Heather

Haiku for Jack

cool dude baby boy

Texas summer as you grow

hearts overflowing

Exer-Baby

Hello, exersaucer!  Jack is in love with his new, circular, party-a-go-go playing station.  We have some friends (who shall remain nameless) who call their Exersaucer the Neglect-o-matic.

If you share our dark sense of humor, you will find that funny.  If not, forget I said it and just bask in the cuteness below:

Either way, hope this finds you well.

Heather

Flashback: Visit from Maine!

I'm losing track of time.  I can't believe it's already the end of July.  Jack rolled over yesterday!  He finally figured out how to get from tummy to back to tummy!  Once he realized he had the hang of it, he did it over and over.  I wonder if he's an overachiever like his mom...

Anyway, it's been far too long since my brother and his family visited.  We miss them already, but are so glad they'll be back for Christmas.  Here are some pics from when Uncle Lindy, Aunt Lisa, and super-cousins Eli and Francie visited!

Francie and Jack think things over.

Lisa and Jack take a spin.

The men talk things over in the kitchen.  Pockets rule.

Aunt Heather with the coolest kids I know.  Other than Jack, of course!

Wow.

Jack's shots went well yesterday.  Well, that might be glossing over the details a bit.  The end result of the big day of shots was fine.  However, at the actual moment when he got them, he screamed with so much fury that he turned vermillion, and the sound that he emitted could only be heard by dogs and airplane radar.  But, once I calmed him down, he was fine.

In fact, by yesterday evening, I was enjoying some backyard time with Durel and Jack, and everyone was happy.

Not to get mushy, but this picture makes me realize how amazingly lucky I am.  House, husband, baby, dogs (not pictured), health and happiness.  Wow.

Hope this finds you well.
Heather

Mini Flashback

Jack is going to the pediatrician for his four month wellness visit and round of vaccinations today.  On one hand, it seems like he's always been part of my life and our family.  On the other hand, I absolutely can't believe that he's 4 1/2 months old.

Permit me a brief, nostalgic flashback, sil vous plait:

Le sigh.  Awesome.  But let's face it:  He'll be driving before I know it.

Hope this finds you well.

Heather

Teeth: Pearly Whites or Harbingers of Doom?

Jack's fourth month is a joyous time.  He's eating well and sleeping well.  He smiles and giggles like Durel and I are the funniest comedians on the planet.  His personality is emerging.  We might even see the beginnings of hair.

He also drools a lot.  Aside from drenching his onesies, this is no big deal, right?  Well, right...except that it means one additional thing:  Teeth are coming.  Like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse -- they can't be stopped and are met with some dread and apprehension.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm excited that the little dude will soon have some pearly whites to flash around at his adoring fans.  I just hope against hope that we aren't all driven mad by the teething process. 

First tool:  Frozen teething ring.  Verdict:  Yum.

Update to follow.  Teeth to come.

Hope this finds you well.

Heather

Jack's Emerging Style

One of the things I hadn't anticipated is how much fun it is to dress your baby.  Listen, he can't argue right now or tell me that I'm not cool, so the sky's the limit for kiddie fashion.

And evidently, the sky is the limit.  I found something today that completely blew me away.  In a bad way.  You heard it here first -- Jack will not be wearing things like this:

Though I shudder to think of kiddie models wearing these, I need to make sure you realize that this is Ed Hardy gear in infant and toddler sizes.  Woah.

Never one to see just one side of an argument, I must present the flip side of this fashion coin.  For those who choose to deck their babies out in Ed Hardy, this is probably a specter of horror:

Photo credit

I mean, it's smocking.  But guess what?  I LOVE IT.  I think it's precious and adorable.

Granted, it's not for every day.  So, in the spirit of compromise, I leave you with these.  Can't we all just get along?

Photo credit

Photo credit

Hope this finds you well.  And not dressing your baby in Ed Hardy.

--Heather

Jack "Warhol"

Today's entry is brought to you by my ever-increasing iPhone envy.

Today's image is brought to you by Aunt Jenny, recent owner of the new iPhone, creative type, and explorer of cool apps:

My baby gets cooler by the day.  My Blackberry however, not so much.

Hope this finds you well.

Heather

The Lazy Days of Summer

Independence Day 2010:  Eating, sleeping, relaxing.  Independence is awesome.  So are naps.

And, well, so are sunglasses.

Hope you all enjoyed the same way we did.


--Heather