Friday, November 7, 2008

Adventures in Food

Micah is interested in food, so when he's acting hungry, and has just nursed recently, or we're eating and he's interested we put him at the table with some food in front of him and he gets what he can to his mouth. This style of food introduction is called "baby led weaning" you can read more about it on Wikipedia. Micah enjoys: tortillas, chicken, peas, apples, bananas, yogurt, cheese sticks, and I'm sure there's some other things I'm leaving off.

William is a bit more of a challenge to me, I'm not really sure how to do it since I've never fed a baby "baby food". So far I've offered him peas by holding them to his mouth and he eats them just fine, but can't quite get the food to his own mouth due to his troubles. So since he's interested in food, I needed to find some way to feed him. Micah was having Bananas and chicken tonight for dinner, so I took a piece of banana and chopped it with the pampered chef chopper, and did the same with some chicken, I offered them seperately, and got quickly tired of that, so I mixed them together, and added a little oil (for calories), and some applesauce since I was serving apple sauce to Tommy, and fed him with a spoon, just putting it near his mouth careful to not insert the spoon too far, and he ate the whole thing and then drank 2-3 oz of mommy milk!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Good going Micah. And yay William!! That's great that he would eat like that.

Le'BookSquirrel said...

way to go!Have you considered mashing it or buying a puree thing?Chloe started solids at 7 months and by 10 months she was eating table foods we stopped with the baby food all together its so much easier when they eat what your eating! I love all the pictures of the boys!They are adorable!

Mother of a "Special" Child

When I was young, I'd often say,
I'd like to be a mom someday
While playing with my baby doll,
I thought that job's not hard at all

I'd have a baby, maybe two,
a girl in pink...a boy in blue
Well I grew up and sure enough,
I'm now a mom and gosh it's tough

The baby that was sent to me,
was born with disabilities
At first I'm frightened through and through,
there's much to learn to care for you

This wasn't in my plans at all,
when I was young and played with dolls
Your mind and body were so weak,
you might not ever walk or speak

So much special care required,
I'm often scared and often tired
As months and years go slowly by,
I smile a lot but sometimes cry

To watch you grow and not complain,
though you endure your share of pain
Oh, how I'd hold you and I'd pray,
that you'd be healed and whole someday

But I knew that was not to be,
not physically or mentally
And so I taught you best I could,
your progress wasn't very good

But then one day I realized,
as I gazed into your loving eyes
That I had learned so much from you,
determination...courage too

A love so unconditional,
it floods my soul and always will
I'm proud to say I gave you birth,
for you're an angel here on earth.

God Choose a mother for a "Special" child

Most women becaome mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjotie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But she has patience?" asked the angel.

"I don't want her to have to much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

And what about her Patron saint? asked the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."