*le sigh*

we're on to solids.

i'm proud of my girl for doing a great job of growing but what happened to my little baby?

mother-sighs aside, i wanted to write about what dh and i are doing with Ninja re: solids because it's sure not what we're used to. we're trying baby-led weaning.

we grew up thinking that purees were a must. apparently, for healthy and ready 6-month-olds, not so.

so far i've given Ninja tastes of avocado, sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas. mainly, i brushed her lips with morsels. no go to most of it. she thought bananas, especially, were a terrible idea. at the taste of sweet potatoes, she gave me her worst look: mommy, how could you betray me like this? and then when she nursed, she made a loud production of going "nom, nom, nom." so yummy, mummy! this is what i wanted!

today, we started BWL in earnest. i got her ready in her chair (to which she was already accustomed because i wanted her to be used to sitting in it). and then i gave her a stick of steamed broccoli.

she went crazy for it! nom nom nom! she gnawed away happily for almost half an hour. the spear remained but most of the florets were gone. no choking, no gagging. she knew what to do with it. good job, kiddo!

btw: i am still nursing. i am not a fan of breastfeeding - i'm constantly engorged, dripping wet, smelling like sour cottage cheese - but i believe militantly in its importance. i plan to continue until Ninja is a year old. i'd probably go longer - up to two years or more - but in spring i want to do a frozen cycle and the IVF nurse says i have to wean first.

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just now, i'm trying to put Ninja to bed and i've noticed that she is mastering the art of manipulation. her normal desperate cries for me to come save her (and i always do) sounded different to me. canned or something. instead of picking her up, i waited and watched. suddenly she stopped her odd shrieks and groans and looked up at me. and grinned.

little bugger!