First Food Fun

"Fun" is not a word I would ordinarily use to describe the introduction of solid food to one of our babies. In fact, I'm not sure that "fun" would make the first 10 words I would use!  It's the official end to the not-as-disgusting-as-they-could-be diapers, an additional serving to prepare at mealtime, an additional surface to clean after mealtime, more frequent baths for the messy new eater, a higher grocery bill, etc. etc.  Plus, worst of all, it's a sign that the baby is growing.  That's always hard to stomach when I just wish time would stand still. 

But, like all of of the unpleasantries of parenthood,  this food thing needed to be conquered eventually with Mary.  At six months old, Mary has been eyeing everything being consumed around her for a little while now.  She's even smacked her lips on occasion.  I think she's been eagerly anticipating this day as much as I've been pretending it wasn't coming.  So, we finally broke down, bought some rice cereal, and sat our little Mary at the table for all to witness her first taste of food.  Megan had just returned from a play date where she and her little friend had been feeding their baby dolls, and her excitement at feeding her real, live baby sister was beyond cute.  The other girls were equally into this event (when they should have been a little more into their own food!).  Imagine a full-on cheering section for your first taste of mush.  Mary's going to have it made as she walks through life with those four adoring big sisters.

We were all just assuming our little chunker would devour anything we put in front of her, but to our surprise, she didn't really appreciate what we had to offer.

 

That's okay, Mary.  It gets better.  Just ask your cheerleaders.  There's a whole world of chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese out there, just on the horizon.

And anyway, Miss Mary is doing just fine, thank you very much, without that pesky food.  Today, at her six-month checkup, she weighed in at 17 pounds, 3 ounces (75%) and measured 26 1/2 inches (75%), which is setting some records in this house of little girls.  (Each of the other girls weighed between 1 and 3 pounds less than that at six months.)   So, I'm not too worried whether this little moosette likes her rice cereal or not!