Cloth diapering is going well. I've learned how to manage them, clean them well, even how to use them at night. I feel like it's just as easy as using disposables, if not easier. My husband is even an advocate now! I won't lie...it was hard in the beginning - a poopy diaper after EVERY feeding. Too much to keep up with. But now that he's only going every few days, it's a breeze. And I know with him starting solids, that will change, but I'm convinced I can tackle any cloth diaper he throws at me :).
We started making him food and he is responding well. I first mashed up an avocado and mixed in some breastmilk to get the right consistency and give him a taste that he is used to. He made his initial "yuck" face but since then has eaten it well. And 1 avocado has lasted us over 2 weeks. I feed him about 1 tbsp a day in the evening, when we are eating dinner - to give him a sense of community and to make him think he is eating what we are eating. Next we tried peas but he gagged terribly on those - I think we are going to have to strain them because the skins are just too much for him. He loves bananas and still loves his organic brown rice cereal.
Speaking of the peas...I was researching something recently called "Baby Led Weaning." Which is an interesting concept but one I do not understand fully. The idea is to give the baby food - not pureed, strained or commercial baby food - but REAL food and to let them figure out how to eat it and decide how much they want to eat. Apparently people have had a lot of success with this method...mothers are claiming their 7 month olds are eating pork chops and toast. After feeding Knox the pureed peas (unstrained), I cannot fathom him eating bread, much less meat in a month. Here's a link for those interested: http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/ I'm pretty open minded, but when it comes to choking, there's just no way I can take that chance...and...seeing how much trouble he has with just pureed pea skins I would be terrified to try any whole food at this point.
As I'm writing, somewhat hurriedly (I would like to get to sleep!), I'm realizing how unorganized and tangential this blog is...something I will try to work on for the next one, but, since I've already failed at that this time, I'm going to continue and completely change the subject with no transition whatsoever.
Babywearing is something I've also been researching lately. Trying to decide on a sling for Knox. I knew I was interested in babywearing while I was pregnant, but I obviously didn't do enough research about it before buying my sling. I bought a New Native carrier after reading a blog by someone who loved their products (http://newnativeinc.com/orders/prodtype.asp?cookiecheck=yes&strPageHistory=cat&PT_ID=70). This sling worked for me for about a month. Granted, Knox grew fast, but according to their product details, he should've been more than comfortable in it until he was 35 lbs. After about 15 lbs I started to feel really unsafe with him in it. I watched the video over and over and had my husband help me try to put him in the right way - it just wouldn't work. If I leaned at all he would've toppled right out of it. Anyway...I am now looking for a safe way to wear him comfortably (I struggle with back problems as it is). I was given an Ergo carrier by a friend whose child outgrew it and I do love it - the problem with it is that he cannot be forward facing in it - which he would prefer. Also, I have been unable to comfortably wear it on my hip after several attempts and replays of the instruction video. From what I've researched so far, the Mei Tai seems to be a favorite but it doesn't seem to be able to face baby forward. So I've decided I need a Ring Sling...a wide one so he can grow with it. I just need to find a reliable seller and I'd like to find one with padding. So this is my new endeavor - exciting, huh? HA. I guess I've probably become a little preoccupied with this due to the fact that he is really starting to grow up and I can see the baby-ness slipping away...gotta make sure I soak in all the baby moments I can before they are gone and he is pushing me away!
Ok...exhaustion is setting in...this is the longest blog I've written, though & I'm proud :) In closing, I will say that I promise my future blogs will be better written! This was written fast and in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. My apologies.
