You Are What You Eat

My sweet child turned 8 months old yesterday, and I can finally look people in the eye with confidence and answer "Yes!" when asked the question, "Is he eating solids?"

People started asking me this question when P turned 4 months, since a lot of people do begin introducing solids then, and until he was 6 mo., I was able to reply with ease, "I'm not going to start solids until 6 months." (This is widely accepted as an appropriate time to start solids, so I was still confident in my answer.)

However, after we hit 6 months, the confidence began to dwindle.

The journey to solids started at 6 months. My child had zero exposure to solids before 6 months, mostly because venturing into the land of solid foods sounded like a lot more trouble and effort than his previous method of eating (and let's be honest here, there aren't strict guidelines as to how to do this solids thing, and I am a rule follower...especially when I'm in uncharted territory (which I believe "being a new parent" falls into)...and when it concerns the well-being of a little person that is completely dependent upon you...and when it has to do with an area that may just make or break your kid's brain development and determine what college he'll go to (well, not really, but that's what it felt like)...or at least determine whether or not he'll be a "foodie"). In fact, the land of solid food is full of contradictions - feed your child vegetables first, because if you start with fruit, he'll get hooked on the sweet and won't ever touch a veggie. Or if that doesn't sit well with you, how about this one: feed your child sweet things first because it will be the closest thing to what he's been eating and you want the whole thing to be a pleasant experience. Then there's the puree vs. whole-food approach. Or the wait 3-4 days between trying new foods so you can identify allergies vs. after 6 mo. you have nothing to worry about - if they're interested in a food, just let them try it. Who's right? Who's supposed to make this decision? Me!? But don't they know I've never done this before?!

We started off low-key (or as low-key as you can be after reading everything you can find on starting solids.) It was the 4th of July. P was 6 months (and 4 days, but who's counting), and we decided to celebrate by trying some banana. We were so low-key, we didn't even take a picture, but there was no need. There are 2 reasons for that: 1) there was nothing to take a picture of, and 2) the response my child gave me is burned into my mind.

You know exactly what it looked like. He managed to slowly spit out the banana while at the same time making a face that said the following words very clearly: Woman, what in the world do you think you're doing? In case you thought I was going to be interested in this, you were wrong. Oh-so-very wrong. I'm just going to be honest with ya - don't waste your time. I mean it. This is a battle you don't want to fight. (Note to self: listen to small person when he sends clear messages. He may be little, but he has his own rather strong opinions.)

And so when approached by friends and family with that innocent question, it started to be harder for me to answer...

Friend at playgroup: So, is he eating solids?

Me: We're trying, but he doesn't seem interested. (still feeling okay - this will take time to get used to, right? And I know this doesn't reflect my ability as a mother...)

I tried bananas again 2 days later. Nothing.
Then I tried oatmeal. Nothing.
Then I tried applesauce. Nothing.

Friend at church: Is he eating solids?

Me: Um, well, by "eating" do you mean am I putting solids in front of his face? Then, yes! Oh, but you mean the more widely accepted definition of "eating," as in is he ingesting non-liquid foods? Then no. (Admittedly, starting to question my ability as a mother...)

I kept trying oatmeal for almost 2 weeks. Nothing. No, that's a lie. I got something. P started figuring out how to buzz his lips, so instead of cereal dribbling down his face, I had cereal sprayed at me. Lovely.

This photo was taken in late July. I sent it in an e-mail to Justin titled "Peanut vs. Oatmeal." The body of the message read: Oatmeal - 1, Peanut - 0. At this stage of the game, P would manage to get the entirety of his meal everywhere but his mouth and would just smile at me with this sparkle in his eye that said, "Look Mom! Isn't this exactly what I'm supposed to be doing?"

Friend at Bible study: Is he eating solids?

Me: Um, if by "eating" you mean smearing the food all over his face while somehow completely avoiding his mouth? Then, yes. But I'm guessing that's not what you mean. (True confession...starting to feel like a failure as a mom.)

Then finally, we made some progress. He was willing to eat a little bit of oatmeal - not a lot, but a little, and a little is better than none. Then we went on vacation, and then P got sick, so food sort of took a back burner. Then we tried sweet potato.
Family member: Is he eating solids?

Me: If by "eating" you mean smearing food all over his high-chair tray, up his nose, in his ears, and as an added bonuses slapping his open-palm directly onto the food on his tray so it splatters everywhere, and I am able to relive the whole experience hours later when I find dried flecks of sweet potato in my eyebrow, on my shirt, under the table, and in between the blinds? Then yes. So...no. (Really true confession. The following is what was going through my mind: My child is 7 months old and has no interest in solids which means that he's going to go to kindergarten with a thermos of milk for his lunch, and then no one will be his friend, 'cause let's face it, that's weird.)
Although he wasn't digging eating sweet potato off of a spoon, he was willing to suck it off his hands (which I will confess I was hesitant about...do you see how messy this is!? Thanks to Cousin Ashley, P got to play with his food...and I admit, this might have been a turning point.)

Because then something happened. On August 5, P tried pureed apples and liked it. Not tolerated it. Not put-up-with it. Liked it.

(I'm telling you. This face is a daily occurrence.) It is a result of eating apples and oatmeal.

After apples came avocado...And then peas...

And then banana, followed by a triumphant return if the sweet potatoes, and now we're on to yellow squash! :) P eats oatmeal with milk and some sort of puree mixed in in the AM, and at night he's eating 2 different veggies. If you had told me when he was 6 mo. old that somewhere down the line his bowls would look like this after dinner...

I probably wouldn't have believed you.

I'm so proud of my little guy for his willingness to try new foods and have been reminded through this whole experience that he will move at his own pace - not the pace the books say to anticipate - not the pace that my friends' kiddos moved at - and not the pace that I want him to move at...but his pace. I pray that God will constantly remind me of that as we come upon each "milestone," and I have a feeling He will.