Day two of solids went even better than yesterday. The feeding started a little later, so Matt happened to be coming home for lunch just as I was getting everything ready. He got to feed Patrick the first few spoonfuls. Patrick was happier eating because Daddy was there too, and he ate a lot more, everything I had fixed for him. By the end of the feeding, he was starting to figure out just how to eat off the spoon to get the maximum amount of food. He learns so fast!
I realized after rereading yesterday's post that it was a purely factual post. I didn't give any of my thoughts or feelings about the major milestone. I was still mostly excited about how well Patrick did, but after a full day I have started to evaluate exactly how I feel about the fact that my little boy has leaped over yet another mile marker. I think one of my dreams last night sums it up pretty well. I dreamed that Patrick was "all grown up," probably about four or five years old, and I was lamenting at how fast he'd grown up and that I missed him being a baby. That time had seemed to fly by. Of course, I was glad to wake up and find he was still my sweet little baby boy, but he's not the baby boy I met over four and half months ago. It dawned on me earlier that he's gained about eight pounds and grown over six inches since then. He really isn't the same tiny thing that was handed to me just after 4:17 p.m. on October 7 of last year. Every new milestone he encounters is just one more step of independence away from me. Yesterday for the first time since he was conceived, he was not completely dependent on me for his nutrition. That is an important step, but one away from me. How can I be so proud of him for his increasing independence yet want to draw him close to me again and have him helpless without me? I'm starting to understand this paradox of parenting, or at least that it can't really be understood.
There are several other benefits of starting solids that don't seem nearly as important all of a sudden, although I had been looking forward to them for a while. Now that Patrick is getting heavier food in his tummy, he will be less likely to spit up as often. I'm so tired of being afraid to move him after eating that it will be nice not treating him like a loaded gun. The other great benefit is that the solids will also start to control his acid reflux. They are the best cure for it. It won't be long before we will be able to start tapering off his reflux medications. If you've ever seen Patrick's face when he takes that medicine, you know he'll appreciate not having to take it any longer. We also won't have to elevate one end of his bed, another thing that helps control the reflux. That's not a big deal, but if he squirms too much while unswaddled in his bed, he slides down to the bottom. I'm ready for the last few steps to have him treated like a normal baby, which he certainly acts like he is now.
Regardless of my feelings about starting solids, we have already embarked on this adventure. There is no turning back now! Actually we already started on it about four and a half months ago, I suppose, and this is just one more leg of the journey.
I realized after rereading yesterday's post that it was a purely factual post. I didn't give any of my thoughts or feelings about the major milestone. I was still mostly excited about how well Patrick did, but after a full day I have started to evaluate exactly how I feel about the fact that my little boy has leaped over yet another mile marker. I think one of my dreams last night sums it up pretty well. I dreamed that Patrick was "all grown up," probably about four or five years old, and I was lamenting at how fast he'd grown up and that I missed him being a baby. That time had seemed to fly by. Of course, I was glad to wake up and find he was still my sweet little baby boy, but he's not the baby boy I met over four and half months ago. It dawned on me earlier that he's gained about eight pounds and grown over six inches since then. He really isn't the same tiny thing that was handed to me just after 4:17 p.m. on October 7 of last year. Every new milestone he encounters is just one more step of independence away from me. Yesterday for the first time since he was conceived, he was not completely dependent on me for his nutrition. That is an important step, but one away from me. How can I be so proud of him for his increasing independence yet want to draw him close to me again and have him helpless without me? I'm starting to understand this paradox of parenting, or at least that it can't really be understood.
There are several other benefits of starting solids that don't seem nearly as important all of a sudden, although I had been looking forward to them for a while. Now that Patrick is getting heavier food in his tummy, he will be less likely to spit up as often. I'm so tired of being afraid to move him after eating that it will be nice not treating him like a loaded gun. The other great benefit is that the solids will also start to control his acid reflux. They are the best cure for it. It won't be long before we will be able to start tapering off his reflux medications. If you've ever seen Patrick's face when he takes that medicine, you know he'll appreciate not having to take it any longer. We also won't have to elevate one end of his bed, another thing that helps control the reflux. That's not a big deal, but if he squirms too much while unswaddled in his bed, he slides down to the bottom. I'm ready for the last few steps to have him treated like a normal baby, which he certainly acts like he is now.
Regardless of my feelings about starting solids, we have already embarked on this adventure. There is no turning back now! Actually we already started on it about four and a half months ago, I suppose, and this is just one more leg of the journey.
2 Comments:
I'm glad you are enjoying the journey. Fortunately, there are lots more steps before he is completely independent. Then -- if things work out as planned -- he may not NEED you the same, but he will still want you to be a part of his life in a different way. The kids never really stop being your babies, anyway.
Kathy,
Unfortunately, there is one not so pleasant thing about starting solids you will notice, if you haven't already; Patrick's diapers will be even more malodorous :( A hint for you that I gave to Scott & Lauren (more funny for Scott, because he just looked at me really weird when I told him) when the diapers start to be more solidly formed, empty that part into the potty & flush, and just wrap up the diaper & dispose of the diaper in the diaper champ. Much less stinky :)
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