If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy

For the first time in months, I was incredibly teary-eyed over Jackson.  I felt guilty for not crying over his milestones along the way, but it took feeding him in a highchair to send me over the edge.

The fact that I was sitting across from Jackson with a spoon, reaching some stodgy baby rice toward his face made me feel really distanced from him and I also realised that he won't need me much longer to eat.  That realisation combined with the fact that Jackson's face was messy and he was helplessly dribbling his tastes of water and sticky baby rice down his chin were the factors that produced my sadness.  It was the dawn of a new era and there was no going back.

Now that the first week of trying solids is over, I am very excited and less tearful about introducing Jackson to all of the fruit and vegetable purées that await him in the freezer.  In between the nursery rhymes, walks along the Coastal Path, and social meetings at Ainsdale's finest cafés, I managed to fill our freezer with enough baby food for the next month or so--harkening back to my baby food making muse:  J.C. in Baby Boom.

So here it goes to carrot, swede, potato, banana, apple, pear--and I'm sure we'll all be happy this week.

    

A happy boy after his first feeding

The first bite of baby rice

Touring the "Eye for Colour" exhibition at the World Museum in Liverpool

Happy Half Birthday, Jackson!

A new, shocked expression inspired by his new skill of eating

Peek-a-boo!  Jackson found a secret spot for spying in his ball pit

Developmental updates:  Jackson is now 70 cm long and weighs 19 pounds 14.5 ounces.  He seemed to form more of an opinion of things this week and is not as easily impressed with his parents acting silly as he was before turning six-months-old.  He has only tried baby rice this week and he has increased his other feedings massively in order to fill-up his growing stomach.  Water in a sippy cup has gone over very well and although the baby rice has produced disgusted faces, Jackson always ate the whole bowl.  Jackson started chewing on tags and drenching his stuffed animals' ears, arms, and legs as he tried to soothe his gums.  (Still no sign of teeth.)  He has a newfound love for standing while we hold his hands.  We noticed this week how observant Jackson still is.  It's definitely one of his characteristics that has been there from the start.  He doesn't want to miss anything and likes to eavesdrop in his baby way to adult conversations.  For the first time, he tried to start his own conversation with his friend named Ethan.  Jackson reached toward him and made a noise and Ethan actually responded!

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.