Yummy!

The high chair has found its spot in the dining room and it is clean! The baby spoons are clean and in the drawer, the bibs are already in use, so yes it is that time! These days doctors say that a baby can start simple solid foods at 4 months.  Punky jr. is 4.5 months and last week she started on rice cereal.

It has taken some time and patience to learn that the stuff on the spoon is food (she eats but then she wants a regular size bottle as well) and will fill up her tummy! Today was the first day that she really seemed to understand that she was eating. It was quite momentous for mommy! My lil Punky jr. is growing up, she is eating!

We will now begin introducing new foods 1 at a time (while keeping up with what she already eats). Thus far it has been formula and now rice cereal. This afternoon begins the carrot adventure. If that goes well, next week we will add sweet potatoes and so on.  I have to say that I am glad she is learning to eat in warm weather-- I can strip her down to just her diaper and protect her clothes!

It wasn't too long ago that rock climbing, gymnastics and jogging an extra mile were the things that thrilled me. Or a super romantic night with my hubby.  Now, I still love those things, but I get the excitement of being on this journey with Punky jr. I get to be beside her as she learns to eat, to crawl, to walk, to talk, to read and write, as she grows up. Each stage is fun and exciting, but also a little sad too.

It is sad because as each new stage starts the previous one ends. Now that my infant is eating solid foods she will never be a newborn anymore. Those days are over. Yes, we have gobs of pictures, but the moments are over. Yet, it is exciting because new moments and new things are happening and I choose to focus on the new and the happy. I love to celebrate all the fun, sweet little steps that Punky jr. takes in her development.

Being a mom is fun. It is exciting. It is exhausting too! Add to all this the fact that we (when I say we you are to read Mommy, but Daddy will do what she says because he really has no other choice) are seriously considering making the switch to cloth diapers. It is expensive to get started, but in the end it should save lots of money and when Punky jr. becomes a big sister, we will all ready have what we need to CD from the beginning!

The sun is bright outside, and inside all in quiet at the moment as Punky jr. and her cousin sleep.  The high chair is sitting at the table awaiting the next meal time! Oh the joys of mommyhood! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

-JLP-

PS. The carrots were not very popular with Punky jr. We will try them again tomorrow!