Please Show Me How to Puree!

So, as a mama in midst of product recalls and contaminations, I'm very set on making Sena her own baby food. I did buy a few Earth's Best Organics jars to have her "taste test" different foods before I go to the trouble to make an entire batch. However, I'm running into this lovely problem- ALREADY- that she doesn't want my cooking! She seemed to love carrots yesterday (Earth's Best), but today she didn't want mama-made carrots. She was gagging in fact. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I mean, how difficult can it really be to puree something. If any mama's are reading this, please let me know your suggestions! I have batches of apples to make.

Letter Month Six

Sena,
I can't believe you're 1/2 year already. Although the first few months seemed to sometimes go pretty slowly, especially when we weren't sleeping, the last few seem to have flown by with a speed I'm not very comfortable with.

At your six month appointment yesterday, the doctor confirmed what we already knew- that you're perfect. He also told us that you're 17 lbs. 4 oz, which puts you the 75% for weight. (No offense, but we all had guessed you to be much bigger than this, especially papa who weighed in at 18lbs.8 oz.!) You're still tall at 27 inches long (I guess we can thank great-grandpa Schermer for those tall genes.)

This morning we added sweet potatoes to your morning breakfast. When it was mixed with your rice cereal you seemed to really dig it. By itself, however, you kept making faces like the sweet potatoes were tart! Hmm.. if you think SWEET potatoes are tart I'm not sure what you're going to think of mama's homemade green beans. I guess we'll find out soon.

As we approach and pass this half-way mark around the sun, I have to thank you for being such a delightful baby. (And give papa and me a pat on the back for coming so far in our "parenting" skills!) There are certainly days that are tougher than others.. just this past Sunday you decided that one morning nap (that ended at 10 a.m. mind you) was sufficient for your daily rest, despite the fact that you were SUPER CRANKY. It is amazing, however, to watch you as you learn and process everything going on around you. You've recently become very interested in the following:
• watching the dogs do anything, and letting them lick you. You've also decided to try and pet them, and put your hand in Cash's mouth the other day. Thank GOD we have good dogs.
• grabbing anything and everything. You're especially interested in the newspaper, and whatever we're eating. Remote controls seem to strike your fancy, too.
• Water... running in the sink, running over you, etc. I'm hoping you'll be a water baby. Time for swim lessons soon!

You still have no interest in being on your belly, despite all of the toys and props. The doctor did assure us, however, that "crawling is no longer seen as a developmental milestone." I suppose that's good, although you're too young to crawl. Actually, you're too young to be interested in standing and walking, too, in my opinion, but you seem pretty convinced that you should walk before we get the house child-proofed. What fun.

love you,
mama

bedhead & cereal face

Since returning home from our trip to Montana, we've transitioned Sena to her own room and crib, and apparently she loves it. Maybe she grew sick of trying to sleep in the room with us and with her papa snoring...She's taking longer naps, sleeping even longer through the night (12 hours last night), and even putting herself to sleep. She wakes up in the morning with the most serious case of bedhead though. It's a riot. I'm not sure if it is because she's sleeping more soundly or if the sheets are somehow causing this new hair-do.

This morning she woke-up at 6 a.m. and didn't seem all that interested in going back to sleep, so considering we were all awake we figured everyone should get to have breakfast- Sena included. So we mixed up her first batch of cereal. At first she seemed to really dig it, opening her mouth each time the spoon came near her. But then she realized that she could probably do a better job herself and took the spoon. It made it to her mouth several times, but not once with the cereal still on top. What a big girl.

feeling chatty

Right now I'm listening to Sena talk to herself. She's supposed to be going to sleep, and I'm sure in a few minutes she'll realize that I'm not there and cry, but for now, hearing her chat is pretty funny and sweet.

This past week, I didn't to hear her talk or laugh as much as she usually does because she was sick. For the first time in her life. And, not for the 3-5 days the doctor predicted- for 10 days. I was heartbroken. I finally understand what Steven must have felt like in the delivery room when I was in pain and he could do NOTHING about it. Sena couldn't even tell me what hurt.. and for all I knew she hurt everywhere. Everytime she cried I wanted to break down and call the doctor. And everytime they told me what the REALLY BAD WARNING SIGNS would be, and of course, thank God, she didn't have them. But that didn't mean she wasn't sick, or feeling bad.. and going even one hour without seeing her smile is hard enough- but several days is just plain hell.

Anyway, that's why I'm listening to her talk right now and not feeling frustrated that she "should be asleep". She'll eventually go to sleep. This I've learned. And, her voice is too precious to ever be quieted. At least right now.