Homemade Cereal Day Three

Introducing homemade oatmeal baby cereal day three....

Summary:

• Offered 3 tablespoons
• Offered at one meal (breakfast, 8 AM)
• Cooked oatmeal after I nursed enough for two meals. I refrigerated the left overs for tomorrow.
  
• Nursed both sides then offered cereal
• She loved it, but tried to grab the spoon a few times. We are encouraging her and directing her on where to place her hands on the high chair while she is being fed. Once she has the fine motor skills to feed herself, she can do so---BUT with HER spoon, not the spoon mommy or daddy are using.
• No allergic reactions.

Homemade Cereal Day Two

Today was day two on Addison eating homemade cereal.

Summary:

• Increased amount offered from 1 tablespoonish to 2 tablespoonish
• Offered at one meal (8 AM)
• Nursed on both sides THEN offered cereal
• Used oatmeal I prepared yesterday and then reheated. It did not reconstitute perfectly, but all we did was microwave the cereal for 20 seconds and then added milk to reach the desired consistency. Using a fork, we mashed it up so that MOST (not all) the tiny clumps were gone.
• She loved it again, although you could tell she got very full this time since she nursed both sides before eating cereal.

Little washed out with the flash...

Little blurry without the flash...

Homemade Baby Oatmeal Cereal Food-Take One (Day One)

Today we made our own baby oatmeal cereal and Addison ate it for the first time! Watch out, because I think she FINALLY enjoys eating!!! Only time will tell if her tummy handles the oatmeal well...hopefully it does. See videos, pictures and instructions on making cereal below!

Day One Summary:

• Nursed one side for 6 minutes
• Ate 1 tablespoon-ish of oatmeal cereal (see instructions on how to home make it below); she ate it well and was opening her mouth for more--this means SUCCESS!!!
  
• Nursed other side 4 minutes (and would not take a supplement bottle--so she was full)
• Offered it at one meal, noon.
• She loved it...THIS time. Opened her mouth for the spoon after the first couple of times and smiled LOTS :)
  

Changes for tomorrow:

• We will nurse on both sides THEN do the food, because I think she liked the food more than nursing.
• Today we gave her closer to one tablespoon of cereal. Tomorrow, we will give her a little more, closer to 2 tablespoons.
  
• Today I made the oatmeal and saved a little for the tomorrow in the fridge. I am going to use the refrigerated cereal tomorrow and see if that works.

Her First Bites of Food!! Look at her diving after the spoon after the first few bites.


Watch her face at the end of this video...smiles proudly at her eating abilities, then looks up at Daddy feeding her....priceless.

Daddy feeding her and she was excited!

All done...and looking confused!

It's easy to make your own cereal and the best part---no additives, its all natural!

Step 1: Grind raw 100% whole oats (becomes oat powder)
Step 2: Combine 1/8 cup oat powder and 3/8 cups water in small sauce pan
(we will increase the ingredient amounts proportionately as she eats more cereal)

Step 3: Stirring constantly, bring to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes
Step 4: Separate about desired and add breast milk until cereal reaches desired consistency (amount the consistency of Cream of Wheat). Serve Warm. *
Step 5: FED HER!!! We gave her about 1-2 tablespoons to start with.

*I allowed the oatmeal to cool since I made it ahead of the feeding. Once I was ready to feed her, I popped it in the mircrowave for about 15 seconds to reheat, then added the milk to make it the proper consistency. We had to mash and mix it with a fork to get the mixture reconstituted, but I think it worked fine. There were still a few chunks, but thats ok---I think it helped her keep it in her mouth better. BUT we will see how her tummy feels.

Happy 4 Months Addison Joy

Happy 4 Months to our precious Addison Joy! I cannot believe our family has been blessed with her for four months already! So much has happened over the last month....

The Stats

Official Weight: 15 pounds, 13 oz (90-95th percentile)
Official Height: 25.5 inches (90-95th percentile)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (95th percentile)
Diaper Size: 2-3
Clothing Size: some 3-6 month and some 6-9 month/9 month depending on style and brand; mostly the ladder
Doctor's Comments: "She is a great baby", "Passed with flying colors", "Must be very active" and my personal favorite "She is one lucky baby"

Developments

• Sat up for the first time (7.24.10)
• Took her first vacation (7.2-7.16)
  
• Took her first airplane ride (7.2)
  
• Has discovered Piper by reaching out to pet her and giggles when they make eye contact (see video below).
• Really loves to read now (see video below).
  
• Outgrew her bathtub, but until we move--the current tub will have to do!
  
• Developing some very good eye hand coordination, when you hand her something she can intentionally and in a very controlled manner grab the toy, look at and....then...EAT IT.
• Showing many signs she is ready for SOLIDS (tongue thrust reflex slowing down, very interested in our food when we eat, studies us at the dinner table, puts everything--I mean EVERYTHING--in her mouth, drools substantially, sometimes seems hungrier than usual). The doctor even agreed it may be time to start experimenting with solids!
  
• Giggling and talking more and more everyday (see video below)!
  
• We have introduced sign language with a little more consistency now. Until she signs back we will focus on "Milk", "Finished" and "Bed". Most babies do not sign back until 6-8 months, but it never hurts to start early. We are excited to introducing this because although babies do not have the cognitive ability to speak--they do know what they want and that they must somehow communicate it (usually by crying and squealing).
  
• She is still a GREAT nighttime and daytime sleeper. She sleeps 12 hours at night...NO waking and takes two 2-hour naps plus a short cat nap during the day.
  
• We have begun to test a 4 hour schedule. Everything I read says this is the schedule that every mom dreams of....4 hours between feedings....what will I do with my time?

Coming up next....

• We are planning a trip to Boston this month (hopefully). This trip will include her first train ride as well as our entire family's first time to Boston; we hope the trip works out.
• Solids: A couple of firsts as it relates to solids...we will attempt to introduce cereal this month as well as MAKE our own cereal. I am SO excited to begin making her food, although I reserve the right to switch to store bought if needed :) This also means we begin our first lessons in HIGH CHAIR MANNERS (Babywise Part 2 lingo). More blogging to come on testing solids as well as MAKING the baby food so stay tuned! If solids do not go over well, we will take a break for a while and try, try again!!!
  
• We hope to take a trip to the Zoo this month.
  
• Who knows what else is in store for our gang...we are always up to something!

Recent Pictures and Videos

Comparison photos
it's hard to tell how much she has grown in the past month because now that she can sit up....she will only do that! Notice where the top of her head is in comparison to the top of the chair cushion.

And now the bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"...she is trying to get down from the chair!

More bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"...
I am barely holding on to her shirt here---she stands really well on her own already!

More bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"

Happy girl in her bouncy thing!

Reading the Bible with Daddy

Practicing sitting up

Discovering Piper this month

She is really starting to get into books now (thanks for the book Mia!)

Giggling like crazy!

Born To Eat

Addison was born to eat...this is her FIRST time experimenting with her spoon in preparation for starting solids soon!!!! It was like she knew exactly what to do with it right away...exciting!