Sweet Potatoes, Take 4

We've kept trying the sweet potatoes, and I think she's slowly getting the hang of it. I think at this point, she's taken in a total of a teaspoon of sweet potatoes. I am trying not to be too pushy, but at the same time, the kid needs to eat, right? We're going to try avocado again today. Wish us luck!!

Go ahead. Play with your food.

I took Wendy's suggestion and let Mary Ellen do a little creative eating. Wait, make that playing. Notice that not once do her hands go anywhere near her mouth...

Food for Thought

Up to this point in her little life, Mary Ellen has made the job of parenting very simple. Too simple, perhaps, since the first real curve ball she's thrown us has me pretty stumped. And for the first time in her short life, she's showing that she can be somewhat disagreeable. She will NOT eat any of the solid food that we've offered. That cute little wrinkled up face that you saw at her first attempt at food is now a fixture at our dinner table.

I've tried rice. I've tried oatmeal. I've tried offering food in the morning and in the evening and everywhere in between. I've tried catching her when she's super hungry and when she's super happy. I bought smaller spoons because I thought the ones that I had were a little awkward. I've polled many of my friends for advice on what to try, but so far none of their suggestions have worked for us.

Yesterday I called her doctor, but I had a good reason. Mary Ellen has also stopped sleeping through the night. This is the 4th consecutive night where her sleep pattern has been more like that of a newborn: She's waking at 11, 2, 5 and 8 for feedings. The nurse that I spoke with agreed that she's probably hungry and could stand to take in some solid food and suggested that I try sweet potatoes. Although I'm planning to make the majority of Mary Ellen's food, I had gone ahead and bought a few starter foods so we had sweet potatoes in the pantry. This is it, I thought. The cereal was probably too bland, but she's got to like the sweet, right?

I caught her at what I thought was a good time. Bib (plastic-coated, big-girl bib this time) in place. Right-sized spoon at the ready. My mouth hanging open, tempting her to open wide...

Same face. Same reaction. No swallowing.

I'm not actually that worried, but I'll be honest with you, I would like some sleep. I know, I know, I've been very spoiled up to this point. At least I don't have to worry that she's not getting enough to eat. She's growing just fine.

Today is new day, and it brings for me another chance to try to get my kid to eat/sleep and for Mary Ellen another spoonful of sweet potatoes. Will she bite? I'll keep you posted.

Cheap Thrills

Someday Mary Ellen will realize that Disney World is in our backyard. But for the first few years of her life, we can get away with taking her to Downtown Disney (the free, outskirts-of-Disney shopping area), right? It doesn't cost a thing to browse, and look how much fun we had!

Happy New Year!

So we're a few days into 2011, but who's counting? I can't imagine that there's anyway to top 2010 for the Flemings, but we'll do our best in 2011. Brian, Mary Ellen and I celebrated the new year with friends with a nice, relaxing celebration. Mary Ellen didn't quite make it to midnight, but since we were trying to get her back on her schedule after the Christmas trip, that was fine by me.

On January 1, we took a little family outing to Baldwin Park. For you folks up north, I won't brag too much about the temperature that day, but let's just say that it rhymed with beventy. Seriously, it was a beautiful day, so we took a nice little stroll around the Lake Baldwin and snapped some pretty good pics.



I don't like resolutions. Years ago a friend suggested that we make New Year's wishes instead, so here goes:

• I wish that I will be able to enjoy the next year to its fullest. Mary Ellen's baby years are going to fly by, and I want to enjoy every second.
• I wish to spend lots of time with family. 2010 was great that way, and I hope the trend can continue.
• I wish good health and happiness for all of us.
• I wish for a slightly larger house. Or at least I wish to make usable the 2nd bathroom that we already have but are unable to use.
  

Yum?

Mary Ellen has checked off another first: "solid" food. We tried rice cereal for the first time on Sunday. I'd been trying to wait until she was 6 months old, but she seemed so ready that I wanted to go ahead and give it a shot. Was she ready? See for yourself:

First Christmas

There's really no other way to say it. This was the best Christmas ever.

Although I said I wasn't buying her anything, the little things add up, don't they? Oh well, she loves her new things - especially the one in Brian's hand, which may be one of the most annoying toys ever. We started our little holiday tradition by opening presents the Sunday before we headed north. Someday, Mary Ellen will be the envy of her friends when they learn that she gets to open presents a few days before everyone else.

Cooking with the ladies already. It's never too early to start!

Borrowing Jenson's hat because, well, no one can pull off the Grandpa Dave look like Mary Ellen.


We were treated to 4 inches of snow on Christmas Eve. I gathered up a little snow for her to put her hand in, and let's just say that she was happy to look but not thrilled to touch.


Dreams do come true, don't they Mom?


Santa came! And much to my Dad's dismay (and delight), Santa gave her books and she's eating them.


Thanks Aunt Nicki and Uncle Mike!


Thanks Aunt Kelly!


Some quality time with the cousins. This Christmas was just what we had predicted: Crazy! But it was also sooo much fun.