What to (and not to) feed your baby...

With the first three kids, I started them on rice cereal right at 4 months. They were all acting ready. They could sit up well. They watched every bite of food as it traveled to our mouths. And they always acted hungry. And now there's Cru. He is almost five months. He sits up unassisted. He watches every bite of food, just like they did. But there's been something about moving him on to solid foods that just made me hesitate. I think it's because he's the last baby. I am not ready to let go in a lot of ways. But finally, this week his sad little face as he watched us eat just became too much for me, and I caved and started him on rice cereal.
He thought it was a great idea. Look how excited he is!And then he got his first bite.

Whose idea was this, anyway?

And finally catching on.Until he was looking like this.He's a champ at it now.

But I want you to note his bib. It says, "I love my big sister." It's just ironic, considering how a mere couple of days before, Miss MaKaty had nearly killed him. With these:

It.Was.So.Scary.

I was loading the dishwasher in the kitchen. MaKaty was watching a movie in the front room. Cru was rolling around on the floor. Suddenly, I heard a choking noise. I turned around and could see Katy hovering over Cru. I ran into the living room, and by the time I got to him, Cru was no longer able to make any noise. His eyes were bulging and he looked terrified. I picked him up and flipped him onto his tummy, sort of shoving my fingers under his ribs. Thankfully, the fishy crackers came out the first try. I am lucky that I didn't break his ribs or anything. I'm pretty sure that proper baby Heimlich technique calls for a firm banging on the back, and not a stomach thrust, but it worked. And he just looked up at me and smiled. Typical Cru. I was shaking for hours. I have to stop myself from thinking about what might have happened had I been in the laundry room, or upstairs. I have to stop myself from picturing his little face, all panicked and silent. I am so so grateful that I was close. MaKaty knew she had done a bad thing. As soon as Rick walked from work that night, she looked up at him, and then hung her head and said, "I feed Cru fishies, No No." So at least she knew it was bad. But I still have to watch her closer than ever.

So hug your babies. Be grateful for them. And remember. Rice cereal is a good first food. Goldfish crackers...not so much.