Imaginary Friends

Where is Sissy's ride?

When I asked Isaac to sing me a song in the car, he told me that he would, but he could only sing one song because he was pretty busy. "I have to pick up a jumparoo for Sissy's baby sister at 9 o'clock, so I'm pretty busy right now." I didn't know Sissy had a baby sister! I didn't even know Sissy up until a month ago.

Now I'm learning more about her every day. Sissy is his best friend now, and she does some crazy stuff! Especially when he can't fall asleep at naptime. Earlier this week he shouted from his room, "Mommy! I want to tell you the crazy thing Sissy did! She climbed down the side of my crib and jumped into the wall and went all the way down her new porch stairs and into the street and into her house and into her own bed without scooting or waking up at all!!"  One week before, on an especially raucous no-nap day, he shouted with glee, "Hey mommy! We're having a birthday party, will you join us and sing happy birthday?"

Yesterday I learned that Sissy has a mom named Tessie. Tessie hung out with Isaac in his crib yesterday when he couldn't nap and Sissy had ridden her bicycle home all by herself. I learned that Sissy's baby sister's name is Ter-hion. When I was holding his real baby sister, Isaac was holding Sissy's baby sister, though he decided to put her in the stroller because he couldn't catch a ball and hold her at the same time. Sissy isn't always nice to her baby sister. Over the weekend Isaac told me, "Sissy is in time out for biting her baby sister, Mommy."

I asked him today what it was like playing with Sissy. He said it was fun and comfortable. I asked him where Sissy was, and he said like I should have known, "She's in the crib! Can you take her out?"

So I did, and she was way easier to pick up than Isaac!

Baby Led Weaning

This is much yummier and squishier than plastic. What fun!

Noa was sitting in her exersaucer, madly trying to eat the plastic letter B and the plastic butterfly hanging next to the plastic letter B. She was yelling a lot. I started thinking maybe they didn't taste nice? How about a banana? I've been reading the Baby Led Weaning book for a little while now, and feeling inspired by their (many might say crazy!) ideas.

"The mush stops here!" In a nutshell (not a spoon), the Baby Led Weaning idea is that babies will feed themselves when they are ready to, and we don't have to push food into them. It's finger foods from the beginning, whenever the baby decides the beginning will be (an ability to sit up and grab things required).

BLW proponents say feeding themselves helps babies learn hand-eye coordination. Babies will have an sense of what they are putting in their mouths instead of being surprised by the mush, so they'll be happier doing it. They won't feel left out of the family dinner. They won't choke because their reflexes will push the food out if they aren't ready for it, (Noa pushed out the little piece of banana that she accidentally bit off). I think BLW is even supposed to make them smarter!

I'm gonna give it a shot with Noa. I didn't do it with Isaac (and he's certainly smart enough). I mostly chewed his food for him in the very beginning (I know, gross, but helpful in a digestive enzyme sort of way!), and he loved being fed so it wasn't a problem.

Noa, by the way, isn't quite ready. As you can see from the photo up there, I was holding the banana for her, and I think that is a major no-no. The little girl needs to be in charge, and I don't think she is quite up to the task yet. But soon!

For now, I think the thumb is yummiest. Especially when it's covered with banana goop.

It's ok mom. I'll eat it when I'm good and ready.