For the love of honey

As a mother, how I wish my son would somehow imitate Pooh's non-stop cravings for a smackerel of honey. No, it's not the honey, but the attitude for eating.

Luke is so picky when it comes to solids. In the entire journey to solid feeding, which started when he was about 6.5 months old, I don't remember him finishing a small jar of pre-mixed solids in one eating. There is always left over, not to mention those bits scattered either on his shirt or on the floor. Home-cooked veggies follow the same pattern. More often, half of these are just thrown away. Or, if it is still possible, I used them instead for cooking our own food.

Luke now can eat cooked whole grain rice, but again, he eats less. Lesser than he is supposed to have. Aside from this, he wants to have a variety of foods in a single meal. Call it a little of everything -- a spoonful or two of rice with a very small portion of mashed potato or carrot, about half of a fresh senyorita banana, 1 or 2 pieces of biscuits/crackers.

Sometimes, I envy my mother-friends when I see them feeding their kids with ease and comfort. No tantrums, no throwing of foods, no playing while eating. A 9-month-old baby girl of one of my friends can finish a large jar of a mashed sweet potato, but my 1-year-old son could hardly finish half of a small one. *sigh*

Luke, though, still heavily drinks formula consuming about 7-8 bottles of 160ml each for a day. I hope this compensates for the lack of nutrients he is supposed to get from solid feeding.

Next to his rashes, which show some improvement lately, I wish for Luke to have a veeeery good appetite to the foods he needs to take. He can't -- and shouldn't --depend on milk alone.

Oh, I long for the time when I don't have to wash and sterilise tons of bottles every now and then. When will that be? Tomorrow, I guess.

Yipeey!!!

As a one-year old, this is his greatest accomplishment so far. He's able to stand (from sitting) without any help. Note that his feet is almost one ruler apart, and most of the time, both arms in the air. This is his way of attaining balance, but eventually, after a few seconds, he'll fall back to sitting. And then make that witty laugh, feeling good about himself. In this instance, he stood for about half a minute which gave me a very limited chance to take a candid shot.

He also dares to make a few steps, as long as there is something he can hold on to. If there is none, and he wants to move further, he'll scream for help. He won't stop screaming until I run to him and extend my hand.

I am pretty sure it won't be long and he already can run. And I see myself running after him, the way a tough policeman runs after a young thief. Oh, what a great adventure to look forward to! ;)