Avocado

So the banana troubles passed quickly. One day off the nana train, and the poop train was back on the tracks. So now we know, all nanas all the time, not such a good idea. Nanas in moderation, as with all the good things in life.

We tried avocado yesterday. As I said before, I do not care for avocados that much. Maybe if dressed up (read: disguised) as guac its ok. But plain avocado? Yuck. So I mashed up a ripe avocado half for the Critter, and tasted it. Still yuck. But I figured, hey, people like this (unlike baby rice library paste) so I fed some to the Critter.

The face she made was priceless. It closely resembled the face I made when I tried it 2 minutes earlier. Yuck.

I saved some for Mr. p to try, to make sure it wasn't just a bad avocado. Nope, that's the way avocado tastes, he said. Yuck, replied me and the Critter. My theory holds true, if Mommy likes it, the Critter generally does too. If Mommy thinks yuck, so does the Critter. And no, the Critter does not see or hear me saying yuck, she comes by her yuck honestly.

So we ate peas instead. Totally not yuck. Yum! Apples and pears to come.

The Dark Side of Nanas

Before we go to the dark side, just to document, my Auntie has come for a real visit. Last time I was merely crying wolf, just spotting a tiny bit. But this, this is the real deal. My first need for the green tampons since late January 2010. It's been awhile. It's funny, when I began with full flow, I thought to myself, "Well, that is a real flow. Almost like what a fertile person would have. Maybe..." and then I fell off my chair laughing. Because we all know flow does not a fertile make. But it seems like it would, sorta, right? Hahahahahaha.

Anyway, the Critter feeding diaries continue. While she loves her bananas, they on the other hand, do not care for her so much. We did the standard three day new food trial, so she ate banana for three evenings. That was too much nana. Now she is ummm...backed up. She actually had her first solid poop yesterday, two of them in fact. Like it could roll right out of the diaper. (Sorry if this is TMI, I don't know what it is about new parents' obsession about poop, but we just can't help it. My friend says we all become shitologists. True that.)

And last night, she refused her peas and sweet taters. Which is new. I think she is feeling backed up, and the food doesn't help. So we might start the prune juice thing again today if she doesn't improve. Poor girl.

BaNananananas!!

The weekend was non-eventful. I saw my parents Friday afternoon, where the Critter cried any time she was held by my dad. It was pretty funny actually, everyone else was ok, but seeing him - all tears.

He came back Sunday afternoon for a quick visit, and the Critter was all smiles to him, so he was happy. That was it - two quick visits, no horridness. We have made plans to go Back East in August and see them and my mom. Not going to think about that yet, it is just overwhelming to consider the first airplane ride, etc.

So let's talk BANANAS instead. The Critter LOVESLOVESLOVES bananas. Oh my, she is so happy when eating bananas. She makes actual yummy noises. She opens her mouth so wide, so the person feeding her will not miss. She barely dribbles.

And what a perfect baby food - just take ripe 'nanas (they need to be mostly brown-speckled, no under-ripe 'nanas please!), mash them up with a fork, and voila! They become the perfect textured mush for babies. It will be a good travel food, easy through security.

And we did our first combo, of sweet tater and peas yesterday, and that went over very well. She is become really good at this eating thing. Today will be avocado. I'm not a huge fan of avocado, but I think she'll dig it. We'll see.

It has been so much fun feeding her. I am really loving it. Trying new foods, watching her expression when she tries a new flavor or texture, it is just so precious. It really is so much fun.

They're baaack!

Yup. They are returning.

My father and step-mother are visiting this weekend. Joy.

In case you forgot the disaster that was the last time they were here, here's a quick recap: My dad called me fat, and Mr. P an incompetent parent, and my step-mom called the Critter deformed.

So it was really fun! Not.

Anyway, they are back in town for a visit this weekend, and I'm try to be positive about it. They are actually coming in town for a meeting my dad needs to attend, so I may only see him once or twice. And I'm hoping that means seeing my step-mom only those times too.

Ugh, it is just so hard. I'm conflicted. I really want them to see the Critter, and spend time with her, and get to know her some, but at the same time, I want to protect us all from the narcissism that is my dad and step-mom.

Wish us all luck. We'll need it.

A Palate

So let's talk food. A favorite topic of mine. I love to cook, eat, plan meals, and generally geek out about food and dining. It has been a dealbreaker for me in relationships - I dated a Midwestern farm boy once that only ate beige food. Chicken with gravy, rice, potatoes, vanilla ice cream. Oh, and well-cooked red (now grey) meat. It made me crazy, because he was hesitant to try colored things, like vegetables. It ended up being a dealbreaker for me - how could I be with someone who wasn't into trying all my cooking? Who didn't want to go get pho, or ethiopian, or any other "weird ethnic food." Or even just a nice salad somewhere? It was a no-go for me.

When I began thinking about solid foods for the Critter, I knew I would try to make most of her food myself. I cook for Mr. P and me pretty much every day, why not add something for her too?

So after the library paste, errr, I mean baby cereal, debacle, I said to myself, if it does not taste good to me, why do I expect her to like it? A palate is born, but it is also cultivated. Expose her to good-tasting things, and a wide variety of things, and she will not expect things to taste processed or bland or overcooked.

I've made her sweet potatoes, which went over pretty well, and last night we tried peas. I just blanched the frozen peas, whirred them up in my food processor and strained the skins out. I thinned them out with a little cooking water. Nothing else, no salt, no fat. Just peas and water.

She LOVED them! They were bright green, as opposed to that overcooked, grey stuff they label as peas in baby food jars. They were sweet and yummy (yes, I ate some too - like a fresh spring pea soup!). And she gobbled those things up.

I know not everyone has the time I do as a SAHM to make baby food. But in 15 minutes, I made enough for her for at least a week. Freeze in ice cube trays, and it becomes just as easy as opening a jar.

It is really important to me to cultivate a good palate in that Critter Girl. I know there will be times she wants chicken nuggets (but hopefully she'll prefer the ones I make!) and pizza, and that's ok. Sometimes I want those things too. But I also crave fruit and veggies, and I hope she will too.

I missed it again!

Damn, I totally suck at marking milestones.

I saw Mel's post today and I thought, "Oh shit! I forgot my blogoversary again!"

So two years ago, earlier this month, I started this blog. TWO years! Amazing to me I'm still here writing. Clearly where I was two years ago is miles, eons, light years away from where I am now.

But it is good to remember and reflect. Two years ago I has just failed my second IVF. I was taking a break. I was researching other clinics. I was putting myself on the road to getting the Critter Girl.

And now, here I am, goal reached. I have to say, I'm so happy to have chronicled the journey, the many ups and downs. I wonder if someday I'll show this blog to the Critter Girl. Show her all that her mom and her dad went through to get her, how hard it was at the low points, how happy we were (and are!) with the results. How funny to think she could be a reader here at some point.

Most of all, though, this blog has allowed me to "meet" and get to know many other lovely people who happen to be on the same path as me. All the support you guys and gals have shown me, on this little old blog, it really means so much. I know my journey's path has changed, and I'm glad for all of you that have come along with me as I navigate new waters.

I hope in another two years I'll be reminiscing again here. Marking the passage of time, and marveling at the twists and turns of life.

Stuffs

Ok, so I've caught up on being home from vacation, and now have some time to say hi y'all!

Hi y'all!

I think I've caught up on everyone's blogs since I've been back - but if I missed commenting, I'm sorry. I promise I'll be back on track this week.

So around here, things continue to plug along. The Critter Girl is just blossoming into a fully interactive little girl. It is really amazing, in the past few weeks, it seems like a little light switched on in her head. She finally got the concept of being spoon-fed, and now eats like a champ. This took her a few weeks, and a week off from feeding solids altogether, but now she is opening her mouth and leaning towards the spoon, eager for her next bite. She is taking out and putting back her own pacifier, which is so cute to watch. And she is chomping on her new teething ring (one of those razzie things) like it's her job. She is much more interested in books, and is starting to show preferences for some over others. OMG, she has opinions! The first of many I'm sure. And her laughter, oh my! The belly laughs from this girl, wow. They are just too much cuteness.

I'm doing ok too, we did finally wean her from all boob at about 4.5 months. My boobs are still leaking a bit - good lord, its been almost a month since anyone ate from them! But they were always over-eager, and still like to drip here and there. I've also noticed that I'm not hot all the time anymore, and have ummm...wetness back. Down there wetness. Along with a whisper of a sex drive. Clearly estrogen is again running through my veins, and I could not be happier. I do sort of miss the BFing a bit (I bet you never thought you'd hear that from me!), but we still snuggle when she eats her bottles, especially in the morning and at night. All these bottles to wash, it makes just whipping out the boob seem like a nice thing. But it is so nice to be able to eat what I want (hello tomato sauce that gave the Critter crankies), drink what I want (hello icy cold Corona on a warm summer day).

I've also begun dieting to lose some of this 4 IVFs + 1 FET + 1 pregnancy + 2 months of depot loopyron weight. We will see how that goes, as I'm not much for dieting. I eat pretty well most of the time, but need to watch portion size more. And get my butt moving some more. Walking with the Critter has been good, but I need to get back to weights and harder cardio. Wish me luck, I'll need it!!

Oh, anyone here try that P90X thing? Thoughts? Opinions?

Have a good week, all!