Yam-tastic!! Sweet Potato Party!!

That's right folks, Fudge has moved on to solids, more or less. Really, the food is not that solid. Maybe we should call this phase moving on to "puddings"? It sounds more appetizing (who doesn't love pudding!) and is far more accurate than solids.

Anyway, Kiernan started eating rice cereal Friday before last and couldn't get enough. This last Friday he got his first real food, sweet potatoes. And as you can see from the video, the only problem Kiernan has with eating is the lag time from emptying the spoon to refilling it and getting it into his mouth. Watch his hands actually grab my hand and shove the spoon on in!

This is an exciting time for Mom, Dad, and little Fudge. We will be embarking on a "let's see what we can get him to eat!" campaign. We'll be introducing a different food every three days starting with the vegetables. The excitement is mainly for Dad who is going to begin scouring the world of baby foods for some of the most random edibles he can find, and if it can't be found it will be made onsite. BWA HAHAHA! Mom is excited too, but less so, because she is a little sad about losing her cuddle/nursing time with the Bug.

We'll keep the updates coming.

At the end of a long weekend...

After lots of bouncing...
and cuddling with Daddy...
and playing with Hattie (a.k.a., Captain Insane-o), the new foster pup (who is *nothing* like Lyla or Macey)...
we all need a good nap!

The progression of giving Kiernan blocks

Baby massage

Any recent parents (I don't think this craze has been around longer than 5 years) have had the virtues of baby massage beaten into their heads. I get it, I do. Soothing touches are good for baby. Got it. Not always rough housing. Got it. Even when baby *loves* the rough housing. Got it. Even when baby wants to be tossed in the air 24/7. Baby massage, baby massage, baby massage. GOT IT.

Anyways, at the end of Kiernan's bath, he gets some quiet time and a little baby massage. It's hard not to let this dissolve into a game of tickle-the-baby-in-the-ribs, but we try. Look at that little belly just waiting to be raspberried (a word, I should note, spellcheck does not believe exists)! So, when Billy is given strict instructions not to tickle, torment, tease, or otherwise rile up one adorable baby, you can see from the pictures below how he copes with this. I'm pretty sure these techniques were *not* covered in the "Baby Massage and You" handbook that was stapled into our hands upon leaving the hospital.

* Note: no babies were harmed during this impromptu photo shoot.

Before the teeth, comes the drool

Oh Tyf, your baby is rather, um, "glisteny". Take that, spellcheck. Glisteny. Ah yes, see that rather slickery looking substance covering the chin of our beautiful baby? That would be drool. It's a rather ever present substance around here. Not that Kiernan has any teeth to show for his drooly efforts, but I have to hope (that's read: pray) that teeth will be coming shortly. This is one baby that is ready for teeth (as evidenced by him eyeing me eating my toast this morning). We're starting solids at the end of this month! Bring on the mess!