You know, this whole baby-raising thing can get pretty fucking confusing. If you start listening to all the voices giving you advice, it's only a matter of time before all the voices start bouncing around in your head and you start feeling like the Son of Sam.
I bring this up because apparently the BossLady and I have completely screwed up the Peanut's natural progression to solid food. We were so reliant on breast milk and formula that we kind of spaced out on the whole introduction to alternative forms of nutrition. Now, we're convinced that the Peanut is only going to drink formula for the rest of her life. I picture her in college getting strange looks from her dorm mates as she stocks her little mini-fridge with Costco-sized containers of Similac.
For the first 4 months of her life, our little girl was hooked on breast milk (as was I). It was titty juice all day, all night and all the time. But gradually we started having the Peanut get used to formula. Every once in awhile, we'd give her some baby cereal or a jar of organic baby food. But we were pretty inconsistent and often a week would go by when she'd consume nothing but formula.
So imagine our surprise when we were browsing through our massive library of baby books the other day. Dr. Spock says infants can have fruit and juice as early as 4 months old. Dr. Sears says certain solid foods should certainly be introduced by the age of 6 months. Even our own personal pediatrician, the famed Dr. Michel Cohen, says that we can feed the Peanut virtually anything (except dairy) as early as 6 months.
Well, the Peanut is now 9 months old. So to make up for lost time, we spent the past week letting her enjoy everything that her parents ate. Our doc suggested that we feed the Peanut everything we were eating. This would not only make our life easier in the future but also it would ensure that we wouldn't have to prepare two sets of meals all the time. So we did. And well, tickle me Emeril! Turns out my daughter eats everything! Just in the past three days alone, we've fed her kalamata olives, potato gnocchi, steak, cayenne-peppered corn, crab meat, apple strudel, miso-crusted black cod, croissants, steamed pork dumplings and sesame bread. The only thing she didn't like? Blueberries.
As a self-confessed "foodie", I couldn't be happier. It's like getting a positive result from a paternity test (she's MY daughter, world! You hear that?) Food is one of my many passions and I spend an inordinate amount of time, energy and resources devoted to it. To think that my daughter and I already have a shared passion almost brings tears to my eyes. Not really. But you know what I'm talking about.
Another funny aspect of feeding the Peanut all this adult food? Seeing my lovely wife's heart swell with pride as she proudly announced that our daughter laid her very first turd the other day. We were going to photograph it so we could embarass her during her teenage years but we decided against it. Instead, we chose to stick the turd in the freezer until it petrifies. That way, the Peanut will really be able to appreciate it many years from now.
I'm kidding, people. What kind of sick fuck do you think I am? Wait, don't answer that. Just do me a favor and pass me a cold bottle of breast milk, will ya?
Now just wait a minute. Puffy needs that breastmilk more than you do.
Posted by: landismom | July 19, 2005 at 11:21 PM
hehe. Welcome to Turd watch 2005. You think it's cute now, but wait until you start discussing consistancy and color. Princess's poop can't be to hard or too runny or to formed....or...I find myself discussing how many times (he went a WHOLE WEEK w/o pooping after we started gving him solids, and I thought we were going to have to go spelunking!) and smell. I find myself anxious when they are too formed and worried if he seems like he is straining. Did I mention the smell? THE SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLl.
Just sharing.
Posted by: | July 20, 2005 at 02:53 AM
I read the end of our post a little too quickly. For a second there, I thought you actually DID save the turd! That would have been a little disturbing. Funny!
Posted by: Angela | July 20, 2005 at 08:41 AM
Don't sweat the blueberries... seriously, you don't want to have to change that diaper...
Posted by: Stacy | July 20, 2005 at 09:23 AM
Wow, I didn't realize babies could eat "adult" food. So, then, is the whole Gerber baby food thing a scam? =D
Posted by: enygma | July 20, 2005 at 09:30 AM
You two didn't do anything 'wrong' by not feeding her solid food until now. If the Peanut had been hungry for real food she would have let you know about a loooong time ago. Just think of all the money you saved not buying baby food jars :)
Posted by: ManicMom | July 20, 2005 at 10:24 AM
Our kid started eating grown-up food at a relatively young age. He quickly developed a sophisticated palate. A few months ago, we took a trip to our favorite Indian place, and the kid now LOVES it. Especially palak paneer. Go figure.
Oh, and wait 'till Peanut eats corn for the first time. That's a fun diaper.
Posted by: Jason | July 20, 2005 at 11:02 AM
Our oldest one started eating korean food with us before the age of one! We couldn't believe it. She handled all the spicy stuff without ANY problems. She even ate kimchee! The younger one? The pickiest eater in the world. She's 14 months and really doesn't like to eat adult food. She just likes soy milk and baby food. And she'll throw a fit if we try to give her anything else. Such a princess!
Posted by: Min | July 20, 2005 at 11:14 AM
Wow! I have to say that I'm turning green of envy and red of being suspicious. Your kids eat adult food????? Only one post with a picky eater? I just can't believe it...
Even though we followed every manual out there on baby food, our little one has become a vegeterian (more accurate a only-fruit-eater), and refuses to eat any meat, any diary, any grains, nothing, just fruit, yoghurt and soy milk. The doctor said that we should keep trying, but after 13 times of offering salmon she still refuses to eat it. Go figure!
Posted by: Sal | July 20, 2005 at 12:30 PM
Liam doesn't like blueberries either. He touched them and pulled his hand away like he just touched an eyeball. He is eating most of stuff we eat but still has a hard time with some foods and his gag reflex. Stuff like green beans. How convenient! The cheerios flow like a river. Enjoy! The messiest days are ahead! After Liam feeds himself, we let the dogs go to town and clean up the mess. I knew we had two pugs for a reason. Oh and poop is a daily topic. "He poo-ooped" "Was it hard?" "Uhm a little?" "What's it look like?" "Goobers?"
Posted by: Susie | July 20, 2005 at 09:18 PM
Yeah, yeah, yeah. They sometimes are adventurous at first, but don't be too disappointed if Junior backs off the Exotic 'n' Tasty Food in a few years.
The Mistress of Sarcasm used to love exotica like caviar and Peking duck when she was itty-bitty. Unfortunately (maybe fortunately for th' budget) she grew out of these tastes for many years. But we remember one episode at age 5 when she cried blue murder:
"I want Peking duck! I want Peking duck! I want Peking duck! I want Peking duck!"
Can you imagine?
Posted by: Elisson | July 20, 2005 at 11:43 PM
You guys eat pretty well. Forget the Peanut, when can I come over for dinner?
Posted by: Matthew | July 21, 2005 at 01:26 AM
Munchkin thought prunes were delicious. The poor child....
Posted by: Queen of Ass | July 21, 2005 at 12:57 PM
don't get to happy there MD. Soon she will get picky and you won't be able to get her to eat anything except McD's fries. Once my child ate those cool things too
Posted by: Jennifer | July 21, 2005 at 03:07 PM
Our little girl eats everything, and it is because we skipped the whole "feed your kid that nasty smashed shit our of a jar" phase as well. It is nice to have some of that for quick snacks and meals, but why would you feed your kid strained carrots that were processed 6 months ago while you eat really yummy fresh food? She goes to all restaurants with us, and loves a wide variety of food. Among her favorites: sushi (loves the salmon roe and the ebi), thai (she loves the soups and the pad thai), vietnamese (we both are huge pho fans), and any place she can get her hands on some really good mexican food (she loves fajitas). I love the fact that people always look at us very strangely when we take her into upscale restaurants, but are always complimenting on her manners and unique appetite before we leave. She can already use chopsticks and she isn't even 3 yet (but will be next week). I love my amazingly awesome kid, and it is nice to be able to go to restaurants other than McDonalds and Luby's!!
Posted by: Jen | July 21, 2005 at 05:08 PM
How fun watching her try new things. Did you try lemon or dill pickle yet? That's always funny. As for the bazillion paths to milestones like eating and potty training, don't worry, they all get there one way or another.
Posted by: Shertyk | July 21, 2005 at 06:40 PM
Both of my kids eat everything from Vietnamese pho to Korean BBQ to pasta with pesto. Aside from the known allergy-inducing foods, I never understood the point of feeding babies separate foods. It's not like I'm going to be cooking separate meals for the rest of their lives. My 10mo loves chomping on rib bones, loves har gao, loves pelmeni. Just like us.
Posted by: CityMama | July 27, 2005 at 01:13 PM
The important long term benefits of breast feeding include reduced risk of asthma, allergies, obesity, and some forms of childhood cancer. The more that scientists continue to learn, the better breast milk looks. In addition to making your baby healthier, breast feeding may also make him smarter. Many studies have proved that breast fed babies tend to be more smarter than babies who were fed with formula or other methods
Posted by: | July 22, 2009 at 04:05 AM