Baby's first food

On Saturday we gave Oscar his first food. We had been planning on waiting until 6 months just like with Clara, since the research we've read suggests that it is best for all babies to wait until that time. But Oscar was so much more interested in food, getting excited every time we ate. He also has gotten very very hungry. And since I am at work more than 6 hours every day, and someone has to bring Oscar to nurse, it also gets impractical if Oscar wants to nurse more than every 2 hours or so - visiting me twice during the work day already means a lot of time spent dressing, in the stroller, and undressing in this January weather. So we decided to start a little early this time so that Chris can have some solid food to give Oscar to maybe tide him over a half hour once in a while.

Just like with Clara, we started with bananas. But it has been a completely different thing! While Clara was never much interested in eating during her first year, Oscar loves it! He never gagged once, and got the hang of eating from a spoon on the first try. We only give him food once a day for now, and only a little piece of banana so far. But he always finishes everything we give him. I think I want to try to give him little pieces of banana soon, instead of mashing it with a fork.


This weekend we'll start a new food, probably a colorful vegetable. I also want to go to meat pretty soon. It's supposed to be good for the iron, and anyway as far as I understand, babies and toddlers are protein people.


Oscar is still the happiest baby we know. He is working very hard on perfecting his rolling skills. From tummy to back he can do it pretty easily now. Both Chris and my mom swear they have seen Oscar roll the other way, too, but I've only ever seen him do this with a little help. He also likes to sit up (although Clara was better at sitting at this age). I can't wait till he can sit in his high chair so he can join us for mealtimes.


Yesterday all of us went swimming after work/Kita - it was so much fun! Unfortunately there aren't any pictures. Clara has become a lot more confident. She loved the (toddler) slide and even asked to put on her water wings. With the wings, she went in the deep water with Chris and practiced floating and kicking her legs. Oscar was SO excited about being in the water. He gave Clara huge smiles, splashed with his legs, and made loud dinosaur screeches. It was fun. Too bad that the pool is so far away from our house - it got pretty late by the time we got home and the whole thing is a little too exhausting to be doing after our regular days. I think we will have to go on a Sunday again (but it was nice this time because it was pretty empty). But we're planning on signing Oscar up for a baby swim class next Monday (at a pool closer to our house). And I think we might sign Clara up for a class for 3-4 year olds, too. The classes only start in April though, so we'll have to practice on our own before that! I can't wait for June or so, when "our" beach opens again.