Sweet Potato Dance Party

Teddy's introduction into the World of Food has had some ups and downs. He hasn't taken to all of the assorted baby food goops that we've offered him. After a bit of consideration, I suppose this is understandable. The little guy is only used to bland tastes. For his entire life, he's only tasted formula and a handful of other non-edible items (like, bips, burp cloths, socks, onesies, his feet... ). The idea of sticking mushed pineapple in his mouth likely sets his mouth and senses ablaze.

He gave us some resistance when we first poked a colorful plastic spoon into his face. He was locked into a Bumbo. He was sitting on our kitchen counter. All of these things were not just new they were wildly distracting. I devised a plan to keep Teddy's attention on us feeding him as opposed to the environment. I decided to play Raggae.

Feeding time became intertwined with Caribbean excitement. We'd begin the process by playing Pandora stations and dancing in the kitchen together. I'd pop him into the Bumbo and maintain a rhythm while feeding the lad. It's now to the point where Teddy's exhibiting a Pavlovian salvation to the sound of steel drums. We began with a Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad Pandora station. That then changed over to the simplistically beautiful "Raggae" station. The boy loves it.

We started feeding time by offering Teddy Apple baby food. I love apples, so I thought Teddy might as well. He reluctantly choked down the jar over several nights. His hesitance and sour faces were assumed to be the result of an actual flavor sending is taste buds into a panic.

 

Next, we tried Sweet Potatoes. This kid cannot get enough sweet potatoes. He loves them. Jenna and I laughed as he would reach out for the spoon with his mouth opened wide. He would pull our hands closer to his face. Being new to foods, we can only give Teddy an ounce or two of something each night. He looked so sad when we'd stop feeding him sweet potatoes. He'd stare at us with great concern when dinner time was over and we'd begin making his nightly pre-bed bottle.

After the success of the Sweet Potatoes, we thought Teddy had the entire eating process locked down. We moved on to the next jar: Peaches. Prior to explaining what happened, I'd like to add the disclaimer that I, too, found the Peaches a bit tart.

Teddy's first taste of Peaches might as well have been a first taste of pure lemon juice. His face contorted and compressed upon itself. His already little face did the impossible: it became even littler. Jenna and I looked at each other with wide eyed questions. We tried again. Upon this spoonful Teddy rubbed his face with his hands and then began to gag. Mouth open, unashamed gagging. Hack. Hack. "Okay, it looks like we've had enough of this for the night." Being the Super Parents that we are, we chalked this up to him being very tired that evening.

The next time, we attempted Peaches again. The exact same gagging continued. With the Peaches striking me as a bit tart, we decided to abandon the Peaches and move onto Carrots. This would be more savory as opposed to sweet or tart. No such luck. Upon a spoonful of mushed Carrots, Teddy gagged again. Curious. "Maybe he still thinks it's a spoon full of Peaches. Let's be patient and give him another spoon of Carrots". Gagging continues. Hacking continues.

The next three seconds were the most shocking and horrifying thing I have experienced as a parent. Teddy projectile vomited everything in his little body onto our kitchen floor. Judging by the amount and the force with which it all left his body so suddenly, I am impressed he had bones left in his frame. Aside from filling the pocket in his bib, he coated: himself, the Bumbo, the counter, the floor and anything in the immediate 'splash zone'.

Parents of the Year here. We'll feed our child until he vomits.

It's true what they say about children 'being built not to fall apart'. After this oral explosion... Teddy laughed. Admittedly, he still looked dazed but his laugh let us know he was okay. Jenna and I were quite relieved to find our child unharmed. Soaking but unharmed.

We apologized to the little fella and began cleaning the kitchen. We immediately started Bath Time. I mean, what else do you do with a child that's coated in - what appeared to be - 200 ounces of formula and four spoon fulls of gross baby food?

After a bath, Teddy was happy as a clam. We attempted to feed him before bed; since his tummy was obviously very empty. He punished 8 ounces of formula and drifted off to sleep in my arms... just as though nothing had happened.

Parents of the Year.

The next few nights we gave Teddy a break from solids (read: baby goop). He's now jumped back into the eating game wholeheartedly. He's eating as much Sweet Potato goo as we'll give him. I suppose we'll continue to try other foods; but will keep a healthy supply of Sweet Potatoes on hand.

In other, and very exciting, news: Teddy kind of walks. He's 6.5 months and he's kind of getting the idea of walking. While playing with Teddy yesterday evening, I held his hands so he was standing between my legs. As I began to walk forward, pulling his hands forward slowly with me, Teddy would step to keep up. He definitely gets the idea of one foot in front of the other. His Right foot has a clear 'step' to it. The Left foot would occasionally drag a little as he moved it forward. Nevertheless, it was definitely walking. He needed my support but he was walking. That was a surprising development that I wasn't expecting.

When Jenna came home, Teddy and I put on a show "walking" around the living room. Teddy, of course, had a big smile on his face the entire time.

More to come soon!

Likely topic for my next update: How impossible it is to baby-proof our house.

Not yet crawling, but he loves to be up and looking around. 

I believe this is the best picture of Teddy yet.