Coco's First Bite

It didn't occur to me at the time, but for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the month I was really bitchy and irritable and I think I finally know why: I didn't want Coco to start solids and to give up breastfeeding. At her six month check-up, the pediatrician gave me some information about starting solids and said she was ready, much to my dismay. I started getting everything ready from her little dishes and spoons to her highchair and finding space in the cupboard for the Babycook and rice cereal, but I was not excited about it at all.

I love breastfeeding so much it's crazy. I've thought and thought and thought and tried to figure out why I love it SO much, but I can't. I really can't. Maybe it's the closeness and the connection, maybe it's knowing that I'm giving her nourishment. But I don't think so. It's something else. Something magical and mysterious that I can't put into words. It's a beautiful, wondrous thing. Breastfeeding is probably the most glorious thing I've ever done. And I can't even tell you why. Oh well.
But I see now that during the grumpy funk, it was making me so sad and crabby to think that my little baby was going to stop breastfeeding. It's silly, really, because I fully intend to nurse Coco until she's two, but even knowing that, it still felt like her eating solid food was the beginning of her weaning and it was just a really sad time for me. 

Then last week, it was like a switch went off and I was ready! We were sitting at lunch one day and she reached out and grabbed a handful of salad off of my plate and tried to shove it in her mouth. She didn't succeed, but she was definitely showing interest in food. Definitely! And suddenly, I was ready to feed her and give her food and it didn't make me sad anymore. Don't ask me how that happened. It just did.

So I ran out to buy a sweet potato to make for her. Actually, first I got out my Dr. Sears book and re-read the section on starting solids. Then I ran out to get a sweet potato. I also picked up some colorful organic carrots. Then I got out my Annabel Karmel baby purées book and started peeling and chopping. Then I started way over-documenting the process. 
I even made J take a video 
Just like the books said she might, she just spit it out. So I guess we'll try again next week. And then we might not go quite so crazy documenting. Okay, to say "we" is not really fair. I will not go so crazy documenting. It just seemed like such a huge milestone, but in the end, the over-documenting took away from the experience. J remarked later that he wished he'd seen it. Oof! Lesson learned. Sometimes it's better to just experience something than to go overboard taking pictures and videos.
I think Coco would agree. 

Comments

  1. hey! Just dont think tooo much, there is no 'right' way to do it... just CoCo's way! She is interested , so give her a little a day, if not, no problem! If you plan too much you may just get dissapointment.. ie. I made 50ml of puree , she only ate 20. Or She may seem to suddenly like water and food more than breastfeeding... I know that my first son just refused to breastfeed after 7mths , but the second kept going untill 1 year. then he much prefered a bowl of pasta and veg puree and a cup of milk!!
    On the pro side it offers YOU closeness to your girl, which natrally you hate to loose, but the next stage is just as good!!!
    Down side, no other mammals feed over a year! and some kids get unusually attatched to their parents when 2+ and still breastfeeding... (with ALL their teeth!!)
    food for thought!

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    1. Oh my, if you think 2 is old to be breastfeeding, get a load of this. My sister breastfed my niece until she was FOUR! Now that is some long term breastfeeding!! ;) I agree there is definitely lots of food for thought - and you're right that the child decides, too. :) xo

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