Our Baby Steps: I want my independence...NO...I just want my Mommy!!!

Jack is teetering on whether he prefers independence or the comfort of Mom. Now I know you are all thinking, how much independence can an 8 month old really have? Surprisingly, he seeks to do a lot of things himself.

Now that Jack can pick up things with his fingers, he feels like he only wants to feed himself. He actually grabs the spoon, and sticks it in his mouth. He loves to pick up his own food. His new favorite is peas because he can eat them himself (I mash them because I worry he will choke). He also loves puffs and anything else he can eat with his two hands.

I have started making my own baby food. The reasoning is less about preservatives and more about calories. Jack is a little small for his age, and so I am trying to increase his calorie count. There is nothing more frustrating for a Type A personality then to spend 45 minutes feeding Jack 45 calories. I have started mixing it with rice cereal and some powder formula to beef it up.

He actually gained two pounds in one month from the stuff! Now, I am trying to be a little more gourmet in my approach, adding chicken broth, rice and other fun foods to the list. His new favorite is cuban dinner, which consists of yellow rice, black beans and avocado. He adores avocado!

Just waking up!

Besides making food, I have had a heart wrenching week. Jack's sitter, Kathy, who has been with us since he was three months old, went on a much needed six week vacation to Florida. I didn't realize how hard it would be on Jack to make the transition to someone else. Our new sitter, Terry, is a wonderful replacement but is a foot taller and has a much huskier voice. Kathy, a grandma, has been replaced with a 6'3" retired marine. I know what you all must be thinking but Terry rocks Jack just as much as Kathy did, and has this awesome daffy duck impression that makes everyone laugh. However, Jack quickly could tell the difference, and equated Terry's arrival with my departure. Separation anxiety set in, and now we are trying to work through these issues. Things have gotten better within the first week, and I could see notable improvements. However, Jack clings on to me a lot more now and is very suspicious every time I leave a room.

In other news, Carl continues to work hard at finishing his research before he leaves Hamot. I am working more at Shriners Hospital doing consulting services, and trying to wrap up some of my projects. It looks as though we are going to be "wrapping" things up until the day we leave Erie. The house has still not sold but I expect things to get better as the snow melts. There is nothing worse than three feet of snow in your yard....I continue to get asked is that grass out there? Please let it be an early Spring!