Who Needs Teeth?

As you can probably tell from Kate's gaunt cheeks, she is severely underfed (insert sarcasm here).  In all seriousness, despite the size of her cheeks, she is not storing food!

We've started exploring more table foods and less pureed foods.  For the most part I have tried making her baby food using the Beaba babycook and loved the results. While I'll still use the cooker mainly for fruits, I've enjoyed feeding Kate more of what we eat.  Oh yeah, did I mention that she STILL doesn't have any teeth?  Who needs 'em with the powerful jaws she has?

This weekend Kate explored all kinds of yummy table foods, including waffles, green beans, potatoes, cottage cheese, rice, pasta, bread, and ice cream from Chick 'fil a. HappyBaby yogurt melts and Plum Organics Super Puffs are always staples in our house.  Fortunately Kate has never turned away any foods we've presented to her.  Hopefully she'll continue this behavior into toddlerhood!

Don't Tell the Pediatrician

Most of you know that Kate was born premature at 33 weeks.  I never had any signs or symptoms of premature labor but, BAM!, one Saturday I went into the hospital just to be checked out after having some back discomfort and one other sign that's a little too much tmi for the internet.  Well, little did I know I was already 4cm.  Kate held on for another 6 days before she kicked me one good time and it was all downhill from there!  Needless to say, developmentally Kate has been right on track (or advanced) for a typical child her age except with motor skills (although I argue that some of her motor delays has to be due to her laid-back personality).  Now these delays haven't been significant, maybe a 1/2-month to a month behind (which is expected for a preemie and even a typical child), but we seem to be at a standstill for learning to crawl and walk. Everyone comments on how strong her legs are, but we just can't seem to help her realize that if she bends her knees she can use those strong legs to walk.  Until now that is....

So here's my "don't tell the pediatrician" story:

Yesterday I ran errands during Kate's morning nap time.  I ran into Babies r Us to get the yummy organic snack foods she likes and temptation loomed on aisle 13 in the form of a clearance gadget: the walker.  Now, everything we read says don't use a walker.  They are inherently dangerous and just by putting your child in one we're almost assured that he/she will topple over immediately and just die. Or at least that's what I've gleaned from the warning paperwork my doctor has given us about developmental milestones.  Well, in my little head I didn't see doom and gloom, I saw an opportunity! So I bought one.  Of course at this point I can't tell you if it's actually going to help Kate learn to walk but I can tell you for the first time she not only stands tall, but she has figured out how to bend her legs and move her feet and, well, walk! I've attached a picture of Kate in her new toy.  You'll just have to make sure you don't share them with my pediatrician and, if you're one of our pediatrician friends and you're reading this right now, don't judge!  :)

All in a Name

So, I was inspired to go ahead and start a blog after seeing some friends do the same thing after the birth of their children.  Unfortunately I didn't think if this sooner and I'm starting this new adventure as Kate is knocking on the doorstep of her first birthday.  Oh well.  Better late than never!

Let's see.  Where do I even begin? Well, first of all I guess I should tell you a little bit about how I came up with the name of the blog.  I chose "far to go" as my title because of the Thursday's Child poem:

Mondays child is fair of face,

Tuesdays child is full of grace,

Wednesdays child is full of woe,

Thursdays child has far to go,

Fridays child is loving and giving,

Saturdays child works hard for his living,

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day

Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

I love the idea that my preemie baby has far to go!  I also like to think that our family has far to go now that we have Kate in our lives.  Every night when I read her stories and rock her to sleep I can't help thinking about all the things we will do and places we will go just for her.