Solids... at last

Ronan had his first "solid meal" today! Rice cereal and breastmilk, which looked a lot like slightly thickened milk. He's been avidly lunging for our food for several weeks now, but we chose to hold off for as long as we could b/c a breastmilk-only diet supposedly helps prevent allergies, excessive weight gain, and other bads. There will be no fat Bennetts! (just kidding) One of our books says that when the baby is ready to grab food off your plate and feed himself, then he's ready for solids. That's definitely Ronan.

He loved the rice cereal. But then, I think he would've wolfed down anything we put on the spoon! He had no problems swallowing and he didn't push it out with his tongue. Rather, he gulped it right down and kept grabbing the spoon and bowl to feed himself! It was so funny how excited he was. We kept wondering how he knew how to use the spoon... Just from watching us for the past 6 months? And the cup -- he loves drinking water straight from a glass. How did he learn exactly how to hold it?!

Anyway, our entree into the world of solids was a little messy, but not the explosion I half-expected. The cereal did drip everywhere and he's the kind of guy who needs to have his hands in the cookie dough, so to speak, but all in all it was another fantastic milestone day. Here are some pics!


Whoa... what's that?


So tasty I think I'm going to help myself


More, Mom, more!


If she'd only give me the bowl...


Ahhh...


Mmmm


Good boy!


Whew, Dad, I'm stuffed!


A funny pic of me and Ronan going on a walk. He looks (and feels) huge in the Bjorn...