Packing and dust

The packing is...going. I just have two full days left here in windy, dusty Lubbock. K was supposed to come by today. It's 7:30 and he still hasn't called. I don't think I am ever going to understand. Thank goodness for my neighbors and friends from knitting who jumped in to help pack and watch the kidlet.

Snaggle tooth

Cut up frozen pineapples were not a hit this morning. I tasted one and I can see why. I'm going to try the crushed ones without sugar or fresh if I can find it. No more frozen pineapple for either of us! And this morning, I noticed a brown spot on Parker's tooth. I've brushed his gums after every solid meal since he was 4 months old. I switched to the tooth brush after the tooth was far enough out. I was already upset because it's crooked. And yes, I know first teeth are replaced. It's just...I think he might have his father's teeth and that's just going to mean a LOT of dental work. I've been so careful. No juices, no sugar and I have not let him fall asleep at the breast for the most part. The milk never seemed to pool in his mouth. I can't wait to move and get him into a dentist. His father's first teeth had brown spots too. The water here can cause spots, but I haven't given it to him and I don't drink it either. Teeth are such a big first impression. I am going to feel so terrible for my baby if his are a mess. His father's comment after I noticed the crooked tooth was "It's ten years away for braces and I'm sure you will have a good job with insurance by then." I am just going to throw that out there without a comment from my own peanut gallery.

Nobody home but a bunch of pineapples!

I am just exhausted today. Parker is stressed out over the moving and all the changes to his house. I am too, but at least I know why it's all happening. He loves adventure and exploring so I thought he would enjoy the packing. But I suppose it's too much for him. He's not sleeping well. I'm not sleeping well. I'm stressed over so much to do and it's very hard to pack with a little one under my feet. Granted, I don't like to pack in the first place!
I am tossing more and more things. I am proud of myself for letting go. I went through a box of my mom's books this afternoon and set aside about half to try to sell. I will donate them to the library if they can't be sold. It's nice to purge. I can see why some people sell everything they own from time to time. I am *cough cough* nowhere near that, but even what I have decided to part with is making me feel lighter.

In Parker's food news, today's new food was pineapple! I am not sure he even noticed it was new. I gave him a tub of Gerber's Pear Pineapple with oatmeal. I do have frozen chunks of pineapple for later this week. He might notice the flavor then.
His hair is getting so long and curly. I looked back through my things to see when my mom had my haircut the first time but I can't find a date. Parker seems so young, but his hair has a mind of its own! I love this series of pictures. It was even funnier in person. Parker woke up cranky from his nap and it took him a bit to start laughing with me.

Beets

Yes, it is daunting to feed an infant beets for lunch (along with the blueberries he had for breakfast.)! I made sure his crib had a dark sheet on it. I've been craving beets ever since my dad was here and made pickled beets. SO good! Thanks, Dad!

9 month check up

Today was Parker's 9 month check-up. It was a shot-free well-check, something I greatly appreciated as he has gotten fussy and feverish each time after getting shots. And I need less fuss while trying to pack and get ready to move in a mere NINE days. His second tooth has made its appearance! And he is 29 inches and 20 lbs 15 ounces. His weight percentile has gone WAY down. He looks very chubby to me though. And you just cannot imagine how much he eats unless you watch the little piggy gobble it down. He still opens his mouth like a bird if you take to long to shovel in the next spoonful. He is doing great otherwise except for an descended testicle. It looks like surgery is in store for him. I just had a feeling it would be. The doctor also asked how his speech was and right after I said "Well, he does talk a lot, but his favorite word is Mommamommamomma," he opened his mouth and let loose with a long string of baby gibberish. Very cute, my son!

Quinoa and a visit from K's parents

I've been taking Parker's food introductions very slow. His father had severe food allergies and was actually given allergy shots before the age of two. I don't have any food allergies and I am breastfeeding the kidlet so I didn't think he would develop any. But my motto in this was "Better Safe than Sorry."
Today was quinoa. I don't think he even noticed it was a new food. I mixed some in with a jarred vegetable puree and the little piggy ate it all up. But it was a special day in that his grandmother, Nana, was feeding him for the first time. Parker enjoyed the meal despite Nana not shoveling it in fast enough! My boy is a very good eater. He even tried to eat the spoon with each bite of food.



(Just a note on quinoa- it is a ancient grain cultivated in the Andes and throughout South America that's becoming easier to find here. I can buy organic at the local grocery store here in Lubbock so I am sure it's not hard for the rest of the country to find. Its texture reminds me of Israeli couscous, only it's much smaller and doesn't "pop" as much. I use it as a rice replacement in stir-fries or as a cold salad tossed with italian dressing, tomatoes and cucumbers.)

I'm not giving Parker wheat until he is close to a year old (SOP these days for infants). I feel we, as consumers, are so dependant on wheat when there are many many different grains and cereals to experiment with. It's no wonder wheat allergies are so prevalent when it's present at most meals. Some other grains/cereals Parker's had thus far are millet, buckwheat (He LOVES this for breakfast.), barley (in addition to the boxed infant barley cereal mix, I've cooked the quick-cook barley for him. Very easy to do and MUCH less time-consuming than regular barley, but of course you lose the nut-like texture). He's also had lentils and he loves those as well. They are easy for him to swallow and in small amounts, the gas has not been a problem.

The Rest of Our Lives

One of my dearest, closest and by far, longest friends has been asking me to start blogging since my son, Parker, was born last May. I resisted. Lack of time. Privacy issues. Etc. But I finally decided the time was right.

Parker and I are heading off the week after next to a new adventure, a new life, a new what-have-you. As our family and friends are scattered throughout Texas and California and everywhere in between, I thought one place to share our adventures and new experiences would be good.

I realize this move is not what everyone wanted. But my goal here is to focus on the positive and share the day to day things we are doing as Parker grows.