8 Months: (Under)Feeding Noble

This babe met her naked reflection this weekend, and spent a long time admiring her 7.5 month old physique and trying to make out. It must be strange not knowing what you look like naked, even more so not knowing that it's something to know. She's now resisting diapering at every opportunity, and looking forward to the next encounter.

For the last month or so, I've stopped giving Noble a bottle before bed. I've opted instead to try and keep her from nursing after 5pm, so that I can sedate her with a nice long feeding around 7:30, right after I watch her slip and slide perilously around in the bath tub. Saving milk is my most sacred crusade, and any option to leave our meager freezer stash alone has me enthusiastically dropping top. Pumping continues to be the most dreadful chore, especially since I only get 2-3 ounces per session, but the promise of being able to freeze a few bottles a week keeps me coming back.

Butternut squash is her current favorite food, and she hums between trapping bigger and bigger bites. Hummus and guacamole also make for fine prey, but it's melon that really drives her over the edge. Since we started feeding her solids, we've stuck to around 2 tablespoons of food twice a day with the usual unlimited nursing on demand. I only recently realized, after feeding her a larger serving followed by a long nursing session and an earlier bedtime, that the half hour of screaming we'd become accustomed to every night for the past month was, shamefully, hunger. My trauma at having possibly over-fed her on Easter disabled my radar, and it's hard to remember that a growing girl's needs change by the day. Thank you solids, for taking the wheel! Happily stuffed and cuddled she now slides into her crib without protest, rolling into pro position and powering down for 10 hours every night. No meat, wheat or gluten yet, but I'm determined to raise an educated omnivore, so while I don't cook with these items, I will encourage her to taste them when they're around.


Crawling. Cruising. Climbing. She has attended her first live sporting event, had a peanut butter banana breastmilkshake, and her first runny nose. She's definitely picked up Bill's Texas allergies, and my flare for drama. As she was waking up from her nap I noticed on the monitor that her crib flap was left down from the morning and she would be able to crawl out on her own. Busy making lunch, I decided to go open her door and sneak away to see what she'd do with a small serving of independence. As the door slowly swung open and let in the light from the hall, it became clear that she was still alone in her room. Nothing a little screaming couldn't fix.

This weekend she took her first dip in the pool at Mesquite Retreat, splashing and gasping as we lowered into chilly pre-season water.

For a while there, we were worried we'd have to give up our family and friends here in Austin in favor of Bill taking on a new position in L.A., but we've just received confirmation that he'll be able to work from home. 

Adventures can continue despite the looming threat of her first Texas summer on the outside.

While we wait for Noble's hair to grow, we are doing our best to match her do with the pageant beauties of her home state. Auntie Jade's hair has been of great help during this time. 

Hats off to my library crew, who have been so supportive of Noble's eating schedule since she arrived. I'm resigning this week so I can hang out with these gorgeous Georges full time, and will miss the complex saga of library circulation while I'm at home inventing indoor fun - something the library has in spades.