Yummy Tummy

Balancing work and motherhood sure ain't easy, oh no. My mind is an endless to-do list, my body is still in recovery - actually that damn tailbone problem is not only NOT getting better but now I'm having serious back issues as well - and my home is a mess because there's too much stuff and not enough space and because I don't have nearly as much time to keep it as clean and organized as I'd like. But what can I say, que sera sera, I'm learning to ignore the chaos that surrounds me and expand the stillness of being present when I have those rare moments with Elliot when he's not crying, or trying to eat the computer wires, or pooping, or vomiting on me, those special moments when he just looks at me as if I am so incredibly interesting and laughs with a cackling gurgle like I just told the joke of the century.

I definitely have a lot of mommy guilt because of the whole working and leaving him every day thing, especially when Josh tells me some basic thing about taking care of him as if I'm some stranger. But I make up for it by making sure he has wholesome homemade baby food always at the ready to supplement my milk when I'm not there. He is about to turn 6 months this week (!!) and has already tried potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, rice cereal (that stuff in a box is awful compared to real rice grain), bananas, peas, and crackers. Tonight I made him a yummy batch of baked butternut squash with apple (in mush form of course) and I have to say it tastes freakin' delicious and I'm going to remember that recipe for the next time I go to a pot-luck!

He's getting better at eating real food too, most of it ends up in his belly instead of on his face, and he looks so cute when the spoon approaches and he opens his mouth with calm anticipation ready for the next bite.
Have I mentioned that we're teaching him sign language? Well, 'teaching' is not the right word, we just sign certain words to him at the appropriate times so that he learns them. So far we have been using the signs for mommy, daddy, up, change + diaper, drink, water, book, sleep, quiet, cat, and dirty. The idea is that with repetition he'll be able to start using the signs to communicate as soon as his hand coordination catches up with his brain, usually most babies start doing it by around 8 months.

             Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting Zora!