Eating and discovering

So, I can't remember how much I blogged about Olivia's changing eating patterns. I never had enough breast milk for her, as she was eating four ounces 8-9 times per day by the time she was three weeks old. (And I was pumping every feeding because she wouldn't suck. Unfortunately, breast feeding just didn't come naturally to Olivia and me the way I had envisioned. Maybe next time!) We did breast milk and formula until she was a month old, then went to Enfamil Premium Lipil totally for a week. That's when she had obvious blood in her stool and we switched to Nutramigen Lipil, also by Enfamil. When she started on Nutramigen, she started taking quite a bit less...say three ounces per feeding 7-8 times a day. By the end of July, she was only taking about 2.5 ounces per feeding 8-9 times per day. At the beginning of August was when she only gained 2 ounces in two weeks and it freaked me out. Around mid-August things picked up again and Olivia started taking 4 ounces per feeding 9 times per day. Now she is taking at least 4.4 ounces and sometimes 5 to 6.5 ounces per feeding 8 times per day.

The rice cereal is going better, too. I am only doing it once a day, but she is a happy eater! She is sure that the cereal comes from the spoon, and so by holding onto it and biting it there will be more. Sometimes it is a struggle to get it back and get more cereal onto it.




I know this looks dangerous, but I am right there! Olivia loves to take the place mat and pull. Whatever is on it goes into the sink, as does the place mat. I never have the TV on when she is around as "THEY" say that kids aren't supposed to watch TV until they are two. We're doing well so far. (We'll see if we make it, though! Seems like Sesame Street might be appropriate for an 18-month old.) But, Olivia loves the remote!



And this is Olivia on the way to my dentist appointment. (We still don't have a babysitter. Yes, I know we should find one.) She hadn't worn this dress yet and I was afraid she would outgrow it before I got her in it, so she was all dressed up for the dentist. The women working there LOVED her...and held her and played with her while I got my teeth cleaned. Seemed like the reception she'll be sure to get at my dad's office!