Been a while, thought I'd catch up!!

Well, not sure where to start! In 5 days time my little baby will be a fully fledged 18 month old and I have no idea where the time has been going! She's such a funny little character and most definitely has daddy wrapped right round her little finger. She is extremely affectionate at the moment, especially with her big brother which is just lovely.

Her speech is developing every day and she has learnt a couple of new signs but we kind of stick with the same ones. Her latest sign is "Sorry" which is very cute!

Still feeding as good as ever. She sometimes has her moments if her teeth are particularly bad but this little lady loves her food!! I can't believe what a tidy eater she is now too. She uses cutlery fantastically and seems to understand there's a lot less waste if she eats smaller spoonfulls so she is quite dainty! However watching her eat yoghurt is hilarious!! She eats it beautifully all the way until the last couple of spoons she hasn't a drop of it anywhere but her mouth. She struggles with the last bit so lobs the spoon and gets her hands in! very funny!!

We've even started to introduce tomato based meals again, like spag bol. Now she is tidier at eating less gets spread on her face and it doesn't flare her eczema anymore.

We made some christmas cards the other week and she got right into it! really concentrating. Can't believe christmas is so close now! Will make sure I post some more christmas dinner photos!! She LOVED it last year!!

More Meat

BB has never been overly interested in meat. However, recently I have noticed she eats it a lot more than she used. Thing is I couldn't tell you when she started eating more of it lol! She has had a lot of new teeth in the last couple of months and maybe this has coincided with the fact she will eat more meats, more often.

I guess this fits in well with the BLW theory of how babies will eat when they are physically, developmentally ready, maybe now she has more gnashers she can manage a roast chicken breast more.

She did used to moisten her lamb or pork for a bit in her mouth and then take it out and chew it again, I suppose sometimes this may have been too much effort when she was hungry!

Yesterday, she appeared to start to get bored of her dinner. She's very keen on using forks or spoons though and was trying. In the end we decided to break the chicken up smaller and then she was able to spear and eat it really easy. She wolfed it down. I think this time instead of going off the meat she was probably uncomfortable (teething again) so little bite sizes were easier for her.

Apples are the new Banana

Well BB has decided she'd rather have apples as her mid-mornign snack then bananas! It's so funny because she does actually tell me that she doesn't want what I have offered (ie the banana) and then signs "please" for me to try something else lol! Each time she settles on an apple.

Every so often she'll actually sign "raisins" which is very sweet. Also biscuit, but we're out of the organix ones until I do the shop so I have to tell her they're all gone!

Developing Taste Buds 1 year plus

Has anyone else noticed that their little ones have aquired tastes for spicer, stronger flavoured food as they've got older?

BB has hit 1 year and seems very keen to move onto tastier food. A lot of the first weaning is bland and what you see is what you get kind of thing. However I have noticed her enjoying more flavoured meals recently.

For example, I made chicken fajitas and seperated BB's chicken before adding the spice as it can be quite hot. She did enjoy her wrap and a bit of the chicken but I could see her looking longingly at mine!

I gave her a piece and she wolved it down with many "yam yam" noises and big smiles all round!

Growth Spurt?

I'm wondering if BB is having one as she seems to be hungry! and I mean wobbley, throw herself on the floor hungry!

Yesterday and today she has asked for something to eat sooner than normal after her breakfast and 1 banana isn't satisfying her as a mid morning snack! Today she had Raisin wheat for breakfast, banana and 2 organix biscuits then lunch was a marmite sandwich, half an apple, a babybel and a whole pear and it was earlier than normal! She just isn't stopping today! and now she is asking for more food!

OMG where did that month go???

Sorry just realised after my last post that it's 25th June. BB is now 13 months old, so scarey how quickly they grow up, and BigBB is 8 years old in 3 weeks!!

She has done so much in the last month too. She now signs "duck" "milk" "sleep" "all gone" and twinkle twinkle little star... she even sounds like she sings it, very cute!!

BB has been trying to use a fork solo but not all that great yet. She will eat it happily when Daddy or I spear something first. Although she does try to spear it herself she hasn't mastered it just yet!

She is really into her books now and I mean for a longer moment then say, erm... 30 seconds! She will sit and flick through pointing and "chatting" away to each picture and page. She "counts" in her counting book, points at each object and makes noises that are very close to 1,2,3 it's hilarious!

Clever BB and Banana

Well we went to a birthday party yesterday and BB ate some party food and had lots of fun. I think she was distracted by the fun to eat much so she was hungry when we got home.

She was having a moan so I signed "eat" to her and she nodded and bounced (this is a yes) as it wasn't quite dinner time, I offered her a organix baby biscuit but she shook her head and moaned! I then pulled a banana out and she nodded again! It was so sweet! So she had a banana. It felt like a great achievement that we were able to communicate about what she wanted, she's so clever!

Proud Mummy :o)

Yummy Breaky and Friends for Lunch!

Well this morning I spotted daddy chopping up dried apricots and adding them to her cereal! Did make me chuckle! BB seemed to enjoy it lots though and was through it in minutes

I had friends over for a play date with the babies and we had a good old play and laugh! It's funny seeing them all sat round the dinner table for lunch! Two in totseats and one in a highchair.

I put on a lovely spread of crackers and cheese and we all had a good nibble!

I have noticed BB's face has gone a bit red since this morning though so now i'm wondering if it's cheese! ficious bloody circle trying to find out what irritates her face! She enjoyed it all the same and I have just applied some of my purepotions skin salvation to her face. Seems to be the best thing for her skin yet! However I did catch the little minx rubbing her chin on a cushion while I wasn't looking! Must be so itchy poor little mite!

Here is a cute picture of her today!... she is growing up so fast!

Yummy Pear!!

This weekend I though I'd just give BB a pear as it was.

Not sure what made me feel like it but I did and she loved it. We'd had a BBQ and some friends round and all the kids saw BB enjoying her pear so much that they all wanted one! it was funny!

The pear was nice and ripe and it kept her entertained for ages!

the best thing is they don't have a massive core so it didn't matter that she ate from the bottom up. No more chopping up pears in this house!

The Art of Eating - Our Clever Babies

Not sure if anyone else has noticed this but thought I'd share!

I have a few times but after dinner at FIL's last night he had a bit of a panic when she shoved a massive peice of lamb in her mouth. Basically what she does is pop it in to slobber on it and moisten it, then she takes it out again to chew once it's softer!

When you think about it, it's really bloody clever for a baby! They're such amazing little things aren't they. Baby Led Weaning has given her this opportunity to learn to eat properly from 6 months and the more she eats the more clever she becomes. She does this with apricots too and has done for as long as I can remember (obviously she didn't to start with)

The whole pincer thing and learning to open their hands to eat whats left of veg stick. She also picks up raisins or sweetcorn with her hand and if she isn't satisfied that she has enough in her hand she holds them in a fist but with her pointer finger and thumb still free to grab another shoves them all in! porker!

My Text Book Baby

Well I finally managed to get BB weighed at the clinic today. I haven't dare take her since we started Baby Led Weaning as wasn't sure what they'd make of it and didn't want them asking me about weaning until I got into it. Well then I just got out of the habit of going! lol!

Now at 10.5 months I go and get her weighed. TBH I was all geared up and ready to chat baby led weaning with them and it was empty so thought I had my opportunity. However just as I undressed BB some others arrived and started talking. Funnily enough about weaning and I was gonna try help but she looked like she'd deck me if I spoke! lol! She was saying her lo wouldn't even eat mashed up baked beans so I left without a word lol!

Anyway BB is now 21lb 9.5oz still following the 75th perfectly! I was suprised a bit as thought with all her walking and activity she may have dipped a little! no not our BB. They did her length too and she again is following her height just under the 75th perfectly at 73cm. All in proportion then :o)

It did make me realise though how stickler for weight HV's are as because they then titled her "text book" they didn't ask me any other questions, not about how well she feeds/sleeps or anything not even about her eczma until I pointed it out. hmmm oh well. They let me put a business card up on the pin board though. Think I am going to go again next week and chat to them about baby led weaning.

Baby Led Weaning Al Fresco Styleeeeeee

Well I am currently looking after my nephew and my son is also on school holidays so in a bid for some peace and quiet we went to Abington Park! Such a lovely park - t'is one of my favourites!

I actually didn't pack a picnic because I am a wee bit rubbish especially with 2x Hyper 7 year olds!

We stopped in tesco express near the park and I picked up some fruit and sandwiches etc.

BB shared my chicken wrap and had a banana and some babybel. She loved sitting on the blanket with the big boys and it was a lovely day!

I love the fact now it doesn't matter if I haven't packed my baby food, bowls and so on... She can literally eat what we eat! Although trying to get a banana into my 7 year old nephew proved impossible!

BB did try and eat some twigs while we were there but I insisted that they wouldn't taste all that good lol

Clever BB and her spoon!

Only 2 bottles of Milk yesterday!

Well we had a hectic day. We went swimming in the morning all four of us, we were there for ages as it took BB a while to settle into it and then when they were both having fun felt mean to leave!

Anyway this meant she had no morning nap at all! She was asleep when we got back and slept for about an hour and woke up hungry for her lunch. Hummus on toast which she couldn't be bothered to eat and so I gave her a banana (nice and easy) she was just still sooooo tired. After she polished that off she was very grumpy so I ended up putting her back to bed... Where she stayed asleep for 3 hours! This meant she completely missed her 3pm bottle.

To be honest I have been noticing a drop in milk and she is 10 months old today. I was wondering if it would mean she'd be up in the night but she slept right through. Thought she was ready to start dropping the middle bottle (she has 3) I know she was asleep so I shall offer it still if she wants it... she's just growing up boohoo!

She took quite a few steps again... her confidence is gradually building up! very sweet x

Gillian McKeith here again... We're talking Poo!

I know, I know, I am obsessed with my daughters bowel movements but they do seem to fascinate me! (especially the multi coloured rainbow ones!)

The last couple of days BB has done a couple of proper logs! I do pity her little bum and her poo face is just excellent! However I'm wondering if it's because she's dropped her milk intake rather a lot recently??

She was having 3 x 8oz bottles then with her teething that dropped to 6oz sometimes as little as 4oz. Then she drank the full 8oz a few times last week (and was sleeping more in the day so i think a growth spurt) but now she has dropped again between 4 and 6oz 3x a day.

She does drink water with meals although a lot is dribbled down her chin. Maybe she's just hitting an age now where she does proper poo?!?!

New site!

I have just started a new site, to see more of BB and Baby Led Weaning as well as reviews on baby products, recipes and soon a shop on cool new products, visit www.babybanana.biz

lokk forward to seeing you there :o)

Big Girl's Broccoli

Well today BB didn't have lunch as I was at work. So she had dinner instead. MIL looks after her while I work so we all sat down to dinner together.

She had some broccoli and carrot. Which I might add she absolutely loved! She sucked the life out of the florets. Gagged a few times but we were sat at the table for over an hour as she just wouldn't stop eating it. She even favoured the broccoli over the carrot which surprised me as she's had carrot before.

The stems were looking very sorry for themselves after the first 30 minutes, what was left of them anyway!

Squishy, Slimey Orange & Bread Soldiers

Well these have gone down a treat!

BB has a stinking cold at the moment and is currently sporting some lovely green go-faster stripes!

Was going to try her with some veg around 2.30 (bout the same time as yesterdays banana) but she is refusing her 12 o'clock bottle of milk poor mite can barely breathe! so I thought i'd try her with some food instead.

Didn't have time to cook all the lovely veg i bought earlier so have given

her some baby (think they're called jaffa) orange segments and some bread

soldiers.

She can't get enough of them! she's making a proper mess, the bread is now pretty much eaten or squished into orangey balls of goo and the orange segments have each been drained within an inch of their lives. She chews on them and sucks out the juice then pushes the remnants back out... very attractive!

Success!