Outfit #18

By about 5pm on Saturday evening, Isaac was on outfit number 18 (or so I think, I quit counting after change number seven). He has been battling a cold all week--putting up with me suctioning out his nose, a smidge of fever, and a cough. It hasn't been the best week for him. On Saturday morning I put him down for his morning nap and made the rest of the day's plans with Tobe. Isaac seemed to be doing better so we had conjured up a list of things to accomplish that day once he woke up. Then I heard a horrible noise over the baby monitor and entered the nursery to find one sweet boy covered in throw-up. Tobe and I sprung into action--he took Isaac off to the bathroom while I stripped the bed. We were hoping this was a one-time deal and caused by the sinus drainage Isaac had been experiencing all week. Nope. This was a several, several times thing that seemed to have no end. Somehow Isaac managed to throw-up on a variety of things Saturday including me, his crib, his beloved puppy dog towel, his quilt on his "big boy bed" (which made me glad I opted not to get the beautiful quilt from Pottery Barn Kids for his big bed, but rather picked up a nice one for $30 at Wal-Mart), every white long-sleeved onesie he owns, half our monster stash of burp clothes, a stack of white towels, and his changing table (You are probably wondering why I pulled out white things during this messy experience. One word--bleach!). I think at one point during the day when Tobe and I were scrubbing stuff out of clothes again, he looked at me and said, "So this is what they call domestic bliss..."

Fortunately Isaac seemed back to normal yesterday. We stayed inside due to the cold, rain, and my fear of RSV. When I took Isaac to our pediatrician for his cold last week, she really encouraged me to go ahead and start rice cereal because Isaac was ready. We (by "we" I mean Isaac. Tobe and I already know how to eat off a spoon. I still fall into the habit of using the collective "we" after all my years of teaching.) have been practicing eating off of a spoon for a few weeks by putting drops of formula on the spoon and feeding it to Isaac. Yesterday for his 4pm feeding we broke out the actual rice cereal. He loved it. Not once did he spit it back out in my face or even act like it was the most disgusting thing he had ever tasted (I personally think anything has to be a step-up from formula). After having about two spoonfuls crammed in his mouth, he would then anticipate the bite and open his mouth wide and kick his legs. I hope this is a sign of a healthy appetite for "real" food (however, I did fear that this appetite might mean that he will eat us out of house and home---I've heard stories of young boys who, after eating almost a fridge full of food, cry at naptime, claiming their mother never gave them lunch :) Perhaps Isaac and such boys can start a support group one day.). So now it is rice cereal twice a day, along with formula. In a few weeks we will add our green veggies, starting with avocados (I like to call it guacamole, minus the mole, but Tobe does not find that slightly amusing.).