We're on day four of The New World Order here at Team Logan and there have already been quite a few changes. The kitchen is getting overhauled. The laundry is no longer "Mount Logan" but rather resembles a large burial mound (hopefully not mine). Everyone is a little more relaxed and Wyatt and Zoe are now eating solid food.
Last week I mentioned that I was leery of starting the babies on cereal; I was concerned that Wyatt's head was still a little unstable. My hope was to wait another two weeks to be well beyond the "six weeks corrected" grace period that each of their milestones is given. That grand plan lasted until Saturday afternoon after observing both of them watching me eat. After trying to take food away from me (not a wise move for anyone, even my own offspring) they sat there salivating as I ate my brunch. Their little eyes bored into me, their jaws were moving in time to mine. Their little pink tongues were darting out of their half open mouths over seemingly parched lips. It was creepy. It was time. It was more than time. These babies were hungry!
I hadn't dug out our high chair yet so they were each plunked into a Bumbo. Wyatt still has trouble sitting up straight in the Bumbo for periods of time, so we were on the clock (I have since set up the high chair for him in the kitchen that works much better). I mixed up a batch of runny rice cereal according to the directions for "first feeding" and went to town.
Not surprising, my babies like to eat.
I couldn't remember any of the first feeding guidelines so I had to consult 'the experts' beforehand. According to a few places, a baby's first feed should be somewhere around a tablespoon or two. These two polished off 1/4 cup (or more) each and were upset that I wouldn't give them more.
I swear, I had to count my fingers afterwards as I was afraid that I had lost a few. They were snapping at the spoons like little sharks. According to the aforementioned 'experts', I was also supposed to keep food to once a day. It was apparent by the end of day two that 2 "solid food" meals were going to be needed as they were starving (they still start out with a full breastfeeding session prior). Can we say "growth spurt"? Now they get BF 4 times a day, 4 hours apart and at lunch and dinner they get solid food and a "top up" bottle at bedtime.
I had been looking everywhere for first feeding instructions for kids with DS and found little that was useful. There's a reason for that; the instructions are no different than any other baby. The main concerns are still head/neck development and swallowing ability. Although Wyatt pushes a little food out with his tongue at times (because he is actually giving me his patented "raspberry of approval", not because of his glossal co-ordination), he has still taken to food pretty well. He requires a little more "shaving" than his sister, but that is typical of a boy. They like to wear their food.
We also have a new secret weapon this time: Sean brought home The Baby Bullet. I was skeptical at first, in fact the first time I saw the ads I remember thinking "how superfluous is that stupid thing?" (I used to have a vocabulary BT or "Before Twins"). I have a blender... yes it was a wedding present and therefore almost 14 years old, but it's still practically new (right?). Except for the cereals, I made all of Quinn's baby food with it. I would cook huge batches of things that were pureed according to his texture tolerance and frozen in ice cube trays (which I would then empty into labeled freezer bags). It was a good system, it was healthy, it was cheaper... and it was a helluva mess. I think I finally threw out the last of it a year ago. This time I can make up one thing at a time, quickly and efficiently. What really sold me on it was the milling head. It never occurred to me to make my own cereals. So I did. This afternoon, I started with 1/2 a cup of brown rice and ended up 20 minutes later with enough ready made rice cereal to last us a week (if they ate at every meal). I filled four of those wee containers (2 oz each) for the fridge and filled our freezer container (which is half the size of the one shown) and froze it for later. It is awesome. I still have a box of baby oatmeal cereal to start them on in a couple of days, but after that we are totally making everything ourselves.
I even used it to make the banana puree this afternoon. We'll give it another chance, but thus far the verdict is split: Wyatt is of the mind that I should immediately switch to having it "on tap" instead, while after a few bites Zoe decided that it was worthy of her best yucky face. I'll mix it with a little rice cereal and maybe a bit of what is currently on tap and see what she thinks then.
Overall, both twins are doing well. At their doctor visit yesterday they weighted in at 13 lbs 9.5 oz for Zoe and 13 lbs even for Wyatt. That differential can totally be attributed to Zoe's muscle mass which continues to astounds me. She is faster, stronger and way more agile than full-term Quinn at this age. Wyatt is much improved as he is much less "floppy" than he used to be. In fact, when we lift him up high into the air he is not as ragdoll like and more like superman. He will also stand on his legs when held in a standing position, something that Quinn was totally against for a very long time. To quote one of my girlfriends, Quinn's take was "Legs? What are they good for?" Wyatt seems to have his own way about things which is very much a delight to watch.
There was a chill in the air this morning; I can almost smell winter coming. The babies will be 7 months old tomorrow and I go back to work a week later. Time is marching on. With each new thing I am reminded that they will not be babies forever and this special time will be over for us soon. As bittersweet as that is, it also represents all the new things headed our way. New things that will be done first one way, then repeated slightly slower and differently. Done differently, done in the Down syndrome way. Wyatt's little extra brings a whole new flavour to our family table. One that many, incuding us, have never experienced before but are enjoying immensely.
Bon appétit!
Last week I mentioned that I was leery of starting the babies on cereal; I was concerned that Wyatt's head was still a little unstable. My hope was to wait another two weeks to be well beyond the "six weeks corrected" grace period that each of their milestones is given. That grand plan lasted until Saturday afternoon after observing both of them watching me eat. After trying to take food away from me (not a wise move for anyone, even my own offspring) they sat there salivating as I ate my brunch. Their little eyes bored into me, their jaws were moving in time to mine. Their little pink tongues were darting out of their half open mouths over seemingly parched lips. It was creepy. It was time. It was more than time. These babies were hungry!
I hadn't dug out our high chair yet so they were each plunked into a Bumbo. Wyatt still has trouble sitting up straight in the Bumbo for periods of time, so we were on the clock (I have since set up the high chair for him in the kitchen that works much better). I mixed up a batch of runny rice cereal according to the directions for "first feeding" and went to town.
Not surprising, my babies like to eat.
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| Please Mom... can I have some more? |
I had been looking everywhere for first feeding instructions for kids with DS and found little that was useful. There's a reason for that; the instructions are no different than any other baby. The main concerns are still head/neck development and swallowing ability. Although Wyatt pushes a little food out with his tongue at times (because he is actually giving me his patented "raspberry of approval", not because of his glossal co-ordination), he has still taken to food pretty well. He requires a little more "shaving" than his sister, but that is typical of a boy. They like to wear their food.
We also have a new secret weapon this time: Sean brought home The Baby Bullet. I was skeptical at first, in fact the first time I saw the ads I remember thinking "how superfluous is that stupid thing?" (I used to have a vocabulary BT or "Before Twins"). I have a blender... yes it was a wedding present and therefore almost 14 years old, but it's still practically new (right?). Except for the cereals, I made all of Quinn's baby food with it. I would cook huge batches of things that were pureed according to his texture tolerance and frozen in ice cube trays (which I would then empty into labeled freezer bags). It was a good system, it was healthy, it was cheaper... and it was a helluva mess. I think I finally threw out the last of it a year ago. This time I can make up one thing at a time, quickly and efficiently. What really sold me on it was the milling head. It never occurred to me to make my own cereals. So I did. This afternoon, I started with 1/2 a cup of brown rice and ended up 20 minutes later with enough ready made rice cereal to last us a week (if they ate at every meal). I filled four of those wee containers (2 oz each) for the fridge and filled our freezer container (which is half the size of the one shown) and froze it for later. It is awesome. I still have a box of baby oatmeal cereal to start them on in a couple of days, but after that we are totally making everything ourselves.
 |
| I could only be happier if I were full of squished sweet potatoes |
I even used it to make the banana puree this afternoon. We'll give it another chance, but thus far the verdict is split: Wyatt is of the mind that I should immediately switch to having it "on tap" instead, while after a few bites Zoe decided that it was worthy of her best yucky face. I'll mix it with a little rice cereal and maybe a bit of what is currently on tap and see what she thinks then.
Overall, both twins are doing well. At their doctor visit yesterday they weighted in at 13 lbs 9.5 oz for Zoe and 13 lbs even for Wyatt. That differential can totally be attributed to Zoe's muscle mass which continues to astounds me. She is faster, stronger and way more agile than full-term Quinn at this age. Wyatt is much improved as he is much less "floppy" than he used to be. In fact, when we lift him up high into the air he is not as ragdoll like and more like superman. He will also stand on his legs when held in a standing position, something that Quinn was totally against for a very long time. To quote one of my girlfriends, Quinn's take was "Legs? What are they good for?" Wyatt seems to have his own way about things which is very much a delight to watch.
There was a chill in the air this morning; I can almost smell winter coming. The babies will be 7 months old tomorrow and I go back to work a week later. Time is marching on. With each new thing I am reminded that they will not be babies forever and this special time will be over for us soon. As bittersweet as that is, it also represents all the new things headed our way. New things that will be done first one way, then repeated slightly slower and differently. Done differently, done in the Down syndrome way. Wyatt's little extra brings a whole new flavour to our family table. One that many, incuding us, have never experienced before but are enjoying immensely.
Bon appétit!
Wow, making your own cereal! That gives me ideas for myself! Thanks, Jen. :D
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