Growing up with PKU your whole world revolves around food. Meal prepping, cooking, baking , measuring, weighing, calculating, and tracking.  So much so that it becomes second nature , specially now at my age. I have been managing my diet since I was 13 years old.  I dont really put a lot of thought into what I eat or the ” real” nutrition of it. My focus has always been on if its low protein and how much protein, vs calories vs phe.  As I have had said numerous times I have been pretty slack with my diet. Then I was pregnant. And focus changes to counting every single gram, every single mg of phe and keeping my blood and body safe to help this little human grow and develop safely.

After giving birth, the focus changed to bottles and formula for us both. Mls of how much formula she is drinking and how often. Checking her weight and making sure she is growing and meeting her milestones. So much so that I let my own diet slip .

Watching her grow and change every day leaves me in awe. She amazes me. She can sit with help now.  She waves, she giggles and says mama and dadda. She rolls around the living room and she reaches for us and she loves copper. We got for walks and she loves to explore. she loves to look around at people and observe.

Today we embarked on brand new adventure into the overwhelming and exciting worlds of solid foods. Madelyn tried baby organic oatmeal for the first time.  This opens the door to so many new learning opportunities for us both.  I was avoiding giving her solid foods till she was exactly 6 months as I read it was preferred due to their immune system being stronger and it helps prevent food allergies but she has been showing all the signs. So even though she has been showing signs for a while now,  I was uneasy and was trying to avoid it.  So I made the decision to try it and see what happens. She grabbed the spoon and chewed on it!

Ive been reading about nutrition for babies. I have been reading about baby lead weaning and what order to introduce foods and recipes.  Since Madelyn has a milk protein allergy we are making her food from scratch. I figured I already make my own foods that it would not be any added work to puree up fresh foods for and freeze them.  Trying to prepare myself for this day and what method to choose. I have decided to start with the baby organic oatmeal and then purees in the morning and then move to baby lead weaning.

The thing with baby lead weaning is you give them whatever you are eating but steamed or mashed and let them eat themselves and try the foods.  So it has made me start to focus on my own diet again and remind me the importance of nutrition and whole foods. I am learning more about the foods I dont eat and more about nutrition and meats and proteins to make sure she will get the best nutrition. I dont ever want her to worry about her health or have hang ups with food and dieting and weight and health. I want to improve my own habits and lead by example for her . I dont want her to ever worry about food like I have.. I want her to enjoy it and I want her to be healthy. I want us all to lead a healthier lifestyle.

 

Over the years I have developed bad eating habits, specially when I am struggling with my weight like now. I struggle with portions and making healthy choices. I prefar 3 big meals a day and lots of carbs and warm foods. I am a picky eater . I do not want her to pick up on my habits and now that she is getting to the age where she is really watching us and learning everyday its time to make those changes. Starting with baby steps and first meals.

I am learning so much of this for the very first time. I never thought before about feeding a baby and teaching them these lessons. Leading a healthier life for us all. I have cooked for Cole for years and for friends. but never thought about those early times, the first foods, the first tastes, and the first experiences that form the foundation and the base of a relationship for food. The do’s and the dont’s. The how to’s and the recipes !

carefully planning, preparing foods for someone other than myself. What order to introduce foods, how to cook , prepare, store purres. What foods to avoid. I read you try one food each day for 3 days to see if an allergy starts.  So today is offically day one of baby oatmeal!

 

a week ago she tried a peach from our peach tree. she took it from my hand and tried to put it in her mouth like everything else. She had no idea it was a food and got quit a shock with the fuzzy peel . She made the cutest face.

Then at a family lunch at a local restaurant last week she sucked on a cucumber from my salad. but today was the first real food, the first real taste, the first chew and swallow of many!

Madelyn is 5 months old and 11 days.  ( 23 weeks and 3 days! )  Here is a video from our first foods today.

Dont mind the Gilmore girls tv show playing in the background lol