First Food

One of the things I've done differently with baby #3 is to jump into cloth diapers. Isn't it funny how cloth diapers were so passe after disposables came in, and now they're all the rage? How can something that holds baby poo be chic? I'm still not sure about that one :).

I had considered cloth diapering when I was pregnant with Isaac, but paying $1 wash/$1 dry quickly nixed that idea. I was reluctant to begin anything that would mean more work for me this time around. However, my kids have had significant diaper rash issues, and I wanted to see if cloth would help their bottoms. Let me tell you, I am sold. Evie has had NO diaper rash...it's been such a relief. I'm not sure if I would have taken the leap without that skin incentive, but I've been so pleased at how easy they are...and having virtually no blow-outs is a definite plus.

Vance talked me into letting Eve start solids this week. Being lazy (and using cloth diapers this time), I wasn't too eager to get going, but I admit that it is really fun to see her try new foods. She started out with sweet potatoes with a healthy swirl of good butter. And a little salt. People, it's better for her that way...and who would want to eat veggies without butter? Not me, for sure.

Still trying to decipher the flavor profile.

Not sold on the mouth feel.

I think she's a true Whitaker child. Despite her suspicious face, she took to food like a duck to water. The first 8 spoonfuls or so she was still getting the hang of swallowing, but she loved it. I gave her avocado the other day, and she likes that, too. Next thing I know, she's going to be fighting me for my steak.

Morning Magic

I am not a morning person. Many of you know this.

But I do enjoy the mornings when Evie gets up (a little) earlier than the rest of the crew. We get to cuddle in bed and she bats her hands around happily in the air. She also smiles at me, which is what makes it so fun.

Oh look! Little Miss Bedhead is up! She's pretty fun, too. Looks like it's time to move on to the crazy/busy part of our day :)

Beach at Sunset

Today after church we crashed at a friend's house, and then went to the beach after naptime. We've been here a year and a half, and this was our first time at the beach at sunset. It's my favorite time of day at the beach, and I can't believe we hadn't done this yet. It was so beautiful. Isaac saw the boats out in the sunset, and his first question was, "Are those pirates?" Vance looked at me and said, "I'm going to be so sad when I don't hear questions like that anymore."

Me too.

It was a little chilly and windy, which I wasn't expecting, so after our walk Isaac spent a lot of time under the blanket.

Mom always said when we went camping that she thought, "Why are we doing this?" as she went through all the work of packing. Once we were actually camping, though, she rediscovered why it was worth the work. Today was like that for me. I didn't want to be up after midnight getting our lives organized enough to be gone all day, but once we were at the beach, it didn't matter anymore.

I think when the weather gets a little warmer, we'll grill out at the beach for dinner some evening. Who's coming?

More Fun in the Kitchen

If you know Claire, then you won't be surprised that she was ready to jump in the cooking action today. We packed a lunch to take to the park, and Claire was in charge of shredding the cheese. It took maybe 15 minutes, but she loved every minute of it. And felt so proud of her little self.

I let Isaac help me chop the carrots, but it takes a bit of pressure, and he needed help. He could manage the strawberries with a paring knife, though, and he was very careful. You can see that he's working on his proper form, but doesn't have it down yet. He is trying to curl his fingers, though.

That was a carefully packed lunch, let me tell you. Made with pride in the U.S.A.

Achievements

Today I inducted Isaac into the culinary world. Appropriately for us, we started with PB&J.

I was inspired last night after reading one mom's food blog...she lets her 3 and 8 year olds do everything in the kitchen with her...chopping, peeling, you name it. She has pictures on her blog of her 3 year old with a 9" Henckel's. I'm not quite ready to give my knives to Claire, but I realized that Isaac was ready for a little more responsibility. And he was. I sliced the bread, but he assembled the sandwiches, washed the grapes, and I gave him his first knife lesson. I held his hand and we sliced red peppers together. It was fun, and the proud look on his face as he served up lunch was priceless.

I think tomorrow I'm going to teach him how to scramble eggs. My goal is to retire from the kitchen by 2012.

Here is Claire's new accomplishment:

I'm sure that's a pretty normal drawing for a 3 year old, but it's not normal around here. I'm no artist, and Isaac is too much of a perfectionist to get out there and try. So this is the first human sketch I have received from a child of mine. Not too shabby! She actually drew one on the Magna Doodle with recognizable appendages, but she erased it before I could get my hands on it.

It's so fascinating how different personalities make way for different abilities. Isaac is careful, and has an eye for perfection. Blessing and a curse, I say. Claire is eager, and ready to try ("All by myself!") and keep trying. Her threshold of frustration is much higher. Again, it's a blessing and a curse.

And Evie? She did roll over at nap time two days ago, and she is an expert at toe nibbling. Everyone has their level.