The Baby that Ate Chicago

Well technically she hasn't eaten Chicago. Yet. She probably would given the chance however. Wren loves to eat. So far, she hasn't refused a single thing we have given her. That includes fruit pieces in a net, regular jarred stuff, primo organic goo from bags and even my feeble attempts at home made. Just because she doesn't particularly care for the flavor of something doesn't mean she won't eat it. Oh, she'll eat it all right, all the while giving you a whole lotta "What the hell, lady?" face. But she keeps trucking along. What she does like, she FLOVES. The ferocity with which she will rip into an apple slice is slightly frightening. Even with the peel still on, she will leave the net reduced to a slimy, empty bag of apple detritus in under ten minutes. Girlfriend only has two teeth so this is quite the accomplishment.

Despite being fond of food in general, Wren still appears to have express favorites like the aforementioned apple slices. She is also quite keen on foods in the orange family like sweet potato, squash and carrots as well as pears and "That thing there. That one. On your plate, Yes, that one. I want that, GIVEIEETOMEHNAOW!"

At the moment we are feeding her solids one a day in the evenings but Bruce will sometimes give her a mid day snack as well. This does not seem to have reduced her need to nurse whatsoever however. Perhaps she is having fewer bottles during the day but it's hard to tell because I am not here. All I know is that our feeding schedule has not changed one bit. I get home from work and feed her before making dinner. I feed her whatever purees and cereal she is getting while we eat dinner. I eat my (now cold) dinner and then feed her again after she has been bathed wiped down (who am I kidding?) and be-jammied. Then I feed her off and on until she goes to sleep. Sometimes she she wakes up for a snack around 11 and sometimes she wakes up at 11 and then again at 3. Other, better, times she doesn't wake up to eat at all until 5 and I cry sweet, salty tears of relief.

All this nighttime snacking has certainly kept my supply going. I was a bit worried when it took a hit after the irregular schedule of our trip to Massachusetts (Now with Less Power!) and then again when Bruce's parents were here. Sure I could have done our regular feedings while they were at our house but on the list of people that don't need to see my boobs, father-in-law is pretty far up. Of course I am still pumping three times a day at work when my schedule allows. Still hate it but at least it permits me to write poorly thought out blog posts (like this one!) on my iPod and check the goings on of Facebook and Twitter without feeling like a degenerate work avoider.

So why does Wren need all this food anyways? Well, for growing at an alarming rate for one thing. She is already comfortable wearing her 6-9 months clothes and I am beginning to fear that the Christmas outfits I bought for her will no longer fit once Christmas finally rolls around. She also needs the extra nourishment to fuel her new found mobility. Yeah, that's right mobility. More on that later.