With the exception of yesterday morning, I’ve been doing very well with the naps and crib this week. Yesterday morning Claire woke after 50 minutes of sleep, and I knew she needed more. I have also figured out that she won’t settle herself back to sleep for naps but will cry as long as I allow it. So I went in to rock her back into slumber, and I ended up holding her for the whole hour, because it felt so good and cuddly.

However, the remainder of her naps were per the norm now. All week the napping in the crib has been mostly successful. Again, I’ve learned that if she falls asleep for at least 30 minutes (e.g., in the car on the way home from somewhere), there’s no point in trying to put her down (or leaving her to fall asleep again) until a couple of active hours have passed. She’s tired but not sleepy at that point. (Tangential note: Claire gets restless legs and kicks her feet whenever she’s got a poopy diaper, is hungry, or is tired and ready to sleep.)

Today she’s on her second nap, and it’s still morning! Some days she manages to stay awake longer between naps, and other days she needs frequent Zzzs. We’ve also arrived at the point where she falls asleep in my arms and remains asleep when I put her down.

It’s been nice to have a break for a shower, a meal, or chores.

Claire has also accepted peas, and she definitely likes applesauce. Cereal she’ll eat if it’s offered with fruit. Today she started bananas, and she really likes those. Once four days pass with the new fruit without incident, I’ll offer her a new vegetable. I’m introducing only one new food at a time to see if there are any allergic reactions. (It runs in Husband’s family.)

I have learned how to work with her on this. She’ll take a first spoonful and then often turn her chin up at it. However, I hold the spoon (loaded with food) near her and wait. I talk or sing to her. At some point she realizes that no milk is coming, so she’ll touch the food on the spoon, and then she grabs the spoon and tries to bring it to her mouth. In it goes! After this, she willingly opens her mouth for more until she’s full or it’s gone. Sometimes she helps me by holding the spoon, and sometimes she wants to just touch the food before she eats it. I’ve also learned that when she cries, and I know she’s hungry, I can slip a spoonful into her mouth and this reminds her that this is another way to sate hunger. She’ll stop crying and start eating.

When she’s full, she’ll determinedly turn her head and jut her chin upward. I’m trying to be aware of how I offer food. I want to keep food as free as possible from power struggles and emotional issues. It’s a nuanced encounter with Claire, because (especially with the bottle) eating has become more leisurely. With the bottle, sometimes she turns her head away, but if offered a second time within seconds, she takes it. Then she plays with the n*pple, gurgles and gargles her milk, kicks her feet, smiles, and flirts. After about five minutes of this Claire will drink earnestly. Sometimes it seems she’s done, and I’ll burp her; when she fusses, I know she wants more. Then she guzzles the rest. So somewhere in all this, I need to learn how to offer food sometimes more than once but not too many times that it becomes a battle.

Her legs are getting pudgy and strong. She’s not crawling, but she tries to get to her knees when she’s on her stomach. She can almost sit unassisted too. Soon enough, soon enough.