Thursday, April 29, 2010

Lots of Little Things

Things have been a little crazy over here (hence the lack of updating) with our house selling/buying process. This post is the culmination of lots of little things.

We are very happy because Colin will suck up milk from the straw. However, most of the time he will suck up the milk and let it dribble out of his mouth instead of swallowing (it seems to depend on his mood). We have been trying at almost every meal time to get him solely use the straw, but we are striking out. I've always had it in my head that I wanted the bottle to be done around a year, but we will keep working at this.
Meal times are a big struggle, still.


I am really trying to transition away from jar foods, but there are not many "table foods" that Colin likes or will tolerate. The other night we had chicken, sweet potatoes and veggies, so I sent small pieces of that with Colin to school the next day and they said he did really well with it. Looks like he will be getting that meal pretty often! In addition to this, we can't get Colin to self-feed. I have even tried putting chunks of ice cream (which he LOVES) on the tray in front of him and helping him put it to his mouth. He just won't do it himself. Any suggestions in this department?

(I certainly can't say that he's not happy, but this is AFTER attempting to put egg in his mouth. You should have seen his winey face while I was trying to do that!)

On to happier things, Colin loves sucking face! This makes me giggle saying this, but he just loves gnawing on my chin (but really anyone who gets close!). This may be due to the fact that he STILL doesn't have any teeth, or that he just loves me so. It's cute (but slobbery!)...
Colin loves his daddy. Chris had to work a bunch of late nights last week and Colin definitely noticed. On Friday, at his PT session, we had to stop a little bit early because about half way through, Chris left the room and Colin lost it. He couldn't even be comforted by me, only daddy!
...Colin just gave me a kissy face, melts my heart every time! Off to play!

19 comments:

Runningmama said...

Oh, he is adorable. Emily loves to eat little pieces of nutrigrain bar, if she sees it on her tray she dives for it! You could try that...I remember reading somewhere that children with DS taste buds aren't as responsive so sometimes they prefer things with tons of flavor because they can actually taste them...hope this helps. Oh, and Emily really loves small pieces of avocado too.

Rochelle said...

So thankful he doesn't have teeth yet! He is adorable.

Sara P said...

i wouldn't feel bad about the bottle, and really since he doesn't have his teeth in it should be an issue for him... my lilly drank out of a bottle before bed till almost two. and max is still useing one before bed also and he is now 17 months, i was told its more important that they get what they need from the milk then not drinking enough. i think you going at it a great way, little trys with every meal:) keep up the great work, super cute pictures.

Kelly said...

Kelli, we absolutely HAVE to meet and get our 2 little guys together. They really are 2 peas in a pod!! I never feel alone in my struggles with Landon....because....I always know you and Colin are right there with us:) LOL Meal times, getting away from baby food AND the bottle........I'm right there with you!! But most of all, the gnawing on the chin with those little gums....Landon doesn't have any teeth either! Love that sucky face thing they do:) Let's hope they don't continue when they DO get teeth. Ha!

Derek, Kenzee and Gage said...

Such cute pictures! Love the "sucking face"! How funny!!

Kristin said...

We saw our pediatrician yesterday and he assured me that it's going to take a little longer to get Max off the bottle. We have been focusing on leg strength & I forget to give him the opportunity to practice with the honey bear. One thing at a time. Max loves to suck faces too - so cute!

Lacey said...

Great pics, he makes some great faces. I wish I had some great feeding advice, but my boy is still strickly tube fed!

Monica Crumley said...

He is just so darned adorable! I'm glad he's starting to get the hang of the straw. The self-feeding will come. For fun have you tried putting a fork or spoon on his tray to see if he'll mimic you by putting it to his mouth? Feeding with fingers, of course, will come first, but there's no harm in letting him get used to having them on his tray and maybe trying to poke at eggs or yogurt or something. Just keep showing him what to do and he'll eventually start copying you by putting food in his own mouth. It's a new concept for him. Great pictures...

Lori said...

Oh, Kelli -
I so feel the struggles you are having right now. Looking back at my posts from this time last year, and we were going through the same things with feeding, etc. I remember being sad on her first birthday because she wasn't able to feed herself her birthday cake. But -- she did learn - and we loved her 2nd birthday cake even more because of it =)
Hang in there. I know it is tough, and frustrating, but it will happen. And then you will look back and wonder why you were ever so worried in the first place.

Heidi said...

He is so cute!! Meal times have been a struggle for us too. Joel will feed himself sometimes and not others - depending on how he is feeling that day I guess!

Great pictures!

Penny's Peeps said...

wow..i could have written so much of this post! colin and wyatt are doing so many of the same things! i've been trying the juice box w/wyatt....when he does suck it up, it often dribbles right back out! and as far as sucking the chin...oh my goodness, i'm sure i look so funny w/out any makeup on my chin! we keep thinking there will be a tooth anyday... colin is adorable and you are doing a great job!

Nana said...

I love all the different faces!! So cute!!! His kisses are the best!! Love, Nana

Emily said...

Love the "sucking face!" Justin does the same... only he has many sharp teeth!

Team Carter Jay said...

That little guy makes some of the CUTEST faces. Love it!

mlfont said...

Another "dribbler" here..Parker will suck from the straw, but won't swallow. Thinks it is a game, LOL. I'm still nursing, so no bottles to wean. I think I am going to give it a break for a few weeks and try again...don't stress!!!

Suze said...

Colin really does make the cutest and funniest faces! I love how he gnaws on your face too! And great job to both of you on the race last week!

Aimee said...

So funny- Piper does the same gnaw-on-your-chin thing- I can never stop laughing at that little squirt! I'd never seen another kid do it, but apparently LOTS of Ds kids do- must be some gene that comes on the 21st, so the likelihood is triplicated :)

I did have a couple thoughts for you- first, they said that if Piper's having trouble swallowing out of the bear, you can support their lower chin by holding your hand underneath. Occasionally, Piper needs me to support her there for the first drink or so, just to get the hang of it, and then she's off. Also, does Colin suck on his hands at all? Have you tried putting him in his bumbo, or other equally as cleanable chair, and let him finger paint with pudding or something? Piper wasn't allowed to start solids until she was 6 months adjusted, but she started acting very interested in our food at 6 months, actually. So I'd give her fun things (whipped cream was a big favorite) on her tray and let her play around in them. She'd always inevitably end up with her fingers in her mouth. It's only one skill to focus on, just getting fingers in mouth, instead of fine-motor added to the mix. But maybe you've already tried- just a thought!

Natalia said...

Such a great post, Kel!!! Love you! xoxo

Sweet Pea's Mommy said...

I love the pictures you captured of Colin sucking face! Sweet Pea does it and has given me a number of hickies in the past, but we never captured her in the act! I wish we had! Now we won't let her do it anymore as it is hurting with 2 teeth and more on the way.

Colin is just adorable and I can't believe how similar he and Sweet Pea are. It's great! Thanks for sharing Colin with us!