Food for thought

Freddie's been eating solid foods for just about 3 months now. We started with baby porridge mixed with milk, transitioned to finger foods like overcooked carrot sticks and plain toast and now, it thrills me to say this, we are to the point where we are all (sometimes) eating similar things.

This is exciting for one major reason: I don't have to cook three completely different meals (for William: a meat version, for myself: a veggie version, for Freddie: a baby version). And trust me, when you are trying to have dinner ready at 5-530pm and have an 8-month old trying to bust into the kitchen- this is a challenge. Depending on what was on the menu, I would sometimes have to start cooking at 4 in the afternoon. 4pm!!

Now that we have the baby gates up, Freddie just sits patiently in the hall and waits for me to get dinner ready. HAHAHA. Just kidding- what actually happens is he plays with a toy for about 2 minutes and then looks at me like, "what else have you got?" I end up throwing him whatever is close by and not sharp to buy me another couple minutes. Lately this has included tupperwares, measuring cups and the spatula.

Here are a lunch and dinner we've had recently:

For me: an open-faced bagel with hummus, quorn chicken slices, cheese, avocado and rocket, an apple, two clementines, a yogurt and water.

For Freddie: cooked parsnip sticks with a little peanut butter, cream cheese and avocado on toast, half a banana, yogurt and water.

For ALL OF US!: angel hair pasta, tomato and basil sauce and fake-meat meatballs (these are the Sainsbury brand and are actually SO good).

Kinda makes ya hungry huh! Happy Monday everyone!

Photo of the week- Our little jailbird

We had to put baby gates up recently for safety reasons- it's just too dangerous having Freddie crawl into our little kitchen when we're cooking dinner. It's small enough when William and I both try to squeeze into it but add in a crawling 8-month old and you have a whole 'nother story. I'm just too scared of stepping on his little paws or dropping something on him. So, the gates were a must.

As you can tell, he had somewhat of a hard time adjusting to them. The poor guy looks like he's trying to escape from jail! The worst is when he grabs onto them with both hands and shakes them as hard as he can. Talk about making me feel guilty!!

This was taken a few days ago though and, thankfully, he has gotten used to them a little bit. He now likes to hold onto the bars and pull himself up or else gnaw on them to soothe his incoming teeth. They have become useful to all of us.

The only slight problem at the moment is when I try to rush through them. Only part of it swings open so if you don't go straight out you end up hitting your thighs off the edges of the gate. I have the bruises to prove it! I guess there's a period of adjustment for all of us. :)