Bowl Lickin' Good

Lucas impressed us with his ever increasing signing vocabulary this weekend. On Saturday morning, he walked (toddled) into the kitchen and signed "eat." Naturally, we fed him breakfast. He did the same thing again on Sunday evening around the dinner hour. For lunch on Saturday, Lucas had leftover Papa Murphy's pizza, which he really enjoyed. After finishing his first piece, he signed "more." And after his Sunday night bath, he pointed to his sippy cup and signed "milk." What a smart, little boy! We are going to work on the sign for "water" next.

Lucas has been practicing using utinsels at daycare and has been using a spoon during mealtimes at home. We expanded his dinnerware collection with the addition of three Gerber forks this weekend. Again, Lucas impressed us with his ability to use the fork while eating dinner...except when a bowl of yogurt was placed in front of him. His preferred method of eating yogurt is still to use his hand (messy!) or just lick the bowl clean!

Spaghetti...

...it tastes so good but makes such a mess!

Noodles

Lucas fell asleep eating lunch on Wednesday. I wonder if he finished eating those noodles hanging off of his lips when he woke up?

Better Than a Sippy Cup

Lucas started drinking whole milk this week. We've been working on transitioning to the sippy cup. He seems to enjoy the sippy cup more when there is milk coming out of it rather than water. It's a good thing he found a different way to get his daily water intake.

I enjoy...

...watching the Bug eat. He has so much energy, enthusiasm and passsion for the task at hand, not stopping to rest until his tray is clean. The Bug is not a picky eater; every meal around our house is finger-licking good (and I can assure you this really isn't the case). I mentioned before that meal times have now been coined "feeding frenzies." I fully intend to post a video capturing a frenzy one of these days.

Hungry

Give me more food NOW! Oh yes...Lucas has decided food is a very good thing.

Carrots

Last night Lucas tried carrots for the first time. It was a messy endeavor but oh so tasty!

Growing Up

Lucas has decided that rice cereal isn't so bad. We're not sure what caused the little bug's change of heart, but he now seems to enjoy his rice cereal and oatmeal immensely! Just as exciting is the discovery I made this morning...Lucas is getting his first tooth!

Rice Cereal

In lieu of six month birthday cake, we decided to let the bug try a little rice cereal tonight. Lucas found this to be an interesting and not altogether pleasing experience. When we first suggested this little treat, Lucas was pretty excited. He eyed the cereal box eagerly and reached for it with both hands. When we mixed the cereal up in his new dinnerware, Lucas started to become a little more concerned. He tentatively tried a few bites of the cereal, and then the tears started. I guess the bug is more a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy...just like his dad.

Rooming with Mom and Dad

It's been a good day for Lucas! Starting yesterday, his feeding intake began to increase, and today we were given the okay by the pediatrician to have him in a room with us for the night with no feedings by feeding tube. In order to prove himself, Lucas has to eat 195 ml by mouth over a 12-hour period. The food count began at 3:00 pm today and by 10:00 pm he had already eaten 180 ml. Leo and I are feeling pretty confident he is going to pass this last test with flying colors! Lucas must be feeling pretty confident as well because he ripped his feeding tube out of his nose tonight!

Baby Steps

Lucas is making baby steps toward coming home. He took 20 ml from mom during the last couple of feedings (he should be eating 55 ml / feeding). Whatever he doesn't take by mouth is being given through a feeding tube. The doctors seem to think it will only be a matter of days before he turns the corner and takes everything by mouth. As soon as that happens, we will be bringing our little boy home!