Solid work
There. He's eating now. So far, he's had a taste of apple, pear, banana, cereal, formula milk, zucchini and a hint of carrot. He hasn't finished his dishes. Not even close. But we're working on it and today we can proudly announce Muffin is really in his solid food age. Can i drop my fork and have a quick nap on the kitchen floor now?

No complaining... It wouldn't look good to say this whole thing is exhausting and i feel my train might derail soon. It would look awful to admit that organizing the baby food plus the breast feeding plus the general baby care is secretly ploughing a tunnel of crazy tiredness through my brain, and i can't think straight for too long.

Don't get me wrong. Looking at Bruno in his high chair, staring intently at the green plastic spoon and then pulling the funniest disgust face when the food touches his lip is both hillarious and beautiful. It's a milestone. It's our baby growing up before our eyes.

But i have to say something. I have to confess. I could do with a good night sleep to recover from the solid (food) work. Or a family chef. Or a shampoo that actually keeps my hair clean. Or maybe the fairies could come visit and leave a bit of self house cleaning magic dust on their way out. Though just the one night sleep would do, really.

Please excuse my moaning.

It takes some training
No one said becoming a gourmet was easy. The picture illustrates Muffin's first attempt with the banana. Not happy. Yesterday, we had another go. Not happy. I blended it with a little orange juice. He showed a slight interest and then pretended to vomit.

Biting news
I discovered them on Friday morning. Two whiter than white hiphens standing out in the middle of his lower lip. Ladies and gentlement, the teeth. There they were, fighting back against the side of my thumb in Bruno's mouth.



To celebrate and coinciding with the date in the calendar (almost 5 and a half months old), i decided to let him try his first piece of fruit. The chosen was a pear.

I gave it to him, washed and whole, for a while first. He played with it, licked it, talked to it, whispered. Then i offered him the mashed part. He toyed with it in his mouth for a bit, then proceeded to vomit water and give me odd looks. I figured we'd try it again some other time.



Two days later, i.e., last night, i was ready for round two. While Pablo was giving Muffin his bath plus lotion spa treatment, i prepared yet another pear for him. Pablo held the spoon this time. Bruno pulled the same faces at first, combining them with long body movements trying to avoid the plane of fruit flying towards his face.



After that, he relaxed. And ate.



And finished it. With his two teeth.

Stepping (mile)stones
This season has started with a few milestones in Muffin's (and our) life. After the Amazing Travelling Child, featuring Bruno flying to and from Los Angeles with hardly an ounze of tears, Baby started kindergarden yesterday. Big, huge step for all of us.

While we were on our trip, i watched in wonder how Bruno was becoming more and more active, sociable and accurate in his moves. They tell me this is what happens after the fourth month: babies stop being basically babies and they turn into complex little rascals, which is way more fun and just as tiring.

He makes a new range of sounds, he giggles a lot, he can eat both his feet at the same time, his grip is strong and able to hold an infinite variety of toys, small objects and plastic water bottles. He still ooohs and aahhs at the site of trees and flowers. If something shiny or glittery catches his eye, he inmediatly wants to hug it. Muffin stuff.

When we got back home, it was time for me to start hunting for a nice job and find appropiate day care. I'm still at the work search but the freelancing has kicked off again, so we signed Bruno up at a very cute preschool whose principal is a family friend. This means a little more confidence. Not a lot, though. But that's the way it goes.

Sure, i would've loved to stay with my baby forever and a day. It would be great to have the money and the time necessary to become a full time mum for a lifetime. Since this option is not applicable to our family now, and i'm not sure i could handle it without a big cost (can i put everything not-child-related away? for how long?), i've been having mininervous breakdowns for the past 10 days, and finally i built up the courage to cut the string between babe and me, at exactly 9.43 am yesterday morning.

Both Pablo and i took Muffin to his first day of preschool. We were nervous. He was sleepy from the car ride. We walked him with the school principal to his classroom. It is called the 'Sheep Class'. It has eight little cots. 8 coat hangers. 8 little squared shelves. And many playmats on the floor. The teacher beamed at us and took Bruno in her arms. I kissed his forehead and whispered i'd be back soon -he only stayed an hour and a half, to get started. Pablo and i thanked everyone and marched out the door. I was crying before i reached that car. Pablo reminded me to sit at the front.

It was sad and thrilling at the same time. I weeped for about five minutes. Then i went to get some breakfest with Pablo. And i spent the rest of the morning and afternoon with Arwen/Ona, who accompanied me to collect Bruno. He was fine. It was contagious. This morning i left him there again. I'm sure the heart shrinking feeling will pass before October ends. Another milestone.