Veggie Delight

Now that we're in the season of eating, I'm frequently asked, "What do you feed your baby to achieve his rotundly oblique physique?" Since I last reported, our little porker has graduated from baby cereal...
...to a variety of vegetables Daddy never learned to appreciate:

• Butternut squash
• Peas
• Carrots
• Broccoli

Baby can't resist the delicately steamed, rapidly pureed orange and green mush, which he now quickly gulps down by the spoonful. And if you're wondering why would we feed him things that Daddy wouldn't eat since he learned how to use a fork, it's because we doubt Baby'll resist eating things in the fruit or sugar category, so we're saving the good stuff for when he gets through everything that sits low on Daddy's tasteometer.

Daddy, who ever said you had bad taste?

Introducing new foods to a baby is a lengthy process. Because you have no idea what a baby's body may react to, every food needs to be introduced and then the baby observed for a few days to make sure there isn't an adverse reaction. This is unfortunate, as the holiday season is like lying with your mouth open under a waterfall of carbohydrates and meat, and Baby can only enjoy it one taste at a time.

I can't wait to generously share all the peas, tofu, and green things on my plate with Baby. Hopefully by the next holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving

This year, we're thankful for a 19 pound turkey with giant drumsticks.

I'm thankful for not having to wear pants.

First Haircut

If there's one thing Daddy can do without researching, it's cutting Baby's hair. I get my haircut at least every couple of weeks, and when I do, I watch my barbers very carefully to further hone my skills. One of my barbers, Vlad, can be found in the world famous 34th street Subway station. Vlad can make your hair look much shorter than before like no other barber can. He can also repair your shoes and cut keys.

By applying Vlad's exotic hair cutting techniques to Baby, Daddy knows the results can only be fantabulous. The only differences are tiny blunt-tipped scissors, and a smaller head that doesn't really stay still. No problem.

Wait, what are those? Scissors? You're gonna cut what?

With blunt-tipped blades in hand, and hair-repellent shawl in place, we gauge what Baby will lose and what he'll keep.

That's mine! Don't touch that!

Along with my hair assistant, Mommy, we snipped and nipped at Baby's locks to create a vision of simultaneous masculinity and beauty.

Back off! Back off you crazy people!

Ahhh... Fantabulous!

My hair! What did you do to my hair???

OK, maybe it didn't turn out like we expected... But it'll grow back.

Hey, I can see my forehead!

Had I done some research and saved Baby from weeks of embarrassment, I would have found a few specialized local shops in NY for cutting baby hair:

• Locks N Lads
• Kids Cuts

Or Daddy can keep practicing until he gets it right.

First Feeding

Baby finally had his first bite of food from a spoon.  For now, these baby bites of baby cereal are just practice for the real thing when he gets older. A baby's primary source of nutrition before a year of age should still be from formula/milk, and his spoon feedings shouldn't exceed more than once or twice a day. You would think it wouldn't take too long to get an ounce of food into a tiny tot's tummy, but the video below will show Baby biting off more than he can chew, by not really biting at all.  Leave ample time for clean up afterwards, and know that they may try to bite the hand that feeds them.

I can't say Baby enjoyed his first spoon of cereal, but I doubt he'll complain when I fill that spoon with some cookie dough ice cream. Maybe next week.

Happy Halloween!

"Candy? What's that?"

Time to Eat

Now that Baby's six months old, we have to ask ourselves, "What do we do now?" But first we have to know "What do we feed him now?" It's right around this time that babies should be introduced to the concept of food that isn't milk. Asides from how many months old Baby is, one can tell when a baby is ready for food by how they watch you eat as if you were watching the television remakes of 90210 and Knight Rider - it seems familiar, but different, but you have to try it just once to see if it's any good. So before I start up the grill for some baby-portioned Steak-Ums, I figure I'd better do a little research for what Baby can and can't eat.

The most common type of first-time food is cereal. And none of that count chocolatey, magically delicious, greeeeeat cereal, but organically grown soy or rice based cereal. No novelty shapes, marshmallows, or sugar in this cereal. You'll want to buy a little bit to sample at first, because it's very possible baby's tummy can't handle rice or soy just yet, which will lead to a gassy, cranky, and probably very smelly baby. So a 5 pound vat of cereal from Costco is not the way to go for the first time. (But the place is great for pickng up pounds of dry formula.) We opted for a small box of "Healthy Times' Brown Rice Creal for Baby" from Whole Foods. I chose this brand because it had the highest nutritinal content, and has animals wearing hats on the front label.

Picking the cereal was probably the hardest part. Next come the supplies. Baby cereal is more like oatmeal, so techncally you can just swipe some on your finger and stick it in Baby's mouth. But one of the major points of feeding is to get Baby used to eating from untensils. And grown-up cereal isn't really easy to eat with your hands anyway. You'll probably need:

• Bowls: Keep it simple with a set of these, or get fancier with the latest concave food storage: built-in spill catchers, customizable configurations, or advanced function and design (available in pink).
• Spoons: It's helpful when the spoon bowl is made out of silicone, like these must-haves. You can go ergonomic or forgot the bowl altogether, and get a spoon that dispenses food. Whatever you decide on, just make sure you get the round part into Baby's mouth.

• High/Booster Chair: Actually, you want to save this for later feedings, when Baby can sit on their own and handle utensils. The transition to spoon feeding shouldnt be too different from a normal feeding, so keep them on your lap, like you would a bottle feeding, at least for the first few times.

Remember that innocent looking baby cereal has a long way to go before it gets into Baby's mouth, so you need to be prepared for where it may wind up. Keep Baby and the floor clean with:

• Bibs: traditional cotton bibs are the most breathable, but vinyl bibs are waterproof and have convenient catch cups built in. Or you can wear the bowl, and go all the way with a scoop bib (but baby can gt hot because of the heavy material.) Bibs with side closures are also another nice feature, since they're easier to put on and remove.

• Spill mat: Sure, you can put a bib or a poncho over Baby to keep him clean, but what about your carpeted floor? Try a floor spill mat, in clear so you can see the mess, or "Safari" if you don't.

Wile you're prepping for Baby's first meal, I'm going to go make a sandwich. All this talk about eating is making me hungry.

Hair Today

Remember way back when, when Baby was born, and he had a wee tuft of air atop his little head?

OK, maybe his head wasn't so little.

Six months and ten pounds later, Baby's hair is long enough to advertise shampoo. It'll be time for a haircut soon, and since he can't decide for himself whether he wants a Mohawk or a mullet, Daddy will have to decide for him.

Oh, the possibilities...

Ladies love the Au Naturale

Sportin' the classic Wet Look


Leather Onesie and Tricycle optional for the Fonzie


Good looks plus intelligence equal the Professor


Still learning to roll, but born to rock: the Rock n' Roller


You must be a vegetarian, because you love the Alfalfa

Daddy's getting this baby Level 5 Holding Power hair gel for his 6-month birthday, for sure.