When Sofia was first born, I was surprised at how much time I seemed to have to keep up with the blog. Keeping the blog updated (the blog that has turned into the baby Sofia show... I can't resist!) is important because it's a way to keep the family updated since we've chosen to live so far away from most of our family (sorry fams... wish I could entice a few of you to move to Portland with us... it definitely beats Kansas, Alaska, and New York winters!!) Well... I was doing great updating the blog, but then the baby had to go and grow up a bit. She stopped sleeping and she started wanting to play and explore the world... And she started squirming to much for any multitasking computer blogging time. Plus she's just too big to hold during nap time AND blog!
Last night we sung Sofia the Happy 5 month birthday song. She loved getting serenaded by both Mom and Dad. In front of my eyes flashed all the months back (how quickly the have passed) and all the months forward (how quickly they will come). So much has changed in our lives since Sofia was born. Kendra and Ian were here visiting from New York last week, and Kendra asked me if I missed New York. I told her it was a different kind of missing... New York was before Sofia and I can't even begin to miss life without Sofia. It's kind of like missing college. It was great fun while it lasted, but it's not like I can go back to the way things were. Once you graduate college, you've passed the point where you can live the college life in the same way you did when you were young and free to just be. (Before the debt collectors started knocking at your door and responsibility entailed making it to class (for the most part) and getting your school work done (again for the most part ;)!)
I do, however, miss eating and drinking without thought or guilt. I miss not having to resist... I've been on restricted eating for the first time in my life. Turns out, Sofia has a few food intolerances that we are trying to figure out. I'm not sure how long ago it all started, but I gave up dairy maybe a month and a half to two months ago. No more ice cream. That was okay though, I ate enough in pregnancy and to be completely honest, the last time I had it my stomach didn't really take it so well. I gave up soy. Not THAT big of a deal. It's not a necessary part of my diet (although when I can eat soy again, I'm heading to a little cafe I found and eating the dish I had for my last soy meal before giving it up... SO yummy!) Then came the hard part. I cut eggs and peanuts. Oh peanut butter how I MISS YOU, and what I wouldn't give for a scrambled egg or 12. These cuts made a difference for Sofia. Her stuffy nose subsided. Her need to be bounced constantly and her irritability if not held in exactly the right place began disappearing. We couldn't believe we could sit with a baby on our laps and just SIT! (You mamas that have babies without food intolerances and allergies better thank your lucky stars!) Yet, with Sofia being our first, we didn't quite know any other way of being. The only thing that made me realize that something was different from other babies was our mama/baby group get togethers. Most babies didn't need to be bounced as much.
Then came the point of trying to figure out what to do next. She was still spitting up lots of chunky spit ups (frustrating how no one tells you whats "normal" they just say all baby's spit up... well I say... All babies don't have to spit up MUCH if ANY at all. It's NOT so normal... All that spitting up we had from the start should have been a sign to me to check out what I'm eating to help my sweet pea's belly... Oh second baby, you'll have it so much better (we hope) when it comes to food intolerances & allergies (if you have any -- we hope NOT).) She was still having mucus in her poo. So I decided instead of cutting one thing at a time, I'd just do the Total Elimination Diet. I cut it all... the top "8" or so of the most likely allergen causing foods: dairy, soy, eggs, fish, beef, wheat/gluten, nuts & legumes, citrus. But then I added in some more cuts of my own: corn, nightshades (Seth has an allergy to potatoes), onions, strawberries... And after looking at what NOT to eat, I decided it would just be easier if I made of list of what TO eat and stuck to it. Thank goodness for Jac, she's been through/going through this with my niece, Zia, so she's been a source of information, support, and encouragement (you have no idea how helpful the positive reminders of progress are Jac! THANKS! ...and just so you know, when you say Sofia is lucky to have a mama who will cut these things to figure it all out, she's actually LUCKY to have an AUNT who's so helpful (and being an amazing mama to her baby by doing the elimination diet) because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to figure this all out on my own... it's not just anyone who will talk baby poo and food journal mysteries with me!)
For the most part, her eczema has cleared. Her spitting up is minimal, if at all, and usually only happens when a little pressure is applied to her belly while we are holding her. Her poo is hit or miss and may have been better more times than I realized because I was under the understanding that sticky poo was actually mucusy poo. She has had super mucusy poos (looks like strings of snot) and some have been really bad, but now that I know the stickiness isn't mucus necessarily, I am hopeful that we are on the right track! (Oy the learning curve of first time mamas!)
Looking back now, I really wish I'd just picked 10 things and only eaten those things, but it's hard going from eating whatever to eating only certain things (and such a small list at that). My list of what I could eat wasn't much bigger, but it still had some potential allergens in it. Just recently I have cut my list EVEN further down. I'm hopeful that in the next few days we'll have an all clear from Sofia's bum rash and her poo and I'll be able to start adding foods back in. I dream about the foods I'll add back in... I will probably do something responsible like chicken, but I wish I could do chocolate or decaf coffee or almond butter... those will come though!
I have found some very delicious things to eat, despite eating a minimal amount of food. Zucchini pizza is one of my favorites. I'm trying not to eat it too often because I don't want to lose my love for it. Roasted pears are another yummy yummy treat - these are usually a morning and evening treat. Sautéed kale is another delicious food I've grown to love EVEN MORE (& it's soooo stinking good for you! Even better cooked than raw! Yay!) Maybe I'll share some recipes for these (who am I kidding? I have no time for that!) one of these days -- I can also include the rest of the ingredients so those of you not limited can enjoy them even more!
What am I eating you wonder: lamb, kale, zucchini, cooked carrots (none raw), pears, bananas, quinoa, honey, agave, coconut everything: milk, oil, sugar, chips, shreds. I was eating acorn squash, sweet potatoes, beets, turkey bacon and other turkey, but they've faded out, and I'm afraid to add them back in randomly because I really just want her to clear first! And before about 2 weeks ago, I was eating apples, avocado, chicken, and blueberries. I miss those things. I'll be hopefully adding those back in soon too! And on the note of continuing to dream about adding foods back in, I'll probably test the chicken, avocados, apples, and blueberries... Then maybe I'll try corn (since it's in so many things), chocolate, decaf coffee (yes I know those 2 aren't nutritious, but a girl NEEDS SOMETHING as a reward for all her eating work!), and a bean (cause then I could have "real" tacos). And after that I might try eggs and almonds. Oh and I can't forget, beef will probably be early on in there too. Okay, enough dreaming. It's making me too hungry! Sofia, just know I love the heck out of you & I'll do a lot for you sweet baby girl. Including give up chocolate and coffee... and pretty much everything else!
