Mad's First Solids

It was a busy and exciting weekend full of firsts for our little family! Our sweet Madeline Joy turned six months old, a milestone that felt both surreal and momentous. To mark the occasion, we introduced her to solid foods for the very first time. Getting to this point had been a journey. We could have started earlier, but honestly, it's a lot of work! Ultimately, we decided on baby-led weaning—a method where babies skip purées and go straight to feeding themselves finger foods. Before diving in, we watched several instructional videos, learning about the best ways to introduce foods and, perhaps most importantly, how to prevent choking—one of Alison's biggest fears when it comes to solids (rightfully so!).

On Friday evening, after picking Madeline up from school, I made dinner for us. Avocado and strawberries were on the menu, and we decided they would be perfect for Madeline’s first foods. I sliced two avocado wedges while Alison prepared a strawberry for her. Knowing things were about to get messy, we stripped her down to her diaper, placed her in her high chair, and let the fun begin.

She wasted no time. The moment the strawberry was within reach, she grabbed it and popped it straight into her mouth. She sucked and chewed on it with a mix of curiosity and enthusiasm, and before we knew it, juice was dripping down her arm and leg. At times, she seemed unsure about the tartness, but overall, she appeared to love it. The avocado, on the other hand, was more of a sensory experience—she gleefully mashed it up but only ate a little. It's hard to compete with the sweetness of a strawberry! At this stage, eating is less about consuming and more about exploring and learning. By the time she was done, Madeline, her chair, and her tray were an absolute mess—but she was happy, and that made it all worth it.

Anna was there for this milestone, which made it even more special. She stayed with us Friday night while Kristin and Skylee were at a Young Women’s retreat, and we loved getting some extra quality time with her. She was especially excited to see the progress on our loft playroom, though construction meant she couldn’t explore up there just yet. Not to worry—she had a blast playing with Madeline instead.

On Friday night, we needed to make a trip to IKEA to pick up some baby dishes, utensils, and an extra high chair. Anna, of course, was thrilled—she loves IKEA and calls it a tricky store because you always leave with more than you planned. She wasn’t wrong—we walked out with a full haul! Shopping with Anna is an adventure; she runs everywhere with boundless energy, testing out beds and declaring which ones were the most comfortable (mostly based on looks). She also managed to convince us to grab a few extra goodies—some stuffed animals and, of course, chocolate.

While Alison got some extra sleep Saturday morning, Anna, Madeline, and I hung out and watched a classic—The Great Mouse Detective. Feeling hungry, I whipped up some waffles for breakfast. Madeline got her own little piece, which she happily gnawed on before deciding to share with Tex, who was more than happy to help clean up.

Later in the morning, once Alison was up, we made her some waffles too and then set out for a walk to a nearby park. Anna was thrilled to climb on all the equipment, showing off her skills, while Madeline had her first-ever experience in a baby swing. She absolutely loved it! Her little legs kicked with excitement, and her face lit up with joy. On our way home, we stopped by Daybreak’s iconic bike monsters, where Anna insisted on taking pictures—it was a perfect day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-sixties.

Saturday evening, we drove out to Saratoga Springs to meet up with our friends Kyle and Sara for dinner. Mads was a little fussy since she hadn’t napped well, but we still had a great time catching up. We don’t see Kyle and Sara nearly enough, so it was nice to spend some time together.

Sunday was a slow and cozy morning at home. We gave Madeline another chance with avocado, which she mostly just played with. She had fun mashing it up, but not a single bite made it into her mouth, which was totally fine—it’s all part of the learning process. She did, however, surprise us with a brand-new milestone: rolling from her back to her stomach for the first time! She looked so proud of herself, and we, of course, cheered her on.

Sunday evening, Kristin and her girls came over for dinner. I made pork, black beans, and broccoli, and we gave Madeline some of the black beans and broccoli to try. I mashed the beans and preloaded her spoon, and she did great! She ate some, made an enormous mess, and had the time of her life. She especially enjoyed the broccoli, grabbing a piece and sucking on it like it was the best thing ever. Watching her explore food is both hilarious and heartwarming.

To wrap up the weekend, we uncovered the fire pit for the first s’mores night of the season. Though the weather wasn’t entirely on our side—windy and a little rainy—we managed to sneak in some marshmallow roasting before the rain chased us inside. Everyone who wanted one got a s’more, and we ended the night feeling warm and happy.

All in all, it was a weekend packed with special moments, firsts, and lots of laughter. Watching Madeline reach new milestones and experience the world around her is truly one of the greatest joys of our lives.