In the next few weeks, we are going to begin the adventure of solid foods. Yup. Not just breast milk anymore, this girl will eat something that doesn’t come out of my boobs. Hmmm…hadn’t actually thought of it that way before but – yeah – mama’s boobies are just part of the equation now. And part of me is relieved to begin the process of getting my body back and not having it sustain life for-ev-er.

To prepare for this new adventure, Rob and I went to Babies R Us and were overwhelmed like the day we went in to register for our baby shower. It was weird how we picked up some Medela products with ease and confidence knowing exactly what we needed. Then we headed to the baby spoons and plates (I guess that’s what they are – eating utensils – whatever, I have no idea what I’m talking about!) and we had no clue what to do. I swear part of the problem is that there are too many options. Rob wanted to get disposable spoons. Why? I don’t know. Are we going to be feeding Tessa on-the-go – at a strip club or bar maybe – and not want to bring home a filthy spoon filled with sweet potatoes?! Hell, I don’t know. But the metal spoons seem so brutal and like they would hurt her precious bitty mouth. So after much deliberation, we bought a plastic bowl and spoon. They look fine. I suppose. I don’t know! Ah!

We then went to the food aisle where the real meltdown began. Our pediatrician advised us to start Tessa on oatmeal rather than rice cereal (which most babies start with) because she only poops once every few days. So we looked at the oatmeal and – again – there are too many options. We finally narrowed it down to two options: should we get single grain or whole grain oatmeal? Rob and I just stared at each other, hoping the other person would feel strongly and make a decision. We then looked at the oatmeal boxes, neither of which spoke to us. We looked at Tessa who was falling asleep in the shopping cart. We read the ingredients. Rob guessed that whole grain might make her poop more which could be a good thing. But me – traumatized by Tessa’s recent diarrhea from her ear infection antibiotics – thought that was a bad thing. Alas, at a crossroads. We stared at each other. And again at the boxes. I nearly came to tears. “I don’t know!” This is going to be Tessa’s first food – her first taste of anything that hasn’t come from my boobs. I don’t know. I don’t know! I finally let out an audible but not confident “single grain!” And a decision was made. Rob was relieved and threw the box in the cart. I stared at Tessa. Does she know what a momentous decision that was?

I came home and stared at our one plastic bowl, one plastic spoon and one box of single-grain oatmeal . . . and felt overwhelmed. At least we have another few weeks before the fun begins.