You drew stars around my scars

Crawling

Emmeline had hit 7 months old and it seemed like she was beginning to advance quickly. Taylor was emotional seeing her grow up – feeling like she was no longer a 'little' baby.

Taylor had started to wean her at 6 months – offering her some pureed versions of their meals and she had also started to introduce some finger foods now.

For breakfast, Emmeline typically had porridge with fruit mashed in, lunch she tended to chomp on fingers foods and for dinner, Taylor was giving her elements of whatever they had.

Taylor had done a ton of reading on what foods she should have an how to introduce them, wanting to give her the best exposure to foods in a safe way. She did find she was a bit obsessive about what the girl was eating – wanting to make sure she got all the necessary vitamins and minerals still.

Wednesday night, Tree was over for dinner like normal. Taylor had cooked steak, veg and potatoes for them all and she had prepared a vegetable frittata for Emmeline. As they sat down to eat, Emmeline was propped in her high chair between Tree and Taylor. As Taylor gave the baby 4 strips of the frittata Jessica spoke up "what's in it tonight?"

Taylor smiled softly at her, loving how proud Jessica was "she has steamed broccoli and carrots like us but I just mixed it with some egg and cheese then baked it"

Jessica nodded, grinning as Emmeline picked it up – staring at it.

All of them began eating but Taylor's attention was on Emmeline – she picked up a strip of the frittata and popped it in her mouth. She chewed it up but then spat it back out, making a face. Tree laughed gently "ooh didn't like that bit?"

Taylor handed her another strip "she is always fussy for the first few bites"

Tree nodded "it takes them a while to get used to it – she seems to like the solids more than the purees though?"

Taylor nodded "yeah – she likes to chew it I think...I just worry because with a puree I am feeding her but with the solids she spits a lot out"

Tree shrugs "it's more about getting her exposure to food up, she is still getting what she needs from the breast milk. She will eat more and more as she gets used to it"'

Jessica giggled lightly "Tay spends HOURS looking at recipes and reading about it all..."

It was an innocent comment but it set alarm bells ringing for Tree, she looked at the blonde kindly "you do NOT need to be stressing about it. You're exposing her to a lot of different foods in the right way – some she will like, some she won't. Keep offering stuff. You're doing well Tay..."

Taylor nodded, biting her lip slightly "I know – it's just a lot. I want to make sure her relationship to food is good..."

Tree nodded, squeezing her hand gently "you're doing GREAT. Don't drive yourself to insanity about this. If she senses you are anxious, she will be too. Just let her enjoy it and try to relax"

Taylor nodded, knowing she was right "yeah – I'll try"

Once dinner was done and everything was tidied away, Taylor got Emmeline out of her highchair and Jessica reached out to take her "can I show Tree her workout routine?"

Taylor laughed loudly but nodded, handing the baby over. Tree frowned "workout?"

Jessica laughed, motioning for her to follow them to the living room.

When all of them were in there and watching she placed Emmeline down on her mat on her stomach

Jessica looked up at Tree "when we put her down she starts her helicoptering..."