For example, she is now starting on solid foods.  I’ve been feeding her a little oatmeal cereal in the morning (rice cereal made her constipated for days no matter how little I mixed into her milk), then some mushed fruit after lunch and some pureed veggies after her ‘supper’ nursing session.  Sounds good right?  Well just for fun I was re-reading the oatmeal label, which said ‘for infants under one mix with breastmilk or formula’  Ack!  How could I have missed that?  I’ve been mixing it with WATER, doing God knows what to her digestive system.  Her future math scores!  Why did they let me take her home!?  So I immediately mixed the oatmeal with formula. (I don’t have any pumped handy, I know, I know, I should have five quarts frozen already!)  Well I don’t.  Because pumping is annoying and time consuming and my boobs have had enough action for one day already without the extra pumping!  I digress. 

She wouldn’t eat the oatmeal with the formula mixed in!  She scrunched up her little nose again and again and barely took the tiniest of nibbles.  Ach.  I will try again tomorrow, a little formula (or if I manage to pump some milk) and some water to see if the gradual switch-over works.  

Why do they make babies so complicated!?  I bought BABY Orajel the other day and after having used it (twice) I noticed it said ‘for babies under two years old consult a physician.’  ARGGGG.  There’s a tiny baby on the packaging!  What is wrong with you people.  So, feeling like I was being an overreactive mom I called the physician for ‘permission’ to use it.  They denied me such permission.  A choking hazard they said.  Better to give her Tylenol or Advil.  Really?  Better to give her DRUGS?  I have to say I wonder if those people are just covering law-suit type bases and are not really giving me the best advice for my baby.  In any case I have not used the Orajel since, or the drugs because, darn it, I’d like to not give my baby drugs unless she really needs it.  

Does this get any easier?  I have to think if I were back home in Canada this would all be a little less scary.  I feel like I’m muddling through in the dark.  I do have my husbands friends here (who are great by the way) who have had young kids in the not too distant past but they all work/are very busy and I hate to call them up to ask if water vs formula in her morning oatmeal will lower her IQ…and by the way is polyester blankets ok or should I stick to cotton?  Did you know polyester is a derivative of petroleum?  It’s true.  That can’t be good for babies?  

Ellie is calling me now, crying a little, chewing on that worrisome polyester blanket, the watery oatmeal in her tummy, and probably some poo in her diaper that is leaking a little because I still haven’t figured out how to get the diaper on correctly.  Really, they should have a license for this mommie business.  I’d fail it the first time but when I DID pass, I’d know I was certified at least, instead of just feeling certifiable.