I'm Ania from Southern CA. I live with my boyfriend and 2 of our own little terrier dogs (also known as terrors) and a third foster terrier. We just purchased a house a year ago so this is my second year gardening. Until we bought the house, I was one of those people that would kill every plant that was in my care. I'm trying to change that and I have several houseplants that have lived a year for me now. For me, that's good. I did some landscaping on the property last year and well, let's just say I did it again this year with plants that would actually work for the area. They are working so far. I grew a few things in pots last year with limited success. I started really late a got a just a few tomatos from 3 plants that got attacked by hornworms, some Jalapeno's and Cubanelles and some Okra. My herbs did well and I had a lot of basil and still have pineapple sage and mint from last year. I tried, unsuccessfully to grow eggplant as well. This year, I decided to actually learn how to garden and here I am. This year I'm growing 8 varieties of tomatoes, several varieties of peppers, a couple of eggplants, tomatillos, several squash and zucchini, green onions, lima beans, and a few other things all in containers. I am also just now sprouting chard and amaranth. I also have a lot of herbs growing. I made some big mistakes to start with and got a late start on some things but all is going fairly well. I'm really glad to have found this place so I can learn and maybe I can know what I'm doing with this gardening stuff one day. Ania

I planted out one of a pair of 5 month old rooted cuttings about a month ago without hardening off. It lost 70% of its leaves (I think it got scalded by the sun too, although I put a chair over it as a canopy when I noticed it was unhappy) and I thought it was a goner, but today it finally put out new leaves. I presume this means it has settled in and will take off like a shot now. So, I would keep easing yours towards the sun...maybe figs drop leaves easily in protest? I don't have enough experience to know, but that's my suspicion.

Just my opinion, but if you want to "breastfed as long as possible", take it easy on the solids this early. Every solid meal takes the place of part of a BF session. Your milk supply is all about supply and demand. If he's eating solids, he's not telling your body to make milk. Not telling you what to do, but to answer your question "at what rate would I..?" My answer to this is that I would wait until six months to try to introduce solids and then would start with two SMALL meals, twice a day. My second child is 7 1/2 months old and has only started solids about a month ago. He gets them twice a day if he's interested. Each new food should be introduced one at a time over a period of 3-4 days to see if he/she has a reaction to it. I would start with fruits like pears, applesauce and bananas (easy on the latter two, they can be constipating), and veggies like squash, sweet potatoes, green beans and peas. I alternate 'colors'..green in the am, orange in the pm. If I don't do this, he gets constipated and unhappy. Obviously a small amount of baby cereal, mixed with breastmilk or formula at each session. After each feeding session, I clean him up, and wait about 30 minutes, then I offer the breast to 'top him off'. Breastmilk has more fat and protein than any pureed jarred baby food. Once two meals have been established and accepted, I would add a third. I would also offer the breast frequently in between. Btw, I'm on my second BF child. First one BF'd for about two weeks shy of three years, second one is 7 1/2 months old.

Thanks guys! You have given me some great clues. I think his fussiness was due to many factors, including: tummy adjustment to the rice ceral (I think he does better with oatmeal), inability to sleep well on his back, teething (drooling and chewing a lot), his 4 mo. shots were this week, and also (mainly, I think) he had some redness/irritation around his wee (we hadn't been cleaning the area where he's been circumcised well enough). :-( That's great, Andrea. We also have 8pm bedtime, just after a story. I still feed him (nurse) one more time (before I go to bed - around 10pm) and he sleeps until 6am -- sometimes earlier, but he stays in the crib playing/talking/fussing/whatever until 6am. This has helped him to entertain himself so well. Nice to wake up to a cooing rather than crying baby! Still likes to fuss at naptimes, though. Guess he needs to wind down. Does Logan need a nap/get cranky after just a couple hours of waketime, too? Yes, Karla, I think the rice is not so good on his tummy. Maybe I can use it mixed with fruits/applesauce later on, since I do have a BIG box to use! I sure wish Cole could sleep on his back better. I have been letting him fuss some to get used to the idea. If he's extra tired, he won't even roll over, anyway. I also wish he could sleep better out in public places/other people's homes. I go to playgroups/church meetings/stores where naptime comes and he fights it. Guess he prefers his warm crib with the fan going (white noise - drowns out the neighbors dog). He will sleep in the car, now, and has fallen asleep in his bouncy and during story time, but not without a little fussing. I don't go out too much, I try to plan things during his waketime (is this a bad idea?). Then, days where I can't, his nap schedule is interrupted -- is there a way to get him to 'sleep anywhere'? I've seen other babies do it and I'm in shock!! Thought I'd include a link for you to see the page I've put together for him. Here is a link that might be useful: c o l e s p a g e