Man, I've had finger-sticks at the doctor's office stay sore for days. Maybe oath-swearers should...rub elbows, or something.

Earlobes! I've had pinpricks in earlobes that were okay!

For example, I've tried two versions of sippy cup, and she's not much interested in either. I think they're too slow-flowing or something.

I've tried three (one was a gift). It may take a looong while to get her interested. Owen is still only marginally interested in his. But I found the Avent Magic Cup has a soft, rubber spout that he likes to chew and I fill it with watered down juice--which is a treat so he really gets into it when he's drinking. Sadly, he won't hold it all by himself to drink yet. He tries, but can't really tip it back far enough to get a good sip. He will hold he handle and then toss it off the tray. But I keep at it, trying at least two meals a day with a cup. I figure eventually he'll catch on.

And still, overall? Doing just fine.

Betsy is wise.

In what universe is a gimpy-handed fealtor useful?

Hollywood?

I though the words "blood oath" meant the blood of your enemy. Crazy me.

Slicing the palm is just stupid and cinematic. Cossacks had a vow to never draw their sabers without drawing blood - so they drew it across the back of their forearm. That makes more sense to me than making it more difficult to hold your weapon.

Earlobes sound good. Bitches can swear fealty with earlobe pinpricks. But no notching!

Then why is it that every fealty-swearing movie scene, whether medieval, (Practical) magical, American western, Ya-ya-ical or Middle-Earthian, has fealty swearers slicing their palms, and in many cases, slapping the bleeding palms together to share the infection? In what universe is a gimpy-handed fealtor useful?

Yes, and with perfectly stoic expressions. Of course, if you did it on purpose, you'd bypass the "Wha? SHIT!" part of my reaction today.

It's really pretty hard to screw up raising a baby; they're more resilient than people give them credit for.

This is true. I'm just feeling a little sensitive on the feeding issue because it seems like everyone is surprised Annabel isn't eating more solids. I'm absolutely glad I quit that moms group, but this is one of those cases where I wish I'd found what I thought a moms group would be--a place to share war stories and ask if I was doing things right.

Earlobes! I've had pinpricks in earlobes that were okay!

Oh yeah, that was much better than the finger prick. They won't let you do that anymore for blood donation. Apparently it doesn't measure iron properly. Which is likely true, because I never got turned down with the earlobe test. With the finger prick otoh, between the iron count and my blood pressure, the blood people ususally seem surprised I can hold myself upright.

Susan, in all seriousness, I didn't eat solids until I was over a year. I had no interest in them.

it seems like everyone is surprised Annabel isn't eating more solids

When she's ready for more things, she'll let you know. And as long as she's healthy and growing, whatever you're feeding her is fine.

And with the cup, just try it from time to time. If she's not interested yet, wait a week and try again. It might not be the cup, but whether or not she's intrigued by it yet.

Oh, a trick a pediatrician friend passed on: Babies who are at the gnawing stage love pizza crusts.