I'm learning that one of the important ways loved ones want to relate to a baby is through food. I've been breastfeeding, and as a stay at home mom, have not needed to give the baby even bottles of breast milk very often. He's just over 5 months old now, and will be trying solid foods just after Thanksgiving. I've found that everyone is thrilled by this and can tell they've been waiting for any opportunity to help feed him. Being denied the opportunity to feed him with a bottle, they are now eager to feed him, and a lot of that food comes from their gardens.

His grandma and great grandma have supplied apples and the time and effort to make applesauce. His Great Aunt has talked about the squash and potatoes she'll have for him at Christmas, some of it local, some of it probably not, but strait from the table none the less. We want to feed him from our table as much as possible- we have a food mill and plan on using it! It is so sweet to watch the family think about feeding him, and apparently without much thought on this point, to feed him with their own, home-grown foods and foods from their own tables.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone! I hope it is joyful, and deliciously local.