When Baby A was ready to start solids, at about six and one-half months, I felt overwhelmed. The decisions! One of the cool things about nursing exclusively is never having to think about it. The "food" is always perfectly nutritious, the baby chooses how much to take, and voila—instant meal, no clean-up!

Yes, planning meals was another game entirely. So I did what any geek-mom would do and got a book, Annabel Karmel's First Meals: Fast, healthy, and fun foods to tempt infants and toddlers. If you've got somewhat older kids, though, don't let the subtitle stop you. Karmel provides information, recipes, and meal plans for kids as old as seven.

But the thing that sold me on this book—besides the gorgeous photography—was the emphasis on planning family meals, ones that TWH and I could enjoy right along with Baby A (or is it the the other way around?). I'm so not into making two separate meals and cleaning two sets of pans and dishes.

Karmel, a Cordon Bleu–trained chef, has three kids herself, so I assume these recipes are, uh, kid-tested. This mother approves.