The Finger

Now that the boys are a year old I'm trying to get them more involved in the feeding process.  They've always been very big on having things done for them, and not wanting to hold their own bottles, sippy cups...and spoons?  They're more likely to end up being smashed repeatedly on their highchair trays or on the floor than what they were actually intended for.  The one thing that they will eat is Cheerios, but you can't live solely on Cheerios!  I've tried giving them everything from sweet potato fries to peanut butter banana wraps.  They're much more inclined to "paint" their highchair trays or feed our (very appreciative) lab, Oliver.  Every day we go through the same battle at meal times.  I put their food on their trays and they push it around.  They cry if you try to feed it to them.  The vast majority of pasta/meatballs/veggies/etc. winds up on the floor and in their hair.  By the time I decide to throw in the towel they're covered in whatever brand of mush they have smashed into smithereens on that particular day.  In all honesty it kind of grosses me out!  Getting them cleaned up is a whole other battle.  Obviously you can't bathe them after every meal, no matter how much you may want to.  So, it's arms, hands, face & hair washed off in the kitchen sink, while they scream as though they were being held over hot coals!  Then it's time to clean out the seats, under the cushions & scrub down the trays.  Just when you think you're finished you look at the time and realize you have exactly one hour of playtime before it's snack time and you have to do it all over again! I know that someday I will miss these days, when they depend on me for everything.  Until then, finger foods will continue to give me the finger 4 times a day, 7 days a week.  Here's hoping they will eat their goldfish crackers at snack time and their chicken meatballs for dinner tonight.  I'm not holding my breath though....

xoxo Morgan