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Tag Archives: eating

Peek-a-Boo Mealtime Taxing Baby’s Hair Style

Posted on July 13, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I have to work on my subtle expressions

As abrupt as Maddie’s movements are, it will be some time before a pair of scissors comes anywhere near that perfect little head of hers. So her varying lengths of hair are here to stay for a while.

This makes things really interesting especially during mealtime. When Maddie has had enough to eat now, she alerts us to this fact by rubbing her hands into her hair and hiding her eyes behind her hands.

Mealtime was already quite a messy business, but we are quickly reaching new heights. Watermelon and cantaloupe juice has become a staple deep into the roots of her scalp. Apple sauce and scrambled eggs are all too happy to take up residence and in Maddie’s hair. Add a little bit of 2% milk on top of those flowing locks and you have a party going on top of Maddie’s head.

Once this mixture is in place, those coated strands of hair stick out at multiple angles like a messy bale of hay. And until she actually gets her hair washed, this fashion-forward look is hers for the day.

This stuff is blending in nicely

The majority of the hair atrocities take place at night, but a couple of them have happened during lunch. There’s nothing like putting a cute little skirt on girl with a whacky head of hair like that. Maddie is just a few weeks from her first birthday, but she is already becoming quite a fashion trendsetter.

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Is Maddie Really a Paper Chaser?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

You steady chasin’ that paper!

In a song called “Live Your Life,” T.I. and Rihanna make multiple references to the pursuit of paper. Rihanna indicates that she has no time for haters because she’s actually a paper chaser.  That’s quite strange because Maddie is also a critically acclaimed Paper-Chaser in her own right.

The question is, “Are these two women chasing the same kind of paper?”

The answer is a resounding NO!

T.I. and Rihanna are using the slang term “paper” which actually refers to money. The true “Little Miss Sunshine” is my 11-month-old daughter Maddie and instead of money, she’s interested in real paper.

She chases it around the house with reckless abandon, tears it into little pieces and then tries to stuff it in her mouth. Try as we might, we have been unable to dissuade her from this fruitless action. However, Maddie fully comprehends that we do not approve of this action.

Normally I can get to her before she sticks it into her mouth, but sometimes we have to remove the paper straight off of her tongue. We’re pretty sure that this is not a hunger issue, most of the paper-chasing takes place after her meals.

It seems that this is just another exercise Maddie uses to assess her parents’ behavior and learn valuable lessons in how she can successfully get away with the things she wants to accomplish. Maddie likes to get her way and is never worried about breaking a few eggs to cook up a nice omelet.

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Baby Captures Her First Pigeon

Posted on June 14, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

You told me it was duck!

I tried to explain the catch and release policy to Maddie regarding the trapping of city pigeons, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. We were in the city park today when a bold pigeon ventured a little too close to Maddie and her treasured bagel. My 10-month-old bundle of joy shot out of the crib snatching the unsuspecting bird straight out of the air.

The poor flying rat never stood a chance. We wrapped him up and took it home for a little impromptu lunch. This is when I remembered that I had some fantastic duck waiting for us in the refrigerator. It was sure to be more tender than the pigeon and perhaps not quite as gamey.

What I didn’t anticipate is how much Maddie would enjoy this new type of meat. I gave her a drumstick to work over and she was hooked. As soon as she jammed the bone into her mouth, her mighty jaws snapped it cleanly in half. She was quite content to gnaw on Daffy’s remains until all the meat was gone from the shredded bird.

As Maddie’s appetite ramps up, so does her enthusiasm for eating. She hasn’t gained any weight in nearly a month, but she seems to be getting taller by the day. Her propensity for immersing herself into the middle of mischief is quickly becoming the stuff legends are made of.

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Maddie Shines at Impromptu Dinner

Posted on May 5, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!

What started as a quick jaunt into Jersey City became a night out on the town for the entire family. This was a big day for Maddie because she had already enjoyed a great unplanned lunch out with her mom and a few friends.
 
The whole family was basking in the perfect weather outside when we were suddenly overcome by the intoxicating smells drifting out of Marco & Pepe’s restaurant. Suddenly Maddie’s parents were plotting and conspiring on how we could eat dinner here and still get the baby fed and to bed on
time.
 
After a quick discussion, we green-lighted dinner but had to score a bib for the baby first. We popped into a nearby drugstore and Maddie unexpectedly hit the panic button. Gina rolled Maddie outside and I ducked into a nearby Dunkin Donuts for a Priority One emergency bagel. I handed Maddie a piece and the crisis was averted – just in time for dinner!
 
Maddie feasted on a small basket of unsalted sweet potato fries while enjoying the music pulsing just a few blocks away from a local street festival. Maddie made a real meal out if going back and forth between the fries and generous portions of peasant bread.
 
When the main courses came, the baby even tackled her mom’s trout entrée with reckless abandon. With each bite, she took time to smile at and woo her fellow restaurant patrons along with our server.
 
The little charmer had her fellow customers literally eating out of her hand. Finally Maddie had her fill of food and attention and was ready to head home. A great time was had by all and Maddie indicated that she’s ready for round two tomorrow.

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The Many Faces of Mashed Potatoes

Posted on April 26, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I came ready to eat!

It was with great pleasure today to finally introduce Maddie to one of life’s great pleasures – The amazing world of mashed potatoes.

If there is a better food out there, I am unfamiliar with it. So after a day fraught with bagel pieces, water melon and strained prunes, Maddie deserved a real treat.

We all sat down for a nice dinner. The baby started off with strawberries, as mom and dad were ready for meat and mashed potatoes. I was about to sit down when Maddie’s mom suggested that maybe it was time to share some mashed magic with the baby.

Wear it like you ate it!

What an idea – but I wondered, would Maddie embrace “squished taters” like her dad? This has been my favorite food since I can remember and it’s always been a private joke in my family.

So how would the baby react to her first taste of mashed gold? I reverently placed a small portion on Maddie’s tray. She eyed it suspiciously at first, but then reached out and grabbed a handful. She worked the strange mixture between her fingers getting a good feel for it. Just as we were wondering if she would ever bother to taste it, she jammed some into her mouth.

Then two things happened, she smiled at the taste but was confused by the consistency. Maddie continued to work that mouthful of potatoes, trying to decide if the taste was worth the work. Two helpings later, Maddie was ready to join a long list of nationwide mashed potato lovers! Welcome to the club Maddie!

Where have these been all my life?

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Baby Blurs the Line Between Oatmeal and Hair Gel

Posted on April 18, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

This oatmeal apple hair treatment is the bomb!

As we experiment with more and more foods for Maddie, the feeding process changes a little bit each time. We are now beginning each morning with a variety of three foods for the baby to work on.

This morning we introduced Maddie to the world a watermelon and what an introduction it was. The first bite was met with shock and surprise. But after a few seconds, Maddie realized she had a new favorite.

However, she had a very difficult time wrapping her mind around the fact that with each bite, she would get a new splash of flavored water. After making sure she got her fill of melon, bananas and strawberries it was finally time for the main course.

Maddie ripped into her oatmeal with a vengeance seemingly savoring each bite. We were about half way through the bowl when Maddie came up with what I can only describe as an oatmeal epiphany.

I didn’t notice at first, but Maddie had stored the last few bites of oatmeal in her mouth. This is when I decided that mealtime was over. I would let Maddie work on her large mouthful of magic and then clean her up for playtime.

That’s when Maddie pulled the trigger. She scooped a heaping portion of oatmeal out of her mouth and started massaging her scalp with it. There was really nothing to be done but watch and enjoy the show.

She made sure the clumps were mixed well inside of her hair before she put her hands at her side to gauge my reaction. I just smiled at her and began the arduous clean up process. Normally this would warrant a bath, but I just wiped her head down with a wet paper towel and let her ride out the day with the SLICK look. I can hardly wait to see what she does with the new salmon baby packets we bought.

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Maddie Becomes the Finder of Lost Flapjacks

Posted on April 16, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Nothing left here but the crumbs my friend!

As my 8-month-old daughter Maddie continues to reject stage 3 baby food – her appetite for the real deal is quickly growing out of control.

This morning as the sun was coming up, we had cakes on the griddle – and business was a boomin! I kept setting up the mini-pancakes and Maddie kept knocking them down!

  • I’d pluck the fluffy disc off of the stove
  • Maddie’s mom would tear the cake in half
  • And Maddie would bring the magic

By magic I mean that my little girl seizes the tiny cake in her paw, crushes it into a ball and slams it into those gaping jaws. Holy cow lady, “Take Human Bites!”

Just to slow her down on the fun cakes, we tried to mix things up with some strawberries, but Maddie barely skipped a beat! She has a new favorite and wanted to make sure she got her fill.

What’s makes this pancake pandemonium even more remarkable is that this was just round one. Just a few hours later at brunch, Maddie put on second eating display more prolific than her morning performance.

We met our friends Michelle and Dan for a brunch to remember. Maddie quickly situated herself onto Michelle’s lap and then went right to work. She tore into a myriad of foods with an unbridled enthusiasm that must be seen to be believed.

The baby conquered the cantaloupe, beheaded the berries and even downed a decent sized portion of sweet potato fries. It was a true festival of the foods and Maddie was more than happy to take center stage. Even after the meal, Maddie made it a point to chew on Michelle’s necklace a little bit to make sure that no morsel was left behind.

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Baby Suspends Sleep & Eating for New Teeth

Posted on April 13, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I already have two teeth - that's plenty!

Even after two major trips in a row, Maddie’s schedule at home was really coming together nicely. Full nights of sleep and a fairly regimented eating schedule had the entire household living the dream.

But things swerved a bit off kilter yesterday and today all that consistency went up in smoke. Maddie spent the day boycotting any feeding or nap attempts. This caused me great concern because my parents were coming in to babysit Maddie.

Once they arrived, I was nervous about leaving them alone with the Mad Madster who was smack dab in the middle of her simultaneous hunger and sleep strike. However, the baby was full of smiles and squeaks and showing no signs of criminal mischief. After some urging from the grandparents, I decided to let Maddie be free of me for a couple of hours.

I gave my mom the scoop on Maddie’s odd behavior and finally left with a heavy cloud of guilt over my head. At this point, I still did not know the origin of the baby’s stranger-than-normal behavior.

Finally I broke down and called my parents for the scoop. They said that Maddie had taken a decent nap and was playing on the floor with my mom. Maddie’s grandfather told me to take my time, but I know that the baby’s mood can turn on a dime. I hurried home and when I walked in, I asked my dad how things were going.

When Maddie heard my voice, she let out a powerful screech. According to my parents, she had slowly started to come undone about 15 minutes before I got home. The baby didn’t need anything in particular, she just wondered why I wasn’t waiting on her hand and foot.

My wife had arrived home about the same time I did and informed me that Maddie has a pair of top teeth that have begun to break through the gums. That’s why the happy baby has been suddenly out of sorts. Maddie is fighting the good fight against this most recent invasion of the teeth, but we will have to see how tonight goes for all us.

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Baby Showcases Eating Prowess at Sunday Brunch

Posted on March 12, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Keep setting them up, I'll keep knocking 'em down!

Maddie put on an eating display for the ages at brunch this afternoon. My little girl was definitely in her element because she had plenty of food options coupled with a large audience. Once we propped her up in the high chair she gave us that smile that said, “Let the games begin!”

Cantaloupe, asparagus and melon, oh my!

First we started Maddie off with the honey melon. She dug in those talons, jammed the fruit in her mouth and went to work. We always make sure the pieces are too big so she can’t choke. It’s a great spectator sport because whatever the food happens to be, she goes at it full force.

Despite her ferocious eating habits, people kept stopping by the table to greet Maddie and tell her how cute she was. Complete strangers would give her a big smile, make various forms of goo-goo eyes at her and engage her in some baby small talk. Let’s just say that Maddie ate up all the attention just like she was killing that melon.

A girl has to eat, am I right?

To keep the good times rolling, we had to keep a large supply of fruit close by. When it comes to Maddie, the food casualties mount up quickly. Some pieces are fumbled onto the table or floor while others are used as a tool to scrub nearby furniture. These tainted pieces are quickly removed and recycled before Maddie has the chance to really experience the wonderful world of foodborne illnesses.

After Maddie made her way through a small plate of melon, we switched to the cantaloupe. This orange mushy fruit was a big hit with our little girl. She used her gnashing gums and two bottom teeth to inflict as much damage as possible. After a few more pieces of fruit, Dad broke out his secret stash of asparagus sticks.

We broke one in half and of course Maddie tried to impale herself with it. But after a littler experimentation, she was tearing that thing up too. The visitors kept on coming and the baby wowed each and every one them. The only question left was what will Maddie do for an encore?

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Baby Adopts Extreme Eating Challenge

Posted on March 2, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Let the games begin!

Now that she is 7-months-old, Maddie is completely revamping the way she eats solid food. As a matter of fact, solid food intake is becoming quite the extreme sport in our household along the lines of skydiving and repelling.

Our first extreme meal started during the late morning. It turns out that a little bit of cinnamon oats and apple can go a long way in the arena of face painting.

It’s funny how this activity starts off in such a civilized manner. I gently urge Maddie to “help me” with the spoon and she gently guides it right into her mouth. However, after about our fifth spoonful of “civility” things start to break down. The first sign is when the baby decides that the contents in her mouth need a closer inspection.

She reaches in and comes out with fingerfuls of the goop we worked so hard to get in there in the first place. She examines these contents with a laser-like focus, evaluating what went in and how it has changed in appearance.

After her curiosity is satisfied, she decides that the mess on her fingers should be liberally applied to her left ear. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!! And once the left ear amassed a generous portion of oats and apples all over it – she just had to keep going.

So after every few spoonfuls, she shared the rations with her hungry left ear. Not the right ear, which is far too civilized for such antics, just the left one. Needless to say, our cleanup took a bit longer than usual.

The nighttime meal of homemade sweet potato produced a whole new set of challenges in the form of FLYING FOOD! Who knew that sweet potato was so aerodynamically designed for flight?

When my wife came home this evening, she noticed that my eyebrows and eyelids were caked with a spackling of sweet potato. She must have thought that I was trying to keep up with Maddie. This is because the baby determined that not only can sweet potato fly, but it also works as some type of mudpack to be applied liberally around the mouth and eyes.

As you can see from the picture above, a good time was had by all and Maddie was taking no prisoners.

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Posted in Feeding Issues, Feeding Time, real food, Parenting, Family, Solids and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
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