eating
Peek-a-Boo Mealtime Taxing Baby’s Hair Style
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.
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.
Is Maddie Really a Paper Chaser?
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.
Baby Captures Her First Pigeon
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.
Maddie Shines at Impromptu Dinner
time.
The Many Faces of Mashed Potatoes
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.
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!
Baby Blurs the Line Between Oatmeal and Hair Gel
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.
Stay Home PaPa 