The Barrett Bunch: Mealtime

Wow. It has been a whole month since I've posted. Sorry. We've had some technical difficulties, and ear infections, and well, life. ;-)

I've often reflected that my two years spent waiting tables were instrumental in preparing me for parenthood. Between meals, snacks, and drinks, my kids eat all day. Mealtime is usually chaotic, and can be quite amusing.

While we don't allow it for dinner, our kids have picked up our habit of reading at the table.

Liliana loves to look through catalogs and pick out things she wants to order.

"Mommy! It's only 3 dollars"

"Are you sure Sweetie?"

"It says 3, zero, zero."

"Um, that's 300 dollars. I don't think we need that."

As often as possible the kids eat what we do. However, in an effort to get them to eat (instead of throw) we have the standard favorites. Annie's Mac & Cheese, toast, french toast, chicken fingers, cheese sticks, fresh and canned fruit, and of course, crackers.

We never used to have a lot of crackers in the house. Then it was recommended that we serve Faith a variety of crackers to help her learn to chew. Desperate to get our peanut to gain weight and begin eating regular food, we bought every cracker on the market. It wasn't long before jealous siblings demanded crackers too! Faith will chew and swallow graham sticks and graham crackers (which we buy by the case), but there are many other crackers she loves to mouth the salt off, then discard. She would lick through an entire box of Cheez-Its if I let her.

On her plate I always place a tiny bit of what everyone else is having so she feels included. Lately she has taken an interest in toast and will chew and swallow several pieces. She won't touch anything wet or squishy, but loves to chew chicken nuggets!

Eve is what people call a "Good Eater". I've always been a bit uncomfortable with this phrase, perhaps because at an early age I became aware that I was NOT a good eater. Whether it was because of my allergies, or the fact that I was just too busy to stop and eat I'll never know. I do know that I finally understand why my mother, to this day, tells me it makes her feel good to see me eat. I love to watch Eve eat, because she eats things like broccoli and fruit. (Lili won't eat fruit, and Joe won't eat vegetables.)

Eve loves fruit. When Daddy first shared his melon with her, she was a little unsure about it.

Then she decided it was pretty good!

Good enough to put your face in it.

So good, maybe the rind will be good too!?!

Then she decided to try doing it like Daddy.

Yummy!

Now if I could just understand why she puts peas in her ears...

or paints herself with yogurt.