A note from mom...

You probably won't read many mommy postings on this blog, but I have, for as long as I can remember, used writing as an emotional outlet...a way of rationalizing my thoughts. And today is one of those days.

Every once in awhile the stars align and I am actually home late enough in the morning to wake Ryan and get him ready for the day. This "responsibility" (otherwise known as the absolute best job in the world) typically falls to Craig since I leave for work so early. This makes me wonder if Ryan thinks I only exist during the evening hours, but such is the plight of the working mom.

I have, however, noticed that there's one downside to being the last one out the door in the morning. It means that you actually have to go through the heartache of saying goodbye to the little man. Definitely not fun. I am comforted knowing that he's in good hands during the day, but that doesn't make leaving any easier...especially now that he's more aware of his surroundings.

We're lucky that he's a pretty easy going guy. Other than looking a little forelorn he really takes our leaving in stride. We've never experienced a tantrum or even a tear, a bittersweet actualization in itself.

There is, of course, a silver lining to this story. Each night, when I return home, I'm greeted with a smile that immediately melts away the tensions of the day reminds me that I am loved in a way that only a mommy can be.

Picky Eater

When I first started eating solids I was so excited. Of course mom waited the obligatory six months before introducing me to anything that didn't come from a bottle. Needless to say, I was more than ready to dive into that bowl of oatmeal when it finally came my way. Sure, I made a couple of choice faces...especially when mom would sneak in a new food, but eventually I came to like just about anything. Well, except the pasta dinner from Earth's Best, but can you blame me? Who eats purred pasta from jar?!

Over the past few months I've continued to expand my palate to the point of almost being done with baby food. Most evenings I get to eat the same things as mom and dad, which is pretty cool. There's only one problem...somewhere along the way old standards, like sweet potatoes and carrots, have been replaced by foods that are downright offensive (think broccoli and mushrooms). I went from eating veggies that tasted like dessert to ones that taste as bad as they smell...and don't get me started on the texture!

Since I can't talk yet, I've devised a way to express my disapproval for these new foods that's hard to ignore. First, I manage to stomach a few bites to show that I'm really trying. Then, with a quick flick of the wrist, I send everything to the floor. That usually signals the end of the meal, but that's okay because another one is almost always right around the corner.