Wednesday, February 06, 2008

"Mmmmm...."

"Mmmmm..." Fifi's third word ever, surfaced over dinner yesterday.

"You like dinner, sweet baby girl?" I asked her from across the dinning room table, several feet away from her.

I am spoon feeding the 5 and 3 year old and the baby eats with her own hands. She eats all by herself. Glory, Hallelujah. She eats.

"Mmmmmm...." Fifi sighs again and lifts her green bean in the air admiring it. Happy.

"Mmmmmm..." And again. This must be an innate word since no one is directly infront of her saying "Yummy, yummy.... open your mouth... Mmmmmmm. Here comes the airplane!" Nope. No one is feeding the baby.

"Mmmmmm..." Fifi shoves another handful of pork roast in her mouth.

Three kids are fed. I dance a little as I clean up, knowing that my Fifi really enjoyed her dinner. I smile feeling more confident in my cooking skills. I place her on the floor next to the kiddos. She watches them play. I continue cleaning up the kitchen while dancing the happy confident dance.

"Mmmmmm...." I hear from a distance.

"Mmmmmm..." Fifi, again. I feverishly scrub the table knowing that chaos is brewing.

"Mmmmmm...." Fifi is sitting in the middle of our family room with a H&M receipt hanging from her mouth.

"Mmmmmm...." I open her mouth and sweep the paper out. Obviously her palate isn't refined yet. Pork roast or paper? "Mmmmmm..."

Uggg!!! Just when I was beginning to feel confident about my cooking. Shot down. Yet again.

52classy comments:

MommyTime said...

Hilarious! I don't know why they love to eat paper so much...but they just do, don't they? Daughter's all about the receipts too. As for the spoon feeding, I don't do that, but I sure won't judge, since I pretty much still dress the 4 year old, while the not-yet-two-year-old is completely capable of putting on her own socks and fastening her shoes on the right feet. She's good at pull-on pants and some shirts too.

lattemommy said...

Oh, boy. No criticism here. I'd spoon feed, too, if it would get the Princess (who's 3) to eat *anything* other than bread and cheese. Anything. Even paper. *sigh*

Anonymous said...

Paper is good fiber. Good for poops.

Anonymous said...

You know that I prefer to spoon feed T3 myself and he's 2 and a half... but he's being too damn stubborn about wanting to do it himself lately. I have to break him of it, so that I can keep spoon feeding and prevent the mess that happens afterward! I never got the memo either, and will continue to pretend I never heard of such a thing as self-feeding.

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

very cute! my 9 mo old also loves to "mmmm" and now she's trying to add "yummy" to her list of words. :-)

come on by to my blog and sign up for my personzalized novel giveaway! don't miss out!

*elizabeth

Zoeyjane said...

No judgement here - I'm your antithesis...as soon as mine could put her hand to her mouth on purpose, I let her feed herself. Eating is VERY messy in our (thank god for) hardwood-floored apartment. Also, if she likes receipts, she'll probably LOVE kleenex!

Unknown said...

Don't worry, girl. THe twins still love to be spoon fed sometimes.

Don't tell, but my girls won't eat veggies unless it is the jarred puree.

I still buy stage 1 veggies for my kids! And they 29 months old!

carrie said...

Given the dinner issues with my 4-year-old as of late, I am in no position to judge how food gets into the bellies of anyone's children! :) At least they are eating their dinner!

Beth from the Funny Farm said...

I spoon fed our oldest F-O-R-E-V-E-R... lol He seemed to eat better back in the day if I fed him. My hubby and I still will probably kid him about this all of his life too. lol

And.. there is worse things a child could eat than paper.

:-) Beth

Kat said...

I wouldn't butcher you! To each her own. But HOW do you ever get a warm meal for yourself?
I often resort to spoon feeding my older two when they are just not eating enough or fast enough. I have no patience for fooling around at the dinner table.

Paper is good. Don't knock it 'til you try it! ;)

Anonymous said...

I'd say that if spoon feeding is your biggest parenting mistake, then you're in darn good shape. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

I shudder to think of all the ways I am probably screwing up my kids!

Irene said...

Yeah, Supernanny would have a few comments, but most of us moms have at least a few of those no-nos.

I am sure, at some point in their lives, they will learn to feed themselves.

We still occasionally spoon feed our 2 yo, but that is because she is the pickiest eater ever. If there is any somewhat healthy food that she will eat, we make sure she eats as much as she can during that sitting. We never know when the next healthy bite will come...it may be days....

Amy said...

When do you eat? Or is that why you're such a skinny minnie? Hmm, maybe you're on to something here...

Stephanie said...

I spoon fed Punky until she was about 15 months and after that I just let her eat with her hands (anything that couldn't be eaten with hands was still spoon fed until maybe 3 months ago). I hated to clean up the mess, so it was easier. Chicken is better about not gagging, so I can trust him a LITTLE more. I usually just give them a spoon to hold while I'm feeding them so they feel extra important. Just look on the bright side...at least they'll be clean eaters! ;o)

And another plus is its bonding time for you and the older ones since I know how much time the younger ones can take up during the day. Enjoy it until they go to school at least!

Unknown said...

There are days that I still spoon feed the 3 year old. He won't eat anything but bread, cheese, nuggets, or ketchup. Occasionally we can get some pasta in his mouth but we have to 'fly' it in there like a rocket!
No criticisms here. You do what you have to do to be the best mom you can be- that's all. Unless you're spoon feeding your kids crack, it shouldn't matter to anyone else.
I'm sure there are other substances besides crack that would be equally upsetting but crack seemed like a good choice!
:)
I think you're a great mom...your daughter eats green beans...God Bless you!

Anonymous said...

You are SO funny!! Seriously, I'm cracking up here!

krissy said...

I think if we are all honest to ourselves we would all have the moments of shame as a parent! Personally, I don't think it's that big of a deal! I spoon fed Diva until she was about 3yrs old and gave her a bottle until she was two! She turned out just fine!

Well sweetheart, my cooking has prompted my daughter to gag! But I laughed when your baby was eating paper and saying "mmmmmm". Too cute!

Personally, I think you sound like a sweet mom! You are just so darn cute too! Keep up the good work of being such a darling momma! :-)

GoMommy said...

Yep, they set you up and then knock you down!
If spoon feeding gets yours kids to eat, more power to you!

AutoSysGene said...

Sounds like Fifi knows what is good!! Let's hope she enjoyed the pork roast more than the paper. ;)

girlymom said...

Have you grown extra arms and failed to reveal that? I don't know how you do it. I am not an expert cook by any means and if I make the effort to try something new, I need those wonderful Mmmm's or I am crushed and toss the recipe out, I get grumpy.

Amber said...

I used to eat napkins, dish soap bubbles, and gum I pulled from trash cans...I was old enough to know better...yet here I am, loving nice things like lobster and...well..other fancy stuff I can't think of right now. The point is she will out grow paper products and your food really will be Mmmmmmmmm to her.

Don't sweat the spoon feeding, I try to floss my dog's teeth...I'm the one with issues.

Thanks for stopping by and saying "hello". I love your site and I will be back!

LunaNik said...

No judgement here. I still spoonfeed both my girls. I probably won't stop anytime soon.

Amy said...

hey you have to do what's good for you. if someone doesn't like it tell them to try swallowing a spoon or something!

did i just say that? oh i just went grocery shopping in the pooring, cold rain. that always gets me fired up!

have a great day!

Maria said...

Mmmm. Pork roast! I bet it really was Mmmmm. I think I spoon fed my first, but just gave up on the rest.
Maria

ConverseMomma said...

My kids are paper eaters too. I swear Jack would rather eat the entire sports section of the Times than he would a delicious bowl of mom's cooking. Although with my culinary skills, I don't really blame him.

Janice {Run Far} said...

TO funny, every baby loves paper. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Wendi said...

Pork Roast...Paper... I have read they all taste the same until about the age of 4!(ha!)
Thanks for giving me a great laugh today!

Flea said...

It's so neat to see how much you thoroughly enjoy your kids. :)

Cecily R said...

Evie eats paper and anything else she can get her hands on. She's a human mini vac. At this very moment she is devouring a cookie and squealing.

Have I ever told you that one of the reasons I LOVE the way you write is that I can clearly picture how much you completely thrill in your children. It's delightful.

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! OhMommy, you kill me, you do!!

Kristen said...

That is too cute! I'm totally impressed you made pork roast!

Kudos to you for cooking, and your kiddos for eating, even if she just tried paper later!

Cute! :-)

Anonymous said...

HOLD THE PHONE! You live nearby a H&M?!?!

Your baby feeds herself, and, *AND* you live near an H&M?!

You sooo have it made!

♥♥♥ A- Licious ♥♥♥ said...

funny....yet oh so familiar.

they are like goats - they love paper!

lol

~love this age~

Amy said...

Mmmmmm Fifi is hungry!

I still spoon feed my kids. Kids that were perfectly capable of feeding themselves at one year! Why oh why do they revert to needing me to feed them? And why do I give into their request?

ALF said...

ha ha ha! So cute - thanks for sharing!

Amy said...

Hi, I just came over from Amy's but I see you at Maria's too. Just wanted to stop by and say helloooo! I really like your blog!

Rachel said...

That's adorable!! :-)
Oh well... paper or yummy roast. MMMMMMMMMMMMMM to either one.

Jenni said...

I love it! I've had a few misses over the years. I'm sure my husband would have preferred the paper.

My first three are each 19 months apart, so no explanations necessary. You do what you gotta' do!

Anonymous said...

Your little one kills me... I agree with a whole lot of nothing..full of fiber..LOL

Monica said...

Yep. The Prince was dipping shredded blue paper into his applesauce today. No idea how that got there. None whatsoever.

Ritch in Love said...

Found your blog, love it! read about changing your daughter's name. Totally something I would do. I have two stepkids. One day, one of my own. Anyway, your post gave me a giggle! Thanks!

Karen MEG said...

She just needed dessert is all LOL! That's great that your kids are eating so well!
My 3 yo is the pickiest eater on earth. And she'll admit it.

Tootsie Farklepants said...

But to her credit, it was an H&M receipt. She has good taste.

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

i appreciate your comment on my blog...thanks for stopping by! *elizabeth

Lisa said...

Way to go on Fifi feeding herself! Lu started feeding herself early too - one time she even ingested a whole paint sample at Lowes and I could read the name of the paint color when it came out the other end...if you catch my drift.

I'll have to let you know that you're screwing up my morning a little. I wake up, hop on the computer & check my favs. You're one of my favs & you have yet to post today. You're a morning poster - come on OHmommy!!! Do you think you have three kids you're raising or something?!?!?

suchsimplepleasures said...

so funny!! oh those kids...paper or pork roast...i think they both taste the same...but, that's me!! i'm sure i'd change my mind if i had dinner at your house...but my pork roast...paper/cardboard probably tastes better!
xoxo

Karen said...

Ours preferred dog food to my cooking too many times. Seriously. And now they have the gall to wonder why on earth I don't like to cook.

Laski said...

At least you cook! J actually likes the spoon better than my gourmet, expertly prepared rice cereal (Gerber --add water or magic mommy milk and stir).

♥♥♥ A- Licious ♥♥♥ said...

yep mine is def a goat - he was eating a valentine paper heart when i picked him up yesterday...lol...go figure!

david mcmahon said...

Lots of people find it hard to digest what's in the (news)papers!!

Anonymous said...

I can still remember an entire season in which all my daughter would eat was hot dogs and macaroni and cheese... I'm not much of a cook either... Funny stuff there! Just for the record.. Paper does not taste like chicken either!

Rhea said...

Oh, Fifi, paper and dog poop. That little girl needs some new taste buds!!

 

Blog Designed by: NW Designs

Original Header and Concept by: Judith Shakes