Becoming a Man

Simon has recently mastered the skill of picking up small objects and putting them into his mouth.  This means that he has suddenly transitioned from mostly being fed by me to mostly being fed by himself.  Asher didn't make that transition until much older because during his first year of life his main source of sustenance (besides nursing) was baby food.  In fact, Asher kept eating baby food vegetables until he was almost 18 months old.  I am at a loss to explain why I sat there meal after meal, spooning Asher's veggies into his mouth.  Seriously, what was I thinking?!?

Simon doesn't eat baby food.  This is partly because I am too lazy to feed it to him, partly because baby food is expensive (and I'm too lazy to make it myself), and partly because Simon takes offense at any offering of food that does not require chewing.  For the first couple of weeks after Simon started on solid foods, he obediently ate blended up mush.  Then, one morning, I gave him some cut-up banana and didn't bother smashing it up.  Not only did Simon have no trouble downing the banana, he loved it.  He had experienced real food and there was no going back.  

That banana was a springboard to all kids of things--zucchini, spinach, artichoke hearts, pizza, peanut butter sandwiches--that I never offered to Asher until later because I was afraid he would choke (he doesn't have any teeth!!!).  And now Simon can stuff it all into his own mouth.  He's finally become a man.


And here, for your listening pleasure, is some manly communication: