Okay. We have a problem. And our problem is this. We go through more baby wipes than familes with quadruplets. Why you ask? Cole. Is. Messy. Every time he eats! He even manages to make dry cereal disgustingly gross, all smeared across his face and most likely in his ear and hair. I made the mistake with Rix where I would always feed him, especially if the meal was messy or would stain (like spaghetti, soup, or anything with berries). I was a little less rigid with Bryce. But both of them both ask me to "help them eat" if we are eating something that requires any effort at all on their part, like moving the fork to their own mouth. So I swore that with Cole I would do it differently. I would not shudder in horror if he smeared ketchup on his shirt. I would not hover at his side with a baby wipe as he ate waffles with syrup so that he doesn't get nasty sticky. I would let him feed himself and learn, hoping he would be better at feeding himself at the age of 5 then, let's say, Rix for example. But I think Cole was the child I wasn't meant to let feed himself. He is gross - at every meal. I even have a bottle of baby shampoo by the kitchen sink because I wash out his hair after most meals (he runs his hands through his hair after eating - I will never understand why he does this!). I have a container of baby wipes right by the high chair for quick clean ups. And it doesn't even put a dent in his dirty ways. Enjoy the example pictures below!
He had waffles with syrup. I know you can see the glistening of his lips, but do you see the hair standing up all over? Who knew syrup was such a great stand in for gel?
Okay, all babies are messy with cake, but Cole squishes it in his fingers, and then doesn't want to eat it. So what's a baby to do with squished uneaten cake? Run it through his hair! Of course!
This is my favorite picture. He is way too proud of himself. He had a plate with a hot dog and BBQ sauce (a moment of silence for the wasted Sweet Baby Ray's...............okay). He was apparently done, and since I wasn't hovering (I don't do that anymore!) he decided to take the plate, turn in upside down, and run it down his head. Nice, right? Can you see it in his hair?
6 comments:
Oh Celeste...He looks so proud to have such a messy ( yet kissable) face. The only suggestion that I can offer you is to not use baby wipes but to use the good ol' wash cloth. I buy mine by the bucket load at Costco. They are white, and come in a package of a billion. I use a ton of them every day with all of the daycare kiddos, but they are worth it. They can be bleached and if one gets so bad that you are embarrassed to have it around, then voila, you have a nice cleaning rag for cleaning the car or some other gross thing. I don't like wipes because they are not wet enough to thoroughly do the job. As far as the syrup...I literally only put a few drops on the waffles of the daycare babies so that they can't get so disgusting. They do have to learn to eat all by themselves...but we can help them by not giving them so much sauce, gravy, syrup etc. Anyway....since this unsolicited advice, you can do with it what you want. Enjoy this stage though. It won't last forever.
you ar so patient. I dont know what i would do. I am such a clean freak i would be going nuts. He is so funny. But hopefully, eventually he will outgrow this wonderful trait or else some of his dates to the restaurant may end a little early:-)
Jimmy rubs his hands in his hair too! Peanutbutter and Jelly is the worst!!!!
I am definatly a hovering Mom when Jimmy eats. Sometimes his eating habits make the neat freak inside of me cringe so bad that I have to hide in the back bedroom until he is done.
I'm kinda mean though, I tell him he has to stay in his chair until I clean the floor, the table, his tray ect. Then he gets a scrub down at the sink. He puts up with it though because he knows how clean I like to be. I've been following him around since he was born cleaning up after him, so he's used to it by now. He's even started handing me the food he doesn't want instead of throwing or smearing it. Yeah!!!
I've don't even bother hoping that he'll be a cleanly eater like me someday. If you saw Brice eat you'd understand. :-)
Love the BBQ picture. He really is a messy eater but he's just so cute about it! At least he likes baths, since I'm sure he gets them ALL THE TIME!
Just buzz his hair off :) There, problem solved.
Cute pictures! One day you'll look back and laugh, if you aren'ta already. I don't think any of my kids are messy eaters, although Jeremiah calls Roman "Perma-dirty" because his face is always dirty, although I can't necessarily blame food, it's all still a mystery to us.
Kade was looking over my shoulder when I pulled up your blog. He said, "Mom, it's me!!" I guess he thinks he and Cole look alike too. And, we have a picture of Kade with spaghetti on top of his head. They are such a match made in heaven. I'll think of you as I sweep and mop my kitchen floors every time after Kade eats.
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