Spoons anyone?

Once you try to teach a young child something new, that's the only way of doing things. Gwen has never been a good off-the-spoon eater. The only thing I could get her to eat was yogurt. Baby food was a no-no. Finger foods are still the best choice.

Breakfasts have been quite boring, usually mini pancakes. So a few days ago I decided to do a bowl of milk and cheerios. She has always liked dry cheerios- again as a finger food - but this time wasn't sure what to think about having them on a spoon. Once she had a bite or two she was convinced.

I have learned at this age that if you want your kid to keep eating, you have to let them have their own spoon. It isn't enough to simply hold a different one, you need to let them feed themselves. So a large mess has ensued almost at every mealtime since. Yogurt goes flying into the walls, floor, hair, and face. Milk gets splashed as far as it can. But such is life with a toddler.

I have heard that boys are much more active and interested in running around, climbing and getting into things. Girls can generally focus more on their small motor skills. Gwen fits this bill. She can already feed herself with the spoon although she would much rather use her hands to shove more than a spoon can handle into her mouth.

We now have changed ECFE classes to an older child class. She now has the option to use markers and crayons. And she really wants to use them. That might be due to the fact that Trevor really likes to make little projects as well. Only problem is that she still and will for a while try to eat crayons. Markers, not so much but they are a lot more messy. But I do have washable ones so they do come off and out of anything.

I think I might have damaged Gwen when I had her in class on Wednesday. Not only was it a new class with new people in a new place, but I didn't know that we were going to separate from the kids. And since this was the second class in a series of three a year, half of the class had already been separating for a few weeks. So it wasn't going to be a gradual process. Thankfully we have been putting Gwen in the nursery at church so she knew about me leaving and coming back. Add to it that I had to leave early because it always ends at the same time as Trevor's preschool so it was really disorienting to her to then be pulled out and put into the car before we could sing our good-byes. The next time we go back to class is two weeks so hopefully it will be a bit easier next time.

On the Trevor front, we've been counting down the days. Yesterday, he came down with what I had on Monday I think which was simply a fever and feeling not-so-good. He seems better today already and when I gave him some tylenol during the day he was almost back to his usual self.

Next up, is to make it through this weekend and next week of no school. We have a few things planned to make the week go by, and then Thanksgiving will be here!