10 things

Does anyone else out there have (or have had) a picky eater on their hands? I guess it's carma, 'cause I used to be a picky eater until I was about 5, then one day something must've flipped in my brain and I just decided to start trying things and not be afraid of new tastes and textures. Now I'll try anything!

I thought I got lucky, because Mikayla ate anything and everything we gave her as a baby. She took breast milk, formula, any kind of baby food (even the disgusting smelling brocolli - uck!) It didn't matter to her. Then she hit about 8 months and we started introducing thicker, lumpier foods and her gag reflex kicked in - she couldn't swallow anything that wasn't smooth and she'd throw up and get pretty uptight. So....when she should've been able to eat little pieces of meat or peas or things like that, she was still eating baby food.

Now she is 18 months and still is very wary of anything new, especially if it has texture or a strong taste. She won't even eat cake or brownies! She will eat a total of 10 things! TEN!
1. Toast
2. Bananas
3. Apples
4. Cheese
5. Crackers
6. Yogurt
7. Milk
8. Applesauce
9. Chips (and occasionally refried beans)
10.Guacamole

She will still eat some baby food, and we can get her to eat casseroles or soups or other dinner foods, as long as we grind them up.

Our challenge is getting protein and vegetables into her. We play games, and we make a huge deal if she tries new things, like doing over-the-top cheering and clapping, which seems to be a huge motivator for her. But sometimes it just ain't enough and as I encourage her and hold the food out to her she looks at me like, "Yeah right, mom!"

I just don't know what to do to expand her diet. Does anyone have any tricks or suggestions????? Also, I don't want to encourage her pickiness by feeding her baby food veggies, but what's worse - eating baby food veggies or not eating veggies at all?

Loooove songs

Today being a lovey-type day, I thought it would be fun to put a few of my favorite mushy songs about love on here.

-Just a little blurb about each one:

1. Je t'aime
This is our special song. One night Kraig drove me to this pretty overlook, and he played this song for me. I spoke enough French to understand the words without it losing any beauty in translation, and it pretty much melted me. We also did a walz in front of everyone to this at our reception. Aaaahhh....I love it.

2. The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson)
Just a fun, catchy, laid-back song. It reminds me of how I feel about my sweetie.

3. Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Again, catchy and laid-back. I love the live version but couldn't find the one that sounds the best.

4.You Were Meant for Me (Jewel)
This song was 'meant' for me and Kraig. Our paths were absolutely meant to cross at the perfect time, and we were prepared along the way to meet each other through specific experiences. When we met things just clicked a little too easily and naturally, and we were amazed at the common backgrounds we had, even though we grew up thousands of miles apart. I feel very lucky to have this guy who treats me so sweetly (though he's a cheeky bandit lots of the time, it makes things pretty fun.)

5.Eternal Flame (Bangles)
Okay, I know, pretty cheesey, but a classic oldie. It brings back memories for me cuz it was one of those well known songs among me and my friends when I was a teenager and a fave karaoke song.

Mikayla's Favorite Pastimes

These days we think of our girl as 'Sweet and Sassy' (or 'Sweet'n' Sour') because she is usually so happy and loving, but if she doesn't feel good or doesn't get her way.....watch out. That's normal, right? A healthy part of becoming more independent. She has a pretty strong will, and I spend a lot of the day playing games to 'trick' or distract her into doing things she doesn't want to, like eating good food or getting in her car seat or come inside to warm up. But then there's those times when she just has to deal with life being not fair and handles that with screaming and big, sad tears. But she gets over it. It must be so frustrating to be a toddler..... It sure has its perks too, though! Sometimes I'm envious of a toddler's life - at night I wish someone would put me in my PJ's, give me a snack, cuddle me, read me stories and put me to bed!

The other day my friend mentioned to me that I haven't blogged about Mikayla in a while - here's a list of her fave things to do:

1. Wrestling with us on our bed - SO MUCH FUN! She goes crazy!!!

2. Painting with Food instead of EATING it

3."Helping" us with ANYTHING (Even loves to pick up things and put them away)


4. Exploring Outside

5.Petting her dogs




6.Playing the Piano

7. Pouting

Heh heh, I think this pic is so funny with her one sad blue eye peeking out. My favorite is when she is upset and will run and put her hands over her eyes and bury her head into the couch or the wall. WHERE do they learn these things?!?


8. Reading Stories


9. dancing (this was back at Christmas time)

10. Fooling w/ our electronics (She has somehow reset our Stereo so that we can't adjust the volume with the remote anymore, and changed our DVD player's default setting to Spanish.......!?!?!?!!!)

11. Taking her baby for a walk. She likes to make us kiss her baby.

12.Singing (anytime she hears us sing along to a song, or when she finds Kraig's french little hymn book)


13. tantrums (always accompanied by finding something to bite down on..in this case a dinosaur tail did nicely)

14. Pushing stuff around. Anything that will roll, anything that won't but she'll give it a try (like our coffee table)

15. dress up. The shoes are a normal occurance, but today she had my pajama bottoms on her head like a hood.




16.Playing hide and seek (more like 'find daddy')Kraig started this a few months ago, and it's really fun to run from room to room hiding and have her come in and check the 'usual' spots - and then jump out from somewhere new and scare her, sending her into a fit of giggles. I love the simple games of childhood!