Knocked Up - All Comments

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Kayt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:40:16 GMT

At almost eleven months, my guy isn't too picky. He definitely hates avocados, which makes me want to cry. He loves spicy food, though. We had a party a couple of weeks back, and when my back was turned, he grabbed a bowl of decently hot peach and mango salsa, snuck around the corner, and stuck his whole face in it. He ate about half a jar before I found him sitting there, licking salsa off his fingers and grinning. He also likes to eat hot wings when my husband eats them.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Melissa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:57:29 GMT

Michael has always been a good eater. He loves peas and string beans. He's even eaten sardines with his father. He will finish off my Chipotle burrito bol, and even if he gets a spicy bit, he'll soldier on. He sure didn't get it from me, I was pretty picky. I hope he stays this way forever.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Michelle S — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:33:46 GMT

As I'm Iranian/American and my husband is Thai/Chinese, our son has pretty much been eating "ethnic" all his life. He's not too great with super spicy yet (but hey, neither am I) and he's weird about vegetables (loves them in soup, and loves salad, but not wild about just regular steamed veggies) but we are firm believers in not making a separate dinner just for the kids. I mean, I hardly have time to cook one meal when I get home from work, let alone 2! It doesn't always work and there are some nights when we all end up eating Mac & Cheese or pizza, but then again, there were nights we did that before he was born. Good luck - I hope Axel and Jonas both keep trying new foods!

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Judy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:34:46 GMT

I WISH!!!! The other day my daughter ate three spoon fulls of peas and I almost bought her a new car. ENJOY!!!

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Katherine — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:47:01 GMT

I rarely comment on your blog, but I must say, Axel is an angel. Thanks for sharing this. My own child is a puzzle...often willing to try anything, sometimes won't eat nothin' but bananas. Fun.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

erin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:40:07 GMT

you are one lucky mama! eating is usually a battle at my house. enjoy it!

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

erin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:36:55 GMT

happy 2nd birthday to Axel! I'm the same way when it comes to bday parties. I think we just want the best for our kids but really they don't know any different. We will see how bday planning goes when there are two children to care for.:)

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

EG — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:50:10 GMT

Interesting theory, Korinthia! I guess we'll see.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Marie Eve — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:55:32 GMT

I could have written this post myself! LP is exactly the same. In the past year or so (he'll turn 3 in a couple of months) he has become just a little bit more fickle, but I mean it's more like he's suddenly decided he doesn't like shrimp and fresh herbs. He's still a very, very good eater (fingers crossed hard too). Broccoli is also, by far, is favorite food. He'll have sushi, tofu, spicy Asian stir-fries, legume salad, etc. He also loves chips and candy and whines for MacDonald's.

It was very important for us to teach him by example and to introduce him to as many foods as possible from the start. In restaurants, we've very rarely ordered the kids' meal, but we rather share what we order with him, since he was maybe 13-14 months... I just figured that in countries like say India, where food is spicy and flavorful, people probably don't think about giving their kids something different to eat than what they have?! So once in a while, sure he can have the chicken nuggets while we have steamed mussels or cheese fondue, but as a general rule we don't make a different meal.

But as much as I'd like to think our attitude helped (and I know it kind of does, because people who only eat a range of 15 foods and loathe a bunch of others rarely raise worldly foodies), I also know that there's a part of pure *lucking out*, and that your luck can turn.

Some kids are difficult from the start, despite their parents' tremendous efforts. Some are pretty OK and then refuse all foods but a few. Some have different phases... But my mom could testify that as a child I've never had a difficult phase, I've just always LOVED food. I'd like to hope that our sons are simply like that too...

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

Korinthia Klein — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:38:37 GMT

I read an interesting theory about a year ago suggesting that children start to get less adventurous about eating about the same age they are able to wander off on their own more. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that unsupervised kids who didn't eat unfamiliar things (that turned out to be poisonous) were the one ones to survive to adulthood.

All my kids were happy to try everything through age two, and then around four they got picky, and now around age seven my oldest is willing to try things again. I like having an evolutionary theory that seems to explain it so I don't have to worry I did something.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

EG — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:35:24 GMT

I lucked out in the same way! In fact the other night we were eating soup (spicy soup, at that!), and he said, "Where are the beans?" This soup doesn't have beans, I answered. "Why?"

The kid loves beans. And broccoli (which I don't usually have on-hand because it's not my favorite).

I never have to make 2 dinners. It's lovely.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

knockedup — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:26:23 GMT

Oh, I know how lucky I am. And I, too, hope that this won't lead to a world of nothing but plain pasta and Cheerios.

re: The Discerning Toddler Palate

beyond — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:17:12 GMT

i have no kids but i know many parents who would tear up at this post. you are very lucky. (and i really hope that you didn't jinx yourself by posting this...)

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

mamatulip — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:07:38 GMT

I have similar thoughts every time I have a birthday party for my kids.

Happy Birthday to your BIG boy!

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

theGrumbles — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:57:55 GMT

Happy (late) Birthday to Axel and more power to you! All kids want to do on their birthday is have fun and I think they can tell when parents get all stressed out about it.

re: Who Needs Parents?

Kim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:38:03 GMT

Very cute. The hard part -- keeping a serious face! Love your blog, stopped by from Mile High Mamas. I'm right there with you, I have a 24 month old. Life is good . . . most of the time!

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

Kayt — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:14:40 GMT

Happy bday Axel!

James is going to turn one on 19 December *hyperventilate* Since it's so close to Christmas, we're just planning a small family get together. If the weather's looking good, we might take him to the zoo, but probably not. We're not planning on throwing a party or inviting other, non-cousin children until he's at least three.

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

Cara — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:07:44 GMT

We went WAY overboard for our daughter's second birthday party a couple of weeks ago. We had a small family party for her first, so I wanted to do something more for 2. So a party with a couple of friends turned into 40 people including 20 kids, almost all under three. It was absolutely insane. That is the last time we go that far for a LONG time. She won't remember it and I didn't even really enjoy the party because I spent the whole time being the insane hostess.

Happy birthday Axel!!

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

PlumbLucky — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:59:18 GMT

I put the proverbial foot down on the absolute asininity (is that a real word? If not, I'm making it one) of my MIL requesting enough invitations to invite 60 people (that was above and beyond the family I had already invited) and of renting a hall. But even at "family only" (which next year is being further trimmed to mean "Grandparents and Aunts/Uncles/Cousins only") STILL means I had close to 40 people in my house. In Michigan. In September (that's an iffy proposition at best, we were lucky to have day when everyone could be outside!).

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

Mary Ann — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:52:35 GMT

We had my daughter's 2nd birthday yesterday too (her actual birthday is today) and we decided it was just going to be us, plus one set of grandparents, plus one set of retired friends who are kind of like grandparents.

I made a pot of soup and a big salad, with some artisan bread from the grocery store. And I made a batch dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free cupcakes so my allergic kid could enjoy one. (Cherrybrook Kitchen mixes ... not bad!)

It was small, but it was really nice and actually kind of enjoyable (other than the old people fighting over the attentions of the birthday girl). So why was I still so pooped last night??

Because even though it wasn't a big deal, the planning, shopping and executing still takes time and energy. And even though my husband helped by cleaning and wrapping presents, most of the work still fell on me. And I wouldn't have it any other way, because she had the time of her life. :)

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

Marie Eve — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:12:44 GMT

Happy birthday Axel! And yeah, I think you got it right...

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

jenn/hippygoth — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:54:54 GMT

I really, really relate. A lot.

But it looks like Axel had a good time, and it seems like you've got a handle on it, so it was learning experience that still made the birthday boy happy. Nothing to sneeze at. :) He is just too cute!

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

amanda — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:54:06 GMT

Totally understand you on this. I had huge parties for Jane's first two birthdays - and they weren't even really fancy or anything, just snacks and pizza and cake - but the sheer number of people and kids was a recipe for total house disaster! However I know I will just keep doing it...trying as hard as I can to keep it simple and kind of, sort of, fun.

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

Hillary — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:39:02 GMT

Yeah, The Boy is not getting a big 2nd birthday party come January. His little brother is expected to arrive about two weeks before The Boy's birthday, so I don't think any of us will be up for a party. We'll have cake and the birthday song and probably some grandparents, but that's about it.

re: Birthday Parties - Who Needs Them

EG — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:45:51 GMT

Happy Birthday, Kiddo!