Changing my picky eater

In the August Parenting magazine that arrived at my door yesterday, there was an article especially for me.

"Food for thought" by Celia Barbour gave five suggestions for the parent of the picky eater.

1. I am not a short-order cook. We never have been, though we will allow the kids a hot dog if they don't eat anything. I found it interesting that she quoted the Guide to your Children's Nutrition "Children will not become ill or suffer permanently if they refuse a meal or two, but parents sometimes act as though youngsters might shrivel up and die." I guess since Ryan has been considered underweight for awhile, I do wonder about him shriveling up and dying. She basically said what my mom has been telling me all along, "Ryan will eat when he's hungry."

2. I can spice things up. Kids shouldn't be subjected to bland food. I haven't done this and I won't. I like my spices and I want them to like them too.

3. I should give veggies the hard sell. If I mix the veggies with the main course, they will eventually eat them. She suggested if I put it on the table first, when they are the most hungry, they may eat them first too.

4. Eat dinner together. We try to,but often, Ryan and Tim are hungry before Adam gets home. It's just the three of us some nights.

5. My kids have to try one bite. Just one. If it makes them gag, they shouldn't be forced to eat every bite.

6. If all else fails, I should bribe them.... no dessert, no seconds and suggest giving it to the other brother. They hate sharing. This one, might actually work.

7. Make them save room for dessert.

I'll let you know if any of these work my picky eaters.

I have a job!

My interview on Tuesday went incredibly well. Being the good GC grad that I am, I prepped for this interview. I got my resume all pretty and my references all set up. I practiced answering online sample interview questions. I mean, I was ready.

The only question that I had to answer that I practiced for was "so, tell us a little about yourself." The rest of the time we just talked and laughed. I even commented during the interview that this was the first time I recall not being nervous on a job interview.

I left feeling really awesome. This morning I got the call I'd been praying for. I have the job!!!! I actually jumped up and down after I got the call. Ryan was a bit confused, but I had to express my excitement without waking Timothy, who happened to be having a nap.

I can't wait to start. I just have to find a babysitter for two weeks while I get my training. We're hoping family will be able to help.

Picky eaters

My boys have become picky eaters this summer. Ryan's kinda been a picky eater all along, but Tim would normally eat whatever you put in front of him (except eggs and cheese... he spits them out).

I've been reading online about picky eaters. I'm not sure I agree with sneaking healthy foods (like fruits and veggies) into foods for kids. I'm not sure that's teaching them the importance of eating healthy, especially when they get their broccoli or squash from brownies and breakfast cookies.

I'll be the first to admit it took a long time to like all the veggies that I do enjoy eating (I've been known to eat cookies, cake and brownies for breakfast and have had to stop this now that I have an example to set). There are few I refuse to eat, but I wonder if that is because mum always gave us veggies and we were required to eat them. I can recall only eating the tops of the broccoli and not eating asparagus, but these days I love my veggies... more than I love fruit.

Now, little Tim will eat any fruit... many more than Ryan will eat. I've begun to wonder if that's because we mainly fed Ryan bananas and apples when he was a baby. Those are by far his favs, though he loves blueberries, grapes and recently has started eating strawberries. Tim only likes corn and peas for veggies and spits out green beans and the rest, though he'll usually eat one or two and then decide that's not what he wants to eat. I think I can win him over.

But with summer being here, it's so hot to cook and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for healthy summer meals for us and how to work with my picky eaters? HELP!

Job

I'd hoped by now I'd be babysitting for Adam's cousin. However, their loan fell through and they're working on getting another, or possibly renting in another town in the opposite direction from Adam's job.

I talked with her last week and told her that we really need some money, so I'd have to start looking for another job. If their loan comes through before I get hired somewhere else, I'd be happy to start working for them, but we just can sit around hoping that things will work out.

This week, I looked online at many different job postings. I applied for a part-time bank teller job and a job as a before and aftercare person for the YMCA. I also found out my dear old WM is hiring again and will apply there again this weekend.

On Thursday, within hours of post my resume online for the bank job, I got a call back for an interview. I really like this job idea. I love the part-time hours and so does Adam. It'd be Thursday all day and Friday and Saturday half day, which could work out with a schedule for Adam at his job. I asked Adam if he thought I would get the job and he said, "no." He said his feelings are not based on whether I am qualified or not, it's based on the fact that almost four years ago I applied for a bank teller job and was turned down. But, we're both hoping this job works out. We wouldn't need a second car and the kids wouldn't need day care (though we are considering signing Ryan up for a few programs at the Y because he is behind in his social and emotional development...that to come in a different post).

For those of you who pray, we'd really appreciate the prayers for a job. This job interview is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Thanks!

Creativity

I'd love one of these for our kids play room. I think they are awesome, but at $600, the cost is just too much. We're on a tight budget these days.

We thought about what we could do. We could build one ourselves, but that still would cost money. Then I remember the guinea pig cages sitting in the basement. (We made our own guinea pig cage out of those cubes most college kids make bookshelves.)

We went to work.

This is what it looks like and I am happy with our creative results!

Weaning

We are weaning Tim from the bottle. He loves his "baba," so this hasn't been so easy.

This morning I gave him one of these sippy cups and he opened it and spilled the contents on the kitchen floor. Protesting? I think so.

Then I gave him one of these cups and he drank a little and then cried a lot.

I hate the crying part. He asks for his "baba" often. I know it'll be a few days of cranky and then he'll be happy, but I hate this part.

How have you guys made it through this part of toddlerhood?

We're here!

We moved all our furniture on a rather rainy day, but we made it here and just about everything is inside. I can't say the boxes are all unpacked, but that's okay, too. Things will slowly get put into their places.

The first night here, my brother arrived after midnight. His flight had been delayed and then Adam and I realized we needed a shower curtain for the morning showers. We were tired the next day, but the kids were up early and made sure we made it to our 9 a.m. appointment for the rental truck. It was pouring when we were moving things. It'd stop when we'd take a break and then the heavens would open up and more rain would descend upon us!

We made two trips of a full moving truck and called it a day, though I made great attempts to set up the kitchen.

Adam and Gillie came to visit, played with the kids, moved some boxes, washed dishes and then had dinner with us.

Yesterday, the kitchen was finally set up and the house was starting to look more like our home. We're really happy to be back and really thankful for friends and family. We were lucky to have my in-laws take us in for almost two years and are blessed to have Nathan here to help with so much. He's mowed the lawn, scrubbed the stove, fixed the tv and so much more. We're grateful to have wonderful friends, too.

More to come when the house looks better and I have more time to write.