“Last bite, please!”
The boy loves his applesauce (and ice cream and yogurt and…) and does a pretty fantastic job of getting it from bowl to mouth without too much spillage. As much as his spoon-maneuvering has improved, there's still one skill he lacks… scraping the sides of the bowl for the last delicious bites.
He'll get up from his table and bring me his bowl. “Last bite, Mommy? Please?” He watches me eagerly as I scrape all of the bits into his spoon and swoop the spoon towards his open mouth.
Delayed gratification. He thinks it's hilarious that I tap his top lip with the loaded spoon, just a taste… he laughs and licks his lip, and I swoop in again. Three or four times I do this, before scooping the whole bite into his mouth. He swallows and grins and looks in the bowl. “A little more?”
And there always is… a little more. Just enough for one more little spoonful. One more round of utensil airplane.
Max probably thinks I have magical applesauce creating powers, that I can always get that second last bite.
He has no idea.
I leave the last last bite on purpose. It buys me that much more time. Another 15 seconds of him leaning close to watch me, another 30 seconds of giggling. Another mouthful for this boy who no longer needs to be fed by me. So many bottles we had together; hundreds of them. But not anymore.
He eats sandwiches, grapes and hot dogs whole. Popcorn by the handful. He dips everything in ketchup and thinks everything tastes better with cheese. Even peanut butter. As he turns into this self-sufficient little human, he needs me less and less.
It's true, he still needs me pull his pants up (or down, since we're potty training!) and to help him brush his teeth, but every day he's one step closer to total independence.
Part of me looks forward to the day when he can reach stuff I can't… that'll totally come in handy when I want to dust the ceiling fan! But in the meantime, I'm trying to just revel in and enjoy every day just the way he is. One last bite at a time.
This is so sweet. What a special moment found in something as simple as one scoop of applesauce.
This is so sweet. I love those extra little moments.
You know I do the same thing, while I complain "you can eat yourself" I secretly love giving me those last spoonfuls, playing with them as I nurture them. Everytime I read you I feel like "we have so much in common" it makes me feel good/normal.
Loved this!!!!
Oh, such a sweet post. They grow so fast!!
P.S. good luck with the potty training!
So sweet. They do grow up so fast. My 5 year old won't let me help brush her teeth or anything anymore…Sigh…
My youngest is nine. I miss these little bits of joy, although there's a different joy to be found as they get older. But, oh, did this make me miss those days!
What a sweet & special moment! Hold on to those tightly because they become fewer and fewer as time passes.
What a very sweet post. You described the little moments so well!
So sweet! I'm reflecting on those precious moments between dependence and independence with my (not so little anymore) kids. Such wonderful memories.
Enjoying your blog from Bees with Honey. Look forward to reading more.
I love this. Isn't it scary how fast time flies. They become independent so quickly. I'm holding on to my last girl. She's 3 and still needs me for things. Loving every last minute of it.
I am very much here, too. Savoring what feels like the last bit. The last bit of what we've known before shifting into new territory. Very very bittersweet. Love it.
ahhhhhh…..
That is so sweet!!
My daughter also dips everything in ketchup!!
Great post, Lizz. Hopping here from Let's Bee Friends. I enjoy your writing style! I get what you're experiencing too. My little guy is just about six months older than yours and becoming more independent all the time. They still need us as time marches on, just in different ways.
Oh, this is just so adorable and sweet. And it makes my heart ache a little as I think of my two year old nephew getting closer and closer to independence himself. Makes me want to really treasure those "last bite" moments.
Great post! Stopping by from TRDC.
That's such a great reminder. It hurts my heart to watch my girls grow up.