Pizza Crust Obsession

Holt used to nap through dinner time.  It was actually quite pleasant.  However, lately he's been getting up right before dinner as if on purpose, as not to miss out.  For a couple nights, we tried to set him in the living room, surrounded by all his toys, right by the dinner table.  Nuh uh.  Not okay.  He knew he wanted to be a part of whatever action was going on just above him and he made his request well known.

So, for the last couple nights, it has turned into Adam or myself holding him at the table, while the other parent eats and then we switch.  We don't have the high chair down from the attic yet.  As I previously posted here, the attic is where everything goes to die.  And honestly, after the saucer, I'm a bit afraid of what the high chair looks like.  Therefore, I've been postponing 'The Great Treasure Hunt of Summer 2011' for another day.

"He's nearly 8 months old, how have you been feeding him to date without a child retention device?" you might ask.  Well, sometimes I use the Bumbo and sometimes I just sit on the floor with him and wrangle him back after every bite, swatting his hands away from his mouth, while holding a spoon and an open container of baby food.  Every now and then I do have to use my head as a third arm.  Yeah, I should probably dig out the high chair...

As you can imagine, Holt at the table reaches for everything in front of him.  You must create a semicircular baby safe zone so he doesn't splat his hand in the mashed potatoes, grab hold of a steak knife, or tip over a drink.  This is actually more difficult than it sounds.  You see, we have three other children at the dinner table that are not of the age to serve and pass food on their own.  This means that EVERYTHING is crammed and cluttered around Adam and me, since we sit side by side, so that we can dish out portions and cut up bites, etc.  Sometimes I literally feel claustrophobic -- seriously.  Add a grabby baby and a safe zone, it's just a mess!

Tonight we had pizza.  It didn't take us long to remember that all our other boys loved to gnaw on a pizza crust when they were babies.  Insert crust to fist and voila!  Grabby baby and safe zone problem solved--just don't tell the pediatrician.  It's not peanut butter or eggs so we should be safe, right?!  Everyone can serve himself a slice of pizza and Mom and Dad are feeling a little freedom over supper.

We could never have anticipated Crack Baby.

"Oooh, Mommy, I think I like pizza crust!"

"Scratch that.  Mommy, I LOVE pizza crust!"

(Crust becoming a gooey choking hazard mess...time for a new one.)
"Hey!  Nobody lays a finger on my pizza crust!  Give it back NOW!"

(Incoming new pizza crust)
"Okay, so maybe I overreacted slightly.  Just please hurry up."

"Oh, pizza crust, I thought I'd never see you again."

"Ah, pizza crust, where have you been all my life?!"

You know the little head shake that newborns do while rooting excitedly for a bottle?  He totally did that every time we gave him a new pizza crust.  And he busted into a full fit every time we peeled one out of his tightly clasped fist.  He must have gummed on about five crusts tonight.  Until now, no one else eats the crust besides me.  Guess now I have some competition.