All by Herself

This day should go down in history as the day my little girl actually had (and finished) her dinner (which mostly ended up in her tummy and not the floor) ALL BY HERSELF!

Yes. Just today over lunch I was lamenting to my friend what has come over my little baby- lately she's gotten whiff of this terrible thing called independence. All parents would agree. I would want to give a good 'talking-to' to the person who first introduced the concept (sorry Ayn Rand - I've loved you all my pre-Suhaana years, but looks like we might need to take a break!) - especially to my little baby. But it's possible she just stumbled upon it all by herself ( I looked for a scapegoat and didn't find one).

So in this new spirit of independence, she was intent upon feeding herself last couple weeks. Which translated itself into- we place the girl on high chair, put food on her plate. She proceeds to prod it with her fingers, smash it between her palms, rotate it all over the plate, smoother it out on the food tray, take it to her mouth (we're watching in foolish hope and excitement at this point), then very soon, spits it out with her tongue, picks it up again, smashed it some more with her fingers. Puts it back on the tray, then picks it up. Finally, coolly tosses it out of the tray on to the floor! It was diving me crazy!!

So anyone would appreciate what happened today. Fearing the worst, a bowl of rice and grilled fish was presented on the tray to her. First, she coolly picked up the Cod and segregated it on the side. That was the end of the fish. Then, using her spoon proceeded to feed herself the wild rice one spoonful at a time! I could barely believe myself. And did not even react till she was finished so I don't jinx myself!

Only after she was done and I picked her up that I told Raj what a wonderful baby I've gotten.. My absolute, hands-down, no-question-about-it best mama's baby in the whole world!