fat fingers and a round of applause...

i was hoping that with the "major" part of this pregnancy being in the fall and winter that maybe, just maybe, i'd escape the puffy feet and fingers. not so... yesterday after my shower, i left my wedding bands off, since they didn't want to go back on. i figured it was probably just a result of a warm shower (in denial, since i very well knew that my feet were already getting a bit swollen), but they've stayed off ever since. i don't want them to get stuck really bad again like they did last summer. that was NOT good! so- to be on the safe side, they're staying off for now! and the one downfall of not being preggers in the summer? getting away with flipflops. actually, that's the only downfall that i've come up with so far... i'll have to start investing in clown shoes.

this is cole, very proud of himself for eating most of his lunch today. yes, he's clapping. he's been on a bit of a strike lately- most everything is turned down. like yesterday for example... he usually loves a peanut butter sandwich, but he had about 4 or 5 bites and started throwing it over the side of his tray. and the applesauce? he shoved the spoon away after about 3 bites, and then fell asleep in his chair. easiest nap i've ever seen him take... but anyway, we wound up going to appleton yesterday afternoon and evening (kelvin had to go pick something up) and we went to fazoli's for supper. i was sure cole would be starved, since he ate next to nothing for lunch, but after eating only two of his cheese ravioli, he wanted it out of his sight. out of desperation, i tried giving him a piece of broccoli from my fettuccini (i had no expectations at this point, especially since he blacklisted veggies about a week ago). he ate it. and then he ate more. wow. i let him eat most of my broccoli because a) it's good for him and b) he was actually eating something! i know that kids go thru phases like this, so i'm not worried, just a bit frustrated. i want to make sure he's getting enough but that his eating experience is still somewhat pleasant so he doesn't start associating mealtime with torture. he always eats pretty well for breakfast and more often than not, he gets oatmeal, so at least he eats a healthy breakfast! for lunch, i made him some alphabet pasta and mixed it with a little bit of crushed tomatoes and some cottage cheese. he ate more than i thought he would, and i have to say, it makes a pretty good "big people" food too! i also found a way to make bananas an easier finger food; most mommies probably already know this, but i crushed up cheerios in a bag and then shook up the banana pieces with it, kinda like a shake-n-bake. WAY easier for him to eat, since they weren't slippery anymore! and he thought it was pretty cool that he got to successfully feed himself bananas. then i got to thinking of all the cereal that i could crush up to coat his bananas with- rice krispies (cocoa krispies for a bribe, haha), honey-nut cheerios, yogurt burst cheerios, the possibilites are amazing. glad i didn't think of it till AFTER i went grocery shopping; i'm proud to say that i kept the bill under $60 and still have enough to last a week! yay! it's now become a challenge for me... how low can i go and still get enough for the week? fun.