Twas the Meal Before Bedtime

I love those mommy moments where you look at your baby (no matter the age) and suddenly, time slows to a crawl. The rest of the world fades away and the smallest of details start to sharpen and stand out, vivid and crisp. Long eyelashes under furrowed brows of concentration. An exuberant smile showcasing one brand new pearly white tooth. Tiny toes curled into the carpet just before an unsteady step.

Like the macro lens of a camera, details that are often missed in daily life suddenly come sharply into focus.  I think our brains are working extra hard in those moments to etch these images deep into our memories, for these moments, these details, are so fleeting and so precious.

I had one of those “macro” moments the first time Oliver attempted to pick up finger foods. And the second time… and the third time. Watching those pudgy little fingers try so hard to grasp peas and rice cakes was just mesmerizing for this first time mama.

So, the night that Oliver mastered this new skill, I commemorated it in a poem. (You should know that at the time, my sweet baby boy bit people and/or tilted his head sideways when he was happy. Hey, we all express ourselves in different ways, right?)

‘Twas the Meal Before Bedtime

‘Twas the meal before bedtime, when all through the house
Not a crumble was falling, too bad for that mouse.
The highchair was set by the table with care,
Knowing that “Little Man” soon would be there.

The doggies were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of fallen Puffs danced in their heads.
And Mama in her apron, a baby in her lap,
Was exhausted and ready for more than a nap.

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Finger foods, here I come!

When from that cute mouth there arose such a clatter,
I looked at that boy to see what was the matter.
Away to the table, bib on like a flash,
Tear open the rice cakes and dish up the mash!

The creamy puree of that sweet potato
Filled the kitchen with fragrance, wouldn’t you know.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Oliver, reaching for food! It was clear.

With pudgy little fingers, so sure and so quick,
I knew in a moment, he would learn a new trick.
More rapid than ever, that rice cake was his,
As he looked up and smiled, proudly raising that fist.

Now peaches! And green beans! Now bananas and pears!
Get the peas! Get more puffs! New finger foods, if you dare!
To Whole Foods we go! To the toddler food aisle!
Now fill up the cart; it all gets a trial.

As we’ve all heard the saying, time sure does fly.
It wasn’t long ago that I heard his first cry.
And now, here we are, cart full of real food,
He is learning each hour; even waving debuted!

And then, in a twinkling, it was dinner once more.
Oliver was ready; it was time to explore.
With 10 pudgy fingers and a smile oh so bright,
Up to the highchair he went, without even a fight.

He was dressed in all fleece, from his head to his feet,
In his new 12 month sleeper, cute bear on the seat.
A bundle of toys he had left on the floor,
And in excitement for food, he bit me, once more!

His eyes – how they twinkled! His dimples; how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
His cute little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the hair on his head stuck up spiky, you know.

He looked up and grinned, showing four little teeth,
And his joy, it encircled the house like a wreath.
He wiggle danced big, in excitement you see,
And went “sideways” too, to showcase his glee.

He was sleepy, yet smiled, a right jolly young one,
And I laughed when I saw him, my sweet precious son.
The squint of his eyes when he laughs, it’s the best,
And I realized once more I’m incredibly blessed.

He jabbered away, telling baby talk tales,
With wild hands, big eyes, and lots of arm flails.
Then he reached for that rice cake, pudgy finger so straight,
And jabbed at the pieces, which didn’t work great.

He finally changed methods, raking food in his hand,
Brought the piece to his mouth, and chewed like an old man.
He stored food in his fists, gripping pieces so tight,
It was finger food success! Hooray! And good night!

Merry Christmas! I’d love to hear about your own “macro moments” this holiday season!

Amber Dawkins
Amber loves jellybeans, morning snuggles, and new adventures. Personality tests peg her as 93% extroverted. She loves to write, but most of the time, you’ll find her behind her camera lens. Amber left her teaching position in 2016 to turn her passion into a full time photography career. She now spends time photographing homes for real estate agents, updating headshots, freelancing for local magazines, and creating branding imagery for businesses by capturing their spaces, products, people, and processes. She also does portrait sessions for families, children, and high school seniors. Amber recently got married in a small pandemic friendly wedding. As mama to one and stepmama to four, she thrives on the happy chaos of a large, blended family. Amber lives with both Cystic Fibrosis and CF Related Diabetes and thanks God daily for His blessings and the medical advances that continue to keep her as healthy as possible.

2 COMMENTS

    • Thanks! It was fun to see Oliver doing so many new things at Christmastime. Such a joyful time already – and that just made it even better! 🙂

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