Veggie Straws

Tommy is … how do I put it?  Very stubborn.  Yeah.  That’s it.

He refuses, absolutely REFUSES anything resembling formula.  He’ll think about regular whole milk, IF it is in a certain kind of sippy cup and IF he is allowed to dribble it down his chin.

He has refused any pacifier but the one given him at the hospital.   The same brand doesn’t even cut it, it has to be that ONE.  The evil-demon-bouncing-impossible-to-find-in-a-dimly-lit-room pacifier.

He likes me best.  Unless it is Kevin that he likes best.  Or if Grandmama comes over, then she is his favorite.  That about sums up his people.  He doesn’t think others should really touch him or, gasp, hold him!  Church is interesting.   There are a few exceptions to this rule (hello, Aunt Nancy!), but not many.

He wants to be picked up when he wants to be picked up.  My other boys wanted to be picked up too, but not like Tommy.  For example, my mom came over yesterday.  She was on one side of the playpen and he was on the other.  He was practically ripping through that playpen trying to get to her just so she would pick him up.  If she had dared to walk past and ignored his pleas, Tommy would have dropped his forehead to the ground and started wailing.  Not just whimpering or sobbing, full on wailing.  Until the instant he was picked up – then he’d be all smiles.  The little faker!

And food.  Tommy is picky about his food.  He generally wants whatever it is anyone else is eating.  He flipped over me not sharing a salad with him the other day.  Thankfully, his “flipped over” never lasts long, but he is adamant about it while it lasts.

I believe he can somewhat tell time – an internal clock or something – because he knows when it is lunch.  And lunch means veggie straws.  Veggie straws are these snacks that I get from Sam’s Club that somewhat resemble potato chips in that they are kind of salty and crispy, but they aren’t as bad for us.  Tommy thinks they are his.  All of them.  As long as Tommy has some on his tray, he’s okay, but if Tommy’s are gone and Rusty has some … Tommy lets you know.  He’s loud.  I’ll just leave it at that.

I did a Sam’s run on Saturday and Kevin was unloading the car for me.  He’d set the groceries on the floor inside the door and I’d put them away (nice teamwork, huh).  As soon as Kevin set down these two bags of veggie straws, Tommy bee-lined.  He was trying everything he could think of to get that bag opened.  He knew they were for him.  He was ready for them!

This stubborn little face might squawk like a bird and “ba-ba-ba” loudly when he doesn’t get his way, but he more than makes up for it with his smiles and giggles and rolling around with his brothers.  His goods outweigh his bads (most days) and he is most certainly my favorite fourth baby!