Starving

I have come to realize that on any given day, one of my children will go hungry. There's really nothing I can do about it.

Ernie will eat only familiar foods:
cinnamon toast,
white rice with Yoshi sauce,
oatmeal with cinnamon sugar, sprinkles, maple syrup, and brown sugar;
milk
apples
carrots
cold cereal
sushi
edamame
plain spaghetti with ball cheese (parmesan cheese in a green can)
quesadilla folded up with cheese (her words, not mine)

Yes, those condiments are constant. No, they are not optional.
umm....wow. I'm drawing a blank. Any others?

Oh yeah- boiled ramen noodles with Yoshi sauce.

In the summer, you can add berries, grapes, melon, and cucumbers to that list.

Dinner often consists of just a glass or 2 of milk.

Mimi, on the other hand, refuses to eat leftovers. She refuses to eat the same thing twice in a given week. Maybe two weeks. She'll simply push dinner away and suck her thumb, staring at you balefully.

Ernie requests oatmeal every single morning, and has requested oatmeal every single morning since November. Mimi gave it up weeks ago.

Can you see my issue?

Rice and beans saved the day! It's been too long since I made plain old pinto beans, and Mimi hasn't eaten this well in weeks. I made a special garlic bread loaf too- she picked up her piece and poked at it with a finger while turning to me. She looked at me and slowly cocked her head to one side and raised her eyebrows- I nodded yes, and she giggled out loud before stuffing it into her mouth. "Is this for me? Is this food? Can I eat it? YIPPEE!" She ate 3 servings of rice and beans, pushing them in by the fistful. 2 glasses of soymilk. Ernie happily ate her white rice with Yoshi sauce while Mama bit her tongue.

Happy tummies!

Oh and guys, thanks for all your well and sleepy wishes for our Meemster. Since taking milk out of her day, our nights have gone a lot smoother. So have diaper changes. You guys are the best, thanks.

And Mom? Who raised 5 kids? You're right. You always are. I need to chill.