Parents 5, Nico 19834798132

He's probably like most 4-year olds.  But Nico, is a bit of a picky eater.  I don't know how it happened... actually... that is a lie.  I know exactly how it happened.  It happened because things like chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese are really easy to heat and eat.  Dave and I like the occasional curry or choizo stuffed pablanos... and what kind of parents would feed chorizo stuffed pablanos to a baby?  Exactly... so we started making Nico his own food way back... and have just kept it going.  This wouldn't be a problem, except Nico is the tiniest wee bit obsessive about stuff- so he will go through periods where he ONLY wants macaroni and cheese.  Or only chicken nuggets.  Which is, as you can imagine... a scotch of a beat down.

But something happened last week.  Dave took Nico to White Castle.  Now, before you call CPS, just know that Nico now loves chicken sandwiches.  He tried a chicken slider and liked it.  And now likes chicken sandwiches. Can you even believe that?  Yeah, I know.  And something else happened last night. 

Let me pause this story to give you some back story... my gym is currently doing a paleo challenge.  Now, since I am easily peer pressured,  of course I signed up.  Now granted... I think I am about the only person int the world who is on the verge of being kicked out of their gym's paleo challenge.  Seriously, I think my coach might be thinking, "Are you even trying?  At all?" (with the paleo challenge, we are abstaining from processed foods, dairy, grains, legumes, and alcohol for two months. Let's just say that some of us abstain better than others). 

After dinner last night, I opened up a freshly bought bag of apricots and Nico asked me what they were.  I explained and also told him that they were the sweetest, gummiest, yummiest fruits ever.  I proceeded to spread a bit of sunbutter on a few... and you wouldn't even believe it- Nicholas Michael Cornelius Jacob Timothy McClelan Jackson Lee Royse ate them up.  In fact, he kept stealing mine!  I could not believe it.  It was awesome.  Of course, I have breathed mention of this- out into the universe... So, that is a sure fire way to send this in the other direction.  But it's a win and I will take it.  

Also, it should be known that Nico's middle names are not Cornelius, Jacob, Timothy McClelan Jackson and Lee.  I make up middle names to call people when I am exasperated with them.  :)

The Whacky Barn

Child sized grocery carts? Yes!! We would like one.

So Tallahassee is the new epicenter of hippie food places. The original place is an actual Co-op. It was followed by Fresh Market (a Whole Foods knock off). Then Earth Fare came to town. Word on the street is that Whole Foods is coming- gonna be right across the street from Jo-Anns... SCOREBOARD!! I like Earth Fare a lot, because it is where the pretend hippies go (unlike New Leaf where the real hippies go). When I am at Earth Fare, I dont feel like everyone is judging me because Nico isnt wearing a hemp diaper and I like to smell like clean, not like Patchouli. I feel like I should be wearing dreads and breastfeeding Nico while wearing sustain-ably made natural fibers made by an old woman in India. But that is neither here nor there. New Leaf has a kick ass beer selection, but Earth Fare's meat counter is better and their produce is better. I think. In any case, Earth Fare has these little grocery carts which Nico LOVES. Its really adorable. He likes pushing his cart around the store. Practical for a week's worth of groceries? No. Practical for dinner on the fly home? Why, yes it is.

Speaking of Nico... he is getting into the Christmas spirit. Yesterday Dave was talking to him about Santa and how we should go see them. Nico's response: "And then we will say, "Merry Christmas!" It's pretty great.

I think that I have made up my mind: I wanna take Nico to the Miami Zoo when we are down there for Christmas. So Mike and Gay, get out your walking shoes- we are taking the boy!! Also, it has this thing called "the whacky barn." Need I say more? No, you say. You want to go too?