Watermelon Baby

There are so many things that my children do daily that make me think to myself, "Please never forget this!"  And then there are things that I know that if I ever forget them it will be because I have gone completely batty.  One of those things occurred the other day when I discovered just how much Will loves watermelon.

When we were visiting my grandparents a few weeks ago he had watermelon for the first time and really seemed to love it.  He ate it as his entire dinner twice in one week!  And loved that he had that option.  He just smiled and smiled at every piece placed in front of him.  So, when we came home I knew that I should be sure to pick up a watermelon at the store.

Oh my, how his love of watermelon has grown!  He started out eating more watermelon than even I ate, only possibly being equaled by his sister!  Finally, he seemed to slow down.  Surely he was done, we thought.

Then he wanted another piece.  We handed him a piece and watched as he pulled at it until it was a hundred little pieces.  Hubby wanted to call him done but somehow I knew he had a plan.  "Just wait", I said.  Carefully Will picked up each piece and pressed it between thumb and pointer finger.  When all the juice was out then he would pop the piece in his mouth.  He did that to every tiny piece.  Hubby refused to let him have any more watermelon at that point.  Will gave him the cute pouty face about it so Hubby escaped to the kitchen.  As soon as Hubby was out of sight Will grinned at me.  He scrunched himself down in his highchair, leaned forward and began to lap up the watermelon juice from his high chair tray with his tongue.  He resembled a puppy on a very hot day.  He slurped and lapped, lapped and slurped until he couldn't get any more with his mommy giggled and laughing all the while.  The next morning he happily repeated the routine. 

I have a feeling that if I made watermelon an option at every meal he would eat it at every meal.  The whole house is in agreement that we are going to have to keep watermelon in the house as long as it is in season.  And I am of the firm mindset that I have to keep that watermelon baby smile safely preserved in my memory!