A Nifty Little Trick

Jacob learned a nifty little trick the other day. It's called stuff-your-face-full-of-food-until-you-choke. Prior to learning this trick, he would eat snack foods at a normal, intelligent pace. A few in the mouth, chew, swallow, repeat. Placing a bowl of dry Cheerios in front of him was not a dangerous proposition.

However, while visiting friends at their cottage, Jacob observed their son performing the afore-mentioned trick with gusto. He seemed to like what he saw for he imitated it at the next opportunity. We were outside on the deck and I had given him a bowl with Bear Paw crackers and one Arrowroot cookie. A few minutes later, he was gagging and crying. His mouth was stuffed to the point where he couldn't even close it (or breathe, really). As I desperately scooped the gooey and disgusting half-chewed mess from his mouth, I couldn't help but be a little impressed by the sheer volume he had managed to cram in there. When it became clear that he could breathe again (and thus, so could I) I was amazed to see him immediately reach for another handful to shovel in. He was undeterred, to say the least.

If it had been a one-time incident, I would think of it no more. But, alas, this morning, while I was unpacking the last of our bags I heard a familiar gagging sound. I turned to see Jacob with an open sleeve of Arrowroot cookies in his hands, a few piles of regurgitated cookie on the floor, and bulging cheeks. His mouth was open because he was in the process of trying to cram another cookie in even while he was choking on and spitting out what was already in his mouth.

I'm so glad his eating habits have taken this new and exciting turn...