7:00 p.m.

You know how once you become a parent you resort to showing everyone pictures of your kid and all of the magnificent things they do? And you know that people rarely care -- at least not to the level you yourself care -- but that really doesn't stop you because you're just THAT PROUD that your child rolled over, cut a tooth, sat up unassisted, sat on a potty, et cetera?

Yeah. This is one of THOSE posts.

For months, Ethan has refused to eat with any kind of silverware. We couldn't feed him at all. He'd only eat with his fingers and on his own, which actually made the transition from purees to "regular" food happen earlier than I planned for and way, way easier. Parents are always complaining about the mess that self-feeding causes but, let's face it, my house isn't my house unless it's a mess so it didn't phase me very much. However, over the last week or so, Ethan has been big into utensils. And not his little baby utensils, but regular utensils. Our utensils. And not us feeding him with said utensils, but him feeding himself with them.

This has also meant lots of frustration and tears and thrown silverware and pouting, but it's also meant one proud little man. (Okay, and two proud parents. I'm admitting it.)

Tonight I likened watching Ethan eat with a fork to watching someone play one of those crane games with the intention of winning a stuffed animal. It's nerve-wracking for some strange reason and when they miss, ugh, it's such a disappointment! It's kind of like that, watching Ethan eat, but worth it in the end when he beams with pride upon getting a potato in his mouth.

See? Such pride!

And then he just goes and shows off, taking a piece of leftover potato off of daddy's plate.