Eating Update

Two posts in one day--a record for me.  Generally, I try to keep posts about Cole Reynolds' eating issues to a minimum because it is something that I hope one day we will look back on and think "Was it really that bad?"  However, at lunch today, I was so happy, that I have to share.  Cole has started chewing and swallowing fruit over the last month or so.  Just a piece or two at first but now he will chew and swallow a full toddler size plate (which shockingly only amounts to about two grapes, one or two cherries and 1/5 of a nectarine).  Today, after he finished all of his fruit, he asked for honeydew melon and watermelon.  He finished the watermelon.  A couple of things that encouraged me today in particular are (1) he picks the fruit up himself and eats it more and more (usually, we put the food in his mouth), (2) he asked for more and (3) just an intangible feeling that the process of eating was much more comfortable for him.  Now if only the fruit had any amount of calories in it, we'd be in business!  One thing that makes me a little sad is I'm not able to reward his "good eating" by not making him go through the pureed eating (or volume eating as therapy calls it).  Hopefully soon, his repertoire will include a few more foods that are calorie dense so that he can just be done when he is done.