Green Beans - The Magical Vegetable (by Ben)

I don't know exactly why, but Avery has completely mixed up some of her basic perceptions of this world. Mostly those involving green beans.

I can't quite remember when she started to love them, but I can't remember a time in her life that she ever didn't. In fact, as I now reflect, it seems that the very first time we gave her green beans she asked for more. Green beans, hereafter referred to as just 'beans', though I'm only talking about real honest to goodness green beans, not kidney or black beans, are probably one of the tastier vegetables. Especially among green veggies. But as a parent that is accustomed to kids consistently trying to eat as few vegetables as possible, it's not only rewarding to have your child eat them all, it's almost spooky when they ask for more. Lately, Avery has been eating all of her beans first, before whatever entree she's been served (like chicken, or lasagna, or ) Then she'll ask, and then beg, for more. In fact there have been a few times where we've even threatened her with no more beans until she finishes her Aren't you supposed to tell your kid that they can't have any more chicken until they finish their veggies? With Avery, we have it just the opposite.

So a few days ago, Nicki had taken James and Brie away leaving me and my little girl together. Avery had snacked pretty well, and so I didn't want to conjour up a full-blown meal, and decided that we could get by with some vegetables to round out all the yogurt and crackers she'd been eating. I opened up the freezer and found a half bag of frozen green beans. Perfect! That's just what we'd both love. I cooked them up just right with some butter and pepper, and gave her half. I figured she could eat as much as she was hungry for, and I'd eat what she hadn't. It was almost comical to see her little kid's plate full with a huge pile of beans on it, and she dug right in. I meandered around the kitchen for a few minutes trying to find something else to cook up for just me, and then took a phone call, and by the time I was done, Avery had cleaned off her whole plate. I'd only eaten one bite of mine. I was sure she'd waddle off to play with her princess toys, but she looked at me with the sweetest eyes, and and winked with both eyes, and with a few glances of all the beans on my plate, she said: "More Beans!....Please....Daddy!"

I didn't think she could eat the first pile, and I knew that she would barely touch any more I gave her. But her pleading couldn't be resisted, so I poured out my whole portion of beans on her plate, and grabbed the camera. You can see a picture of what she looked like, on plate #2, which only lasted for a few minutes during which she ate all of my beans too. She singlehandedly ate a full half-bag of green beans. That's about a half-pound of vegetables in one sitting. I couldn't help but smile. I know Avery certainly did.