Human garbage disposal

Our boy has officially turned into a bottomless pit. We're going on two weeks now of him having a constant appetite.

I'd received fair warning as the mom of a boy that this is something that doesn't go away until, say they move out of the house, but I wasn't fully prepared for all that he can put away as a four-year-old.

One morning alone he ate a bowl of cereal, an entire apple, gummy fruit snacks, a huge bowl of strawberries, large cups of OJ and milk and then was hungry for more. By this time it was nearly 11 a.m. so I told him we needed to hold off for lunch in an hour.

I didn't really think he'd be hungry enough for a full lunch after all that he had eaten, but he proved me wrong and ate an entire sandwich, plus goldfish crackers, milk and dessert.

He also recently informed us that he no longer wants to eat oatmeal before school. This is a kid who has eaten some various flavor of oatmeal nearly every day for his entire life. I can't say that I blame him for wanting to change it up a bit, but he was so mature and matter-of-fact in the way he delivered his new request that it caught us by surprise.

We happened to be going to the grocery store that evening, so he got to pick out his own cereal which is now his breakfast of choice every morning.

Our little boy is changing and it's not just his appetite or the pants and shirts that are now too short. I'm trying to stop and pay attention more in the daily rush of life and remember these somewhat ordinary and often fleeting moments.