*Olivia*

“Here comes the airplane!”

I grinned, pretending to make a sputtering sound as I flew the children’s plastic spoon all around the face of my one-year-old. Elio giggled, eyes fixated on the spoon. Gradually I inched it closer and flew it right up to his lips, which opened happily.

The mushy oatmeal slipped past his two bottom teeth, most winding up in his mouth and some dripping onto his chin and the colorful bib I’d chosen with tiny blue fish ...