feeding time @ the zoo

first, the mess...
i'll admit it: i am hopeless at keeping dd neat as she eats her solids.
she would be wearing a bib and i would have a couple of cloth wipes handy but inevitably, bits of cereal would wound up in her hair; her sleeves and collars would be badly stained. and don't even talk about the floor!
i can now understand why plastic mats are sometimes placed under the high chair.

then, the fuss...
in the beginning, dd was superb in the high chair. but for the past month she's always clamoured to get out after a few spoonfuls. sometimes she could be persuaded to stay put if i sing a few nursery rhymes but usually she would just whine at an increasing pitch till i unscrew the tray and lift her out.
sometimes we can finish the meal with her on my lap. but the past coupla days i distracted her with the telly (i know, bad bad mommy) and shovelled it in as she gaped at the screen.

dinnus interruptus / the poo-break
there's been a few instances now when she's interrupted her meals by deciding it was time to evacuate her bowels. she'd first reject her spoon, then start compressing her lips into a taut line. a faraway (concentrated?) look would appear in her eyes, then the grunts would start. sometimes she would push till her face goes bright red, and her whole body would rock a little from the effort. funny bub.
i don't mind changing her and disposing of the biz, but she sometimes doesn't want to resume eating afterwards. that's what bugs me as i do hope she will have full meals.