Man-Size Portions for Our Little Man

I can always tell when Joey is going through a growth spurt. He wakes up ravenous and goes to bed ravenous. He's been known to sneak out of bed, collect food from the kitchen, and eat a late-night snack in his bedroom... the cereal bar wrappers and graham cracker crumbs are the telltale sign in the morning. It's hard to tell what's stalling tactic, and what's true hunger, but at night, he's prone to clutching his stomach, and auditioning for a piteous Oliver Twist role: "I just want a little something to eaaaaat. I'm staaaarving!! I'm really, really, really, REALLY starving!!"

If he didn't look like such a stringbean right now, I might be less sympathetic.

Despite how lean he looks, at exactly four and a half, he's still at the top of the growth charts. At 47.5 pounds, he's in the 94th percentile for weight, and at 44 inches tall, he's in the 90th percentile for height.

He might be the biggest eater in the family right now. At breakfast, he can down three waffles, three scrambled eggs, two sausage links, fresh fruit, a glass of juice, and a glass of milk, and still be eyeing Clara's plate for leftovers.

Is it too soon to say he might have a future in competitive eating?