Is Chewing an Instinct?

So last night after dinner Carrie pulls out this canister of "Sweet Potato Puffs". They are like a cereal for toddlers. Though they don't give an age range, they basically say that if your baby can crawl and pinch the food in between their index finger and thumb they are good to go. So I figured, why not? Nate can handle this. I put one on his tray, and he grabbed it with his hand and brought it to his mouth in an attempt to eat it. He didn't quite grasp the concept of "open hand, shove in mouth". To his defense, the little cereal stuck to his hand, and that is an advanced concept for an 8 month old. I put another piece on the tray and showed him how to pinch it with his finger and thumb, and after only two demonstrations he mastered it. Unfortunately, he still couldn't quite get to the "place in mouth" part. He would open is mouth, open his fingers to release the cereal puff, but it was stuck to his finger. I decided to give him a piece myself, just to see what he thought about it. When I put it in his mouth he instantly started chewing it! The things that he learns so quickly never cease to amaze me, but just the concept of chewing something for the first time, and chewing it enough to the point of being able to swallow it is pretty cool. This kid is constantly figuring stuff out, and I am so happy when I'm there to witness it. I never want to miss a thing.

On a quick related side-note, those who REALLY know me know I LOVE to sneeze. For whatever reason I always have, and because of that I never hold it back. It comes out almost like an explosion (not in a gross mucus way though). It is a lot like my dad when he sneezes if you have ever been there for that. Anyway, the point is Nate LOVES to sneeze too! No matter what his mood, if he sneezes it is always followed by a HUGE smile. Sometimes if there are a couple in a row he even laughs. Last night he was really having a hard time at bedtime because he's getting more teeth, so he is really in pain and uncomfortable. He was in a full-on crying attack when he suddenly sneezed. That instant he went from bawling to smiling. Some things are just unmistakably passed from father to son. I got I from my dad, and now Nate does it. Mock it if you will, but that is how I see it.