Cantelope Disaster

Evelyn is so over baby food. She wants to eat like a big girl. Today we shared a lunch of ham, potatoes and carrots. Afterwards we decided to have cantelope to refresh our palate. A few nights ago I gave her a big ol' chunk of watermelon (after I inspected is to make sure it was free of seeds) and she nawed on it with her two little bottom teeth, occasionaly scraping a small shaving into her mouth. We have a handle thing with a net for things like this but I tried giving it to her once before and she was not a fan. My cousin, Sarah, informed me to pack it completely full to keep the shape and it may regain her interest. Anyways, since I didn't have it on hand I just gave her a big piece she couldn't possibly get in her mouth. After sucking the first piece completely dry I threw it away and gave her a second. A few seconds into it she began to choke and started crying her cry of sudden pain. I freaked out! I was so scared. I ripped the cantalope out of her hand patted her on the back hoping to get it down, or up, and it still didn't help. Thankfully I took my CPR class because I learned how to save a choking infant. I held her belly down at a downward angle and slapped her on the back. The piece of cantalope came shooting out. I felt terrible! She was so scared. I think we'll have to use the net from now on. Looking back that was a pretty stupid idea.