Productivity!

[cifarelli]

Today I took Corwin up to the Galleria and we got to see Andrew's office (finally!) and had lunch at the Chili's in the food court. This was the first time we attempted to take Corwin to a sit-down restaurant (aside from the Cracker Barrel we went to when he was 4 months old, which didn't go so well), and it went quite well. The greeter looked at

Comments

[liz_gregory]

hooray, cooperative babies! :)

And I love when you feel productive and like you've actually managed to accomplish something without wanting to pull your hair out or cause massive damage to something ;)

[onefishclappin]

Re children's menu & crayons - I had some waiters try to give Alex a children's menu & crayons when he couldn't even hold his head up. I've had waiters who were great - asked us before giving the kids stuff, were cool about special orders, very aware of keeping dangerous things out of their reach (knives, candles, etc), making sure the kids' food was out first. I've had other waiters who were horrible - putting plates and glasses right next to the kid, only to have us move them out of the way, so the waiter then put the pot of coffee in the newly vacated spot right next to the kid; bringing the kids' food out last so that he's having to stare at everyone else's food without any of his own; passing hot plates and glasses right over the baby carrier (what would happen if they dropped one??!).
We've gotten very used to telling the waiter what we want and forgetting the weird looks.

[cifarelli]

Yeah, our waiter set the chips and salsa down right in front of Corwin, with the salsa on the side closest to him. At the time that happened, Andrew commented that he remembered you complaining about waiters setting everything in the open space by the kid.

I guess the next couple of years of eating out with a kid are going to be adventures! Whee!

[onefishclappin]

I can't believe this is the 2nd time ever that you guys have been out to eat with him. We took Alex out to eat for the first time when he was less than 2 weeks old (I was still breastfeeding him and had to play with the nipple shield in public :-P) We've been out about once a week ever since we got Matthew. Familiarity breeds comfort.

[cifarelli]

Not the second time ever, just the second time to a sit-down restaurant.

He went to all kinds of fast-food places with us when we were travelling last summer, and we've also taken him to jason's deli and the like a few times.

But no, he hasn't been out to eat nearly as often as you take your kids. I think part of that is the expectation Andrew has (and I do too to some extent, though probably not as strongly) that kids should not be taken to restaurants until they can behave/be quiet in public. When Corwin was younger his behavior was pretty unpredictable, and we didn't have any confidence that we could get through a meal without him melting down. He's old enough now that we have a bit more confidence and will probably try it more frequently.

Of course, not eating out is a great way to cut back on expenses, too. :)