The Forsaken

For those of you who don't know, I had my first day back to work yesterday. Not just any work either, I'm back at the restaurant! I must admit, I was a little nervous leaving the house. I know well, almost everyone that works there, I love my manager, a gal I hired back when I was in her position. And with the exception of a new point of sale computer system and few menu changes I know the job comfortably. So whats with the nerves? At first I thought it might be that I'm feeling as if I'm moving backwards. But after some real thought on the issue I ruled that out because this is a great job that fits my needs perfectly, with wonderful people. I have always been uncomfortable with putting Liam in daycare full time. I realize there is nothing wrong with daycare, in fact its great in facilitating socialization of 'only children', its just not for us. I am WAYYYY too type A to have my kid spend most of his waking hours with a non-family caregiver. We have had to make some lifestyle sacrifices for me to stay home full time but it has been worth it. Now with the holidays fast approaching Chris's work schedule is opening up which allows me to get out a few nights a week. I decided that it must be just normal first day jitters because once I got there, I felt right at home. Meanwhile, back at home, Liam was giving Chris a run for his money. I had put Liam down for a nap before I left which pleased Chris because he was thinking he would get a nap in himself. HAHAHAH. Silly man. Rule of life # 34: You can not plan sleep with a baby in the house. As soon as I left Liam woke up. Maybe it was the fact that he woke up and I was gone, maybe Chris was tired and slightly less than patient, whatever it was they fought each other for the next few hours. Li had little interest in play and ended up on all fours crying face down on the living room floor, a tactic he usually reserves for when he's told 'no'. It's the most pathetic thing you've ever seen and it takes every ounce of restraint I have to not scoop him up and give him whatever he's crying for. At dinner time Liam wouldn't eat, he cried so hard in his chair that he made himself choke and gag.

I'm not sure who was happier to see me by the time I got home (I was gone a total of 3 hours). However, I did get a very stern look from Liam as if to say "you have some explaining to do."

Today is day two at the restaurant. I'm thinking I should let Kris, my manager,know that its very likely we could see Chris and Liam outside the front doors with their faces pressed up against the glass.

Finish your chicken young man.

Liam is 10 and a half months now. I can hardly believe we are fast closing in on a year! Around this age most babes are learning to flex their independence muscles. So to encourage this behavior I have started offering Liam finger foods.


He loves feeding himself the cereal puffs and the rice rusks, which to me was a STRONG indicator that he was ready to try self feeding other foods. He will eat most anything I'm eating if I share it with him so I figured we would start with a few things that he is familiar with and and few he is not. The menu was whole wheat bread with ham and cream cheese, peas and carrots and butternut squash soup. He tried the ham and cheese sandwich and though he seemed to enjoy the taste all that chewing proved to be too much work. The carrots were more fun to squish between his fingers than to eat and the peas, well, they're tricky so most of them ended up in his lap rather than his mouth. But the soup, oh the soup. Chris told me not to give it to him. In making it I added a good bit of white pepper which gave it a nice kick. Chris is a little more sensitive to heat than I am so he may have been a better judge but I figured we'd try it and if its too spicy, then Liam will make a face and we won't continue.

This is the face we got. Which, in case you are wondering is NOT a face of displeasure. He loved it. With any luck, I have dodged a bullet and he may end up being more like me than his father in the food department. Chris has a... selective palate. Which is a nice way of saying he's a PICKY EATER. I'm afraid at some point I'm going to have to make them dine separately so Liam doesn't see the pile of refuse left behind on daddy's dinner plate. This kind of example could prove to be disastrous when we are trying to get him to "take just one more bite." I can hear Liam now: " but daddy didn't eat all his chicken!"

Great. " Daaaady, would you please eat all of your chicken so that Liam will eat his peas?"

You see where I am going here right? Its enough to drive a woman mad.

And I dont have time to go mad so Liam, please be a good eater for your mama.