All You Need is a Spoon

When we first started taking Fiona out to restaurants (not that we get out very often), she was about 4 months old and we usually timed it with her naps so that she'd sleep through the whole experience. That worked well for about a month, and then we went through a tough period where we'd try to time her bottle with the arrival of our food and spend the rest of the time trying to distract her with toys and then sending one parent outside with her once the bottle was finished.

Thankfully, we've apparently hit an easier phase lately. On Sunday, Grandma & Grandpa came into the city and we all went to our favorite local place, Fatty's, for Aunt Kathy's birthday brunch. Fiona had her first experience in a restaurant high chair, which she can finally handle now that she's able to sit upright easily. Amazingly enough, she lasted the entire meal--from sitting down to the arrival of the check--without leaving the chair. At first we gave her toys, but after she threw those on the ground, Andrea handed her a spoon. The reflective surface and the familiar-but-oversized shape (much bigger than the spoons we use to give her applesauce or baby yogurt) combined for an unparalleled amount of fun. By the time Fiona's order arrived (sweet potato fries--one big reason we love Fatty's is that, aside from the price and convenience, they have food that Fiona can eat) , we were home free.

All this will change again, obviously, once she's walking.