Holy chopsticks-Easton goes out to eat!

Easton enjoying chopsticks at Wild Chef

These days going out to dinner is a luxury.  Adam and I are normally avid "out-to-eaters" but for the last 8 months I can tell you we've put the brakes on this tradition.   Mostly because we're terrified of what may happen with a busy baby boy in our booth.   We have managed 2 restaurant outings with Easton which he slept the whole time.  Other than being on pins and needles we made it through without a peep from our little peanut.   Now that our parenting confidence is up and with a tuckered tot in tow we decided that we should try for a Friday night dinner when my in-laws were in town.

The big idea struck when the coupon-saver envelope arrived in the mail.  I saw a 2-for-1 for a Japanese Steakhouse, "Wild Chef", and I thought that it would be a fun dinner for all.  I figured if Easton did wake up he would likely be mesmerized by the chef cooking in front of him.   So I picked him up from daycare on Friday afternoon, pleased to see he was due for an afternoon nap (fingers crossed for a sleeping baby during dinner), and stopped at home to gather the group.  

I packed the diaper bag, making sure I was covered for any situation.  Puffs for snacking, a bottle, diapers, change of clothes, toys and the list goes on.  We load up the car and hit the road.  Now, in true grandparent form, Easton's grandma and grandpa sat in the backseat with him and were enjoying gushing over him and playing with him while Adam and I sat upfront crossing our fingers that he'd fall asleep.

Little stinker fighting sleep

When we got about 1 mile from the restaurant Easton started crying- hard.  I told Adam to keep driving, told everyone to stop talking to him and we'd drive until he fell asleep.   That didn't exactly work out.  After several drives around the Sam's Club parking lot and the backwoods of Alpine Ave. we looked at each other and said, "What do we do?!"   Now officially starving I decide we should go to dinner and hope for the best.

As I step out of the car I reach in the back for the diaper bag hoping the "puffs" or the "bottle" will save the day.  That's when I realize I forgot the diaper bag!  AHHHHHH!  I can see it sitting on the kitchen chair and I just cringe.  My mommy bag of tricks is beyond out of reach and I'm filled with hunger and dread.   We get seated- order drinks and have the same conversation several times.

  "Should we leave?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know.  What do you think?"

"Maybe we should just pick up a pizza and go home".

"This isn't gonna work.... what do you think?"

Wild Chef capturing Easton's attention

I finally make the executive decision we're staying.  We got Easton a high chair and pulled him up to the table which he seemed to like a lot.   I gave him a pair of chopsticks (yes a def. eye poking out danger but hell what am I supposed to do?!) and the paper from the chopsticks and he went to town playing.  I couldn't believe it.  I had to pick them up off the floor every 2 seconds but I didn't care.  He loved watching our chef do tricks on the grill and he didn't say a peep.  I was completely shocked when we got back in the car and realized it's a half hour past his bedtime and even without a bottle he acted like an angel.  

Lesson learned: Give your baby some credit and don't forget the damn diaper bag!