Nearly 9 months old...

This little munchkin is nearly 9 months old now.

He is such a delight!

​

USA Trip: Taking Nathaniel to his paternal roots. Part 3 - Palm Beach Florida & New Jersey

Following from Part 2...

​After our lovely visit in Boston we boarded the plane for Palm Beach Florida. Armed with a gigantic burrito​ from a place in the airport for the trip. I had never had a burrito before and the Thai flavoured 'Bangkok Burrito' I procured in the airport did not disappoint. It was fresh, flavourfully tasty and very fulfilling. YUM. (Really not the easiest meal to eat with one hand over a sleeping baby though!!)

​The flight was uneventful and soon we were in the always balmy state of Florida. ​

Oh but first some interesting notes about travelling via air/airport security in the US with a baby:

You can forgo being scanned by the body scanner at the airport security. You just go through the usual walk-through scanner, but then you and the baby have to have a thorough pat-down. You are allowed to keep wearing the baby if the baby is in a carrier. If in a pram you have to pick baby up and carry him.

The usual restrictions about liquids and food do not apply to babies and you can take bottles of juice, breast milk, formula and pureed food along with you. But it will be tested extensively. You may not touch the bag while they are working with it. They will find and retrieve anything pasty or liquid and take it out. They then pop it in a  scanner (must be some kind of spectrometer or something) to test it's composition, and then also open it and waft a paper tester (like litmus paper) over it to test the 'fumes'. If your stuff is cleared you get it back and can take it and carry on with it....

Anyway, once we were in Palm Beach, we wasted no time getting a taxi and heading over to Grandpa Lou aka Papa (A's father)'s house where we would be staying for the next leg of our journey.

Grandpa Lou is getting on in age and does not have much of his sight left, so this was one of the main reasons we made the trip, so Nathaniel and him could meet and get to see and know each other. They took to each other immediately and both were full of smiles getting to know each other. We sweet to see.

We got ourselves settled in and then had a light dinner together while we got caught up. Lou then surprised me with a very sweet and thoughtful birthday cake, for my birthday which had just passed. I was so touched! So we shared that for dessert and then headed to bed for an early night.

The next morning (Tuesday) I went for a run along the very pretty 'island' Lou lives on. We spent the next 2 days visiting with Grandpa and his lovely assistant Sue who comes in every day to help him with whatever he needs help with, including driving him around and running errands for and with him. We also got to join them on their regular lunch date one day. Which was both fun and funny. It's basically a group of between 4-10 old men who meet every week day at the same place over lunch time and eat and have a chin wag about all and everything. We also did some shopping, including find a new cool running stroller for Nathaniel.

On the Wednesday we had cocktails with Lou and 2 set of longstanding family friends, The MacNamaras and Jim & Diane. After that we all went out for dinner at Lantana Pizza. Where we had a huge and delicious pizza. We chose the 'medium' one between Andrew and I and the 2 of us ate it for 2 meals! There are 2 larger sizes than that. Pizzas in America are HUGE.

On the way home form the dinner we noticed the street was FULL of cars many of them pretty fancy, and there seemed to be a huge party happening at one house. We remarked on this to the MacNamaras who live on the opposite end of the street. They said, 'Oh that's Vanilla Ice's house'. Say what? Turns out Vanilla Ice (yes of 80's 'Ice Ice Baby' fame). Stop. Collaborate and Listen... 

Anyway it turns out Vanilla Ice has a reality TV show now where he buys a crappy house, does it up all flashy and then flips it. It is called 'The Vanilla Ice Project'. Anyway his last 2 projects have been in Palm Beach and this second one was in Lou's street! The project and filming had just wrapped and so they were holding a 'wrap party'. Wow. 

We of course immediately decided to go take a look so walked down the street (with baby and all), and despite the 'no trespassing' signs, totally gate-crashed the party.

We took a good look around - and bumped into the MacNamaras there doing the same LOL - helped ourselves to some wine (which was cheap and horrible I might add), and checked out the house. Some of it was pretty gaudy, some tacky, and some parts of it actually pretty nice. Vanilla Ice was posing and people were fawning over him. I thought he looked pretty stupid in a massively over-sized suit. I expected him to be cooler more interesting and more fun. Frankly he seems pretty lame and dorky, and also a tad self-important. When we left he was posing on a Bentley Motor Cycle outside, and there were 2 Rolls Royces parked in the drive too. So that was interesting and rather unexpected.

The next afternoon we drove up to Boca Ratan. We paid a visit to the Morikame Japanese Gardens, which were really beautiful and tranquil. 

After that we went to visit more family that live out that way, Linda and family. We were having a lovely visit with them and enjoying evening snacks and drinks. When I stupidly out Nathaniel down to play on the floor - he'd spent most of the day cooped up and constrained and I wanted to let him move around a little - he got crawling around and then approached the Schnauzer dog (which we had been warned was old and cranky) who snarled and snapped and managed to  make contact with poor little Nathaniel. I was right there with him, but it happened so fast, suddenly and unexpectedly (although like I said I SHOULD have been more careful). I grabbed him up and away from the dog, he was screaming and when I looked there was blood! :( I wasn't sure how bad it was and was actually thinking we'd need to get him to a doctor. But I stayed calm, and saw the blood was by his lip, and just got ice and pressed the area with his burp cloth wrapped around ice. I then breastfed him as soon as I could and we put Neosporin antibiotic ointment all over the area. I managed to get the bleeding stopped quite fast and he calmed down very quickly. 

Although the dog had managed to scratch him from his eye to his moth and there was a small puncture wound on his lip, I could see it was not serious and no stitches were needed. He has also had his tetanus shots (in the DTAP vax) so there was not much more to do. I felt terrible though. Poor baby. The dog owners were of course distraught about it too. I take the blame though as I should have asked them to take the dog out before I put Nathaniel down...

That was our last night in Florida. Next morning, Friday, we spent some last time with Grandpa Lou and then had to head back to the airport, this time heading to Newark in New Jersey.

A's good friends Cliff & Jill were waiting for us when we arrived in New Jersey. We were met with great excitement and hugs and squeals. Most of it directed at Nathaniel of course. We are just his entourage and staff it seems ;) Cliff and Jill took us back to their home in the county of Essex New Jersey. Also a beautiful neighbourhood, looking really stunning in the spring. 

We had  a lovely BBQ evening with them and their daughter Rachel and were all thoroughly soiled with many gifts and much attention.

​​On Saturday morning I went out for a run to explore the neighbourhood. Wow, it is filled with beautiful huge house and stunning gardens. It's a very pretty place. It was an awesome run. 

Many of the neighbourhoods/homes look like this:

After a shower and change and bagel breakfast we all got packed up and ready to go spend the day in NYC!

​On to part 4 - New Jersey & NYC!​

Deathstar Driver

​(With reference to: 

​​

Eddie Izzard- Death Star Canteen - YouTube)​

A couple of month ago while navigating one of the narrow windy roads in upper sea point I knocked someones side mirror off, as they were parked on the wrong side of the road and too far in the street I had to edge right over to miss a head on collision and well my mirror connected the parked cars. SHIT.

Anyway, so last night I was driving home late with the boys after scouts (and tried after a long fluey run) and a car was parked in the same area and also right in the road... and then the guy opened his door just as I got there. I had to swerve to avoid him. So I said out loud in a deathstar voice, 'Guy do you want me to knock your whole DOOR off? Do you know who I am??'

Quinn immediately chirped, 'This is not a game of who the fuck are you.'

And then Griffin retorted, 'Mom you'll still need a tray....'

BAZINGA!

I love my kids. They so get me!

USA Trip: Taking Nathaniel to his paternal roots. Part 2 - Beautiful Boston

Following from Part 1...

After the delicious Thanksgiving/Birthday turkey dinner we slept like logs. Well I did anyway, I think A got up with N early in the morning and went to play downstairs. ;)

It was Friday morning and first order of the day was to get to an RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) office so A could get his Driver's License renewed. Yup he still operates on a State of Massachusetts Driver's License (25+ years after arriving in SA mind you!). After a failed attempt at trying to get to the local town's RMV which had a huge queue, we found out there was an express RMV office at a highway stop on the way to Newton - where we were going anyway - score! So off we zooted to the highway stop. While A did that Nathaniel and I browsed the high-way stop's shop. Where I found an awesome gift for the boys in the form of a GIANT Snickers bar. I Whatsapped Griff saying 'I bought you a Snickers bar, so you can see if the American ones are any different', to which I got a bland reply saying, 'Mom, I am sure they taste the same..'. Little did he know the difference was that it is 10x BIGGER than usual. LOL.

After that excitement we drove through to Newton (another suburb on the outskirts of Boston) to meet up with our friends Kerry and Graham who had moved back to Boston from Cape Town a year ago. They have a 3.5 year old boy and a little girl a few weeks older than Nathaniel. They stayed with us when they were in SA in March, so Nathaniel had already met them. We met up at a diner called Rox. Where the babies had a good chat and then got stuck into tasting everyone's food. Georgia, being older was already quite into eating. While Nathaniel up to this point had had a limited diet of just small quantities of organic fruit and veg purees. At this meal alone however he tried avo, sweet potato fries, corned beef, pickle, bread, lemon and I think he got some milkshake too. (After that all bets were off and the child has now eaten all and everything, and appears to like everything too!)

After our yummy lunch (I had an avo, pear, feta and pecan nut salad, A had a Reuben sandwich) we walked to Newton park and had a good play session with the kids.

After bidding farewell to our Afri-American friends we did a spot of shopping - the New Balance Factory  is in Boston so we visited that - I got running socks and some running shorts - and Nathaniel got his first pair of tackies/trainers, for next year when he is walking well. Then we went to the airport to collect Andrew's sister Edie, who had flown in fro Chicago to come spend the week-end with us and see us all. Yay! (I met her last time too, and her hubby Fred was recently in SA and also stayed with us).

Then it was time to head to MIT (yes THE MIT!! Eeeek. *geekgasm*) to go see Dan (Becky & Jon's son, who came to SA with his girlfriend Adina in Jan and stayed with us) - who was just about to graduate from the Boston Conservatory with a Masters Degree as a conductor!  - conduct the opening night of the MIT Gilbert & Sullivan players group in their production of Utopia Limited.

It was one of the oddest theatre events I have been to and started off rather strange. Nathaniel was hilarious at first and was mimicking the acting and singing on stage. The show turned out to be very well acted, with excellent music and was very entertaining. I loved it. We then all headed back to Becky & Jon's house for the night.

On Saturday it was my turn to get up early. So at the crack of dawn on a chilly spring morning Nathaniel and I went for a long (4-5km) walk around the neighbourhood. Looking at all the beautiful houses and spring flowers in bloom. Becky was hosting a family open-house for us that day so over the course of the day various aunts, uncles, cousins etc streamed in. I lost track of how many came but it was easily 20. All came bearing gifts for Nathaniel. He was very spoiled. Lucky boy. He loved all the attention he got. It turned out to be a gorgeous warm day too so lovely to be outside on the lawn. I went for a drive with Jon to get coffee, as one does in the states, and he showed me a bit more of the general area including a small lake. So pretty.

Soon enough the afternoon wound down into the evening and only a few visitors were left over and we settled in to have a BBQ dinner of steak and burgers. Eventually a huge chocolate mousse cake arrived with a cousin (who is a chef) and then Jon brought out his 'moonshine' and all I can remember is we got quite festive and everything was very funny after that. :)

Sunday morning I surprisingly felt quite chirpy and keen to run, so off I went. I decided to be adventurous and see if I could find the place Jon had shown me, and I did. I made my way to the lake. Then instead of turning back and retracing my route I decided I could do a loop, even though I had no idea where to actually go.... I do tend to have a good sense of direction though so wasn't too worried. I was 'lost' for a short while though and ended up on the wrong side of a high way. Once I saw a land mark I knew on the other side I actually ran over the highway and climbed over the centre barricade - convinced I was going to be chased down, caught and arrested! LOL. Anyway I eventually found my way back, and went way further than I had expected to, 15km!

Then it was time to head into Boston city to take a look around. Edie, Jon, his 'little brother' Carter, A, Nathaniel and I piled into the car and headed out on a stunning day. Boston centre was full of people. It transpired that a huge charity walk was taking place so parking was nigh impossible to find.

After driving up and down in the Beacon Hill area an exclusive old styled area right in Boston  - which is stunning - we finally found parking and walked over to the park via part of the Freedom Trail where we saw a couple of cemeteries and Independence fighter Patriot's memorials etc.

Loads of people were out and about enjoying the day and exploring the city. We strolled through the Boston Common enjoying the scenery and view of the magnificent Massachusetts State House Building. We also crossed over to the Boston Public Garden to go look at the cute 'Swan Boats' on the lake and the Bronzed 'Make Way For Ducklings' Ducks. Jon also pointed out the TV show CHEERS's pub which is across the road from the park, and then we walked on to the Washington statue and all around the garden. 

By that time we were all hungry so we walked towards China Town, stopping at place that sold Pizza slices, where we had a delicious pizza slice. (Carter had a huge delicious burger). Jon knew a Chinese place around the corner who's toilets we could use, so it was dubbed 'Take  a Dumpling' hence forth. :). 

After browsing in China Town we walked on towards the site of the Boston Tea Party. There is a replica of the ships and re-enactments happen for tour groups, and you can of course stop for tea too. We carried on and walked past the aquarium, pausing to see the seals playing, and then on to Faneuil hall, to Paul Revere's (the famous patriot) House and the Old North Church.

By that time we were more than ready for a break and stopped at a coffee shop for a cappuccino and cannoli. Which was my first time ever trying a cannoli... Aside: We did try to get into Mike's Pastry (which seems to be Boston's equivalent of Cake Bosses' Carlo's, but the queue was around the block, so we settled on somewhere quicker and quieter. So back to the cannoli. I thought it would be like a brandy snap with cream. Instead it was more like a Chinese restaurant bow-tie and cheesecake. It was tasty, but not necessarily my favourite thing ever. Certainly worth trying though!

Once we'd had a rest we walked on to the Union Oyster House. And the New England Holocaust Memorial, which was incredibly sad and moving. I think it is probably impossible not to walk through it without shedding a tear. It is a stark reminder of the atrocities of WWII. The Jon ducked into Union Oyster House to get us some authentic New England Clam Chowder, and corn bread. 

We shared this under Sam Adams' statue, where Dapper Dan appeared all suave and smart in his Tux, having just conducted a matinee of Utopia Limited. So he joined us for the next part.

So we carried on past some interesting bronzed trash set into the road at an intersection - apparently an art installation - it is weirdly beautiful, and back past Faneuil Hall and to the site of the Boston Massacre. Where Carter and I played dead.

We then went through Pi Alley. (Unremarkable) and finally back to the car! That was a LONG WALK!!

But we were not done yet... From there we went on to Dan & Adina's apartment in East Boston, which has the most amazing view over the water to the city. Wow. 

We visited there for a bit and then it was time to start heading homeward, but not before visiting  John F Kennedy Memorial Park in Harvard Square (yes THE HARVARD! Eeeek!). A used to work near here in his early career and was inspired by JFK quotes. This one in particular...

Of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us - recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state - our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions - were we truly men of courage . . . were we truly men of judgment . . . were we truly men of integrity . . . were we truly men of dedication?

John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)

Finally the day was done and we went home pretty much ready for bed!

And with that, our stay in Boston wound to an end, we just had time for one more run in the morning and then some packing up and a last playtime on the floor, before we said our goodbyes and headed to the airport with Edie. She went back to Chicago and we flew on to Palm Beach Florida.

On to part 3 -Meeting Grandpa!

Facebook photo album here.

Other news. Work related.

On the work front, I have been working at my current place of work since Nov ( since baby N was 10 weeks old) as an Independent Contractor. Things have been a bit up and down as the big project I was hired for was suddenly cancelled a month after I started, so it wasn't certain I'd be kept on. I have kept going and doing what I can from month to month to see how it would pan out, keeping my options open in case I need to move on....

So I had to do a COPAS (Cognitive Potential Assessment) test on Monday at work, as I was being considered for a promotion to head of the PMs and to possibly transition to a perm position. Noting that several other perms and internal BEE candidates applied too. (I didn't even actually apply formally as I was away at the time the opening ran officially, but my manager asked if I wanted to be in the running and I said yes).

I enjoyed the assessment but it was challenging! ESPECIALLY since I still felt brain dead from jet-lag, teething baby not sleeping and the on-set of a bout of flu and climbing the mountain after running a race the day before too!

Anyway I did it, but the time went by so flipping fast. First round had 30 questions and I only got to about 25 of them before time was up and some I had skipped over, so I reckon I left out between 6-8 answers out of 30. That's a LOT!!! On the second half there were 15 questions and I zoomed through those so I got to all of them, but thought I may have rushed and made silly mistakes. Anyway the feedback was that my results were 'exceptionally good' showing both 'excellent current cognitive powers but also excellent potential'. Woohoo!

So I have been offered the position, and it will probably imply me transitioning to a permanent employee too. I just need to sit with HR to see if we can come to an agreement wrt to package and structure etc.

Nie te kak nie!

USA Trip: Taking Nathaniel to his Paternal Roots. Part 1 - Getting There!

So I had an opportunity to go to the states again! Last time I went I was just pregnant with Nathaniel and right in the throes of morning sickness, which really limited my ability to enjoy the trip, we were also very thwarted by the polar vortex so our plans to visit NYC were completely blown.

I was grateful to have gone and to have go the chance to meet A's mom though, as she passed away suddenly about 6 weeks later.

Anyway I was fortunate enough to get a second opportunity to go a few weeks ago, when A suggested I take Nathaniel over to meet up with him there after he attended a conference.

So we have just done 7 flights in 2 weeks, visiting 4 states and staying in 3 different homes with an 8 month old baby who popped out 2 teeth and really got into the swing of eating while we were away. Talk about extreme travelling!

The first 3 flights were just Nathaniel and I. I was rather nervous, not knowing if he'd travel well. He is NOT great at all in the car and tends to protest and yell for the whole trip. I must say he was amazing on the planes. Although he was in-arms almost all the time he really didn't fuss or cry at all. (I can't say I got much sleep at all though). I  had to eat all my meals with one hand, either holding a sleeping baby in the other, or holding a squirmy eager to try everything baby. If you don't know how to do baby lead weaning, or don't know how to start your child on new foods, try sitting in a plane for 24 hours. Sorted. He tried everything, whether I wanted him to or not!

The first flight was from Cape Town to Amsterdam. The flight took ages to leave and although we were meant to leave at 11pm I think we were at least an hour later. So when we got to Schipol the next morning, and walked off the plane to hear the next flight we were booked on boarding at the next gate - and we did not yet have boarding passes! - I had to gallop around to find a transfer desk to help get us on that flight! It was a rushed crazy panic, but we finally got on - second last to board. If the gates were not right next to each other and our boarding passes were not issued right there at the boarding we would never have made it, I had elected NOT to travel with a stroller and just took his infant car seat which I checked in as luggage. 

We were stuck in a rather cramped window seat on the second flight from Amsterdam to JFK, but there was a friendly man next to me who was interesting to chat to, and didn't seem to mind being next to a baby or breastfeeding lady.  So the flight was not too bad He gave me some good advice as to how to navigate JFK airport as I knew my next connection was also pretty tight.

*Aside: I watched 2 movies on the flight both of which I highly recommend. The first was 'The Theory of Everything' about the Life of Stephen Hawking. It was very well made. I loved it. The other is 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' which is a nice lighter, but profound, moving and amusing tale of a psychologist who sets out to find out what/where happiness is and how to find it. My best line was 'Avoiding unhappiness is not the path to happiness.'. Good to remember that one!

Anyway we arrived in JFK and were told we had to collect luggage and clear customs there. They then proceeded to load 3 different flight's luggage on 1 carousel, so there were people and luggage everywhere. Luggage was falling and piling up everywhere and there were mobs of people.... my luggage was nowhere to be seen. We looked and waited for AGES. I asked someone and was told to keep waiting, even if I missed my connecting flight.... I eventually found a more official lady who looked on a computer and discovered our luggage had indeed not even made t onto the second flight and was instead on it's way to DETROIT. Oh joy. She told me to run to try to make my flight and that the luggage would be sent somehow.

I just had our African Baby Carrier with us, which I had tested out on a hike up the back of Table Mountain a couple of days before. It had proved itself to be comfortable, functional and practical. Again I would not have been able to gallop around and move as fast or easily without this great carrier.

So I nonchalantly cleared customs, at pace with a baby on my pack and NO luggage (not suspicious at all), and ran through the airport trying to figure out where to go to find my next flight. We waited in a super long queue ran up and down some more and finally ended up on a bus to the next terminal. Whew sorted. Until the damn bus stopped in the middle of no where.... and just stayed there. We all slowly started suffocating and sweating, and we just SAT. And sat. I despaired ever getting to the flight and was about to have a meltdown when the bus moved, parked and finally let us off. I shoved past the crowd and ran through the terminal getting to the gate just in time to board (again). Whew. Nathaniel was a star quietly sitting on my back and either sleeping or just being calm and content. Winner baby!

I barely remember that 3rd flight but it was really short. Soon we touched down in Boston and were there. I was met there by A's 2 sisters Beck & Marcia, who I already 'knew' via some web chats. They helped us to figure out the luggage situation. We were assured that our luggage would eventually arrive and would be sent to the house when it did, and they loaned us an infant seat to use in the mean time. Eventually we were taken back to Becky's house where we were staying. It was 28-hours since we'd left home in Cape Town.

After chatting and having dinner Nathaniel and I had much needed bath. Luckily I had spare clothing for him, and I loaned some clothes from Becky and before I knew out I had passed out while putting Nathaniel to bed. Only to wake up the next morning to discover A had arrived during the night and had woken up and taken the baby downstairs to play so I could sleep in. BLISS. Also it was my birthday which I had completely forgotten about by then. So when I went down to breakfast there were gifts. :) 

We had a yummy bagel breakfast, and fruit, and pop tarts too. Cos well, when in the states all you do is eat! It is really hard not to as there is SO much food, and as many options and choices everywhere and it all looks good. And a lot of the time it's relatively inexpensive too. Especially the fast foods.

For the rest of the day A drove us around Framingham (the area he grew up in), showing us notable places from his past. We also went to an amazing supermarket which had an incredible variety of amazing foods. It was quite something. We got some lobster salad, crab cakes, quinoa and kale fritters and chocolate chip cookies for a decadent lunch there. We also got some delicious apples. America does apples well and there were SO MANY to chose from. Wow.

When we got back, I went for a 10km run around the neighbourhood of Westborough. Although it was pretty chilly spring was clearly in the air and there were new shoots, flowers and blossoms everywhere. I found and followed the nature trail through the woods and along a stream. I really love running where ever I go, it's a fabulous way to explore and experience a place. You see, hear, smell and feel so much more than you ever would just driving through. You also get to see and greet people and just feel like a local. It's great.

After the run Becky hosted a 'Thanksgiving Dinner' for us. Complete with Turkey, Cranberry, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes and Gravy etc. Wow, what an honour and treat! Sister Marcia and cousin (?) Janet attended that too.

More in Part 2...

There is a photo album with more trip photos on Facebook here

How to do Baby Lead Weaning

Whether you want to or not...

​Take your 8 month old baby, who has to date eaten ONLY small quantities of organic baby puree and of only limited fruits and veg  - most of it home made - a few tea spoonfuls once or twice a day at most, and take them across the world on 7 flights and to 4 states in the US in just 2 weeks. Afterwards your little one will have tasted pretty much everything you have eaten, whether you wanted them to or not!

You try to sit on a plane with an awake and alert and very interested baby on your lap and try to eat your meal without sharing!

New things he has

​ 

​now ​had include:

• Puffs
  
• Cheerios
  
• Avo
  
• Tomato
  
• Apple
  
• Watermelon
  
• Grapes
  
• Quinoa
  
• Kale
  
• Eggs (omelet and scrambled)
  
• Bagels
  
• Cream Cheese
  
• Cheddar & Gouda Cheese
  
• Yogurt
  
• Pretzel
  
• Bread Roll
  
• Crackers (Goldfish, Saltine, Water)
  
• Chicken
  
• ​Clam Chowder​
  
• Burger Pattie
  
• Peanut Butter
  
• Pizza 
  
• Lobster
  
• Crab
  
• Dim Sum
  
• Cookie
  
• Ice-Cream 
  
• ​Cannoli​
  
• Juice 
  

There may be more, but that's all I can think of now.

I didn't give him chocolate, coffee​, alcohol​

​ 

or

​ 

​fizzy drinks​ though!

I tried to give him a jar of baby carrot and chicken puree on the plane on the way home yesterday. He looked at me lik​​e 'Bitch please? What's this pasty tast​l​ess crap!?' ;)

**Disclaimer: He'll go back to eating his normal healthy home-cooked food from today. So I am not going to defend any of the above if any judgey-mac judgeys come out on the attack about this. Yes I know it was a huge variety of not necessarily nutritious stuff in a short space of time. Most of those things were literally just little tastes on my finger though, or a small piece to gnaw on while we ate a meal. He ate those squishy squeeze bags of the baby food for his main meals while we were away (apples, pears, berries, mango, carrots, spinach, broccoli etc). He cut 2 teeth while we were away and has another 2 coming soon.