Dining Out

There probably isn't a more white-knuckle experience for a new parent than to go out to dinner for the first time toting the little one. We spend 75% of our lives rolling our eyes at the table with the screaming kid, and now we tempt having the cross-hairs of loathing fixed squarely on ourselves.
It wasn't even my idea. The middle of Saturday, Kathy came up and decided she was having a craving for the blue cheese crumble wedge salad at BJ's Brewhouse by the Parks Mall. Pregnancy had cut her off from blue cheese and now she was ready to OD. We actually took about 20 seconds to review whether Kathy's mom would be up to seeing her beautiful grandson for an hour or two, as we greedily plotted to throw in a trip to Costco or Target into the mix. But ... with sly grins, we both knew it was time to get initiated into bringing him along. The only other trip we'd gone on with him was to Brent & Courtney's house for Parker's second birthday party - not only a controlled family environment, but a kid-friendly home with family expected to be tolerant of a screaming baby. But, a date with John Q. Public was a new one.
Kole was about an hour away from his next feeding, and we sprinted into action around the house to head it off like we'd just got some red-alert that the President was popping in for a visit. I showered and changed ... Kathy got the diaper bag ready ... I eventually made some adjustments to his car seat carriage that I had been putting off before ... it was a mad scramble all around the house. Finally Kathy began feeding him and the house hit a lull. As soon as he was done and groggy - into the car he would go, hopefully fall asleep from the car ride, then everything would go peacefully at the restaurant. We even did a diaper change at the burp intermission, just to be sure.
After he was done Kathy announced "I think he's getting drowsy", and it was on. I put him in his car seat then into the car and got it running with the air blowing. We got on our way and he never really fell asleep. He was alert and seems to enjoy car rides. At BJ's, we took the big entrance - everyone taking a peak in the car seat, pointing and goo-gooing at Kole. At the table we got the sling basket to put him car-seat-and-all into. Kathy and I eventually giggled at ourselves, nervously watching him out of the corners of our eyes instead of just relaxing and talking about whatever. Waiting for him to erupt. But, he slept at first. Our waitress made a point to say that we were "lucky" he was sleeping, and was otherwise disinterested with the presence of a newborn baby at the table. When she left I told Kathy I'll wait to feel lucky when we're heading out the doors. We had the first booth next to the bathrooms, so Kole got lots of rubbernecking traffic - including one near collision between a distracted, admiring woman heading for the loo and a rushing waiter crossing in her path.
Eventually the food came, we got a few bites in, then the feet started kicking underneath his blanket. Eyes open. No crying yet, but we're familiar with the routine. Soon enough, some squawks and grunts. We scarfed down what we could then asked for to-go containers. We took turns holding him when light groans and whines came along. It wasn't full-blown "I'm hungry", and was still far from a pissed off tirade from a 3-year-old who wants more cherries in his Coke. The stares we got from neighboring tables were actually accompanied with smiles, as everyone saw how tiny and new Kole was and how innocent the crying was. By the time he was back in his car seat and we were leaving he was back quiet again. In the car, he was unimpressed by the ride. He let loose and made an ear-shattering disagreement to be dragged along into a Target. So, we headed straight home then I made the store runs afterwards.
Overall - nothing tragic, no big scene made, no big poops that needed addressing. We barely tasted the food and were still throwing high-5s back at the house.