Tuesday, May 01, 2007

boob + poo + barf = date night!

The weather in Ottawa was pretty miserable for the better part of last week. Raining and grey. So when the sky cleared up, and the sun shined brightly on Sunday afternoon...we quickly grabbed the diaper bag, Hudson, and even Bosco, and jumped in the car. We had no end destination in mind. No set plans. We just started driving. It was sunny, we had the windows rolled down, the music on...the perfect Sunday drive. We decided to drive to a little town just outside of Ottawa. It's by the water...cute and quaint. Unfortunately, we realized that we had forgotten the stroller, so a nice, leisurely walk was out of the question (the little Raspberry is friggen heavy in his carseat). We wound up driving past this nice Italian restaurant with a nice sunny patio. Rob asked the waiter if they would mind having a dog on the patio. He said "no problem", so we parked the car and got everyone out. Since we hadn't planned this "outing", we were dressed pretty casually. And the restaurant was pretty "fine" dining. Oh well, what can you do?!? There was only one other table occupied, with two guys, one in a wheelchair (this is being mentioned because it is relevant later in my story). We sat down, tied up Bosco, perched Hudson's car seat on the table, and ordered some drinks. This was turning out to be a great evening. Our FIRST dinner at a nice restaurant since Hudson was born. Then...ow...I got my first mosquito bite of the season. But who cares...it's sunny, we're on a patio, sipping a yummy cranberry juice...when...the familiar sound...of Bosco gagging. Oh my God, our dog is throwing up on the restaurant's beautiful BRAND NEW wood patio!!! We felt so bad. I tried to clean it up by throwing my water on the pile of puke. It just made it runnier...with ice cubes floating in it. Great. We apologize to the waiter. He is so nice about it. We ask him for some paper towels so we can clean it up. He says he will hose down the patio after we leave. Rob still tries to clean some of it up...with babywipes. The best we can do with what we've got. I get mosquito bite two and three. Then Hudson doesn't want to be in his carseat anymore. So he gets to sit in papa's lap. He starts getting a little fussy, and we realize that it's about time for him to be eating too. I whisk him to the car to nurse him before our food arrives. Get to the car, get comfy in the backseat...when I realize he's done a poo. And the diaper bag is on the patio. So I get out...get the diaper bag...change him in the tiny backseat of our Honda Civic...nurse him...return to the table...where Rob's almost done his meal. I take a few bites of my very mediocre meal (so disappointing)...then get mosquito bite four and five. Then the creme-de-la-creme...the table next to us gets up to leave. Bosco sees the guy in the wheelchair and starts barking his head off at him. Our dog doesn't like things that are out of his "norm". Guy sitting at table = normal. Guy wheeling away in wheelchair = not normal = bark like crazy. We apologize to the guy. He is also so nice about it. Oh Boy it's time to leave. We ask the waiter to pack up my uneaten dinner and Rob goes into the restaurant to pay, while I wait in the car with the boys. I tell Rob not to forget my food. He comes back empty handed. And as soon as we realize...there is the waiter...walking my leftovers to our car! The customers from hell. We compensated by leaving him a 30% tip. The least we could do for someone who had to clean up our dog barf off their BRAND NEW deck!!! We laughed about our "first" date (as parents) disasters on the ride home. Rob accurately said "That's what being a family is all about".

Pukey dog, poopy hungry baby, half-eaten meals...somehow it was still a fun night...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love it! I have a few stories of my own to share. At least you will always remember your first date as a family.

nat

Anonymous said...

We learned pretty quickly that bringing baby on a date isn't so relaxing...just wait until Hudson wants to crawl everywhere. Enjoy taking him out while you can! I wish we would have done it more before it was too late.

Audrey said...

Funny story Sister. You had the time and energy to type that post up?! Great job.

Shannon said...

Catchy title, and simply explains it all. Very funny story, yet one you will probably cherish for a very long time.

Anonymous said...

Very funny story...I personally cannot wait until Hudson goes on his first plane ride...maybe he will give the performance that will beat Peyton out of the running for "Child that has as many passengers wanting to throw them off the plane as possible"...we'll see......

Unknown said...

I read this at work where I could not stop laughing...almost rolled to the floor.. You should be a writer!

And this is why we have only ventured to a restaurant as family twice since Keira was born! lol.

Yet when our babysitter goes out for coffee/meal with Keira in tow, she is good as gold. huh.

You need to have your own column in a national newspaper! barf, poop and beyond.

Chantal

Cindy said...

Yeah we went out for lunch with Tristan and hubby's parents and he decided for the first time to not adhere strictly to his 4 hour schedule and cry the whole time. Fun. There were some not very happy looking people in that restaurant. Oh well.

Unknown said...

Hey Joyce,

Just needed to update Keira's blog: here is the new link if you'd like to relink, http://keiramaeluau.blogspot.com/.

Keep these hilarious posts coming..

C