A hot meal with a young baby (eating out)

When Bobble was little, I had an infant car seat that I took in places. It took up a lot of space and he always ended up nursing at some point anyway, so he never stayed in it. I frequently would hold the baby while my food went cold, then hand the baby to hubby while I ate.

I missed hot meals.

I know that hot meals are a luxury as a mom. I've heard this. I've known this. I still missed them.

When I had Squiggle, I realized there is an easier way. Sure, when the child can sit up in the booster or high chair it's easier.... but there is a way before they are big enough, too!

It's sooooo simple!

STAGGER. THE. ORDER.

Before going in, hubby and I would decide who was the hungriest. They ate first. We would tell the waiter/waitress that we want to stagger the order, and the person eating first would order. When the food came out, the person holding the baby would order their meal. That was generally enough time for the first person to eat most, if not all, of their food.

Baby stays happy.

Everyone has a hot meal.

WIN!

I wish I thought of that with my first. We rarely eat out, but those few times we do, hot meals are appreciated.

I hope this simple idea helps another family enjoy hot meals.

Helping Out

I've found that Bobble, who will be THREE this month *faint*, is better behaved when he is helping out with Squiggle (or in general). Granted, he's nearly 3, so he's pretty crazy as it is... but still. He wants to help with everything right now, so I've been trying to find more ways to include him.

• Diaper Laundry - he folds the wipes (actually folds them instead of balling them up, finally!)
• Regular Laundry - he searches for socks and stacks them in a nice pile (if the laundry is clean), and he helps carry the basket to the room (he gets one end, I get the other. 
• If the laundry is dirty, he takes it by the armful out to the laundry room.
• Diaper Changes - he is in charge of keeping Squiggle happy (which is actually a great help because she keeps her hands away from her diaper area when he's on his stool talking to her!) and picking out the new diaper.
• This gets tricky because he wants so badly to clean her off and put the new diaper on (which I let him try once, but ... yeah. not yet.) 

Do you have a little one that wants to help but isn't very "helpful"? What are your tricks to getting them to help (while not messing up what you're doing)?