Roses

Aoife picked a rose for Hugo. He decided the logical thing to do was put it in his bowl and eat it. Well try to at least. Yummy!

He also grabbed the marker she had left within reach and coloured his hand.

I hate markers. I think they might get ‘lost’ in the kitchen chaos. Crayons are so much nicer.

The happiest baby in ‘the nest’ award goes to…

Hugo!

I’ve been trying to get Hugo used to going to ‘the nest’ again after not going as often over the summer for various reasons. He had been doing ok but it was a bit hit and miss.

The last couple of months had been awful. He just found it really hard to settle until one day they took him out of the baby area and let him be near Aoife.

Well for the last week he has screamed when I leave, but by the time I am changed I can see him playing happily.

Today he didn’t even cry when I left him. He played so happily that the staff were stunned. They are used to having to hold him and cajole him. Today he just wanted to play.

They said he was the happiest baby they had had all day.

Aoife loved her ballet class so it was good all round!

Our kitchen is absolutely completely all gone….

said Aoife very excitedly to her friend Rebecca. She told Grandpop that we were getting rid of the ‘ugly, ugly cupboards’.

So here is the kitchen first thing this morning.

And here it is this afternoon. Tomorrow the false ceiling comes down!

Concert going etiquette

I left a screaming baby and went without dinner in order to get to the concert on time.

I was astounded at how many latecomers they were. Especially as when I had picked up my ticket I had been warned that there would be no late admissions- Dave Brubeck himself had requested this.

I got there a couple of minutes before 7 and there were huge lines of people waiting to get into the hall.

For most of the first half people were coming and going. The couple next to me both left the auditorium for periods of time. I can only assume to go to the bathroom- surely they could wait until the interval.

I had deliberately bought an aisle seat knowing that I was going to be pushing it time wise. I think a lot of people had problems parking as the Crossroads Mall no longer exists.  I heard lots of mutterings about horrendous parking. Oh the horror of having to find on street parking :)

The couple next to me didn’t come back for the second half. No I don’t smell!

People consistently clapped loudly in the wrong place. That really annoys me.

There was a man in the row in front of me that was on oxygen. When the music was quiet- which it was a lot in the second half- you could hear it pumping away.

I was amazed at the number of people coughing. I never understand that. If you have a cough stay home!

What really made me smile though was the second the music finished there was a mass exodus. People were clapping, cheering, shouting encore etc. It was obvious there would be an encore. The whole audience had got to their feet the second Dave Brubeck walked on stage, so in my mind there was no doubt people would demand an encore.

Sure enough the musicians came back. Of course all the people that had left then madly tried to get back to their seats. I couldn’t refrain from saying serves you right for rushing off’.

The music was fabulous. The introductions and banter from Dave was just brilliant. I now need to go and read up on why he was wearing ‘clown shoes’. He was helped on and off stage but wanted people to know he wasn’t a cripple but that he was wearing size 14 shoes and he has tiny feet. Apparently is is something to do with a foot injury…

Room with a view!

Hugo and I stayed overnight in the Salt Lake City Marriott ‘Downtown’ (as opposed to the ‘City Centre’ Marriott).

Upon check in I was assured that the concierge lounge was open and that they would be able to procure a high chair for Hugo without a problem.

I was tight for time and as the city centre is now a demolition site I had planned on eating the free hors d’oeuvres in the lounge for dinner whilst giving Hugo his food.

Unfortunately within seconds of entering the lounge we were told in no uncertain terms that we had to leave. Hugo was under 21 and they were serving liquor. I was astounded and pretty upset. Hugo protested too as he was hungry.

The staff were very pleasant and offered all manner of assistance but I was cross and upset and just wanted to get back to my room.

I was glad that I had brought Hugo’s stroller- I was at least able to feed him in it. I was thankful too that I had specifically bought a coupe of jars of baby food ‘just in case’. I had forgotten a spoon though so had to return to the lounge and get one. Cue more screaming from Hugo and stares from the people in the lounge.

I realised later that it must be a ‘Utah Liquor law’ issue. Aoife has been in plenty of concierge lounges without a problem. We’ve only ever stayed in Salt Lake on a weekend, when the lounge is closed. Hence we hadn’t encountered the issue before.

I had asked for the travel crib to be sent to my room immediately. I had kept Hugo awake all afternoon so that I could get to the concert at 7 and so needed him in bed by 6.45 at the latest.

I phoned down to remind them about the crib and it eventually turned up in time.

After the concert finished I went back to the lounge and had a glass of wine. Only then was I inspired with a solution to the problem. Under Utah law I have a protected right to breastfeed Hugo anywhere I am legally entitled to be. If I had been breastfeeding him they couldn’t have kicked me out.

I thought about trying that strategy at breakfast but decided it wasn’t worth the grief. Hugo and I went to Starbucks and amazingly they were able to make a decent cappuccino. Well the first time at least. It was so good that I ordered a second. That was a mistake…

As for the view- I had a room looking over what was the Crossroads Mall. I couldn’t resist getting some photos.