Textures

We're working on introducing textures to Natalie. Today she had "stage 3" baby food for the first time, which has soft chunks in it. She did ok with the whole peas in the puree, but not so well with the cubes of potatoes, even after Sarah mashed them. She also has been not doing as well with the sippy cup lately...she wants to chew it more than drink it. She does drink well from a regular cup, with no top...but she obviously can't self-feed with an open cup, so we're working on a sippy cup.

Parking at CHOC is often a bear...I try to arrive 10-15 minutes early so I can circle the lot several times and find a spot, without having to go to the (free) valet parking on the second floor of the lot. There isn't a protected sidewalk to push a stroller down from the second floor...I just have to go against traffic in the regular car lane. I often see people making a parking spot on the first floor where one doesn't exist, so today that spot was empty and I parked there. After I unloaded the kids, someone who was also cruising for a spot slowed and told me "they" give tickets for parking there. I asked if they themselves got the ticket and they said it was someone else. I thanked them but went inside anyway...after all, I'd just gotten Natalie in the stroller and Lukas out and I was secretly suspicious that they wanted the spot. As I was walking in, I looked at my watch and thought I should have waited for a real spot, since there was so much time left until her appointment. So I went in and got our badges, used the ATM, then came back out to the car. As I entered the lot I saw someone loading her car and mentioned I had to move my car and I'd like her spot, if she's still there when I leave. I put Natalie in the back of the van (in her stroller), Lukas in his carseat without the straps (bad mom!) and came back to the spot and the lady was being nonchalant so as not to get anyone to stop and wait for the spot, and then when she saw me, she got in the car and let me have the spot. What a nice lady! Usually I am rushing around so much and nice things like that don't happen.