Wednesday 2 May 2012

Food Glorious Mess


Having missed out on looking after little LHG the weekend before last, Giovanna brought him round promptly at quarter to nine on Saturday morning for another day of grandparenting.

‘What’s he having for lunch?’ I asked her, as she unfastened his pushchair straps. 'There’s a jar in the bag,’ she replied, ‘but he can probably have what you’re having.’ ‘I’ve got linguine left from last night,’ Apparently that was okay, as he’d already tried onion, garlic, tomatoes and lamb. Unusually, I’d added a tiny bit of fresh chilli (not in my father’s original recipe). He hadn’t had a go at that, but since I assured her it was only a little bit, Giovanna decided it would be okay.

Ten o’clock came, and with him yawning his head off it was an opportunity to try out the new travel cot (half price at a well known baby store!). I popped him in and went off to the bedroom to brush my hair. His plaintive wailing soon had me back in the room, comforting him and carrying him back downstairs. Perhaps he wanted some milk first, before a nap? I gave him to his Pa and went off to the kitchen to make a bottle. I’d just stuck it in some water to cool it down when Pa stuck his head round the door to say that LHG was fast asleep in the cot. Pa obviously has the magic touch.

It didn’t last long. Forty minutes later, the beginning of a moaning cry filtered down the stairs. I went up to find his nibs standing up against the cot, his bottom lip protruding as a single tear fell down his cheek. He had that accusing, how dare you leave me look that babies do so well.

With lunch time approaching, I left Luca with Pa and went out to mush up the linguine. Ever enthusiastic about food, Luca opened his mouth eagerly for the first spoonful. His mouth worked up and down slowly, scrunching his nose up. Mm, not sure about that. He refused the spoon twice before giving it another go. This went on until he grabbed the spoon off me and starting digging into the bowl for himself. He got the handle end into his mouth, but still managed to get some food. I went and found another spoon to speed up the process. By now he’d decided the funny tomatoey stuff with bits of pasta in was more than okay.

So, Nonna’s pasta was a hit. And little LHG is starting to feed himself. Oh, but the mess! He had it all over the tray, on his hands, up his arms, round his face, on the edge of the table against which he was sitting. Time to invest in a bigger bib, methinks. One of those plastic catcher bibs my children used to wear. Though I doubt that’ll even be big enough.