Highchairs & Hand Grenades

Today is a shortened day at the game studio. Normally we get out a little early on a Friday that is right before a holiday weekend so we can get out and beat the traffic as well as have a bit of an award for working hard up to that point. It's a great thing to get let out of work early and I don't think there is a single person here that scoffs at the nice gesture either.

I know you are thinking to yourself, who in the heck would do such a thing when they are getting let out from work early and at the same time being paid for it. Trust me, when you work at a big corporation like this and get awesome things all of the time there will always be those that get to a point that they don't fully appreciate things and have become jaded.

Sure, as of now I have worked at this company for just over 13 years and still in no-way turn a cheek when it comes to these things. Some of the events I do occasionally not look forward to as much and probably always will, but that is more about me wanting to do something at work vs. the event. Usually its more often if its something I have little to no interest in.

Anyway, that is how today is going as far as work. A free lunch for everyone, some desert and hanging out with the teams followed by everyone being let off work early to start enjoying the weekend, hitting the rib cook-off or whatever they have planned.

Highchair

Last night after work I decided to not go for a ride and instead go out in the garage and put together the highchair for Zoey. It is the last item that was in the shed that still needed to be assembled once she was old enough and ready for it. I was happy to be putting it together but at the same time a little bummed knowing it meant that she was growing up so fast, just as everyone said she would.

Because of this I even made it a point to sit on the couch with her and hold her last bottle of the night for her and let her play with my hands and squeeze my fingers as she ate. I know that the days of her wanting to sit with daddy like that are limited so I want to enjoy them as much as I can.

This morning she had 2 new things to look forward to. The first was that she was going to use her new highchair and the second was that she was done with her 3 days of avocados and was now moving on to something new, sweet potatoes! I am happy to report that both things were a success and she did awesome. The highchair worked wonderful for her, she seemed comfortable and enjoyed the new view while eating.

The sweet potatoes did not produce any weird faces or turning of the head when a bite was heading her direction. Instead, she was opening up wide in anticipation of each one and getting very excited once it was in her mouth. She is still a little fussy during the first part of spoon feeding but that is mostly because she is so hungry when she wakes up and a bottle hits her belly much faster.

She does get a bottle once she is done with her pureed food so that has not changed, only the amount in the bottle. Boy is she excited too when she is done and notices that one of us has the bottle in our hand and we are heading toward her. She will start really kicking that left leg like she does when excited and holding her arms out as far as she can to grab the bottle. It's so damn cute that there is no good way to put it into words.

So yea, as I said she did really good and we look forward to feeding her and seeing how much she is growing mentally and physically. Watching her start to recognize things around her, understanding what this or that does is an adventure ride that I never want to step off of. I am so happy to have such a beautiful, healthy daughter and I hope she always knows that she means the world to me!

Oh and as far as the "hand grenades" in the title. That is only because I don't think that I have seen a child, in a highchair, simply eating and patiently chewing their food before the next bite handful goes in. Generally they are throwing food like hand grenades and playing between bites. I can't blame them, honestly it looks like a heck of a lot of fun!

With That

I think that will be it for this entry. I am typing this one while at work while everyone has either left for the day or is staying a little extra to make up for some time they may have missed earlier in the week. I have not eaten lunch yet and we were hoping to go have Indian food but it will be too late because they close up at 2 or 2:30 to get the place ready for the dinner customers.

I want to try and go for a bike ride tonight but was also invited to go to a scrimmage football game that my nephew has at the high school by home. I would really like to go see him play but at the same time I really would like to go for a ride because I did not go last night. No matter I will see what Cicely would like to do and go from there. It's always fun watching him play, he has gotten really good over the years and I only ever get to see a game or so at the most.

Right now I need to finish up this entry quickly and get my butt out of here and call this week complete. Of all things we are having fire alarm testing going on in the studio and it's annoying as heck! Maybe I will go ahead and start the weekend a little early after-all, this noise and flashing lights is giving me a headache and I know the place is not on fire!

Have a great weekend if you are off of work for a few days! Keep an eye out on anyone riding bikes around your area, heck everywhere actually. You can do us much more harm than we can do you so think of that tidbit in your haste of trying to whip past us for no good reason.

Photo: Great way to end the week! A 2 for one margarita happy hour deal at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.