A Day for Banana Bread

Today I took David back to Dr. Mazow for a look at his eyes. Matt had a meeting, so Carmen tagged along and I tried not to act outnumbered. Once again, David began crying soon after the doctor entered the room. Hopefully by the time the two meet again (when David turns three), the doctor will have a fresh start on making him smile.

I like Dr. Mazow, anyway.

An hour later we left the office, with a relieved David in the Mei Hip and Carmen in the stroller busy making her kitty dance. But David still felt a little annoyed at the visit, and despite the window tint in the car the morning light still bothered his freshly-dilated eyes. So as I buckled him in his carseat he cried, and cried, and cried.

That happened last time, too. He was so bothered that Dr. Mazow had poked him in the eyes (twice! in each eye!) that he screamed all the way to the car, and then he screamed in the car, all the way down Bellaire Blvd.

Fortunately, Dr. Mazow's office isn't far from Whole Foods. I really think Whole Foods is C&D's favorite place, even more so than the Galleria or the George Ranch. Two weeks ago a screaming post-op David suddenly blinked and stopped crying as soon as he noticed he was in the Whole Foods parking lot.

Today, he didn't just stop crying, he smiled. We bought some fresh rolls, some fruit, and a kolache for me. We said good morning to our favorite employees and said hello to the Big Boy. We sat in the dining area while C&D each decimated a roll and a banana. While she was eating, Carmen traded with me her piece of banana for the peel in my hand, and then took a big bite of the peel. "Oh, I see," I told her. "You don't need me to peel it for you, anymore!" So I handed her a new banana, with the skin peeled back only a little, and she ate it very happily.

I'd better be careful, I might become useless.

Once home the babes napped, played, and then began to annoy each other by fighting over a pair of rhythm sticks (apparently I need another set). I needed to get ready for lunch, so I brought David into the kitchen with me. While I was clearing the table he grabbed the biggest, fattest Fuji apple from the sack of groceries I had just brought in and took a little David-bite out of it. Then later (with still no chance to put away the groceries) I found two pears and two bananas each with one David-bite, and a bruised orange in the hall. My groceries looked as if The Very Hungry Caterpillar had just come to visit.

There is a Ramona Quimby story about Ramona finding a crate of apples in her basement, and taking a bite out of each one. Her exasperated mother makes a big batch of applesauce to rescue the abused fruit.

I had better learn how to make applesauce.

But right now I'm going to make banana bread. My bananas have suddenly turned black.