Adventures in Mommyhood

What was I thinking? Okay, I know what I was thinking. I was thinking I would just stroll around the outlet stores with my toddler and newborn in tow, while visiting with my friend and her baby girl. I'd buy a smashing new outfit. And shoes. I need new shoes. Plus, my friend is moving to California in two weeks, so I wanted to spend time with her. We were in for a wonderful day of shopping, friendship and laughter.

I actually managed to get the boys ready and out the door, albeit five minutes late. Kyle had a full tummy and a clean diaper. Blake was a happy camper. Everything was going pretty well until I pulled out of my driveway. I should have known things might go downhill from the insane Friday traffic along the way. Five minutes late turned into fifteen. But my sweet friend was cool about it and started strolling through the stores without me while she waited.

I pulled into a parking spot and strapped the boys into our new sit n stand stroller. So far so good. Someone opened the door to the Gap outlet for me. That was nice. Thank you! Whoa, there were a lot of people in there. Suddenly the sit n stand seemed like a land yacht. It maneuvered really well, but it was still huge and in the way.

My friend came out of the dressing room and we tried to browse a little bit. From what I saw, the clothes were really cute, and I looked forward to using my 20% off coupon on some clothes that actually fit my postpartum body. (I haven't exactly been dressing at the height of fashion lately.)

Blake dropped his monster truck. I picked it up. There you go, Honey. Let me get back to flipping through these tops. Clunk. Oh, you dropped your sippy cup. That's okay. Oops, the yacht's in that girl's way. Sorry, let me move that. The baby starts crying in his car seat. Ack. Why is he crying? (Remember, he's clean and fed.) I slip a binky into his mouth but it's not pacifying him. Maybe if I get this show on the road and start walking he'll settle down.

Hmmm. What about the clothes I was going to try on? Yeah right. Maybe I should just buy them and try them on at home? That's a really long line. Baby crying. Nevermind. I put away the clothes and my friend decides she doesn't want the clothes she was looking at anyway... so we go for a stroll outside.

Baby is still crying so we go to the restrooms to see if we can find a baby changing station. He must be wet. We get to the changer but he's stopped crying and upon closer inspection, he isn't wet. Okay, I need to find a place to nurse him. My friend said we could go to get something to eat at the food court, so we cruise on over there. Did I mention how many people there are? We open the doors to the food court (a feat itself) and notice how packed it is. Hardly an open table in sight, and the lines are long. Maybe this isn't such a good idea.

My friend had just one item she was shopping for, so we head over to her store. Kyle's starting to cry again, so I wait outside for her and look for a free bench in the shade to sit on and try to nurse him. Suddenly Blake is whining and wants down. He's pointing to something behind me. Oh brother. I had the great wisdom and foresight to sit on a bench by a group of ride-on toys. By this point, Kyle is just ticked. This just isn't working. So I go into the store and tell my friend I'm sorry, but I have to leave. She understands and hopes we can get together again soon. I feel terrible for wasting her time.

I set off at a fast clip toward my van, which is parked on the opposite end of the outlet stores. Kyle's crying hysterically as I angle around oncoming shoppers. We finally arrive at our van and I get the boys settled. As I click Kyle's car seat into its base, intending to get him out to nurse, he quiets down, so I make a quick decision to drive home without feeding him. He falls asleep on the way to Hermitville. Home sweet home.