3.30.09

Written last week... just now getting around to posting...

Yesterday Lilly and I had our first big shopping adventure. This week is Daddy’s Spring Break, so I packed up the babe and left the house so he could have the day to himself. HAHAHA. OK, not really. He volunteered to clean the house from top to bottom in preparation for Lilly’s Baby Dedication on Sunday. But, as any parent knows, a house to yourself is a house to yourself—even if you ARE cleaning in that house all by yourself!

I was a little nervous about how the day would unfold, with feedings, diaper changes, fussiness in stores, the hour drive to the outlets each way… a potty break for mom??? We left the house at about 10:30, after a bottle, and arrived at the outlets a little over an hour later. I changed Lilly, got the stroller all set, rigged up the diaper bag on the handle and off we went! Our first stop was Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma. I figured we’d do the most breakable store first, while she was still fascinated and happy, which would mean Mommy was focused and not distracted (read: running into to glass vases with her clumsy stroller). (Actually, the stroller is not clumsy—it’s great! It’s the Combi Flare stroller frame and works wonderfully! I still love my Peg Perego stroller, but this one is much more conducive to narrow aisles, turns on a dime, and fits more shopping bags down below!)

By 1:30ish, we’d reached the Food Court and I made the executive Mommy decision to wake the sleeping baby and feed her while we were at a good stopping point. I even tackled the public restroom without a hitch! Although it is a little odd taking care of business with your baby watching onJ For some reason I found it more odd than slinging her on my shoulder whilst businessing like we did in the early days. Ohhh, the early days.

Once while at J.Crew I held a shirt up for Lilly and asked if she liked it. The little diva baby SMILED... and it was a done deal. We may be a dangerous pair, that's all I'm saying.

We continued on and shopped til we dropped. I finally called it a day and even by-passed The Children’s Place in order to hit the road. I’d like to say it was solely for the benefit of Lilly, but I won't lie, I had spent TOO much money by that point and knew I was flirting with danger by stepping inside one more store.

We did have to make a stop to change Lilly's diaper on the way home. And then again to eat. And then again because I forgot to buckle the carseat harness. Yes, you read that correctly. I let my infant sleep with multiple blankets, I tether plastic chain links to the bottom of dining room chairs and I forget to buckle the carseat. No worries-- I was horrified with myself enough that I don't think I'll be making that mistake ever again. Moving right along.

It was a GREAT day! And when we got home, the house looked fantastic! We sure are a couple of lucky girls:)