Can you blame me?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
we're moving!
So excuse us while we take a little leave of absence. There's a lot of packing and unpacking and cleaning and setting up to be done over the next several days. Although, somehow I think I might run into a few distractions along the way...
Friday, February 24, 2012
ten random things (v5)
Do y'all like these? Are you bored with it yet? It's a good little brain dump for me at the end of the week and I'm quite enjoying it :)
1. We're closing on our house next week! Woo to the Hoo! Can't wait to actually start LIVING in Connecticut.
2. Our first visitors are coming next week! Andrew's parents are awesome and have offered to come help with the move. However, I think the real story here is that they're coming to see a certain little cutie, but what do I know? ;)
3. Read this post about taking care of friendships. I'll wait....okay. While I'm a big believer in giving grace and second chances and I wish her friend didn't just write her off, the bottom line rang so true with me: you can't use the busyness of life to justify not giving a little TLC to your relationships. A very good reminder, indeed.
4. It snowed this morning. Yesterday, it was 60 degrees and my heart was all "I'm alive! I'm alive!" and then I woke up to a slushiness on the ground that just shut my heart right up. And then all these people down South are talking about how warm and beautiful it is. Here, let me stand really still so you can punch me in the gut.
5. We have a jabberer on our hands. Non-stop and it's pretty adorable. This one's for you, mama.
6. I'm meeting people! I joined a Bible study at a local church on Wednesday mornings and so far, I love it. The little escape is nice: free childcare, good conversation, women I can relate to. But still, every Wednesday there's a little internal battle about whether or not I want to go that morning. Don't ask me why, it doesn't make sense. But I've managed to quiet it (or God's managed to speak louder) and I always go. And never regret it.
7. Someone recommend some good books. I'm in the mood to read, but don't know where to start. I started the Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers, but I haven't been able to get into it so far. Any suggestions?
8. I got my nails did. Last Friday night, after a particularly stressful week, I was close to running away for good. So Andrew sent me off to get a mani/pedi while he handled the bedtime routine. It was awesome, y'all. I loved getting away and not worrying about when to get back. Also, I got a shellac manicure. Have you heard of this? Best ever. It's been a week and my nails look like I just left the salon.
9. We're planning on doing a little submarine watching. Our new neighborhood is just a few miles down the river from the sub base. And the park at the end of our street has the perfect little spot to watch the subs come in and out. We plan on watching Andrew's departures and returns from there. Cool, huh?
10. Pizza, pizza, pizza. I always liked pizza, but they're doing it right up here. I'd never really heard of this New Haven style pizza, but Y'ALL. It's good. I want to eat it every day forever and ever amen.
So there's that. Have a good weekend!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
stay-at-home (fill in the blank)
First, let me say this: I'm so thankful that I can stay home with my son.
It was something I started thinking about the day I found out I was pregnant. I was blessed to have a job where I could work from home, but that set-up also meant that I was pretty much stuck where I was - there wouldn't be any moving up or change of pace in any way. So while I enjoyed what I was doing, it was starting to feel a little too routine for my taste. I didn't feel fulfilled by it anymore.
Which meant that if I continued working, it would be mostly for the paycheck. Thankfully, even though it's taken some major adjustment, Andrew's paycheck is enough to sustain our little family. So the decision was made.
In full disclosure, there are days when I miss it. I miss the work clothes and the meetings and the being around adults and feeling like I was good at something. But then I think about all the ways I can watch Jack learn and grow firsthand and I feel so, so blessed. So there's that.
But here's the real story about being a stay-at-home mom: I hate that term.
Stay-at-home mom.
SAHM.
I'm just a mom who stays at home.
Except I'm NOT.
There's a lot more that goes on around here than just being a mom. I don't hang out in my mom jeans with unshowered hair and talk to my baby all day. I do a lot of the obvious: cleaning, laundry, cooking.
But I also manage the finances. And make appointments. And coordinate schedules so we can take care moving stuff. Etc, etc, etc.
But also. I'm not a stay-at-home MOM. I'm not a stay-at-home WIFE. As much as I love being a mom and a wife, I don't recall leaving my identity at the altar or in the hospital room where Jack was born. So maybe I'm a stay-at-home Page?
I kind of like the term household manager.
I feel like that does a better job of accurately describing what I do all day. It feels more official. Or something, I don't know, but I'm not a SAHM.
People. This is serious. What am I??
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
jack: four months
Little boy! You're a third of a year old! Crazy, right?
Every day with you brings so much more joy than the day before. Even with all the difficult and frustrating things that come along with having you in our life, the precious parts of who you are easily outweigh them all.
I feel like this has been a big month for you. You're growing, growing, growing and things that fit two days ago are suddenly too short. You can hold your head up like a champ and you love sitting up. Whether it's in my lap or in your exersaucer or Bumbo, you always get the biggest grin.
You're trying to figure out how to roll over, which is equal parts exciting and terrifying. Okay, maybe it's slightly more terrifying. If only you could figure out how to swing that other chubby little leg of yours over! ;) But you're content to keep trying. You're persistent and we like that about you.
You also went to the church nursery - without crying! - this month. In fact, you were fast asleep when I came downstairs to get you. What a relief that was. The first time you went to the nursery, you cried so much they had to come and get us out of the service. Sorry about that, sweet boy. This time, I was able to enjoy my bible study and I think it was good for you to be around someone other than your parents. And your realtor. You've gotta make friends up here too, you know!
Things you like:
+ Your daddy. I'm sad that he's leaving soon - I know you'll miss him.
+ Being serenaded. You are instantly quieted if I sing Ms. Mary Mack or Hark the Sound, which is a nice little trick for fussy car rides.
+ Josie the giraffe.
+ Feeling our faces. And as of this weekend, taking off Daddy's glasses.
+ Petting Rudy.
Things you don't like:
+ Sleeping at night, apparently.
+ Getting buckled into the car seat.
+ Having your nose wiped. (But really, who does??)
You're napping like a pro and eating like a pro, but your sleep-through-the-night skills are waning. I don't know whether to chalk it up to a growth spurt or teething or just a phase, but we're all tired. Who knows, maybe it's time to introduce a little rice cereal? That makes your mama all kinds of emotional, so let's see if we can find another solution before we jump to that. Pretty please?
You're a treat, sweet boy. Happy Four Months!
Friday, February 17, 2012
ten random things (v4)
1. It's the weekend! Two of my favorite things about the weekend: I don't have to make my own coffee and I don't have to change any diapers. It's the little things, right?
2. Jack turned four months old yesterday. Pictures and updates coming soon. But to celebrate, he started trying to roll over. Hold me.
3. We went on a date! Wednesday night, some friends of ours who are in town for Navy stuff offered to watch Jack. What a treat that was. We went to a fancy restaurant and took our time and talked about things other than a certain baby. The food was awesome - lobster bisque, clam chowder, scallops, sea bass, tiramisu. And there was wine. Mama loves wine.
4. Sirius radio made our date a little extra special. When we got in the car, the song that was playing was the song we danced to at our wedding. Perfect.
5. Can I please have some caffeine in an IV drip? The sleep strike has continued and it's not fun anymore. I feel like he's actually waking up more frequently than he was a week ago. At 2:30 this morning, before I fell asleep feeding him, I was simultaneously praying for the Lord to end it soon and telling myself that this, too, shall pass. Thistooshallpass, thistooshallpass.
6. Marvelous Prints is making a comeback! Now that I've learned how to use Photoshop, I feel like I can really expand the shop and I'm SO excited about it. Now I just need to get all my stuff out of storage so I can put all this creativity to good use.
7. Our boy loves his daddy. When Andrew gets home from work, Jack's little face lights up as soon as he hears his voice. MELT. And if he's nursing when he hears his voice? Forget about it. It'll be awhile before he's ready to get back to dinner.
8. We're thinking of installing butcher block countertops in our new house. Any experience with that? We've heard a lot of different opinions on butcher block, so we're still researching. Pros/cons? Please share.
9. Speaking of our house... Our coffee table is overrun with design and decorating books and magazines. I LOVE IT. I can't wake to get my hands on that house!
10. Baby snuggles are the best. Sometimes I bring Jack to bed with me after Andrew leaves for work to buy another hour or two of sleep. That little bug, he's good at the snuggles. Couldn't you just eat him?
Happy weekend, friends!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
from the heartbreaker himself
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I got each of you a flower.
And some chocolates.
My mom tells me that a lot of my family is missing me right now. I miss you, too, guys! I think about you all a lot.
Nana, I think of you every night when I go to bed and look at my turtle light. He's so pretty. And when he changes the color of his shell? Oh man! That gets me all hypnotized and stuff.
Just thinking about it makes me sleepy. Sorry. Where was I?
I always think of you, Nonni, when I've got my softie. I like to put it over my face and then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle until it slides down. I'm so funny when I do that.
I always think of you, Nonni, when I've got my softie. I like to put it over my face and then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle until it slides down. I'm so funny when I do that.
And Papa, I think about you when mom and I read The Early Bird book that you gave me. I like that book because the bird wears a sailor outfit and my dad's a sailor. I think I'd like to wear a sailor outfit one day while I'm looking for worms. Wouldn't that be cool?
Grandpa, did you know that German Chocolate was made by a guy named Samuel German, who worked at the first chocolate factory? I learned that on Good Eats with Alton Brown. Mom doesn't usually let me watch TV, but sometimes in the morning I get to sneak a few minutes of that show when she doesn't know I'm looking. And I always wish you were there to watch, too. I know you love that Alton Brown!
Hey Aunt Rita! I think of you whenever I wear my train sweater to church. The ladies are all like, "Oohhh Jack! You're so handsome!" And I'm like, "I know. My Aunt Rita knows how to make a boy look gooood."
Uncle Tyler! I didn't forget about you, man! Those froggy PJs that you gave me for Christmas? They're so cool. I put them on and I'm all like ribbit, ribbit.
And my dear Aunt Laura. I saved the best for last! Because every time I stick out my tongue - which is kind of a lot - I think of that special day when you taught me how to do that. It's one of my favorite things to do! And I'm getting pretty good at it, look!
What's that, Rudy?
Mom and Dad are going on a date tomorrow night? Mom, is that true?
Are you guys going to kiss?
Ewwww, grosssss!
Anyway, hugs to everyone! We love you!
Monday, February 13, 2012
weekly snapshots (v9)
Who here is tired of seeing pictures of a certain little baby? No one? Good.
+ The red pants! I rocked them one day last week and I felt good about it. Andrew even liked them!
+ Rise and shine, little buddy. Such a sweet face to greet me in the morning.
+ "If I could just get this flingin' flangin' thing in my mouth..."
+ Lunch. Pita pizzas with mozzarella and arugula. So good, y'all.
+ That face! Precious.
+ Go Heels! He was reeaally sad when we told him the outcome of the game the next morning.
+ Good sitting, boys!
+ Nothing cuter than a sleeping baby.
+ His hands are a blur because HE WON'T STOP MOVING THEM.
+ Bubby, a gift from Uncle Tyler, offers some encouragement during tummy time.
+ Again with the sleeping.
+ I sent this picture to Andrew on Friday afternoon to entice him to come home soon.
+ Feeling the fuzzy Valentine's Day card from Nonni and Grandpa!
+ Be still my heart. I have looked at this picture about 700x since I took it.
+ Teething. It's no joke.
+ Yay! It's Monday morning!
Happy Monday, my dear friends.
Friday, February 10, 2012
ten random things (household goods edition)
I dedicate this Friday's 10 Little Things to all of my things that are in storage. The things I miss the most?
1. Jack's nursery glider. It's the most comfortable chair and the best place to nurse before bed and first thing in the morning. I had our little blanket and we'd snuggle up and listen to some music. I miss that. And lately, given all the midnight shenanigans going on over here, I've really been missing that chair. Sitting
2. My kitchen. All of it. My stainless steel pots and pans. My wooden cooking utensils. The Kitchenaid mixer that Andrew got me for Christmas that I never even took out of the box. My cloth napkins. All of it!
3. The rest of my clothes and shoes. I just brought the essentials, which was still smart because we don't have a ton of space here, but I'm ready to put some variety back in my wardrobe.
4. My jewelry organizer. A few years ago, I covered a bulletin board with fabric and put little hooks on it to hold my earrings and necklaces. I never realized how much I appreciated that thing until all my jewelry got relegated to a pile on the dresser.
5. My furniture. It's great furniture, really. Comfortable. Clean. I miss it.
6. My electric toothbrush heads. It's time to replace the head on mine and of course, I forgot to sit those out before the packers came. See also: batteries.
7. Our DVDs and Xbox (for Netflix). We talked about whether or not to sit that stuff out, but decided against it. I regret that decision. I could really be enjoying some chick flicks or random TV shows right now. And don't even get me started on the fact that this is perfect Pride and Prejudice weather.
8. My cookbooks and recipe box. I guess that could be filed under "kitchen" but I think it deserves a category of its own. I miss all of my favorite dishes that I've been craving, but can't remember the recipe. Boo.
9. Our pictures and artwork. I've stared at pastel beach prints from the 80s and the wooden plaque that spells OCEAN long enough.
10. My washer and dryer. Three cheers for energy efficiency!
Hopefully, we'll be in our house in about three weeks. I'm trying not to count the days because I know that won't make the time pass any faster, but it sure is hard when I know there are only 19ish days in between me and a fresh toothbrush.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
paging mr. sandman
He sure is cute.
And it's a good thing, too.
First, let me preface this by saying: I know I'm lucky to have a kid who started sleeping through the night when he was five weeks old.
I get it. And I don't take it for granted, believe me. In fact, I often ask myself how I got such an awesome kid. I don't know how it happened, but it just did. And you know what?
I LOVE IT.
So don't be all jeal and let that keep you from throwing some sympathy my way. Because OH DEAR LORD, he's waking up again.
It started about two weeks ago. I guess they call it sleep regression? I hate it. Sometimes it's just once. Sometimes it's three times. Sometimes it's every two hours. Regardless, I'm tired and running on coffee fumes. And I want my sleep-loving baby back.
We've adjusted the temperature in his room in case he was too cold, but that didn't work. And he doesn't really act hungry, just kind of restless, but nursing him is the only way to get him settled back down. Truthfully, the entire ordeal - from the time I get out of bed until I get back in - is only about ten minutes. It's really not that bad. I just nurse him long enough for him to drift back to sleep and then he's fine. But I don't know what else to do because he is SO WOUND UP.
I've tried giving him a pacifier to see if that will help. I've tried letting him cry for 10 minutes or so to see if he puts himself back to sleep (which he does during naptime, with no problem). I've tried rocking him. None of that works.
I'm obviously not going to starve him if he's hungry, and I'll gladly get up with him every night if that's what it is, but I don't think that's it. And I also don't want to create a habit that isn't necessary by nursing him just to calm him down. Then he might get a wild hair and try to schedule a 3am date with me every night.
(Secret aside: I have enjoyed the extra sweet, sleepy snuggles. So there's that)
Last night, I went in there at about 4am (after getting up at 11:30pm and 1:30am) and he squealed with delight and started flailing about like he does when he's getting up from a nap. Like, "Alright! Mom's here! Time to party!"
I'm just not in a very party-ish mood at 4am, you know?
So the question is this, what is going on with my kid? And when will this phase pass?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
and then my heart exploded
It was a year ago last Tuesday that I met Andrew on base and told him I was pregnant.
I used to daydream about the kind of father he was going to be. I knew he was going to be a great one, but I couldn't really picture it. We were never around many babies or kids before Jack, so I didn't have a point of comparison. He always said he didn't know what to do with babies and evidenced by the fact that he didn't know why we needed to buy a crib mattress when clearly, a stack of blankets would suffice, he was right. He had no idea. And I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little concern as my due date approached.
But then October 16, 2011 happened.
And right before my eyes, Andrew turned into a father. The diaper changes, the swaddles, the gentleness, the kisses. They came upon that hospital room so quickly and so sincerely that I wondered how I'd missed it all these years. Of course he would be an amazing father.
The sweetness, the squeals of laughter, the joy. Spilling out of the room at the top of the stairs at bedtime. Or in the living room while I cook dinner. Or right in front of me, when Andrew comes home from work and Jack flashes that smile when he sees him. And every time I think, I am so blessed.
It's all over, in his eyes and his laugher, and it's so obvious that he's so in love.
And so am I.
Monday, February 6, 2012
weekly snapshots (v8)
Notice anything different? I put my new Photoshop skills to good use and did a little bloggy redesign. What do you think? I kind of love it.
Now here's what the last two weeks have looked like for the Castrodales...
+ Sitting up like a big boy and studying his giraffe friend, who we've named Josie G. Raffe. Clever, I know.
+ Little buddy woke up earlier than usual with some sniffles and he has the face to prove it.
+ Buckaroo.
+ Brunch at Kitchen Little. I want to do that again and again and again.
+ Church clothes!
+ Dinner: grapes, crackers and brie with apple butter. I also want to do that again and again and again.
+ More time with Josie.
+ A little quality time with Rudy.
+ Sideways smiles and snuggles.
+ The hoods. They kill me every time.
+ He LOVES to look over my shoulder out the window in the living room. So cute.
+ New toy. Otherwise known as OVERSTIMULATION.
+ Gah. This picture makes you want to have a baby, doesn't it? Don't lie.
+ We drove around Yale's campus looking for a place to eat when we went to IKEA. We got lost in a not-so-great part of town. Andrew snapped this picture later and said, "Congratulations! You made it out of the ghetto!"
+ About to enjoy lunch at a yummy Greek restaurant.
+ Baklava. Yes, please.
+ Homemade fish tacos for dinner. Best ever.
+ When Andrew dresses Jack, he comes down in a red and black fleece, with a yellow moose hat. Boys.
Friday, February 3, 2012
ten random things (v3)
1. I hereby declare this month HOUSE MONTH. Our fingers are crossed, our toes are crossed and our prayers are going up - all in hopes that we can close on our eyes by the end of the month. We're going through the VA for our loan and apparently, they take their sweet time. But I'm confident! It can happen!
2. Hi, my name is Page and I have a notebook problem. Some girls buy shoes, I buy notebooks. I'd show you a picture of the stack I have beside me right now, but it's quite embarrassing. There's a planner, a house-related notebook, an Etsy-related notebook, a journal I've been keeping for Jack, a notebook for my Bible study, a notebook for jotting little stories down for when Andrew's away and a miscellaneous notebook. You know, in case I have something to write down that doesn't fit in any of the other 27 notebooks.
3. Hi, my name is Page and I have an HGTV problem. I'm pretty sure I've seen every episode of every show that HGTV has ever created. Ever. I blame it on buying a house and having cabin fever all at the same time. Related: did you know that Chris Harrison, host of the Bachelor, also hosted an HGTV show circa 1998?
4. Three cheers for an awesome husband! The other night, Andrew called to tell me he was on his way home while I was digging through the pantry trying to find ANYTHING that had chocolate on it. Twenty minutes later, he came in the door bearing gifts in the form of two bags of Snickers Minis. And a bag of chocolate chips. He said the only condition was that I made him chocolate chip cookies. Like that's a sacrifice or something. And don't worry about how many candy bars I've consumed since then, it's really not that important. Move along now, there's nothing to see here.
5. HOMESICK. I've been homesick for two things: my family and Charleston. Thankfully, I think March and April will be the months that family comes to visit. As for Charleston, I just know you people are down there enjoying your 65* weather and your sunshine and your grits. Ugh.
6. I'm ready to move. My body, that is. I've never been a motivated girl when it comes to working out, but lately I've wanted nothing more than to turn on some really fun music and run in place. And if you know me, you know that's a really big deal. Huge. Maybe it's because I'M SO COOPED UP. I'm working on a playlist now and hopefully I can start going to the gym when Andrew gets home from work, even if it's just a few times a week. Any song suggestions?
7. I'm thinking of joining a book club at the local library. I told Andrew that and he started laughing. He says to me, "Do you really think you'll make friends there?" Like it's just a bunch of spinsters with big glasses and homemade dresses. Book clubs are cool, Andrew. You'll see.
8. Someone find me a fancy dress. The Submarine Birthday Ball is in April and it's kind of a big deal. Which means I need a dress. Tell me where to shop! Ready, go!
9. I bought some red pants. Who am I? I think I'm having an identity crisis. But I'm determined to make them work because they are CUTE. Embarrassingly enough, I'm thinking of posting outfits on the ol' blog. I'm feeling a little frumpy and momish these days, so in an effort to do more with my wardrobe and boost my confidence, maybe I'll share pics? No one else sees my cute little ensembles except Jack and he only cares about what's underneath, if you know what I mean. And by the time Andrew gets home, I'm in my PJs on account of all the drool and spit-up. So there's that.
10. This weekend, I would like to eat some pizza. No further explanation needed.
Have a great weekend, y'all!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
how i get groceries
Let me paint you a picture. A very long, detailed picture.
About two weeks ago, I needed groceries. We'd only been in CT about a week and had eaten out long enough, so it was time to stock the pantry. Andrew was underway - which meant my little buddy was going with me.
In all honesty, I don't mind running errands with Jack. And if given the opportunity to go somewhere by myself because Andrew is around to watch him, I'd rather go to Target or Starbucks. Not the grocery store. So there's that.
But back to impending grocery store trip. Getting out with a three-month-old takes preparation, amen? You have to time it just right so he's full and sleepy and will hopefully nap while you're out. Make sure your list is written efficiently, so you're not backtracking inside the store - get in and get out. Make sure you have everything that comes with babies: pacifier, burp rag, extra diaper (just in case), the Ergo, hat, Mr. Giraffe. And then?
MOVE QUICKLY.
Maybe it's just my kid, but the moment we put him in the car seat? Game over. He screams, screams and screams some more until the car is in motion and then he conks out. But in the meantime, I have to bundle him up, snap him in, grab my stuff, lock the door, put him in the car and go. All while he's hysterical. So by that point, I'm ready for a nap. But that's neither here nor there, because we haven't even gotten to the store yet.
Then we get to the store. I like to think of myself as a courteous mom-of-an-infant. I know it can be annoying to wait for someone to take 17 minutes to get everything out of the car, while you just want to get in your car and go home. Or park and go inside. I get that. So I usually park far enough away that there are empty parking spots all around me. That way, no one is waiting on me and I have room to stand and get Jack out of the car seat. Because you know it's just not a grab-and-go situation.
Take off my coat.
Snap the first buckle of the Ergo carrier.
Get the baby out.
Hold the baby, put on strap 1 of the Ergo.
Readjust the baby, put on strap 2 of the Ergo.
Readjust the baby, contort to snap the second buckle of the Ergo.
Tighten all the straps.
And he's not all calm and collected during this scene. He's usually squirmy and fussy. So then I have to dig out the pacifier, put on his hat, put my coat back on, grab my bag, lock the door and go.
All of that to say, anyone waiting for a parking spot or wanting to get to their car beside me would be waiting for a while. So I go to No Man's Land. Everybody wins.
EXCEPT TODAY.
On this day, Mr. Man on a Mission in a Prius decided that he, too, needed to park far away. But of the SEVEN empty parking spots surrounding my car, he wanted the one right beside me. And he was impatient about it! I'm standing there, with the door open, half of Jack in the carrier and the other half flailing about in protest and I have no choice but the get back in the car and wait for this man to park and be on his way. And he even gave me the stink eye! Like I had ruined his day or something. Don't mind the crazy lady with the crying baby, sir. You just be on your merry way.
That was just the parking lot. We're finally ready to go in and even though it was 27 degrees outside, I'd already broken a sweat. Time to get this show on the road. My list wasn't very long, so it shouldn't take long. Not long at all.
As long as every woman in a 10-foot radius doesn't stop to try and touch my baby.
Don't get me wrong, I love that I have a cute kid. And I can't help it if everyone wants to comment on that fact. It's nice, really. But what is it about some women who just lose their mind a little bit when they see a baby? I feel like I need to strap a sign on him that says PLEASE DON'T TOUCH. For the love of all things sanitary, isn't that like the universal rule when seeing a baby? You don't touch them? Not to mention the fact that he's ON MY CHEST which constitutes a major violation of personal space. You may be a grandmother, but you're not his! So you don't have some free pass giving you the right to touch all the children. The colds! The viruses! The germs!
::End Rant::
An hour or so later, we were finally out of the grocery store and mommy brain set in. I saw a Jeep that looked like ours, but there were parking stickers on them that I didn't recognize. Andrew put them on before he left, but I didn't know that. So I assumed that it wasn't our car. Which meant I couldn't find ours. Which meant I stood in the middle of the parking lot, in the cold, with a baby strapped to me and a cart full of groceries, wondering where my car went. And playing out the next few minutes of our lives should we not find the car. But then I saw the silhouette of Jack's car seat through the window. Crisis averted.
Once we were loaded up, I went through the drive-through at McDonald's (rebel) and got myself an ice cold Coke. I sure did. And I drank it all before we even got home. That's right. I'm a stress drinker.
So to answer the original question of this post. How do I get groceries? I'll tell you how I get groceries.
About two weeks ago, I needed groceries. We'd only been in CT about a week and had eaten out long enough, so it was time to stock the pantry. Andrew was underway - which meant my little buddy was going with me.
In all honesty, I don't mind running errands with Jack. And if given the opportunity to go somewhere by myself because Andrew is around to watch him, I'd rather go to Target or Starbucks. Not the grocery store. So there's that.
But back to impending grocery store trip. Getting out with a three-month-old takes preparation, amen? You have to time it just right so he's full and sleepy and will hopefully nap while you're out. Make sure your list is written efficiently, so you're not backtracking inside the store - get in and get out. Make sure you have everything that comes with babies: pacifier, burp rag, extra diaper (just in case), the Ergo, hat, Mr. Giraffe. And then?
MOVE QUICKLY.
Maybe it's just my kid, but the moment we put him in the car seat? Game over. He screams, screams and screams some more until the car is in motion and then he conks out. But in the meantime, I have to bundle him up, snap him in, grab my stuff, lock the door, put him in the car and go. All while he's hysterical. So by that point, I'm ready for a nap. But that's neither here nor there, because we haven't even gotten to the store yet.
Then we get to the store. I like to think of myself as a courteous mom-of-an-infant. I know it can be annoying to wait for someone to take 17 minutes to get everything out of the car, while you just want to get in your car and go home. Or park and go inside. I get that. So I usually park far enough away that there are empty parking spots all around me. That way, no one is waiting on me and I have room to stand and get Jack out of the car seat. Because you know it's just not a grab-and-go situation.
Take off my coat.
Snap the first buckle of the Ergo carrier.
Get the baby out.
Hold the baby, put on strap 1 of the Ergo.
Readjust the baby, put on strap 2 of the Ergo.
Readjust the baby, contort to snap the second buckle of the Ergo.
Tighten all the straps.
And he's not all calm and collected during this scene. He's usually squirmy and fussy. So then I have to dig out the pacifier, put on his hat, put my coat back on, grab my bag, lock the door and go.
All of that to say, anyone waiting for a parking spot or wanting to get to their car beside me would be waiting for a while. So I go to No Man's Land. Everybody wins.
EXCEPT TODAY.
On this day, Mr. Man on a Mission in a Prius decided that he, too, needed to park far away. But of the SEVEN empty parking spots surrounding my car, he wanted the one right beside me. And he was impatient about it! I'm standing there, with the door open, half of Jack in the carrier and the other half flailing about in protest and I have no choice but the get back in the car and wait for this man to park and be on his way. And he even gave me the stink eye! Like I had ruined his day or something. Don't mind the crazy lady with the crying baby, sir. You just be on your merry way.
That was just the parking lot. We're finally ready to go in and even though it was 27 degrees outside, I'd already broken a sweat. Time to get this show on the road. My list wasn't very long, so it shouldn't take long. Not long at all.
As long as every woman in a 10-foot radius doesn't stop to try and touch my baby.
Don't get me wrong, I love that I have a cute kid. And I can't help it if everyone wants to comment on that fact. It's nice, really. But what is it about some women who just lose their mind a little bit when they see a baby? I feel like I need to strap a sign on him that says PLEASE DON'T TOUCH. For the love of all things sanitary, isn't that like the universal rule when seeing a baby? You don't touch them? Not to mention the fact that he's ON MY CHEST which constitutes a major violation of personal space. You may be a grandmother, but you're not his! So you don't have some free pass giving you the right to touch all the children. The colds! The viruses! The germs!
::End Rant::
An hour or so later, we were finally out of the grocery store and mommy brain set in. I saw a Jeep that looked like ours, but there were parking stickers on them that I didn't recognize. Andrew put them on before he left, but I didn't know that. So I assumed that it wasn't our car. Which meant I couldn't find ours. Which meant I stood in the middle of the parking lot, in the cold, with a baby strapped to me and a cart full of groceries, wondering where my car went. And playing out the next few minutes of our lives should we not find the car. But then I saw the silhouette of Jack's car seat through the window. Crisis averted.
Once we were loaded up, I went through the drive-through at McDonald's (rebel) and got myself an ice cold Coke. I sure did. And I drank it all before we even got home. That's right. I'm a stress drinker.
So to answer the original question of this post. How do I get groceries? I'll tell you how I get groceries.
The end.
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