Thursday, December 28, 2006

Oh the Drama!

I don't attempt to do much these days and I sure don't get out of the house very often. When I do, it is quite an event. A couple of weeks ago it was easy to go out since I knew Keziah would sleep soundly in her car seat the entire time. Now there are no guarantees.

Yesterday I planned a shopping trip to Superstore. When Micah was done napping and Keziah had eaten and seemed ready for a sleep I packed up the kids to head out. The trip started out fine and things went smoothly in the store but as I was paying at the check-out, Keziah started waking up and fussing. She wanted nothing to do with her soother and wasn't calming down. I quickly packed up my groceries and made the LONG walk down the Superstore ramp (by which point she was screaming!) got the groceries in the car, buckled Micah in his carseat, put Keziah's carseat in, took my cart back (I considered just leaving it, but I didn't want to lose my looney;). I come back to the car - yep, still screaming. As I'm driving out of the parking lot, I've got one hand on the wheel and one hand trying to stuff the soother in Keziah's mouth. At this point Micah starts whining for the candy that I had promised him when we were still in the store. Then, as I'm exiting the lot I see my friend E waving at me. I abandon the attempts at soothing Keziah to give her a quick wave (gotta make it look like I've got this all under control!) and then make the LONG drive home with a baby screaming in my ear. And just my luck, she fell asleep just as we were turning onto our street.

Well, today's adventure was going for a walk. This was my first solo attempt since Keziah's birth and I wasn't sure how it would go since we don't have a double stroller. So, I put the stroller seat all the way back and lay Keziah down and left enough room for Micah to sit up at the front. I was surprised he didn't seem to mind. It took me awhile to get Keziah calmed down enough to lay her down, but once we started walking she fell asleep. I had dressed a little too warmly for the walk and needed to cool off so I decided to stop at the park - bad idea. It had rained and then frozen overnight so all the playground equipment was slushy and dirty. I tried to wipe off sections for Micah, but it didn't get "clean enough" for him and he was really upset about having to use his mittens to touch all the dirt (even though I assured him they could be washed!)
Meanwhile Keziah woke up in the stroller since she noticed we are no longer moving. So, I left Micah crying at the top of the slide (since he's too paranoid to go down with a little bit of dirt on it) and tried to console Keziah. At this point I'm thinking - these are my own offspring and I can't even control them! I was very thankful nobody else was around. I decided to abandon the park idea and head home. So, I stuffed both crying kids back into the stroller and began the trek for home. Micah started into his whine, "want nukie too sleep big boy bed all night!" and I knew I needed to think of something since we had a good 15 minutes yet before we were home. So we started playing a colour game, "Can you find a blue car? How about a red truck?"

Thankfully it worked. And the moving stroller seemed to lull Keziah back into her sleep. After a few minutes all was calm again.
Now I am at home and both kids are napping. Sweet relief. I'm sure I will venture out again but at least next time I'll know what I'm in for!

13 comments:

Christy said...

I am trying to prepare myself for having another baby as well as a toddler. I am getting quite nervous and starting to lose sleep over it. Nothing could have prepared me for having my first and I don't think anything could prepare me for having two. I feel blessed that God has blessed me with them...Now I just need God's strength to get through it all! I appreciate your honesty in your blog and it's nice for me to be able to prepare a little bit for what I am getting into by reading others experiences!

Anonymous said...

Where did you get a boy who doesn't like to get dirty?! That must be from Erik's side. I have two girls here who have no problem with it. I have to wash Maddy's winter jacket almost once a week. She plays hard at school.
Things will get much easier with your two and going out. Just relax. And it may seem like your child is the only one screaming and everyone is looking at you..but it's just not true. Anyone who has had kids knows what it's like.
Love you,
Laura

Janelle said...

and i want another kid because.....

kelly ens said...

Wow...what an adventure!!! next time you just have to bring another person with you to help :) We'll go with you!

Nathan & Rosanna Toews said...

Jamie way to get out there... even amidst the crazy moments. I am proud of you! This post made me laugh (sympathetically) - YOU ARE AN AMAZING MOM!!!!

The Keowns said...

it gets better. Believe me. People always think I am crazy cauze I have no problem shopping or going for walks with all three. I think you just get used to it. Yes, my kids scream, kick and complain in public but I have learned that everyones kids do it. Yes, people stare and think your a bad mother but it is usually people who have never had kids themselves. I never let it bother me.
as for the dirty thing, that is so funny!! Cassidy is like that but mud is a magnet to Aidan. The more he can find, the happier he is. Maybe that means he will be a neat clean kid.

Drea said...

oh gosh thats a vision of whats to come when I am brave enough to go out by myself with Caleb and Taite. :-)
Thanks for the warning! haha

Oh and what a great stroller idea... I dont know if Caleb would be as kind as Micah was though. Caleb would probably crush Taite thinking it was a game.

We hope to get a double stroller from Target by Eddie Bauer. Its really nice. Smaller than the traditional ones. Not to expensive either.

patti said...

you are one brave woman. oh the things i have to look forward too!

oh well, at least you know that yours are not the only ones who make noise.

Ej said...

You had me fooled!! I am impressed that you had ventured out with both kids! You're a great mom - I'll email or call you next week and we can get together - I really have to meet Keziah!

KDees said...

Oh, the things I have to look forward to in a few months!! But, good for you for getting out! Once you know what to expect and how to handle it, I'm sure these outing won't be so dramatic! But, you sure made me laugh!!

Bonnie said...

Great story Jamie! It was one of those stories that you just have to know what happens in the end...very suspenseful ;) You're a brave woman! Nice work.

Anonymous said...

Yikes! Sounds a little stressful Jamie. Since we are on vacation I'm very glad I don't have to go out to do anything. It's so nice to just be able to take James out with no bundling up needed. :) Hope things start to get a little easier. I think about you a lot. Hope you are doing well. Your kids are beautiful.

Jeff and Jocelyn said...

Hey Jamie,
Well I think for me it is awesome that you are willing to be honest that its not all a bed of roses. However, Jeff is reading over my shoulder and claiming that our kids will never be like that. I think he's in for a rude awakening in 5 very short weeks.
Take care, love reading your blog!