Thursday, September 20, 2007

Out on the town with the babies

I'm so proud of myself. I took the babies out today ALL BY MYSELF!

I woke up this morning with tons of energy and no desire to stay home. So I packed up the kidlets and off we went to the Missouri Botanical Garden. I chose the Garden because it's the easiest outing of all the St. Louis outings for the stroller crowd.

I also chose that location because of the safety of the parking when I was arriving at opening time. I know many moms feel vulnerable in parking lots when taking kids out of the car. Your whole body is pretty much buried in your vehicle as you get the kids out of their seats and you cannot watch what is going on around you. Moms are the perfect targets, so I always try to choose my parking wisely since I have double duty with the car seats. I knew going to the Garden when they opened afforded me the prime near-the -entrance parking spots.

After that, it was just loading up the babies, throwing down the Cheerios, and going for a gorgeous stroll. The Monarch butterflies, my favorite, were everywhere! I'm telling you, I was just in awe of the beauty around me. The dew covered spider webs, the smell of the flowers, the sunshine making the fountains sparkle. Oh it was heaven! It was about a billion degrees and oh so humid. I ran through a few sprinklers just to cool down a few times. But that was ok. It was the Botanical Garden! I know there are some of you reading this who agree with me. It's pretty magical for some of us in St. Louis. Honestly, it's my Happiest Place On Earth.

The babies were awesome. They snacked, they slept, they watched the butterflies. They did not squawk or freak out or demand to be taken out of the stroller. Such a huge change from Narnia. I don't know why I expect them to be like her because they are not her. Narnia hated her stroller and refused to go in the damn thing. I think we had her in there once. $150 bucks for one ride in the stroller. And maybe I was just too inexperienced to work with her to get her to tolerate the stroller. I just gave up and we walked everywhere. So nice to load up TWO babies and just go. So nice to just GO instead of being stuck at home. Honestly, this whole getting out alone with them was just a big accomplishment for me.

I hope this kicks off a whole new lifestyle for the babies and me. I know many moms fear the first outing with a new baby. But two? I just figured it would be double the pain in the ass. It wasn't. What you do for one baby, you just do twice. It is harder and it is more work, but it can be done. I did it! Oh I know this sounds so simple to many of you reading this but truly, this changes everything. I am a stay at home mom who hates being home. The day is just much happier when it can be broken up with an outing.

Anyway, that's my big news of the day. A big hurdle for me. Hopefully the start of all kinds of adventures for us.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I know many moms feel vulnerable in parking lots when taking kids out of the car. Your whole body is pretty much buried in your vehicle as you get the kids out of their seats and you cannot watch what is going on around you."

It's weird how some things are different even though we both do the same things, something like that has never entered my mind. I guess it's because I'm a guy.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, good for getting out! If you want to go to Grant's someday I can hold one on the tram for you since Gavin will probably be strapped down with duct tape the way he's been acting lately. :)

Mutha Mae said...

Kevin, I will take you up on that offer. Maybe next week? I'll post in the group when I think of the right date and time, hah!

J said...

Send some of that energy my way, will you? I'm facing two days alone with my little guy, and I'm already dreading it just a tiny bit. He simply can't do anything alone, ever, and it exhausts me! I hope that doesn't make me sound like a terrible mom. I just need a little quiet time to recharge now & then, but my kid doesn't believe in that.

Anonymous said...

Your stories are just so awesome. Thanks for writing this blog. I've been tuning in for quite awhile, but have never commented. I truly look forward to seeing what will happen next with your brood.