Just because I want to remember…

I am blogging this.

Errands. Running errands with a 3 year old and almost 1 year old can be quite comical. And it is a toss up as to whether running errands with two small children is productive or not.

With Little Bug’s birthday party right around the corner, I decided that it would be a good idea to run to Michaels and get some supplies that I needed to make the centerpieces for the tables. I also needed to stop in Wal-Mart real quick. (Haha, there is no such thing as “real quick” when it comes to Wal-Mart, I know.)

Sweet Pea had woken a little early from her morning nap and I figured that would give me just the amount of time I needed to get these errands run. So off we went.

First stop: Michael’s. I got Sweet Pea all set up in the stroller and propped her bottle up for her to drink as I shopped. Little Bug wanted to walk so I let her get out of the stroller as we walked in.

Her little hands have become magnets to items in the stores recently. I kept finding random things that she had thrown into the basket of the stroller. I needed Styrofoam balls and the first thing she did when we found the isle was try to bounce one on the floor.

So there I was trying to decide what size Styrofoam balls I need, while keeping a forever watchful eye on my 3 year old so she doesn’t break something, touch something she shouldn’t or disappear around the corner. Meanwhile, Sweet Pea’s half empty bottle goes flying over the side of the stroller so I go pick it up and get it back in her mouth propped on the blanket. It is hard to think like that, but I managed to figure something out and then we were on our way to find a couple more items.

Then, as we get to the check out line, I remember something very annoying: My wallet is not in the diaper bag!!

We get up to the counter to pay and I have to tell the lady to hold my stuff and I’ll be right back, with my wallet, to pay. Right back? Yeah, right.

Once I get everyone loaded back in the car, I feed Sweet Pea her solids and then we drive back home to get my wallet and then drive back to Michaels to pay.

This time I head in with no stroller and I think to myself, I bet since I didn’t bring the stroller in, Little Bug is going to have to pee!!

And just as I predicted, after standing in line for a little over 5 minutes (which is a long time with an antsy 3 year old), Little Bug announces, “Mommy, I need to go potty!!”.

Oh, I know my children so well…

Off to the potty we go. Which is in the back of the store.

I told Little Bug on the way to the bathroom that she was going to have to get up there and go on her own because I had to hold Sweet Pea.

I usually try to do as much as possible for Little Bug when she potties on a public potty, but this time I just tried not to think about all the germs. We scrubbed hands and left to go back to pay.

Upon arriving back at check out line, it was now a mile long. Of course.

We stood in the line for the 3rd time that day, paid for everything and then headed home. There wasn’t time for a Wal-Mart run before naptime!

Next week it will be time to prep for Sweet Pea’s upcoming birthday party. More trips to the store! Yay.

I think this time I may run to the store while the girls are napping at my parents’ house. I bet I could make the entire trip in half the time it took me with both girls in tow.

As long as I remember to grab my wallet!

I want to remember these days because before I know it, both girls will get themselves out of the car, walk themselves into the store, walk around the store without me worrying of anything getting broken and be able to take themselves to the bathroom to pee while I keep shopping (but not until they are 15!).

And I will long for these days of shopping with my 3 year old and baby! Maybe.

- Elaine