What NOT To Do...

A couple of weeks ago my mom (Nana), the girls and I went out and about for a day of what Jenna likes to call "Shoppy shoppy." We went to an out door type of mall or town center. The girls we pretty well behaved and after eating lunch, shopping for a couple hours and doing A LOT of walking (it wasn't too hot and that's why we decided to go that day), my mom said she needed to go in a sporting goods store to look for a bike rack for her van. Because the girls had been so good and it was time to feed Ashley, I told her to go on ahead and I would take the girls to Barnes and Noble to feed Ashley and let Jenna play with the train set they have in the kiddie book section. The girls are very well behaved - for the most part, like all kids they do have their bad days, but that day was a good day.

Let me set the stage. I have a double stroller which we love, but it is big. I parked "The Tank" as we lovingly refer to it and got Jenna out so she could play. I was making Ashley's bottle and made a mess. Great. Just great. Then, as soon as I got Ashley out of the stroller and ready to give her the bottle, Jenna started doing "The Pee Pee Dance." (She NEVER has accidents but I just knew...I just knew that today would have to be the day - when I just couldn't deal with it.) I asked her if she could wait a few minutes for Nana to come back and she said she could. Then it happens. She starts to pee a little bit and stops it. Thank goodness. Only her panties get wet but it is clearly time to RUN, not walk, to the bathroom! Then Jenna said she had to go and she had to go NOW. So, I put Ashley back in the stroller and she and I walk to the bathroom while I am pushing Ashley in The Tank. It's hard to hold a hand AND push The Tank I found out. It's hard to steer into a public restroom with The Tank - let alone trying to dodge Jenna and push it with only one hand. Has anyone else noticed how narrow some of those aisles can be?!?!

We get into the bathroom and of course someone is in the big stall so I have to leave Ash out by the sinks and have Jenna go in the first stall. She needed new panties. So I am trying to do that and keep a hand on Ashley. Not easy but I did it. Then loads of women came in and toilets started flushing. LOUD. PUBLIC. Toilets flushing. One of Ash's biggest fears! With every flush her screams became louder and louder and more panicked. She was more frightened each time than the next. Nothing I could do would help. We just had to press on and live with the misery. I got Jenna out of there and frantically washed her hands. Next we are dodging the ladies as they are leaving and trying to fit out the tiny door - with Ashley wailing. One of the ladies held the door for me as I said for the millionth time that Ash HATES public restrooms. She hates public changing tables like even in the nursery at church because she is afraid a mean, scary toilet will flush!

I get the entourage out of the restroom and book it to the kiddie section again. "Let's try this again," I think. I KID YOU NOT the SECOND I start feeding Ashley her bottle, Jenna starts doing her "I gotta go poop" walk. Oh. My. Dear. Lord, help me!! I was praying, "Please, God, let her just be walking funny."

To be funny and hoping and praying I was right, I said, "Oh, is that your new walk?"

To my horror, but not at all to my surprise, she replied, "No. I gotta go big poop." (Sorry if this is T.M.I. I have clearly hit a new low in my life, I know.) I was already drenched in sweat and had pulled my hair up because I just couldn't take it in my way anymore. My shirt was stuck to my back. WHY IS LIFE SOOOO HARD?!?! I could not imagine doing all that I had just done again and remembering little Ashley had yet to be fed. I just couldn't put Ashley through the scare of her life again - toilets flushing...I asked her if she could wait until Nana came back and she said she could. I waited and waited for what seemed like forever...Then I got tired of waiting and started calling my mom on her cell phone. No answer and straight to voice mail. Grrreat. A couple minutes later, she showed up and took Jenna to the bathroom. Thank goodness!

It will be a while before I try to brave going out somewhere by myself with the girls DURING a feeding time...
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In other news...
The other day Ash said a new word. While getting instructions about something from Jenna, she said, "O.K. O.K." It was so cute!