I remember in junior high and high school our health classes required usto carry around a flour baby for a week. The idea was that by having to carry around a baby we might realize how much work and how big of a "bother" a baby can be. I don't know how anyone else felt but I always felt like it was useless exercise. A flour baby is so much easier than a real baby...at least so I hear. Fortunately there are ways in which we can practice.
Wendy's sister and her husband are in middle of a gigantic remodel of their apartment. This, as can be imagined, has been somewhat complicated by the arrival of their baby. They've had to undergo some contortions in order to manage both the remodel and the baby. Sometimes it's harder than others. Today the parents were installing flooring and needed to both of them to finish the job. So they needed a baby sitter. Wendy volunteered us.
Wendy's sister has joined in the baby wrap carrier craze so I also got to try that out. An interesting experience it was. Balance is wonky, I'm bigger in the front, I look gigantic in mirrors...it felt like I was pregnant!
Samuel was ours for an hour and a half. (Hey! Baby steps right!) From Wendy's sister's expertise we found out that Samuel like being outside, likes walking, and evidently likes areas with a lot of people. Coincidentally and outdoor walking mall just recently opened in downtown Salt Lake City. Of course, even with a baby we had to shop for something right?
What did we shop for? Why what else would anyone shop for carrying around a two month old baby? Clearly...maternity clothes. I kept waiting for someone to comment on the fact that we had a clearly newborn baby...along with a clearly pregnant women. No one did; very disappointing. Although we did have several people comment on high cute the baby was. I even had one passerby comment on how he looked so much like me. That was slightly awkward.
We may not be related but it appears that Samuel does have some similar ideas on certain things. Any longer than five minutes in a store; and it was time to leave. Sounds about perfect to me. Wendy felt she needed longer however. I was able to delay leaving once; because I bribed him with food. Every other store; five minutes and out.
All in all. We were a good mommy and daddy for an hour and a half. I sure learned more in that hour and a half than a week with flour baby. Not that any of us are surprised by that.
