The Adventures of a Double Stroller & Saphires

Next week, Todd and I are thinking about going to Atlanta, Georgia so he can go to a Garbage Man's Convetion (OK, officially a Waste Management Expo!). One of the things we decided we needed was a double stroller; I know Todd is particularly concerned about me not being marooned in a room while he is meeting with brokers and smoozing/hob-knobbing with waste management peers...so I set out on Monday to Babies-R-Us to purchase the one I had picked out after much research.

Originally, we had thought the front to back style would be best so Adam couldn't torture his sister side by side. But, after I looked around, these have a much lower weight limit. Like most are around 35 pounds per kid...and Adam, well, he's closing in on 33 pounds...so...not worth it :)

Todd called me in the morning and asked me if I could pick up a birthday gift for his stepmother on behalf of his father, who is sick and has a hard time getting around. I asked are we talking card level, plant level or jewelry level? Todd said jewelry...and I was happy to oblige. I love shopping for gifts and I like to tell myself I'm pretty good at it. And I was happy to have the chance to so something for Charlie as since the first time I met him, he has made me feel welcome and like part of the family, something I really appreciate.

So I got the big idea to combine the two...buy the stroller at Babies-R-Us and then go over to Carousel and use it...give it a test run before I try hitting the streets of Atlanta. I got the stroller I needed and of course, as I was checking out, Abbey started screaming and Adam, in his attempts to get her to stop, started throwing everything in the cart at her. It didn't take long to realize she needed a diaper change. Undeterred, I headed to carousel and parked under the two story lot next to Best Buy. Of course, she had completely crapped her clothes. Fortunately, I had a back-up as this has become her habit. I fed her for 15 minutes and then put her down and got out. And together, in concert, both kids started crying as it was nap time for Adam. But if you know me, I don't like giving up easily. So I pulled the box out the back and pulled out the stroller parts. I was determined to be Mc-Girlver. But...I needed a screw driver.

OK. Time to come up with another plan as it was Kathy's birthday that day. Well, I had to pick up Abbey's portraits at JCPenney, too. And I recalled they have a huge jewelry department there. So...I drove over as close to the door as possible and put Adam in his umbrella stroller. Then. It started. To Rain. But I was not giving up...and Adam seemed to like it anyhow :). So, I pushed him in the stroller with one hand and carried Abbey in her carseat in the other. Luckily, she stopped crying and fell asleep as we started to move. It was awkward, but it worked!

One person shut the door in my face on the way in, but another was nice enough to open it. I hobbled to the jewelry counter and told the woman I needed nice earrings made with gold and gave her a ballpark budget...and warned her that one or both of my kids could go off at any time. She was great...showed me a couple of displays. I love the look of solitaires emeralds and saphires...and love genuine saphire more than created because the color is so nice. I found a pair that were marked $229 and ended up getting them for close to half that with the sale and my coupons. I was excited.

I hobbled to the elevator and went upstairs and picked up my portraits. Both kids in decent behavior...Abbey sleeping under the blanket and Adam attracting his usual attention by flirting with women as they walked by. (Oh, he's so cute! Look at those eyes! Those curls! He is going to have fun in high school.) I even got a diaper change in the bathroom done (poor Adam, he practically sags some of those changing stations!)

The only concern afterwards? Did she have pierced ears?? I told Todd not to worry, I'd keep them if she didn't :) and run to another store later for her. But she does. So hopefully she liked them, she'll never know the adventure I went on to get them!!!