The Screaming Noodle Adventures

I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond today. Yes, it's another one of my happy places. So many fun kitchen things! And I swear I could always use another carafe or wall hanging or frame set. But today, I wasn't there for me. I was there with my mom and my sister to help my sister pick out a new comforter set because, well, the one she doesn't have isn't chic enough. My sister is the queen of fashion. Really. I call her My Stylist because during the school year, I take pictures of my outfits and text her early in the morning to find out what I should wear that day. It's very helpful, though I doubt how much she actually enjoys receiving texts really early because she's currently a college student...

So it's around 4:15 when my son decides that he no longer wants to sit in the cart. That's fine. He can walk and even help me push our cart around. It's when he lets go of the cart in favor of running like a wild man through the crowded aisles of the store that I begin to get worried. He thinks it's a game when I start trying to corral him towards our shopping cart. Then he starts pushing other peoples' carts because, hell, why not? It's very exciting for a little kid. "Big carts. I can move them!" When he starts rolling around on the floor, I've just about had enough. So I sweep him up, because I still can, and vainly attempt to put him back into the kid seat of the cart. He does not want to go.

He turns into a noodle.

My toddler son has mastered The Noodle. He goes all limp and does this whiny thing. Sometimes he picks his nose like he's just chillin' while noodling. It's not pretty. But today, I got The Screaming Noodle. Yes, the Noodle can scream while being completely limp. Arms up, back arched, mouth wide open, face red, and crocodile tears streaming. It's quite a sight, I must admit. Well, I just about had it and did the one thing I knew would remedy the situation...I handed him over to my mom. My mother has a way with children. She's brilliant. Sometimes I wonder if magic powers actually seep from her skin to calm babies down. I wish I had that. I don't.

She distracted him enough and we were able to complete our search for "the perfect bed spread".

I learned a few things today.
1) I must be home before 4:30 so my child doesn't turn into a pumpkin.
2) My mother is a saint and I will never take that for granted.
3) People are generally understanding of screaming toddlers. However, I think on the inside, they're all thanking God that they are not the parents of The Screaming Noodle.

Oh, and I changed a poopy diaper in the trunk of my little Honda Civic today. I'm sure I'm not the first person to open the trunk of the car and lay out a changing pad, but I'm pretty sure my trunk will never smell the same.

Hanging in there,
- D