Illegal Improvisation

     car seat #1

We only have one car seat.  I was advised to register for two car seats, but I only registered for one.  This means that we* have had to move the car seat from one car to the other on several occasions, the most recent of which was(n't) yesterday: 

I prepare Poppy O. for her day at SMU Preschool and Childcare Center.  Bottles, socks, pants, top, squeezy food - I get all this stuff either onto The Pop-Tart or into her little green backpack.  

little green backpack

I scoop everything together: my totebag in which I tote my school books, my large/heavy purse, the little green backpack, and Poppy (can't forget Poppy).  We head out the door.    

We get into the elevator, we look at ourselves in the elevator mirrors, we get out of the elevator and we walk to the Fiat.  I open the back hatch to put everything down and to put Poppy in her car seat.  But the thing is...here's the thing: there is no car seat in the back of the Fiat.  Normally there's a car seat, but today there is no car seat.  

Then I remember that Matt had Poppy pick-up duty yesterday.  I look down again.  Yep, all that remains in the car seat's vacant spot is Poppy's Curious George (monkey). 

I pause for about 2 seconds in order to ponder the following:

Summoning the courage of my conviction, I calmly put our things in the trunk and take Poppy up to the front.  I put Poppy in the passenger seat, fasten her safety-belt, and hand George to her.  Then I walk around to driver's seat, get in, and carefully drive away.      

car seat #2
(we should have bought car seat #2)

And now a word on the law:
(Poppy will be 1 year old in two weeks)

Child Passenger Safety
Child Restraint Required unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.)	Adult Safety Belt Permissible unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.)	Maximum Fine 1st Offense
<7 (and <57")	Not permissible	$25

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Office.

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/bystate/tx.html

*By 'we', I of course mean 'Matt'.  

Want to go on an adventure?

me:  'Hey Poppy, wanna go on an Adventure to Central Market?!'

Poppy:  '__________.'

A blogette by the name of Joanna Goddard had a little blurb in this month's Parenting magazine:

My Dad used to say everything was an "adventure." He'd be going to the grocery store, for example, and he'd ask us, "Want to go on an adventure?" We pile into the car, excited to try some cheese samples and listen to the radio while driving. That one word made everything feel thrilling.

I love this idea and I'm definitely going to start doing it with Poppy O..  She's very into the race car carts at Whole Foods and Central Market (well, to be honest...Poppy's not the only one who's into the race car carts).  She's wildly entertained when I walk in front of the grocery cart and stare at her as I push the cart forward and then pull it back real real fast.  She thinks it's her private little roller coaster ride during which I sometimes let out a reluctant 'whhhhheeeeee'.   

http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/01/motherhood-mondays-my-parents-two.html#more

Plugging In The Pop-Tart

feet

We had been putting off the acquisition of a high-chair because I didn't like the idea of yet another clunky baby item draining the apartment's tranquility.  That's how I was able to rationalize feeding squeezy food to Poppy whilst seated on the floor like some kind of savage....

this is poppy's squeezy food.  you just squeeze this
stuff into your baby's mouth; no spoon required-

...Until last week when I discovered that there's this device known as a Lobster  that allows you to stick your baby right there on your table - suspending it in the air.  And once that baby is installed, she's not going anywhere (this thing is solid).  I feel fairly confident in making the claim that this Lobster seating arrangement may literally be the best thing ever.  It's like our table has a USB port!

'who moved my juicebox?'

'how's your love life?'

http://www.shopbabybliss.com/index.php

Misspent Dreams of Fire Retardancy

Whilst purchasing some clothes for The rapidly growing Pop-Tart at Baby Bliss  (an unparalleled baby stuff store in Snider Plaza), I kept seeing these tags on baby clothes:  

exhibit number 1
Let us not give into the temptation to second guess this claim-

In fact, I've seen this warning on lots of Poppy's clothes: 

exhibit number 2

During my pregnancy, I was supremely interested in hearing all about how modern mommies were playing the game.  I listened to almost anyone who seemed to be doing a good job raising their own offspring.  Naturally, I didn't buy everything  that the other parents were selling, I simply listened and took the bits that I thought would work well for my new little family.  I received lots of information - some was helpful and some wasn't, but I tried my best to be a grateful recipient of everyone's two cents.  

During one such session, I was given a peculiar bit of advice:

a well-seasoned mother:  'You need to use Dreft so that the fire retardancy isn't washed out of your daughter's clothes'.  



Actually, this tidbit was presented not as advice but as a divine order backed by conviction and persistance.  A truism to be gulped, not sipped- 

It is with the clarity of hindsight that I can say 'yes'.  Yes, this was the moment, the moment that I realized that there was nothing else that this woman could illuminate for me.  (Unfortunately I continued to hang out with her despite the fact that she was constantly stirring up unnecessary alarmist anxiety.  I finally called it quits on the day that she almost convinced me to spend the money that we have earmarked for grad school on 'the employment a night nanny'.  She informed me that if I didn't have a night nanny come and take care of the baby while my husband and I were sleeping that my mariage and health would almost certainly deteriorate.  'Besides, as soon as the baby is born you will no longer have the desire to go to graduate school.'  I cried in my car for 20 minutes after hearing these revelations, none of which turned out to be true.)

Poppy's fire retardancy is my responsibility.  I have always assumed that, with or without clothing, she is a generally flammable being and that we should both behave accordingly.  I can only hope that these omnipresent warnings on baby clothes help other parents become privy to the fact that their children's clothing will offer them no aide in the realm of fire retardancy*. 

I am still grateful to have received the well-seasoned mother's advice without which I might never have believed that it is necessary to put these warning labels on infant clothing-

*Unless their children's clothing was created at the house of Edna Mode.

http://www.shopbabybliss.com/index.php