The anointing

I finally have one! One of those mommy stories you hear about--you know, the ones where small children humiliate their moms in public with horrible tirades or embarrassing comments or by creating huge messes or spectacles. My friend has a great story about her daughter. During the potty training stage she was walking around Bed, Bath & Beyond while little pellets of poop escaped from her pant legs. My friend had to scurry around the store picking up poop as though she were cleaning up after her dog in the park. Admittedly my story is not that embarrassing, though it may be more gross. In short, Abigail threw up on me while we were at the checkout stand at Target yesterday. Real grown up super smelly vomit. While the cashier looked on. Yup, lots of fun.

I took the kids to Target because the weather was great and I figured it was a chance to get some exercise too. Abby woke up from her nap really grumpy and upset, and she refused to eat her snack. No problem, I figured. The walk would do her good, and she actually liked the idea of riding in the backpack while I pushed Amelia and Gabriel in the stroller. Partway through the Target trip Gabe and Amelia each got another little snack, but Abigail still refused. Then, while I was paying for our stuff, just out of nowhere I see vomit shoot over my left shoulder. I can feel it hit my hair and slide down my shoulder a little too, and the smell is unmistakable. I asked the cahsier if she had any paper towels but she pointed me to the food area. I couldn't exactly get to the food area without finishing my purchase and struggling with the stroller, so I just ran my card and signed my receipt. I think by the time I finished the cashier noticed what happened because she started handing me napkins that she miraculously found behind the counter, and I was able to mop up a little of the goo from myself and the floor before the customer behind me very graciously shooed me away to get more thoroughly cleaned up and assured me I had enough to worry about and someone else could mop up the floor.

I wasn't able to thoroughly clean, given that the Target food area doesn't provide shower facilities, but I took Abigail off my back, cleaned what I could with some more napkins, and gave everyone a drink of water. Abby seemed quite content and comfortable, so I was happy about that. She even nodded yes when I asked if she wanted another piggy back ride home. One woman very sweetly stopped by and said she was impressed that my kids were so quiet and well behaved, and that I was doing a great job as a mother. Wow! Made my day to hear that, so maybe getting throw up on you in public is actually an opportunity for good!

The worst part of all of this was I didn't get to clean myself up for quite a while, because as soon as we got home I had to feed the kids a speedy dinner (of which Abby partook) and then run off to pick up Garrett from work because I had the car yesterday. I was feeling pretty gross by the time we all got home together, what with my workout of walking to Target and back and the added aroma of Abigail's digested lunch. Mmmmmm, good!

Oh, and another fun story from just about thirty minutes ago: apparently Amelia has learned how to climb out of her crib. Thank God she didn't hit any edges or break any little baby parts on the way down, but I'm not sure how this bodes for future naptimes. Today I'm not exactly hearing the sounds of peaceful slumber in the next room. Don't toddlers ever get tired?