I've never had kids close enough in age to utilize both seats in the shopping cart, and until today I've avoided major Costco trips with both babies in tow. Lexi usually rides in her car seat in the basket portion of the cart while Gavin rides up front.
But today I was feeling ambitious (and...gasp!...we were out of Ranch dressing...the last straw), so I made a long list and, ten minutes later, headed out the door. Once at the store I was actually charmed with my adorable children sitting side by side -- so charmed, in fact, that I took a picture in the produce section. Gavin said it was "freezing in there!" while Lexi kicked her legs like a maniac, clearly thrilled to have the best seat in the house.
Ten minutes later, the charm fizzled. Gavin made it his mission to make Lexi miserable. With pokes and prods and pulls of her hood, he had her shrieking in no time. Lexi kicked her socks off 17 times. But of course I had a big list of things to throw in the cart. Most were the usual suspects and I knew right where to find them, but I had to hunt down a couple and finally gave up on a third. Eventually I was holding Lexi in one arm and pushing my heavily-laden cart with the other, trying to avoid Gavin's kicks along the way. I deeply regretted keeping my coat on when I walked into the store. I was sweating bullets.
See Gavin's sour face? A $3 hoodie and $4 shoes (plucked from Target clearance aisles) don't add much charm to that attitude.
Ten minutes later, with groceries and gas in the van, I headed home and Gavin fell asleep. Apparently just BEING a toddler is as exhausting as parenting one. But ten minutes later, Gavin woke up. {Sigh....}
[Afternoon post script]
In an amusing twist of irony, I discovered a bottle of Ranch dressing in the garage cupboard when putting away the Costco groceries. How interesting that the must-have food item precipitating the excursion wasn't actually needed!
8 comments:
I love that Lexi's left sock is half off. True to form!
I so remember those days of torturing--maybe because I'm still living them. What is it when little siblings are in close proximity they eventually get pestered? I'd start with both kids in the cart and end up having to carry the little one to keep them alive. I got really good at maneuvering a giant cart with one arm and a hip. Sounds like you'll develop that skill as well! Hang in there, Heidi!
Josh and Luke had all out battles in that dual seat as well. I was glad when Josh started walking along side! I have definitely have had those sweaty shopping trips, and have also been perusing the Target clearance...good deals to be found right now! Sorry the car nap didn't last long. Do they ever? Here's to an early bedtime instead!
how cute are they up top together? well, in the picture at least. ;) i do that with the boys but put a big blanket in between them to help protect bennett from ethan's 'playing'.
I feel your pain! Last time I went alone w/ two kids, I was also huge pregnant. I even gave them little toys to keep them busy--and they kept dropping them. So, I'd waddle a few more steps, take a wide stance and lean down to pick up the toys. After the second time, they didn't get the toys back.
But they look so perfectly perfect and adorable in the picture...
I can't quite compete with two kiddos and a costco shopping cart, but I definitely know what it's like to put a heavy shopping cart with one hand, grouchy kid in the other. Or more likely, hanging on to Brielle as she pushes, superman style, the grocery cart into the person in front of us in line :( Shopping is never easy!!
Ooooh, oh oh oh. Last time I was at Costco, I had 2 kids in the cart (yes, I still put Eve in the cart, you'll see why in a minute). I had to leave with only clementines, and Eve carried over my shoulder like a very large, heavy, shrieking sack of potatoes, after her second full-on tantrum in 20 minutes.
Luckily for Iris, I don't go to Costco without backup, so my dad pushed her and the cart out to meet us at my van after our Walk of Shame.
I bring it up to remind you of how much more fun it will be to carry screaming children out of stores when you do it with family! Yay! Everything is less embarrassing if you have someone to laugh about it with. :)
(Also, my kids love the "cold room". Does it make your kids run around at warp speed? It does that to mine. You would think it would slow them down. Not so).
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