What is an Infantino?

Benjamin and I went on our first outing together today. I think he was a little bit nervous and rightly so. As prepared as I thought I was, the frenzied nature of our time together proved otherwise.

After we both finished breakfast we headed to Harris Teeter. Before he was born I typed out a grocery list that I could print before each trip and just highlight whatever items were needed. I brought this and more importantly, the diaper bag and sling.

Jeremy had suggested yesterday (this is how prepared we were!) to park near the return cart area so I could "simply" put Ben's infant carrier onto the cart and enter the store. Ben and I quickly realized this was not going to work! (I completed this task with flying colors at Target later so maybe it's just the Harris Teeter carts?) Not sure . . . but thankfully I also had the sling. So, here's how it all went:

Step 1: Park car near cart returns.
Step 2: Unlock doors and make sure that I have the keys.
Step 3: Remove infant carrier from car. Oh wait. Where's the cart?
Step 4: Put Ben back in car.
Step 5: Lock doors.
Step 6: Get cart and bring over to car.
Step 7: Unlock doors.
Step 8: Put Ben in cart. Or try to at least.
Step 9: Try not to cry.
Step 10: Put Ben and carrier back in the car.
Step 11: Go around to other backdoor and lay sling on seat.
Step 12: Get Ben out of carrier and put him in the sling, trying not to wake him.
Step 13: Get Mastercard, glasses, grocery list (the diaper bag has become my purse but I didn't think we needed to bring the whole bag in the store, so I left my wallet in the car and just brought the card inside). Mistake.
Step 14: Put the sling on and lock the car.
Step 15: Shop for groceries (at some point panicking that I had lost my wallet!)
Step 16: Check out. Or try to at least. (It was at this point that I realized my all-important VIC card for discounts was in the car.)
Step 17: Put on a helpless face and ask cashier if I can just give her my phone number.
Step 18: Give my number. Declined.
Step 19: Give Jeremy's number. Declined.
Step 20: Wait for the cashier to show sympathy to a new mom and just scan the card that is hanging from her neck.
Step 21: Tell cashier that the card is in my car and I will be back.
Step 22: Unlock doors, get card, lock doors.
Step 23: Hand card to cashier back in store as I try to force a smile.
Step 24: Answer the bagger's question as he looks at the sling hanging in front of me: "What's an Infantino?" My response: "It's a baby." Ha. (This is how frazzled I was at this point.)
Step 25: Try to remember my name as I sign for the groceries.
Step 26: Return to car.

You get the idea. But there were about 15 more steps to actually getting out of the parking lot.

I share this with you because it made me laugh. Ben and I don't have much to complain about, but this was certainly an eye-opening experience for us. The best laugh of all was that the bagger actually thought the Infantino was my purse and he jumped after I told him it was a baby! One day, if Jeremy and I actually have as many children as we discussed in our college days (and my brain has ceased to function properly), I might accidentally bring the giant Infantino as my purse. Without the VIC card of course.