Monkey’s first outing: A trip to his grandparent’s and a Mexican restaurant

Yesterday was a big day for our little Monkey!  It was his official first outing that wasn’t to the pediatrician’s office.  Yesterday also marked two weeks since Monkey has been home.  Wow, it really has gone by so quickly!

We decided that we would go over to my parent’s house to hang out for a bit.  Around noon my mom called to see if we knew about what time we would be there and I told her “no later than 3 pm”.  I figured that three hours would be more than enough time to get all three of us ready.

Well, I was wrong.

When I got off the phone with my mom at noon, I told Tarzan that he should hop in the shower since I was breastfeeding Monkey.  Tarzan told me that he would wait to shower after I did.  (Just for the record: I had a feeling that this would be a reason that we would be late, but I didn’t say anything when T. told me that.)

So I continued to breastfeed until about 1 pm and then it was time for Monkey’s bath.  Good thing that sponge baths don’t take a lot of time because we were running behind already.  After his bath Monkey was hungry again.  I swear that is all that boy does!

I handed him off to Tarzan so that he could feed him while I took a shower.  I took a fast shower (they are getting faster and faster each time we have to go somewhere) and got dressed in record speed.  I peaked my head into the living room to tell T. that he could shower & I would blow dry my hair in the living room.  (Monkey was peacefully in his swing and I didn’t want to have to disrupt him by bringing him into our room.)

When I was finished blow drying my hair, I started to pack the diaper bag.  There were four diapers in the bag already, but I thought it would be smart to load up on some more (good thinking on my part).  I threw in a bunch of other necessities and then started to put on some makeup.  It’s a-mazing what makeup, cute clothes, and some jewels can do for a girl!  Just sayin’.

After I put on makeup T was out of the shower and dressed.  I decided to pump before I started to collect Monkey’s feeding items.  Tarzan dressed Monkey and got his big Monkey to bring with us.  He also went out and brought the car seat inside.  I finished pumping, cleaned the pump accessories with soap and water, and packed up the accessories & pump so I could bring it with me to my parents… you know, just in case.

I also packed up some bottles, the ice pack, and the travel bag for the ice pack.  I also put some Lansinoh in my pump bag, again, just in case.

We took our dog outside and then we were finally ready to go.  Whew.

It was 2:53 pm.  My parent’s live anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour away.  There was no way we were going to be there by 3 pm.  Wishful thinking on my part.

This is only the 2nd time that we have left the house with Monkey and boy is it exhausting.  There is so much to it and you would have thought that we were spending the night at my parent’s house.  There was just so much stuff!  Diaper bag, pump bag, Monkey snoogie seat, and car seat with our real Monkey in it.  Way different from just grabbing my purse and walking out the door!

When we got to my parent’s house, I still felt like I was running a marathon.  Monkey slept while we were in the car and at my parent’s for a bit and then he woke up and was hungry.  And needed his diaper changed.  My mom changed his diaper and I fed him.  (My dad and Tarzan ran out to go pick something up, so I didn’t worry about breastfeeding in front of my dad.)

After a little time on the boob, Monkey let out a little explosion and needed his diaper changed again.  In less than 10 minutes probably.  Then my mom said that she would feed him a bottle with the breastmilk that we brought and asked if I would heat up some water on the stove.

Sure.

This was the first time that I’ve ever heated up a bottle, I’ll have you know.  So I put the bottle in the pot on the stove in the water.  No big deal, right?

After a few minutes I decide it is done and hand it to my mom, who tries to test it on my wrist.  Some precious milk falls out of the side, so I take the bottle and think that the top isn’t screwed on correctly.  I unscrew it and then put it back on.  My mom goes to test it on her wrist.

More precious milk falls onto the floor and I’m about to freak out.  I don’t necessarily care what the reason is for it falling, but it’s annoying that my hard-pumped milk is landing on the floor and not in my baby’s mouth.  What the hell is going on here?!

Then my mom turns the side of the bottle and apparently I had burned a hole in the side.

Yes, you read that right.

There was a big hole in the bottle from me trying to warm it up.  Told you it was my first time.  I’m guessing that the water pushed the bottle to the side of the pot causing the heat to burst a hole in the bottle.  Of course I picked the plastic bottle that came with my pump too, so now I’m down to only three of those bottles.  Why couldn’t I have grabbed one of the two glass bottles I brought?

So. Effing. Annoying.

When Tarzan and my dad returned I told them the news of the bottle with a hole in it.  They laughed and then Tarzan said, “How did you burn a hole in it?”  I know that I’m never going to live that one down either.  It’s going to be a joke for a long time.  How wonderful.

After Monkey was fed, we all decided that we were hungry.  Tarzan and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and it was close to 6 pm now.  Funny how having a baby makes your days speed by so quickly that you actually forget to eat.

Since my parent’s just moved into their house, they hadn’t gone to the grocery store yet.  I liked the idea of ordering in, but everyone else wanted to go out to eat.  I’m usually up for going out, but was quite nervous with a 16-day old baby.  Tarzan was too.

It was decided that we would try out this one restaurant and if it was too crowded, we would leave.  Plus, we would keep Monkey in his car seat with a blanket over it for protection.  Perhaps overkill, but it gave me peace of mind.  Give us a break; we’re first-time parents here!  LOL!

We went to a Mexican restaurant and it must be the only restaurant in town that still has a smoking section.  I mean, really?!  I haven’t been to a restaurant that asked “smoking or non” in many, many years.  Of course the first time that we are asked this question is when we have our newborn baby with us.  Of course.

I was irritated by this because I was already nervous about bringing Monkey into public and now there was a smoking section…  Luckily, they had a patio with no one out there and it wasn’t too hot so we sat outside.  I put Monkey’s car seat facing the trees so that no one could see him, if people decided to join us outside.

Thankfully, no one did.

It was a good dinner and Monkey slept the whole time.  He was so good; T and I were impressed!  After dinner we said goodbye so we could head home.  Even though we were gone for only a few hours it felt like an eternity.  All in all though, it was a good time.

I know that my apprehensions towards going out with Monkey will diminish in time, but I think that I definitely want to wait at least two more weeks before going to dinner with him, going to the mall, or anywhere really.  We will stick to walks in the neighborhood just to stay safe.  I worry too much in public and want to feel a little better about taking him out in public.

I’m so thankful that I can run to the grocery store or do other things while Monkey stays at home with Tarzan.  With all of the worries of a first-time mom, I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about running to the grocery store with Monkey in tow just yet.

You might also want to read:

1. Furniture shopping on Christmas Eve: A tale of two monkeys
2. Our Baby Feeding Schedule: A day in the life of Tarzan, Jane, and Monkey. Welcome to no sleepville.
3. Newborn Breastfed Baby Poop & Pee: The colors, the sounds, the diapers, the smells… the journey and story that no one tells!
4. 10 ways our baby has told me how much he loves me and how to tell if your baby loves you!
5. Monkey, a bump, a trip to the pediatrician’s office, & lots of worries

Tagged as: baby, Breastfeeding, diapers