just got back
from madeline’s first
official shopping trip
(one of thousands…she is her mother’s daughter after all).
madeline in stroller,
got to the door
and realized
that i was about to
attempt to push a stroller
and
a shopping cart…
at the same time.
an impossible feat.
instead of
going back to the car
to drop off the stroller
i decided to grab a basket
and shop for just
the small things.
i also
took the opportunity
to put my masters in sociology
to work
and observe the
other mothers
shopping alongside us
in order to learn their ways.
i now know
to leave the stroller
at home
and put the car seat
in the shopping cart.
what an idiot.
i also observed
that old women
really, really
love babies.
especially sleeping babies.
(one of them called madeline “exquisite”).
now it’s off to
the doctor…
23 Comments
That is a fun lesson. I remember trying to figure that out, too. I really struggled with figuring out how to hook the car seat into the shopping cart. The first time I just gave up and put the whole car seat into the main section of the cart – which entirely defeats the point of having the cart since the baby and carseat fill up the basket completely. Now that I have two kids, I prefer to put my infant in a baby carrier (saw that you have one!). Much easier…
Yes, old women really do *love* babies. I remember always putting the sun-hood up on the car seat so that they couldn’t reach in and touch Curtis’s cheeks when he was really tiny. Oh, and Madeline is too young for this now, but once she is able to sit up you can get these really cool shopping cart seat covers — that way, she can ride in the front of the cart (once she is out of the infant seat) and you have your own cover so she won’t put her hands (and subsequently, mouth) all over the shopping cart. Maybe Auntie Anya will buy one for her
ps. she really is exquisite.
Hi Matt ~ Cute story – you were a step ahead of someone else I know (namely me!!) who first attempted to carry the CAR SEAT to do my shopping at the mall – but left the stroller at home! Those things get pretty heavy pretty quickly, regardless of the size of the baby in the seat! You had both the stroller and the car seat (and the baby!) I’d say that’s pretty darn good by most new parent standards! Keep up the great work!
OMG! It took me months to figure out the stroller vs. car seat in the cart thing! On another note, thanks for sharing the slideshow of you and Madeline. I consider that ‘exquisite’…
Ha! You just learned your first lession in shopping. I remember when my son was a month old (he’s 8 months now), I was in Target and carried him around in his car seat without the assistance of a cart. A nice mother showed me the beauty of attaching the carseat to the cart, without making me feel stupid.
You’re doing a great job!
This made me laugh! And reminded me of my early trips to Target … esp. the old ladies.
Push said stroller with one hand…pull shopping cart with second. Not that I ever did that… LOL!
Madeline is exquisite. Little Old Lady was right.
Old ladies know their stuff: Madeline IS exquisite and YOU are a fantastic father, diarist, photographer, humorist, feeler of deep emotions. You and Madeline and your family and friends are in my prayers.
Matt,
I found your story through a friend of mine. Her husband, Jesse, works with you at Yahoo! Your story has moved me to tears, sadness for you and your beautiful daughter. But also tears of happiness because she has an awesome father to help her find her way in this crazy world. You may not have as much confidence in this baby raising game right now as you will, but your daughter will look back at these entries and pictures of you and her and realize that you love her enough for both you and Liz. And that is amazing considering what you have been through.
It sounds like you have a lot of people to lean on for support, but if you ever have a question about the fun that lies ahead you can email me. I have a 3 month old son so I am learning the ropes as well. Good luck. You will be in my thoughts.
I love it! =) I never figured out how to hook the car seat to the stroller. Was always afraid that I’d do it wrong. Put the entire thing in the cart most of the time I went shopping, but then couldn’t really get much. Then I figured out the baby holder (like a Bjorn) worked a lot better. The whole process took so much more time than shopping ever did! But it makes for good laughs and memories.
Matt, I too saw your story through a connection… Chris of Project Childhood. I am a contributor to his organization, being that I’m a photographer. His wife did an amazing job w/ the photographs by the way. I read your blog from beginning to end, and as I am not much for words when it comes to things like this, especially as a complete stranger…I wanted to say that you made me laugh, cry and brought out emotions that I can’t explain. I want you to know that even though I don’t know you, my thoughts are with you. You are a wonderful father and you have a beautiful daughter to walk and run and play through life with. As the challenges come and sometimes go, just know that you are thought of…and I see that you may know that by all of the love and support, its just nice to always hear. On another note…I found this song some time ago, and thought you may enjoy listening to it. If you havent already heard it, I was listening to it tonight, and thought of my day today… reading your blog. It is called “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds Five. Thank you for being who you are Matt. I will continue to update myself on your blog.
Many thoughts and love
Matt, I found out about your blog yesterday and I was mesmerized by your story. You are an amazing writer, photographer and now father. I was struck by how “German/Scandinavian” Liz looks, as I live in Germany. What a real beauty she was and I bet little Madeline will be following in her footsteps for many years to come.
I am so sorry for your bittersweet loss and I hope you know that your story is inspiring people from near and far and that Liz is continuing to open hearts and minds worldwide.
ok, since i havent had actually raise a child i will not directly criticize the lack of forethought in your shopping experience, although i will say that a masters may not be quite the accomplishment it used to be. i do know for a fact that you suck at breastfeeding (pun=2pts, intentional=1 bonus pt). like i said, i have been scouring the interweb to find a pair of non-erotic (arotic?) fake breasts for you to feed madeline with. maybe im alone but the novelty of showing baby pictures to madeline’s boyfriends, that include you wearing this contraption, just tickles me in the right spot. it provides ample opportunity to embarrass the hell out of maddy and i also believe it makes for a good segue into an ass kicking should the punk bastard dare to snicker at you. as it turns out, except for in “meet the fokekers,” it may be impossible to locate and purchase a male breastfeeding apparatus. im working on a design right now because i think there is a big future in this. you can be the model and well carve out a niche in the market together. i expect discounted ads on yahoo.
See? This is why babies should come with manuals! I mean, how are we all supposed to figure out this stuff anyway? As a fellow sociology masters…I can assure you it’s of no help
. You’re doing an absolutely AMAZING job as a father. Your daughter is so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful man as her daddy. You were obviously hand-picked for her. Your wife was so stunningly beautiful and I know her spirit must be as well. I’m so sorry for your loss (there’s got to be something more poignant to say…).
Hey, you are doing great to have figured that out before you ever got in the store. Don’t beat yourself up over it, I spent the first several shopping trips with my son trying to cram everything into the basket on the bottom of the stroller. I was afraid of putting the carseat on the cart until I realized the people at graco are geniuses and it locks right on!! Eventually, I figured out, as some other have said, that the best way to go is the baby carrier.
TIP: when madeline gets a little older and is awake more, the front carrier is great for doing laundry, cleaning dishes, making bottles, etc. You are doing a great job and there are many people out there who will be more than happy to give you any parenting advice that you might need and lift you up when you feel like you have fallen.
Sounds like a fun trip to the store. How wonderful of her to sleep instead of wake up and cry – that makes it really *not* fun.
I’m an admitted germaphobe, so you can take this with a grain of salt: The old ladies are nice, but watch out for the baby-touchers. Especially with a preemie, you don’t need people touching her hands with their germs and then getting her sick. People always touch babies hands, then babies put their hands in their mouths. I always cover my little ones hands with a blanket, or cover the entire baby carrier with a blanket so people can’t get her at all. Another tip is to always wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, after touching a shopping cart (or basket) before touching your baby. They are nasty.
I bet that sociology masters is going to come in really handy over the years! That’s how we ALL Figure out this parenting thing…just watch what everybody else does and copy (or do the opposite, as the case may be).
Keep up the good work! You and Maddie have many such exciting adventures in your future.
People in Germany are reading now. You’ve gone world wide. David Logelin is funny. Thinking of you!
Matt,
You can add me to the list of numerous people who have been fortunate to be introduced to your story and your website. You have truly been an inspiration and I can’t thank you enough for sharing. You’re story and your words are just what I needed to be reminded of how truly precious life is and to never take one day for granted. I think we all have the tendency to get caught up in our own life issues and drama that many times we forget to take the small amount of time it takes to stop and smell the flowers every now and then and remind ourselves to be grateful for all we have. Madeline is a very lucky little girl to have such an amazing father who has found a way to allow Liz to live on through the sincere inspiration of others around the world. Thank you for making me hug my husband and son a bit harder and a bit longer and I look forward to continuing to get to partake in your life journey. Take care and best wishes!
Hi there! I found your blog through a friend who found it in her local paper. I just wanted to say that you are such an inspiration, and that you have truly touched my heart. I’m sitting here crying and laughing. I learned the hard way when it came to shopping too. I brought in my stroller, and realized it was impossible to push a stroller and drag a cart behind me. Old women LOVE babies. I’ve sometimes had to dodge them in the mall. I look forward to every post, and love seeing pictures of your beautiful daughter. Take care!
Bring your sling! You can do ANYTHING with those … even shower with the baby if need be!
I’ve spent the entire day reading (and crying over) your amazing blog, and now I’m reading it again.
I don’t know why I chose this post to comment on other than it reminded me that I also have a mostly unused MA Soc, but then thought “Matt’s watching other moms to see how they handle the cart/baby issue, yay, grocery-cart gemeinschaft!”
And I have definitely laffed along with crying while reading your deeply intelligent take on little, yet enormous things.
I’ll bet readers smile at any opportunity to connect with your lovely family, like if they are a baseball lover, or salon enthusiast like the beautiful Liz with the biggest, best smile.
We stranger/friends are so blessed to have love in our lives and Madeline in our hearts.
Stay gold, you are very special. Kisses to li’l Maddy.
With deepest sympathy and heart, Lil
You are both exquisite!! Such gifts!!