Today began my last week of time off with the baby— and we didn’t waste a minute. We started the day at Buy Buy Baby where a very friendly associate showed us how to use our Baby Bjourn carrier. We couldn’t understand why other babies seemed so happy in their carriers while Arabella responded as if it were some foreign kind of torture. I guess there’s something to be said for a good demo because now she loves it.
Our next stop was Home Goods. Since we were overly excited about our newfound ability to get Arabella in the carrier we decided to use it at Home Goods. Success! She happily took in the endless aisles of home decor while we searched for a hamper— and picked up a few toys for Baxter.
Later, we stopped at a second Home Goods and found and even better hamper. We actually found a great bench too, but didn’t have room for it in the car. Perhaps we’ll go back tomorrow.
Our last stop was Target. I needed a plastic bin to store my maternity clothes, which I’m happy to report have officially been removed from my closet. We also needed some wine for the cookout we were headed to this evening.
The cookout was a last minute party hosted by Jarmon’s good friend from college, who was also the best man in our wedding. He has a beautiful home in Glen Ellyn and it was a beautiful night for sitting on the patio. Arabella got passed around to many adoring sets of arms and Baxter got to run around in the grass.
Chad’s daughter was especially great with Arabella— and Arabella loved her in return. She even brought out the giant teddy bear Jarmon bought her over a decade ago so Arabella could lay on it. I knew my husband– in his never ending quest to be the cool “uncle” figure– liked to buy obnoxious presents that drove parents crazy. What I didn’t know was that it wasn’t just his niece and nephew who were the recipients. Apparently he purchased three ginormous animals for Chad’s kids while they were still living in the city. (Yeah, he’s that guy.) He must have really thought he’d be a bachelor forever.
Also tonight, Arabella got her first nickname. You see, when Jarmon was in college- for reasons I still don’t understand even after hearing the story a dozen times- he acquired the nickname Fat Tony. Decades later, his fraternity brothers still call him Fat Tony. I, by association, am Trina Fat Tony. You might think fat anything isn’t a nickname you want, but I took it as a term of endearment– my acceptance into the group. (My father was so humored by this at our wedding that he conspired with Santa to give us shirts bearing our names at the next family Christmas party). Chad’s daughter decided Arabella should be Fat Tonya. Definitely not one of the nicknames I considered when naming her, but I’m happy she’s officially part of the club. Perhaps there is a onesie in her future.
Trina Orlando 