no stroller...good luck

I took M with me to Old Navy on Labor Day.

I saw a cute shirt and some skinny cords online and I wanted to check them out.

Just a quick trip...

Yeah, right!

I never even found the shirt...

because in a flash this happened:

don't mind me, I'll just shop for myself

Within moments of being in the store

she found a hat and threw it on backwards,

then quickly found this backpack

and the "flee-flops" in her hand.

I had her with me one second and

then couldn't find her the next.

I was speed walking through

the store calling her name.

A young woman asked

if I was looking for a

"little blonde baby?"

Yes!

"She's at the front of the store."

I was in the very back

where we had just been together.

I race to the registers

and M is standing there

with all her gear on,

filling a striped purse

with all the check out tchotchkes...

water bottle, football, hair accessories.

Oh, geez.

caught red handed

aka

"I shoppin, momma!"

Notice the addition of a pencil case,

and the navy and green striped bag

full of merchandise.

I am laughing to myself now,

but in the moment it was a

bit embarrasing.

...and then, to top it off, this happened:

"hey doggie! I ridin the dog, momma!"

after the dog riding, we left

nothing was purchased

and no tantrums were had...

(still shocked over that)

...i think I was supposed to

give her a behavior lesson

in there somewhere,

but as you can tell

I used this little "stay with mommy"

teaching moment

as one big photo op.

the end.