Tropical

Today was a balmy 36 degrees, which, for those desperate among us, is cause to celebrate. Not only was it 36 degrees, but the sun was out and the giant sheets of ice on the sidewalks, roads, and grass were on the thaw. These conditions are prime for getting the baby (and your pasty self) out of the house.

This is the first time I have taken Gillian to the park since she started walking a few weeks ago. I packed her up in her warm jacket and insufficient shoes (now that she is walking, some little boots are in order-anyone have a good suggestion for a new walker-friendly boot? Even better-anyone have any we can borrow for a child with freakishly small feet (12.5 cm)?), cocooned her up in her BundleMe with her pink baby, and we were off. Oh, and I couldn’t find her Very Warm Gloves because I think they were in the car and Sean had the car, so I improvised with some good Old Fashioned cashmere socks over her hands and lower jacket sleeves.

It wasn’t looking promising with the stroller because of the ice mush and still-intact ice rink residual on the walkway, but we eventually made it to a clear stretch, which was nice. About five seconds into that, Gillian decided her stroller was like inquisitional torture and wasn’t having it. What, with all those dogs and other desperate parents out for a stroll with the cabin-fever ridden children, the park was a veritable playland of visual delights that, of course, must be experienced Up Close and Personal. Because she can walk now, and that is obviously so much better than the stroller.




Gillian got to visit with a happy little white dog, another dog named Sinner, a beautiful little boy named Asher and his new baby sister, and we saw a bunch of other parents out and lots of other neighborhood dogs. She saw dogs playing Frisbee on the beach, kids “ice skating” in sneakers on sheets of ice still not completely melted over the grass, and people out and jogging. At some point, Gillian decided that sock gloves were for the birds and proceeded to throw them on the sidewalk after each application (not that her real gloves are much better, because she has figured out how to undo the Velcro at the wrists, and likes to throw them on the ground too). So, I left them off. I figure at some point she will a) realize that in the BundleMe everything stays much warmer, including her little hands, and after a while the stroller starts looking pretty good (clearly this was delusional) or b) realize that having cold hands is uncomfortable and won’t want to take the sock gloves off. But No and No. The Glove Police even issued me a citation because Gillian's hands were cold (in case I hadn't noticed).

Aside from that, it was wonderfully liberating to get out and about in the park. Gillian was terribly excited about seeing all the action outside. Eventually, with the help of a pediatric nurse (seriously..how fortuitous was that? What a nice neighbor!), I got Gillian into her stroller and the BundleMe where her hands could thaw. She stopped screaming and throwing a fit in protest from her renewed restraint about 20 feet from home, but hey, at least she was warm.

Clearly, the stroller days are over. Or at least ten times more painful.

Oh, and let's not get too comfortable. We're in for 6-9 inches more snow tonight. *sigh* I am feeling my Floridian wussness coming on. Will this weather ever end?