alabaster or bust

Dennis was on the road all day. This wasn't my intention, by any means! We got up this morning, I fixed him a nice breakfast which included a piece of the homemade whole wheat bread I baked last night in the bread machine (do I get extra points for not using a mix?) according to the recipe that Kristin and Mom have perfected. Dennis loved the bread and the fruit and the milk, etc. He got kind of wild after breakfast. We went in his room, and he'd played with EVERY toy in the place in 20 minutes, and he was cruising for more to do. He was singing and screeching and laughing, and then he started rubbing his eyes and grabbed his Froggy and pacifier. I took the hint and put him down for a nap. Just then, David came in and told me he was going to take Dennis to Lowe's with him, and since he wasn't yet asleep, I agreed that this was a good plan. Good for me, anyway, because I got a nap and a nice long shower without having to worry about what Dennis was getting into. David reported that he had a fabulous time at Lowe's, waving and smiling and talking to everyone he met. When they got back, we fed him lunch, leftover baked chicken and brown rice casserole with mushrooms (a recipe Uncle Denny once dubbed "chicken, rice, & goo", a name we still use for it every time we make it) that David had baked last night. Yummy!

After lunch, we went to Gran's house to set off on our shopping trip, which began in Alabaster (where Lowe's is). We visited Pop at work and Dennis enjoyed a cup of fresh fruit from Chick-Fil-A while Gran ate her lunch. Then we were off to Hoover to get a picture reframed and then right back to Alabaster so that Gran could stop at Lowe's. I know Dennis must have thought he was going in circles all day, but he stayed happy and sweet in every store we strolled him through. He was asleep by the time we got back to Lowe's, though, so he didn't have to go in there twice today, as I stayed in the car with him while Gran ran in and got her stuff. We did get him out at the grocery store, though, and he rode in the stroller all reclined back and relaxed, occasionally tossing his Froggy out to explore the fresh produce or the parking lot. Not to worry, I watched Froggy like he is our second child, and I am happy to report that he made it home safely.

Now for the good part. In Hoover, in the Hobby Lobby parking lot, I stepped around to the side of the van, opened the door, stretched Dennis out on the floor on the side that doesn't have a seat in it, and changed his diaper. No problem. We went inside the store, shopped too long, came outside, and I repeated the process, as his diaper seemed to be pretty wet and heavy. Dennis and I came outside to load up while Gran was still in line to pay for her framing. I was in the process of changing him again (read: I had removed the diaper and was preparing to install the fresh one) when I glanced up and noticed that Gran was coming out of the store and headed toward us. I suddenly felt some drops of liquid hit my ankle and I JUMPED back in time to watch a fountain coming from Dennis's diaper area. My jump was not quick enough, however, and I looked down to see Dennis pee soaking through my denim shorts all around my groin area on both legs. He had apparently aimed so that it would look like I had wet myself rather than him wetting me. I had a good laugh (though not as good as his laugh or Gran's) about it, wiped him down (HIS clothes were still dry), wiped up the pee from the van trim, dried the changing pad, dressed him and strapped him in his seat, and then took a moment to uselessly swipe at my pants with a baby wipe. He fell instantly asleep when the van hit the highway and had a great nap, which I attribute to the fact that he'd completely emptied his bladder and was therefore comfortable enough to sleep the deep sleep. He was happy today, and that makes for a good day regardless of my being peed on. I'll wash just fine.