My trip this morning was not exactly what I had planned when I set out this morning.  I had to take all three grocery shopping, like stock-up shopping that requires the-entire-cart, by myself.  And as we were getting ready this morning I had to start taking away privileges due to kids being, well, kids.  Unfortunately these privileges included tot spot while there AND the car cart :(

I'm thinking we've got this covered.  The preschooler can push the kiddy shopper cart, I'll put baby on my front in a MT and the toddler on my back in the Ergo.  Still good to go :) 

Well, as we are entering the toddler exclaims he's dirtied his diaper.  Wonderful.  Diaper changes with all three sets of wandering hands in a small public bathroom are my most favorite thing EVEH, NOT!  We get there, just gas.  Thanks kid :P  Well, as we're leaving the baby drops his one and only paci on the floor of the public bathroom.  I am NOT wiping that one off to give to him *yuck!* 

Still, I'm thinking we're good to go.  I know he's an hour past his naptime, and we're down a nuk, but he's strapped to me, we'll be walking and moving the whole time, and I'll be quick.  I was super mom this morning and used that super cool free website to put together my grocery list, separated by aisle, with special indicators for items that had coupons and everything.  But as I turn the corner into the produce section I look for my list.  It's nowhere to be found - I left it in the printer :(

It's still ok I tell myself.  The preschooler is doing well, the toddler LOVES being on my back, and the baby is rubbing his eyes but still not fussing.  I'll just try to remember everything on my list.

Ha ha ha!  All you other moms are chuckling at me right now, aren't you?

As we are turning down the next aisle the baby starts to fuss.  And I'm already forgetting things and having to back-track.  As we continue I'm having to tell myself to just get the necessities.  I can come back for the extras later.  I just need the stuff for dinner tonight and the stuff that's on sale that won't be tomorrow.  It'll be ok. 

By the time we turn the last corner and head for the check-out lanes the baby is crying and overtired and I am SO relieved that my most favorite checker is on duty and doesn't have a single person in her line.  She is awesome.  She takes my coupons and my vouchers, organizes it all for me.  The manager on duty notices that we were in a 'you bag' lane and comes over to help me unload the rest of the groceries from my cart and grab the cloth bags that I had DD stuff on the bottom of my cart for me.  Remember I have not one but TWO kids strapped to me?  He also commences to start bagging our groceries for us.  While I look up from trying to calm the baby the other checker in the lane next to us who was also free came to help DD unload her little kiddy cart.  Half way through my order the world's most awesome and nicest checker lady asks if I want parcel pick-up.  As I open my mouth to decline because I'm already embarrased at the sight we must be she assures me that he can follow us out to our vehicle so he can start loading us up while I'm getting the kiddos in. 

And THAT is why I will always take my business to my most favorite grocery store ever.  Did you catch all that? 
Here it is and more: 

• They have pregnancy and new mother parking
• They have a tot spot to drop the kiddos off if you want
• They have car carts if you want to take them through with you
  
• They have not one, but two free lanes (less on the weekends but sure beats some other stores I've been to on weekday mornings)
• They have the most awesome and caring and capable and quick and efficient checker in the world!
  
• They have both you bag and we bag lanes
• The manager drops what he's doing to help
  
• The other checker drops what she's doing to help
• The parcel pick-up guy follows you out to the parking lot to help if you need it
• Oh, and those reusable bags I brought?  You can get a nickle off of your bill for every bag you bring and use.  Not alot, I know, but after all of that, doesn't it just put the icing on the top?

And as for my state of mind?  Yes, I'm crazy.  Yes, I wore two kiddos through the whole store and parking lot.  Yes, it would have been fine, and I would have even made it look good, too, if only that nukkie wouldn't have fallen on the bathroom floor...............

P.S. Thank you to my older kiddos for being so sweet and agreeable even though your baby sibling was tired and I was just a tad flustered.  Thank you, preschooler, for following close and not leaving my side.  Thank you, toddler, for making babywearing look awesome.  You had all the grannies and grampies smiling at you even though your baby brother was tired. 

P.S.S.  Thank you LORD for helping me to at least not forget the wallet or lock the keys in the van or have a running child or forgetting my baby carriers or any other of the 110 other minor things that added to the tired baby would have made me cry. 

Did you know that you aren't supposed to put your baby in those nice squishy cute adorable big snowsuits when you take them out in the cold while strapped in the car seat?  Did you know winter jackets, anything but a simple layer of fleece, is a no-no under the straps of any car seat?  Did you know that the after-market bundle-me products that have a layer of stuff going underneath baby in the car seat are unsafe?  I didn't when I bought and used one for my oldest child.  But they are not tested and will void any warranty of your seat.  They are not crash-tested with every seat and therefore are a HUGE no-no.  Basically anything that goes under baby, between baby and seat, between baby and straps, or under the straps can pose a HUGE safety hazard in the event of a crash.  A simple, one-layer fleece pull-over is ok b/c fleece does not compress.  The top concern in the compression in the event of a crash.

Read your manual.  I dare you.  Most car seat manuals will say right in them that they manufacturer recommends blankets on top of the child in order to keep them safe and warm.

There are many ways to keep your precious cargo safe. 

• blankets.  Just bundle them up and tuck around baby.  This is great for little ones in bucket-style seats in chilly but dry and not-windy weather.  We also keep one fleece blanket in the car for each older child so they can put it over their legs if they feel like they want some extra warmth.
  
• ponchos.  There are lots and lots of people on Etsy.com and even some small business on the internet that make and sell ponchos that the kids and wear out to the car and then be easily be lifted up to secure the car seat straps underneath.  You can even find instructions online to make your own.  Even no-sew ones from fleece.  We've made these before and like them.  They can be made to fit older infants to even big-kids in booster seats.  We've made matching hats and they are super duper cute.
  
• fleece jackets or snowsuit. Probably the easiest route.  Lets face it, most of us warm up the cars before we take the kids out anyways.  And even if you don't, fleece is MUCH warmer than you may think.  Pair it with a nice warm hat, some nice mittens, maybe even a scarf and you child may even still over-heat in the car on longer rides.  My oldest has a single-layer fleece jacket I found used for a couple bucks.  My middle one has a nice warm fleece pull-over with hood that he likes, too.
  
• shower-cap style car seat covers for the little ones.  You know, the ones with elastic around the outside that go over the baby and seat?  I still have the one that I used for my middle baby.  I still like it but don't need it any more.  (If you know of anyone that needs it I'll sell it for $5 O.B.O)
  
• put the jacket on backwards.  Have the child wear their jacket out to the car, then un-zip it in the back and secure the child in the car seat straps and put the jacket back on OVER the straps.  Probably the cheapest b/c then you only need one jacket for snow-play AND for every-day play.  Also good for kids that go to daycare or preschool or kindergarten and need something that they can wear during outside play.  There are youtube videos to explain it better than I can.  It's really much easier than it sounds.
  
• Canopy-style covers.  This is another solution for the itty bitties in the infant seats.  And this is the kind that I want to show you today.  I like this because it allows so much air circulation underneath, and is by far the most beautiful option, in my opinion. 
  

So without further ado:

Baby sprout's car seat canopy



I found the gorgeous quilters cotton at JoAnne's and would have put it on the outside, but knowing that fleece is the one that will repel moisture I wanted that to be on the outside for when it is raining or snowing.





In case you're wondering, I found the free pattern and tutorial here:

http://www.fleecefun.com/for-baby.html

Here's a pic of me placing and pinning on the straps:




I hope to eventually find the time to make a matching hat out of the leftover fleece.  If I do, I will update this post :)