If it weren't for the fact that last night's adventures gave me fodder for a potentially great blogpost, I might have lost my mind. Hubby was working late at Job #1 which meant that Sugarplum and I were on our own for dinner. This normally would not be a huge deal however we had a package arrive from Nan that inadvertently made this become problematic.
This package that was at our doorstep was Sugarplum's beloved Bitty Baby and various other pieces of toys that were accidentally left behind after our Christmas visit to Nan and Papaw's house. Bitty Baby was welcomed with much excitement and I know I breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't lost enroute. The problem arose in that one of those accessories in the box was the bottle that is required for eating and drinking by Sugarplum's Baby Alive. This was a momentous occasion because...GASP!...Baby Alive has been starved since December 30!
I needed to get dinner ready and that is much easier to do if Sugarplum is well entertained. What better entertainment than a starving dollbaby that actually poops and pees!? I'm so smart to have thought of this solution...ummm....yeah. Dinner got under way with Sugarplum feeding her Baby Alive in her dollbaby high chair at the kitchen table 4 feet from me. The recipe stated 20 min until served. It should take at least that long for Sugarplum to get bored. Perfect solution. This is how it unfolded:
Just as I was getting ready to add the rice...critical moment here...Baby Alive announces she needs a diaper change. Turn heat down, go to changing table in bathroom and help change Baby Alive. Return to the kitchen, turn heat back up, add rice. Whew...I think it will still be ok. Check on Sugarplum...all appears to be fine. Stir and add remaining ingredients. Only 4-5 minutes and dinner's served! Yeah, check me out! I finally have this mommy thing down! Check on Sugarplum...OH NO!!! Wait what Why did you DO that?! Oh crap! Yes in all connotations of that phrase. In those few precious moments that it took to add my pre-measured, pre-cut ingredients, Sugarplum had managed to silently unscrew the Baby Alive bottle and pour the "orange juice" into the "peas".
Why is this a big deal you may ask? Well if you are asking that...you've never raised a two and half year old independent toddler. The OJ and peas mixture was all over the table, Sugarplum's clothes and two chairs and the floor. I ran to pick up the Bitty Baby from the other side of the table. At that exact moment I learned that the brain's power of instant recall is of great use. Bitty's cloth back was soaked with orange peas.
It was at that point that I heard my sister's voice (purchaser of the Bitty Baby) in a conversation that we had shared not more than a month prior to Christmas. Sister -"Do you think that Sugarplum is going to be able to take care of the doll if we get it for her? I'd really like for her to experience the American Girl world like Juice does. (Juice is my oldest niece who is 9 months older than Sugarplum) But it's a very expensive doll and she has to be able to take care of it." Me-"Oh yeah...she loves her dollbabies and takes care of them all the time. No problem there."
The second flash of recall at this exact moment was the warning label on the packet of food for Baby Alive - "May stain clothing." This is where the "Oh crap!" moment really sinks in. I strip Sugarplum of all of her clothing since it's a new outfit that I really didn't want it to get stained. Secondly I immediately read the care label on Bitty - Surface Wash Only. Thank you God! There is hope. Grab the dishcloth, put soap on it with hot water and scrub like there is no tomorrow. Place Bitty in the dish drying rack and pray the first of many prayers for the night - Please Dear Lord in Heaven...I know this shouldn't matter but please please let this Bitty NOT have a green back for the rest of her life!
Next, oh yeah the new outfit. Run it under hot water and hope for the best. Clean up table, chairs, floor, etc. Oh crap! The dinner's still on the heat! Turn the heat off, move the skillet, check the rice. For the second prayer of the night...Thank you God! It's not stuck to the bottom. Clean up Sugarplum who is dancing and twirling at this point, completely oblivious to the chaos this has caused. Serve dinner. Think gotta clean that Baby out so she doesn't get stopped up. Yep that happens to babydolls too. Clean up dinner. Take Baby Alive in to bathroom with Sugarplum to rinse her out. Sugarplum asks to "wash" Baby Alive for bedtime. Become amazed as I watch Sugarplum wash just Baby Alive's feet which reminds me that Jesus washed the feet of those disciples so long ago. Final prayer of the night...Thank you God for giving me this precious child to raise. Put a new diaper on her Baby, get Sugarplum into her jammies and send them on their way to watch The Goodnight Show.
It's not what most people would have called a nice night but I'm thankful for the lesson learned. Even when things are insane, find the simple joy and just enjoy it. Besides, when I checked Bitty and the clothing this morning, not a speck of orange peas anywhere to be found. I must be getting the hang of this mommy thing afterall.
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