Yesterday I went to Babies R Us to buy a shower gift. I haven't been there in quite awhile. When I had my first two babies there was no BRU (Babies R Us). There were no baby registries. There weren't even Exersaucers. Then I had Mike. There were seven years between him and Jr. It might as well have been 700 years. Everything was different. Everything was new. Luckily friends and family threw a few showers (i know lucky!!) so I could have all the cool updated stuff like stuff Exersaucers and bottle warmers. (How did I live before without them?)

For a long time I would kid that if I walked near a BRU I would get a rash. I was so done with diapers and the like. So I figured I would walk into there yesterday, print out the registry, get what I wanted and be done. Funny thing though. No rash.

Instead I was first overtaken by the "baby smell". You know when they just have had a bath and are all clean and lotioned and powdered. Mmmm. So I started to browse. OMG!!! What stuff they have now. Seriously.

Take that tub pictured above for example. Actually it's not a tub it's an "Infant Soothing Spa and Shower"!!!!!!! Little bubbles with that Lavender baby wash and you have baby bliss. On the registry was "chlorine free" baby wipes. Chlorine free? You mean I was wiping my babies butts with chlorine all those years??? Yikes! Who knew?

This is a high chair. I saw it and for a minute I had no idea what it was. Apparently its ergonomically correct. Uh, ok.

The baby bedding is nothing short of fabulous. For fun I looked to see what I would pick if I was having a girl. I could not decide. Some of it is even organic if you should so choose. Uh, ok again. They have $1000+ strollers. I was just happy to have a stroller with wheels that all went in the same direction. Leather Gliders. Leather! (I never wanted one because what was I supposed to do with a chair with duckies on it after I was done using it in the baby's room?) Cloth diapers with liners that you can compost if you should choose.

I could go on an on. It's amazing what there is to buy. So I ended up staying there for quite awhile just browsing. I did not intend on doing that. The baby clothes alone are enough to keep you there perusing for a long time.

So while the allure of baby lotion scents and to die for cribs is nice, it's not enough to make me want one more. Like someone once said to me "you know when you still have one more baby in you". And I can say with the utmost confidence that I do not. But it was nice to walk around and remember. Remember and make notes about what I will do when I throw a baby shower for my daughter one day, can't have a day with out OCD.

It was fun. I like babies again. I can't wait until this one is born into our family. I want to hold her in that adorable little pink baby mummy thing I bought her while she smells like lavender lotion. Mmmm.

Cara:

1. Movies at home with the kids
2. Christmas trees for a few extra days
3. Do nothing weekends
4. Books that make a kid read for almost 2 hours
5. Teachers that really care
6. Clean laundry
7. Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
8. Texting
9. Snow
10. Four seasons

Jenn:
1. NYC
2. Yogurt
3. Public Libraries
4. Wii
5. Quick Wash setting
6. Flat Iron
7. Heat
8. Good Books (read 2 this week!)
9. No Homework
10. Hubby cooking on a Saturday Night

Cara:

1. Happy Holidays
2. A clean slate
3. Good books
4. Routines
5. Naps
6. Wearing pjs all day long
7. Chocolate covered pretzels
8. Sitting quietly by the Christmas tree
9. Coffee made when I got up
10. Warm inside on this freezing windy day

Jenn:
1. Christmas is all put away
2. Everything has been returned
3. The stores were empty today
4. My kitchen is clean
5. New slippers
6. Sending hubby to the grocery store (I know he will come home with devil dogs but I am so grateful I didn't have to go!)
7. Gift Cards
8. Rasberry Vodka & Chocolate
9. Snowflakes
10. Wishful thinking

Jenn:
1. The Mad Dash is Over!
2. Nobody home today but me and my Lu
3. Plastic Storage Bins
4. Christmas Leftovers
5. Homemade Soup
6. A day of Spring in December
7. A Good Book
8. A Clean Kitchen
9. Melted Snow
10. Peace & Quiet

In years past, I have participated in the Black Friday Bonanza. I had every intention of getting up yesterday morning and going. I woke up - I was freezing. Hubby has not yet set the thermostats to go on automatically - so I had to get up and turn the heat on. It was absolutely miserable outside - pouring rain and gusting winds. I went back to bed and decided no black Friday shopping for me. There was only one thing on my list that was a "deal" anyway and I decided it just wasn't worth it. The rain eventually stopped - the sun attempted to come out around 2 pm and my littlest one was asked to a play date. My big kids and I decided to hit Target and see if they had the only item on my Christmas wish list for their little sister... and lo and behold - the store was empty - every register was open and there it was - the Casio Keyboard for $49... and I didn't even have to go out at 5 am! I was in and out in about 8 minutes. Came home to my nice warm house and did some online shopping... had a bit of a hard time getting on the Ugg site - but got it eventually - ordered the girls boots ( a gift from Grandma -yea me!) and the boy a PS2 (again thanks grandma!) and called it a day. Enjoyed leftover Turkey with all the trimmings.

Today is Hubby's Birthday - no big plans - up to town for breakfast and having his Mom and sister over for an early dinner of Chicken Parm - his favorite - I make it every year for his birthday. Hoping to get the Christmas Tree up today and do a little decorating. Have a great weekend!

Cara's two cents: Happy Birthday Mr Jenn. xoxo to you! even though you don't read our blog!

So we shopped from Midnight to 6 a.m.

First to the outlets to get $15 jeans at Old Navy amongst other things, hit a few more stores the kids wanted to go to. Got the Diva a Betsy Johnson bag at at "steal".

Went to Kohls at 4am. Got the down comforters for $29 and Christmas ornaments at 60% off.

The crowds were not crazy this year. Yes there were lines, long lines to get into some stores even. (I draw the line at waiting to get into a store) But we had fun...we beat the traffic by going the back way. We laughed. People were in great moods. No pushing or shoving. Lots of people helping other people; "which bag to you think my daughter would like better?" "why don't you go ahead of me you don't have as much stuff. So that made it pleasant.

Checked some people off my list. Got stuff for my kids. Got home by 6am, passed out until about 10:30 am when I heard the "men" hauling up the Christmas decorations from the basement. YIKES! I didnt even un-autumn the house or clean yet!!!

It was fun. I will do it again. I realized it is a holiday tradition for us, when no one really needed to get any one thing, we just kept saying it's fun and what we do. I wanted to post pictures but my wire for my camera is MIA so I can't upload at the moment. grr

Now where are my ornaments?