Down the rabbit hole

I had to go to Babies R Us this morning to buy a gift for next weekend's baby shower (brilliantly timed with Mother's Day!). For the past few years I've been buying nearly all shower gifts online, but I thought I could shop in store this morning and maybe even check out a few things for ourselves. I was particularly keen to see if the store carried the Maclaren Twin Techno stroller that Baby Bargains raves about and D. has declared to be "awesome." (They did not.)

But as soon as I walked into the store, I was ready to leave. I hadn't set foot in a baby store in so long, and I had forgotten how totally overwhelming it can be, with everything so bright and plastic and cluttery. Plus, all the most expensive, adorable clothes were front and center to grab at the heartstrings and wallet. And pregnant women were everywhere, of course. I felt a little panicked, and then I remembered, "I'm pregnant now, too; I can be here." But it was too soon. I couldn't, not yet. I felt like Ellen in Bellyland, wondering if things would turn on me and sensing that an invisible cat was smirking high upon the shelves. It was all ridiculous, impertinent, even malicious.

I wandered about, lost in a maze of Fisher Price and Baby Einstein, and finally found the overdesigned bright plastic bathtub from the registry and headed for the checkout. Then I went home to finish folding the full summer maternity wardrobe that a friend has lent me and will probably be called into action soon. I already have a little bump. Curiouser and curiouser. 

Comments

[Corinne]

I felt so, so, so out of place there as an adopting parent. I mean, I still feel out of place there, actually. I feel you, sister.

[Heather]

I feel like a phony every time I go looking at baby things. Even just passing the section in Walmart and glancing over seems like too much sometimes. Why are we always waiting for the other shoe to drop?

[serenity]

First time I went there I actually almost passed out, and I was 20w. Even now, with a baby carseat (with a real live baby in it!) I feel out of place there.

So yeah. I hear you.

[kate]

Eee! A little bump!

Even before I knew that I was IF, I couldn't handle Babies R Us. It's just too- ugh. Vivid, crowded, sensory overload- it's just an unpleasant place to be, I think.

[Ahuva Batya]

I'm so glad you have a little bump! (I'm glad I'm not the only one). I can just imagine how it was in that store. We went to Motherhood this weekend for the first time and it was very, very weird.

[Jill]

I try and stay clear of the baby stores right now as well...it seems as though whenever I do walk into one, I have a sign on my back saying, "ask me if I'm preggers". Wish I were kidding. I then leave the store in tears.

A baby bump...I love it! :)

[Bea]

Curiouser and curiouser!

No need to get used to it all at once. It's definitely a strange and usual world on the pregnant side.

Bea

[sara]

That's so funny that you said that. I'm nine weeks pregnant (still early I know), and my mom begged me to go into Pottery Barn Kids this weekend. I stepped two feet in and my first instinct was to bolt. There was no way I belonged there, and I always have done shower shopping online for the last three years we were trying to get pregnant. I wonder when I'll get over those feelings. Soon I hope. Congrats on the baby bump!

[louise]

It IS an odd feeling! I have had to do deep breathing exercises just to make it thru the gates! :-) I know what you are talking about! And the bright fluorescent lights don't help either!