Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Sometimes You Just Gotta Go With What You Have

I think this falls under the category of "Mommy Improv" or maybe "Extreme Resourcefulness". Clearly, though, this is not my first baby....


Here's what happened: Last Friday night I had girls Bible study. I'm facilitating the discussion and had planned to leave the house at 6:30 so I would have time to stop by Target on my way to Christine's house. Unfortunately, the evening got turned upside down and I wasn't able to leave the house until nearly 7:30. On top of that, I ended up having to bring Carrie with me. I frantically packed her bag and peeled out calmly backed out of the driveway, knowing I was very late.

After lugging all my baby gear into Christine's I noticed it was just about time for Carrie's evening bottle. I opened the diaper bag to find formula, a bib, a spoon, diapers, wipes, blankets, baggies, baby doll, carrots, extra socks, a change of clothes...

but no bottle.

Christine searched her house over but only came up with a bottle top. Decisions, decisions. I could
A. run to CVS and buy a bottle - 30 minute total trip
B. try a sippy cup
C. not feed her/listen to her scream
D. go home.
E. rig something up

I ruled out C and D right away. Option A wasted everyone else's time and I had already cut into our study time by being late, so I threw that out too. I went ahead and mixed up the milk in a glass measuring cup....silently berating myself and heaping on the mommy guilt for having weaned the baby at 6 months. We all know if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be in this predicament. (Deep sigh) Weaning was a good thing. Repeat. Weaning was a good thing. Repeat. (Deeper sigh)

Try Option B. Sippy Cup. Fail. (Different skill than a bottle)

So we're now left with option E. And we do have a bottle top. So here's what I came up with - Carrie laid across my lap, and I held the bottle top firmly in her mouth. Suzanne filled it with milk, and refilled it, and refilled it, and refilled it until Carrie had downed approximately six ounces. At which point we gave up!


It was total teamwork and quite amusing. A good bit dribbled down her cheeks to soak my jeans. And more than once she kicked or swung an arm so that I dumped milk in her eye or her ear. Messy job it was! But, I have to say it worked.

In retrospect, though, I might've asked Christine for a medicine dropper.

This one definitely goes down among the not-so-easy-to-forget small group memories....

3 comments:

The Three Amigos said...

Yes, and now you have the pictures...so you'll never forget. Hopefully, you'll also never forget a bottle again. That doesn't sound like lots of fun!

Heather said...

Very clever! I love that someone took pictures so you can show her later on. I'm sure it's something she will appreciate :D

Jennifer said...

Nice work Julie!! How industrious!