Babysitting Mitchell

I got a call from Anna this morning around 8 a.m. She wanted to know if I could babysit Mitchell today. She had an appointment in Mankato at 10 a.m. I told her I could. Then she asked if I wanted to watch him at my place or go along. I chose to go along. This began a fun-filled day of watching Mitchell and shopping for last minute items for Anna's & Jeremy's wedding.

We started by meeting with the people that are going to make the bulletins. While Anna discussed the options with the sales clerk, Mitchell and I sauntered around the store, keeping busy. Mitchell "wondered" around doing what 1-year-olds do and I steered him away from things he shouldn't get into. This store has all sorts of party things - from greeting cards to banners to themed settings like "over-the-hill" or baby shower themes to name a couple.

Mitchell found a blow-up beach ball in one setting. I let him play with that. I'd decided that I'd purchase it then take it to my home for my toy collection. Anna did mention they have PLENTY of balls. So, she sure didn't need it. That helped me with my decision to keep it at my place. Besides, I read an entry in Nicholas' website that Nicholas had a blast playing ball with his Aunt Amy (7/6/2007 entry). And, since I didn't have a toddler friendly ball, this would be my chance to get one. And this one was kid tested!

After Anna finished with the necessary decision making and arrangements for the bulletins, we all headed to Panera Bread restaurant and had dinner. Then we headed over to the mall. Anna needed flower vases and gifts for wedding attendants. The vases had to be specific in that the opening couldn't be too large. So, finding the right ones were a challenge. Also, the gifts had to just right too. So, that would also be a challenge. (Everyone knows that thought has to be put into it. Thus, the process can't be rushed.)

Anna was able to find the gifts in the mall. But, it did take quite some time. It took long enough that Mitchell even settled down for a nap in his stroller. We were in Herbergers when that happened. Anna was looking for nice looking comfortable shoes for after the wedding ceremony. While she looked in the shoe department, I meandered over to housewares to see if I could find vases that could possibly suit the occasion. While there, that part of the store was pretty quiet (and probably boring). To my amazement, Mitchell's eyes closed and he was sleeping. When I got back over to Anna, she was amazed too. She didn't think he'd fall asleep in the stroller. She thought he'd hold out till the next car ride. (About the shoes, Anna did find some that will work.)

While he slept, Anna and I strolled through some other stores, looking for additional gifts (she'd found a couple gifts ealier that would work) and possible vases. We weren't able to find the vases in the mall. But, she found some gifts that would finish out that shopping. Decisions had to be made. So, we sat on a bench in the mall hall and took our time with that while Mitchell slept. The bench was a welcome rest for weary feet and stressed minds (Anna's stress). After the decisions were made, Anna was able to talk to the clerk and work on finishing the sale. Mitchell woke up about then. We took off to the Carousal area. I didn't want a cranky boy to distract and stress her further. Besides, I was babysitting! That was my job for today!

To my amazement, Mitchell wasn't all that cranky. He was groggy for a bit, by not really cranky. I had remembered that he is usually hungry when he wakes up from a nap. So, we got some pizza from one of the food places in the Carousal area. Apparently I was right about him being hungry. Cuz, he ate pretty good. While eating, he started waking up more too. He started out the meal sitting in a regular chair pretty good. Just before Anna joined us, he started moving around on his chair more. After she came, I placed Mitchell in the stroller and buckled him in. I placed food in front of him. But, apparently he had had his fill. I don't think he ate any of it. When done with the meal, we were done in the mall. So, out to the car we went.

We headed over to Michael's, an arts and craft store. We checked for vases there. We lucked out. We found some. But, before making that the final decision, we checked out Pier 1 (just a short walk down the sidewalk). After looking there without any luck, we went to Michael's. Mitchell and I sauntered down the aisles while Anna and a clerk got the items she needed. Of course, Mitchell and I had to check out the wind chimes. We found one we could add to my collection! (It's now hanging on a shepherd's hook in my flower bed on the south side of the house.)

Finally, we were done in Mankato. Some of Anna's stress has been relieved. Next stop, New Ulm. She wanted to work on her tan. She had had a farmer's tan that looked ridiculous while wearing her dress. Using the tanning booth was helping to eliminate the silly looking tan line next to the creamy white, untanned skin. 20 minutes was all she needed. The tanning salon is in the mall in New Ulm. That gave me a chance to check out bargains in Herbergers.

Mitchell and I started out by just doing some mall walking. But, that couldn't last forever. He and I went to the basement of Herbergers and checked out the children's clothes section. I was able to find some pretty good sales. I picked up some outfits that might work for both Mitchell and Nicholas. Anna met us there when she finished. She helped me decide what might work for Mitchell. And the decision was made that I'd get a couple more outfits. One fits Mitchell right now. If Nicholas fits it right now, of course, he won't be able to have it. Nicholas is a big kid, while Mitchell is quite small. Thus, it would not surprise any of us if Nicholas ends up giving Mitchell his hand-be-downs. So, I'm hanging on to the the clothes that are too big for Mitchell. I'll check with Duane and Steph to see if Nicholas will fit into any of them either now or in a short period of time. Then, when they are done, we could pass them over to Mitchell.

Well, that ended the babysitting while on the road. We headed to Anna's place and dropped off some things there. Then we headed to my place. Anna needed to make some phone calls. So, Mitchell and I went outside to give her some quiet. (Most of us know how hard making a phone call is when a little tike wants our attention). While outside, I worked on cleaning the pond filters. That gave Mitchell a chance to play with the water hose.

After I'd cleaned the filters in Doobie's pond, I allowed Mitchell to play with the hose. I slowed the flow of the water and enjoyed watching him try to drink out of the end of the hose. He'd do that and generally check out different things he could do with water running out of a hose. Being close to the ponds edge made me nervous. But, I stayed close by in case the little fella might fall into the pond. In his exploration, he nearly fell in. His one foot slipped in. I caught him. But, this made him leery enough that he seemed quite cautious while near the edge.

After a bit, I decided I'd better clean the pond filter in the other "pond". (Recently, I placed a sheep watering tank under the eaves spout on the northwest side of the house.) Mitchell followed me over there, after some coaxing. I cleaned the filter, then gave him a little more play time with the hose. When I'd had enough, I went over to the hydrant and shut off the water. Knowing Mitchell was next to that "pond" by himself, I watched him while over there. Good thing I did. He took a header into the pond. Having experience with David falling into a swimming pool when he was 2, I knew I didn't have to panic. I had to get over there quickly and get him out, but I didn't have to panic. That's what I did. When I saw Mitchell going in, he was just loosing his grip and balance and was leaning over, with his feet in the air. His center of gravity was over the pond. I knew he was going in. I ran pretty quickly over there. By the time I got over there, he had slipped in all the way, and had gotten himself pretty much standing, with his head out of the water. I grabbed him just a split second after this. He was more scared than hurt.

We went into the house after the ordeal and I dried him off. He was whimpering some, still a bit scared. But, he settled down. We were done outside now. Anna just had a couple more things to do. Then they went home. Poor Mitchell was ready to go home by then. The babysitting day ended about 10 p.m. It was time for us all to call it a day!