There was a day a few weeks ago where I was feeling particularly adventurous. The sun was out, it was still cold, but not this -24 business. I really wanted to go for a walk and our dog Bella was looking at me like she was going to institute a free pee zone if I didn't take her along with us. Ideally, my walk includes me, Cece in the stroller, Moose(my husband) and Bella on a leash held by Moose. This way, I only have to worry about operating a stroller with a baby inside. This alone can be a scary thing when sidewalks are uneven and street curbs are the size of small hills. What's even more daunting is that sometimes other dogs roam freely outside of their residences and guess what? Maybe they have an invisible fence and maybe they don't. I've been chased while running a few times in our neighborhood by dogs that I've hoped and prayed would eventually hit the invisible fence, but never did. This is what we call the poor man's speed training.
Moose was at work on this particular day, but I wasn't going to let that hold me back from going on my walk. I could handle a stroller and a dog, right? I had seen all kinds of other people do this on my trips around the neighborhood. They made it look like a breeze. It's actually silly that I should be afraid to take both Cece and Bella on a walk. Jogging with both of them? Impossible. Walking? No problem. So, after diaper changes, feedings and Bella potty breaks, we were ready to go. Bella happens to be a very excitable dog when it comes to walks. When you mention the word she immediately runs laps around the house and whines with excitement. It looks like the dog version of if her name was called on The Price Is Right. Ok, leash on, baby strapped in stroller securely, garage up, phone in the bottom of the stroller should this take a nasty turn, and go.
Ahh, it was so nice to be out of the house. It was one of those days where the air just seemed to clean all of the junk out of your mind and body. Our walk was going really well, at one point I was able to waive at neighbors while simultaneously pushing a stroller and walking a dog.
Then, it happened. Bella had to do her number 2 business. First of all, gross. Second of all, why has no one invented some sort of zapper deal that eliminates the poo after you spray it? No worries, I remembered doggie baggies because I thought of every possible scenario before I left. Insert pat on back here. Ok, so I need to clean it up, and I need both of my hands for this job. What I decide to do is put the breaks on the stroller and tie Bella to one latch on the stroller. She's really good when I tell her to stay, so she'll probably do that. Nervous yet? Well, you're probably thinking that it was a pretty dumb decision to tie a dog (especially excitable on walks) to a stroller with a baby in it. I wish I would have thought that at the time too. What happened after that replays in my mind on loop when I think of my dumbest moments hall of fame. Bella decided she had enough of the 'stay ' business and took on the role of walk leader and over goes the stroller. I know. Terrible mom. I wish I could tell you I caught it mid fall, but I didn't. I did, however, have her strapped in tightly and both of the canopy parts up. I screamed and bolted for the stroller picking it up as quickly as I could and braced myself for a screaming baby. What I got from her when I opened the canopy was a smile and a look that said 'Mom, I hope you learned your lesson.' Thank God. No crying, no injuries, and nobody saw. "Is everything ok over there?" Shoot, somebody saw. "Yep, just your grade A moron trying to be normal and walk a dog and a baby at the same time."
What I then remembered was that those people I saw walking had frew frew dogs, basically cats on leashes. Not 70 pound dogs that love walks more than life itself. I learned that we need a new plan when Bella has a code brown. I couldn't imagine what Moose was going to say when I told him that Cece got a really close look at the sidewalk today. Of course, because he is a dreamboat of a man, he laughed and took it pretty easy on me. I'm sure we'll have plenty more walks in the coming years, let's just hope we don't run into that neighbor