A Stranger in a Strange Land

Hi everyone. This is Frank. I thought I would give Regina a break and post this entry.

I've never been in Babies R Us until last Saturday. We went shopping for a crib. We were excited and it was fun, but surreal.

I couldn't believe we were actually going to buy a crib.

I was a stranger in a strange land. It started the minute we got out of the car. Everyone in the parking lot was unloading strollers from their trunks and loading babies into them. They were streaming in from all directions. This was definitely not the Home Depot! We walked in the front door and stood there looking around. I felt disoriented. Where was the hardware department? Where were the tools? Regina made a beeline for a little outfit that caught her eye, and I scanned the horizon feeling disbelief. I had no idea you needed so much stuff for one little person. Finally, I saw the furniture in the back. I pulled my wife away from the cute clothes and we got down to business.

I couldn't believe we were actually shopping for a crib.

After making two circles around the department, we decided on a crib and a matching dresser/changing table. They were a nice wood tone, the perfect style and we both were happy. Whew, task accomplished! Oh, but then Regina informed me that we also needed to get a mattress, mattress pad, changing pad, changing pad cover and an entire bedding set with a sheet, bedskirt, bumper pad and blanket. You mean that stuff is not included? And what's a bumper pad? Does this have something to do with cars?

A few more decisions were made, and with my Honda Element packed like a sausage we carted our loot home. I got down to business putting the crib together. Easy as pie.

But I couldn't believe I was putting together a crib.

Then came the changing table, which was more of a pain but we got it done. We added all the soft stuff, arranged the room in a trial layout and surveyed our results.

Very nice. But I couldn't believe I had just put together a crib. OUR crib.

Since then, several times a day we find ourselves looking in the bedroom. We say to each other, "Hey, did you know there is a crib in here?" Seeing this tangible evidence of a future child is bizarre for both of us. Not bad bizarre -- good bizarre. It's kind of like when we decided to have a family. The world was suddenly different.

I think we will feel the same way when there is an actual baby inside that crib. We will look at each other and say, "Psssst....there's a baby in that room!" I guess by then I will feel like an old pro at Babies R Us. I might even have to be dragged away from the cute outfits.