The Baby

We went to Redlands this weekend to visit my parents.  It is a pretty good deal for everyone involved - my parents and Nory absolutely adore each other, which usually allows Dan and I to sneak off on our own.  (We spent Saturday morning shopping - not super romantic, but have you ever tried picking out clothes with a toddler underfoot?  Impossible.  So being able to try on a shirt without someone crying or running away was quite a treat.)

Anyway, on Sunday we all ended up at the toy store.  Nana's idea was to let Nory pick out a toy for herself that she loved.

First Nana showed Nory all of the puzzles.  But suddenly Nory wasn't there.  She had found the baby.  Nory pushed the baby in a carriage, and later in the baby stroller.  All over the store.  Up and down every aisle.  Nana tried in vain to get Nory interested in the balls, the stuffed animals, the puzzles, the fancy-plastic-make-noise-when-you-turn-nobs-and-push-buttons toys, everything.  Daddy tried to get Nory to take up a nerf sword, battle ax, a drum, a kazoo, and a tricycle (I was busy keeping Nory from strollering over the other kids in the store).  Occasionally she would see something interesting and grab it - and bring it to her baby, in the stroller.

Needless to say the baby came home with us - and I don't think Nory left its side for the rest of the day.  She did take it out of the stroller for a while and walked around snuggling and singing to it, before putting it gently back in the stroller.

Last night we drove home late, and when Nory woke up this morning, the first thing she did was feed her baby (it came with a fake bottle).  The baby also got some scrambled eggs and some water from Nory's sippy cup.

I guess the baby is here to stay.