Randy and Shari's World

So we took MNM on his first hike on Saturday.  It was about 1/4 mile each way, up to the top of a mountain with a beautiful view (though we didn't let him get very close to the beautiful view part because it's REALLY high and scary!!)  We weren't sure how well he would do and so Randy was prepared to carry him on his shoulders if he wasn't into the walking thing.  But he actually did really well!  I mean, the pace wasn't exactly fast, or even moderate, or sometimes even noticeable, but we had a good time.

We were quite nervous though when we pulled into the parking area and the first people were saw were the serious hiker types, you know, the huge back packs, the official shoes, the bonafied walking sticks.  Randy and I looked at them in silence from our car, then he finally spoke for both of us, "This is kind of embarassing, ya know, getting out in front of these people."  I had to agree, but we figured, what the heck? might as well get it over with.  So we, in our Saturday best attire, get out of the car and start loading ourselves up with SPF 5million sunscreen from the pink and purple bottle.  We get our teeny backpack containing 3 bananas and 2 granola bars and fill our little water bottle.  Randy grabs his camera and we're set.  (Notice we did NOT grab diapers or wipes, figuring "OK he's in a diaper now, and we will only be gone a little while and he's already had his morning poop so he's set till after lunch, at which point we'll be back home").

It turns out the official hikers were super nice and took time to stop and talk with Mr. Baby before setting off.

 So it took us about 40 minutes to get to the top and along the way we saw some other people, some serious hikers, some just normal people like us!!  Although no one else under 13 or so.  You've probably guessed long ago what happened next.  Randy is happily taking pictures of the wonderful view, while I am at a safe distance watching MNM play happily in some dirt when he lifts his little face up to look at me and says, "Go potty?"  Many things are going through my head, such as "Why, after we've been working on this for months, do you wait unitl NOW to actually tell me you need to go?  Now, when we don't have your potty seat, or even a stinking porta-potty?  Now, when we are only halfway done our hike?"  But I stay level-headed and cool and do what any decent mom would do.  I say (loudly) "Randy!!  He says he has to go potty!  What do we do??!!"  Camera man says, in a rather distracted manner, "Take him into the woods, I guess."  OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a GUY thing?  And this, the day before Father's Day too!  And you also have to understand that I love the outdoors.  Love 'em, until it's time to go potty, or shower, or sleep, or make food.  Then I'm all about modern housing.  Whereas rocket scientist actually went on a 17 day wilderness stint before college, during which time he had to perform all kinds of things outdoors.  So, I said to him, "Um.  Could you please be in charge of this?  I'm actually quite afraid."  So he agreed – he's quite a great guy!  So they wander off and I wait.  And wait.  And wait.  Every now and then I look in the direction that they went and yell to the trees, "How's it going?"  Initially the responses I received were positive.  But then came, "We didn't bring any wipes up here did we?"  Gulp.  "No, why??"  "He pooped."  "Fabulous!  Now what?"  

So.  Mommy ended up having to get involved after all.  I went over and stayed with MNM while Randy went to find some "green wipes."  We were both praying he didn't find anything with poison ivy on it.  He came back with some truly nice, soft, large "green wipes" and we were all excited.  But we did make the following note to self: If small child needs to poop in the woods, make sure he/she is in more of a squatting position than a standing position so that you will not need quite so many green wipes!