Lunch date:

Our good friends Blake and Amanda spent their anniversary weekend in KC.  We ventured out of our hole to have lunch with them before they left town, because we love them, and because I was in desperate need of adult interaction.  Blakely was behaving pretty well when Blake asked what we do when she freaks out in public.  Well she actually hasn't ever freaked out in public.  (We don't get out much...)  We were about to find out.  But FIRST....I smelled something.  dirty diaper...duh.  But this one smelled especially bad.  So I picked her up and low and behold, a blowout all up her back.  Sick.  I am so glad we use cloth diapers.  (She had on a disposable, and this NEVER happens with cloth!)  So on Amanda's one year anniversary she got to help me walk across the restaurant attempting to hide the big poop stain covering Blakely's back so we didn't make anyone barf up their lunch. 

So as soon as we got her cleaned up, she started getting fussy.  So I was bouncing her in my arms and this lovely gentleman in the booth across from us decides to help:

"I always put ketchup on my finger and give it to 'em.  Works every time:"  I had no idea if he was serious or not until he continued to stare as if waiting for me to do it.  No thanks.  (But don't think I won't try it at 3am this morning when she won't stop crying!)  Then he says, "Shes wet.  I think she needs her diaper changed."  So I informed him that I just changed her.  "Oh really?  Well, she's hungry."  Nope, just fed her.  "Oh, man.  I don't know what it is then..."  um, duh.  Ha!  Really, sir?  I mean, I know I don't look like I know what I am doing...and most of the time I don't, but I'm not stupid.  I at least have the basics: feed her, change her, put her to sleep.  And listen here, buddy, you aren't fooling me.  I know who calmed your crying babies....their momma. 

So it got me thinking of all the times that I was disturbed by a screaming baby.  On a plane, in a movie (don't take your baby to a movie...unless you KNOW it won't cry...), in a restaurant, or wherever it might be.  If this happens to you, please know that the poor mother is much more disturbed by it than you are.  I always knew this, but I didn't know the extent of it.  It's incredibly embarrassing for your baby to be screaming knowing that other people are being bothered.  I even get uncomfortable when B screams at the doctor.  It's their fault she is screaming!  But I still feel guilty when the doc has to shout just to tell me something.  So when you see that poor momma with a crying baby, just smile at her, tell her she's doing a good job, and do not, under any circumstances offer your advice of "have you tried rocking her?" or any other ridiculous remedy that anyone with a brain would have already tried.  Got something original?  Please let me know.