One of the things I was really looking forward to as a mama, was to do things like storytime at the library with my kiddo, and today, we did. I almost thought we weren’t going to make it — it’s from 9:15-9:35, and we often don’t get up til almost 9.  Today, though we got up early, got ready, and at 8:55, Ingrid got fussy and needed to nurse for a good long time, and then she looked sleepy, so I almost bagged it, but at the last moment, I decided screw it, if she freaks and we need to leave, we will. Then we got detoured because part of 14th was closed, so we were a few minutes late, but I’m SO GLAD WE WENT.

Ingrid? LOVED IT. I worried that 4 months would be too young, and we’d be the freaks at Mother Goose (which is billed to be for 0-24 months), but we totally weren’t. Yes, most kids were older, but we squeezed in next to a baby just a month older than Ingrid, and had a great time. Ingrid LOVED it. The librarian did lots of songs-with-action, like one about toast and the baby Pops! up, and one about a rocket ship that zooms away, and that was fun. The first song, the one we were late to, was one that the librarian went around the room and said each kids name, and the walkers went to the middle of the circle when they were called (because the song was something like "Ingrid in the middle!") and the babies got held up, and when it got to Ingrid, and I held her up, and everyone at the end of her verse said "YAAAAY!" and clapped, holy shit, Ingrid thought that the world had finally recognized her genius and responded appropriately. She LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Beamed the whole time at other babies, other mamas, wouldturn around and look at me with an expression of what I’d like to think was indicating "Holy shit, mama, thanks for bringing us here!" 

After the organized activity, there was minging… one woman came over and said "How do I know you, and it was from my teaching job, so we talked for awhile, and then another mom came over and said "I like your sling, who makes that one?" I told her (it was my KKAFP) and then she basically gave me her mama-biography in one sentence. She said "I just ordered a maya sling, so that I can nurse the new baby and still keep track of Nora." Which, interpreted, means "I babywear, too, and breastfeed, and didn’t name my kid Neveah."  All while looking at me through Cool Mom Glasses (a la one of my internet mama friends, the funky glasses that signal a mama of a certain persuasion….)  The other mamas glasses were square, black plastic, and mine are the same, but with rhinestones. ANyway, it was one of those mama moments where you just want to say "Cool! Let’s go to the bagel shop, nurse in public, and bitch about the president!"  I’m really looking forward to next week.

I’m also thinking about pressing my luck and trying a La Leche League meeting. I mean, I kind of don’t get the concept if you’re pretty good with the whole nursing thing, like, what do you talk about? "Yep, I lactate. Still lactating. Oh, and hey! I lactate!" But because Ingrid was so stoked to see other babies, it might just be another venue for her to get some free baby action, you know? And, if it sucks, we leave! Not a problem!

Today was good. Today made me want to figure out a part-time work situation when I finish my degree, so that I can do storytime with Ingrid. Even if it was something where I always took Wednesday mornings off. 

SPeaking of school, I’m really excited to be done. I have a lot to do, but I’ve hit this wall, after being a student for 6 years, I’m really, really ready to get my M Ed and hang it on the wall, and have a break from classes, and maybe, gasp, just Work for a while, not work+school, or now, the triple whammy, work+school+ingrid. I’m ready. to. be. done. Almost there.