Nonetheless, on our 2nd trip to Tucson to finalize the baby registry we checked out strollers again. This is after attempting to narrow it down on our first trip on our 1 year anniversary weekend in Tucson where we literally looked like ridiculous people. We couldn't figure out how to get the car seat out of the stroller let alone fold it up. I am laughing embarrassingly loud saying "Our poor baby is going to have to live in the stroller". Once we figured out how to get the car seat out of the stroller (hint if it's a red latch pull it) we were able to sit the actual stroller seat up but then couldn't figure out why the car seat wouldn't fit back in the stroller until one of the salespeople came by and said "You've got to put the seat all the way down". Well doesn't that make sense but then we couldn't figure out how to get the sea down and again the same salesperson came by and just released a latch. We ended up sitting on the shelf laughing uncontrollably while "real" mothers with their babes walked by staring at us. Needless to say we didn't even attempt the car seat bases. But I digress.
So back to our 2nd trip to Babies R' Us where we should be banned. I think I've narrowed it down to two different brands but wanted to check them out again. Remembering what we had learned about latches and stroller seats from the first go around we were able to quickly take out the car seats. Then it came time to try to fold up the strollers. Again...we have no idea. The one I want has a latch that you push and slide. Poor hubs is swearing up a storm trying to move the latch and fold it up. He's literally about to pick the stroller up and throw it down the aisle. I am absolutely no help as I am doubled over in hysterical laughter because yet again two educated people with jobs who pay taxes and have a mortgage can't for the life of them figure out how to work a stroller. The other stroller contender literally folds like a robot which is about the only thing I like. We settle on the other stroller but decided to wait. We get home and I do some more research and I cautiously tell hubs we need to go back so I can put the car seat and base in the car. He responds with a few choice words and immediately turns around and walks out.
Thus bringing us to Saturday. After the ultrasound we venture yet again to Babies R' Us. I discover that there are two versions to the stroller I want and quickly take them both of the display shelf and undo the car seats (as I'm now an expert) but this time we can't figure out how to get the stroller seats to move up. Seriously...we need to just wear a sign that says "Excuse us...first time parents". A kid probably about 17 walks by and shows us how to pull the bungee cord in the back. Yes folks that's right it's like the bungee cord on your backpack or a North Face fleece jacket to tighten the sides. Again...I'm a college educated person who teaches children and I cannot figure out strollers.
Now that we've navigated that hurdle we ask if we can test out the car seat base and car seat in the car. Oh of course we can no problem...except that this person clearly has no idea who he is about to spend 20 minutes of his life with. So the hubs pulls the car around and begins to install the base. Oh lord...why us? The base has a seat belt lock door thing that you lift up and put the seat belt in to help secure it even more. Well we're trying...the hubs and myself to get the stupid thing open. We keep unlocking and locking it to no avail until the 17 year old kid goes "It's been unlocked for awhile just pull the tabs up". "Really...thanks, you couldn't have shared that little gem 7 minutes ago?" Then he asks us if we have metal hooks in our seats. I'm looking at him going "What?!?!" Neither one of us knows the answer to this question but again the 17 year old kid is all knowing and he just reaches in and pulls in between my seat...sure enough we do. Now that the car seat is in the car I decide we're getting it. So hubs undoes everything and the kid pushes the model back in for us.
We purchase the stroller and then proceed to the exit where we can't get the cart with the giant box through the door. Again...I am doubled over in hysterical laughter while the hubs is trying so hard to not just start screaming obscenities at the top of his lungs. With some shifting and adjusting we conquer the exit door only to find the box barely fits in the back of my Kia Sorento. Again we do some shifting and adjusting and are headed home.
I was dreading putting the stupid travel system together but surprisingly that was the easiest part of this whole process. I do have to say I'm so excited. I just want to push it around but I save that for my house so people don't think I'm insane for pushing an empty stroller up and down my street.
All I have to say is if this stroller chapter is any indication of what the next 18 years are going to be like, it should be a good time with tons of doubled over hysterical laughter, some shifting and adjusting and few obscenities thrown in.
Now that you've survived this novel here is the travel system.
Let me tell you a story about my stroller...I have a jogger, and we were going on a walk with my mom, well, I thought I knew all there was to know about this stroller and whipped it out of the car and opened it up...well there is this safety strap they have on jogging strollers that you are supposed to attach to your wrist, well it got caught where the stroller folds. So it wouldn't open all of the way...I couldn't put my newborn child in a stroller that could collapse at any moment! So my mom and I are trying to muscle it out and can't do it, I call th hubs who is a ways away but says he'll come and fix it....I realize after trying for 10 more minutes that the lever that closes the stroller pulls NOT slides to close....I felt like an idiot...so at least you're getting all your mess ups done BEFORE Jameson gets here :)
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