To celebrate hitting double digits for our link-up this week, I obviously thought of many special moments I have shared with Waverly lately. She really is at such a fun age & I am loving life with her. Yet ultimately, I decided to keep it real. Not all “little” moments are perfect, some of the memories I know will stick with me forever are actually ones that while living in them, seemed more like ones I would rather quickly forget. 😉
I’ve mentioned our grocery trips lately, how they have pretty much turned into a disaster for all involved. Waverly Maye has never really loved being strapped down or confined (understatement), but we had a pretty good run for a while there. I had mastered a trip to the store with just the two of us – many, many snacks were necassary, usually paired with a cell phone with lots of games – but I was able to successfully get in & out with (most of) what we needed & (very few) meltdowns or major moments that called attention our way.
Then all of a sudden, my wild child got even more wild, at the store at least, & we have had a few Target trips lately that made me seriously question if I would bring this sweet girl out in public ever again.
Love her so much.
Even after emotionally preparing myself the whole drive there, I always feel an incredible amount of anxiety walking through the doors to Target these days. Waverly is the opposite, super excited actually, she must know the chaos she is about to cause & thinks it’s hilarious. With the highest of hopes I grab a cart, even though I have given up on sitting her in the front seat for even a moment. Long gone is that chair cover I got while pregnant thinking it was the cutest invention of all time, it lasted a few months & now doesn’t stand a fighting chance. We settle on the back since she has more room to move, if you’ve read my blog ever or met Waverly personally you then know that this child & the word still are not friends.
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On a good day, we make it through the dollar bins at the front & just past the card section with Waverly content in the back munching on some goldfish & drinking from her sippy. Then without fail, she starts repeating “all-done” so loudly that pretty much the entire store can hear. I do all I can to entertain her while walking running through the aisles as fast as possible until that doesn’t work, which is when I go for the cell phone I so conveniently hid in my back pocket knowing that this moment would come.
After a couple minutes of every fellow Target shopper hearing the “lollipop” song a few times through, she now stands up which is my cue that it’s about to really get crazy.
Based on advice from other moms (thanks girls), I let her down while explaining to her that she is going to be my “little assistant” by helping me bag up the apples & grab what we need from the bottom shelves. Waverly always nods her head to agree, & then less than a second after I set her down, takes a mad dash through the aisles which obviously, results in me desperately running after her like a mad women. She always tries to find the clothes racks first to then pull every single piece down, the shopper in me loves that in her but the glances from the Target employees tell me they don’t. I finally wrangle her back into the cart by enticing her with an entire bag of pretzels I grab from the nearest shelf I can find (yep, that mom) which again, lasts for a couple of minutes until she is clearly over them & shows it by pouring them out all over her. And finally, this move results in those pretzels sliding through the cracks of the cart right below to that shiny Target floor.
With my head down & Waverly a hot mess in the hot mess of a cart, I give up any sense of pride while checking-out as fast as possible & taking what I managed to get from my long-list out of the store.
And oh yes, once we make it “out-side”, Waverly is as happy as a clam, laughing while making silly faces & of course at that point, I can’t help but smile, too. 🙂
Sometimes on my lunch break at school, I make a quick Target run to grab a couple of things I forgot while there with Waverly. The trips obviously sound like heaven on earth. They are always peaceful, take a normal amount of time, I never cause a scene & best of all, I usually can even fit in a Starbucks order. Yet every single time, I pass by a mom with her toddler who is doing many of Waverly’s recent signature moves. I am so jealous I can feel my stomache turn, I miss her so much, feel so alone, & the only thing I want is for her to be there with me. It’s all I can do to not stand there while being the creepiest person ever & stare down that mom with her child, because it’s the closest thing I have to having my own daughter there with me (her pretzel-throwing & all).
When I think about it (& I try not to), I know a time will come when I will have to beg her to come to the store with me or even worse, that she won’t be around to come at all. All too quickly, these trips to the store will be easy & uneventful once again. These “little things” that seem stressful now are the same ones I already know I will want back so badly one day & as weird as it is, that I already miss now.
I’ve obviously vented to my husband about our tough Target times lately, in which he always offers to watch her while I go alone over the weekend. I haven’t yet agreed, I just can’t give up on these moments with her & as of now, I don’t plan to. We may get a couple more glances our way, but that’s something I’m willing to handle. Missing moments with her, not so much.
As a reminder to those of you who are interested in linking-up, all you have to
do is write your post with whatever “little thing” it is that you would like to
share. Then, link-up with either Jess or me at the bottom of this post! Feel
free to download our logo (located at my sidebar) to share on your own post or
on Instagram, you can also share your own photos of “little things” with the
hash tag “littlethingslinkup”.
do is write your post with whatever “little thing” it is that you would like to
share. Then, link-up with either Jess or me at the bottom of this post! Feel
free to download our logo (located at my sidebar) to share on your own post or
on Instagram, you can also share your own photos of “little things” with the
hash tag “littlethingslinkup”.
The support all of you have shown us for TEN weeks has been beyond what we could have hoped for & we are honored to be able to give back to you once again. Kelly Slater from Simply Sophisticated is offering one reader a gift from her adorable shop! You have to check out her site, they specialize in accesories & have some of the cutest scarves, jewelry & bags around. Kelly also has the sweetest blog, she is the mom to the adorable Tinley & has a little boy on the way! 🙂 And a special congratulations to the winner of last week’s biggest giveaway of all time, Ash-Monique Yap-Chung.
HAPPY Wednesday
friends, thanks again for another great week.
friends, thanks again for another great week.

I couldn't help but laugh throughout this one, and not along in sympathy! We've hit a similar stage and the issue is hand holding! If she doesn't think about it Maddie will hold my hand the whole time we are out, but when she doesn't want to, boy does she melt down. I hadn't thought that I would one day miss these moments through, so thank you for a slight change in perspective!! xx
Aww, such a sweet perspective on Target trips. I think every mom relates (even though some of them seem to escape unscathed from their trips). You're right that these years will go so quickly. I do think that we mommas can take the occasional Target trip solo & let the hubbies make their own little moments!! 🙂
Thanks for co-hosting the link-up!
Thanks for being a part of it, Jamie!!!! XO
Lol! Love the picture documentation. My oldest son was the most calm and well behaved little guy when it came to shopping. It was crazy how easy he was. I assumed this would hold true for my second. My middle child was a different story always grabbing at things and requiring constant entertainment. I could not stop the stroller moving for one second. Lol! Interestingly enough my oldest son is on the autism spectrum, so you might assume it would be the other way around. Luke was always good on shopping trips though, getting him to come in from outside(when he was younger) was our biggest challenge. He would totally live outdoors! Cole is just very strong willed and quite a personality haha. You should hear some of the things that come out of that child's mouth.(Really funny) He is very sweet as well though. Still waiting to see how Emily will be. So far pretty good but she is only 1 so that may change! Have the best day!
Great pictures! Her fur coat is just too cute!
Why is Waverly so fly! Love that coat.
Lol. We have definitely had these store trips! They are awful! But stick through it and they get way better! I promise. But she is so cute! So you can't get too mad right? Lol
Amen sister! This is what all of my Target (or grocery store or any other store for that matter) trips are like with Mason too! My husband was in Arizona for spring training the other weekend and I had to go to multiple stores alone and I packed as many snacks, drinks, toys and my phone into my purse as I could to try to keep him entertained and happy. It actually worked until the very end (thankfully!!!). I was shocked!
Our Target trips are exactly the same, but every once in a while Owen surprises me with sitting in the front for half of the trip. He too thinks it is hilarious to dash through the aisles laughing hysterically as he tries to lose his mama. And when I finally get there, to Target, on my own, I always wish he were with me.
From day one my favorite thing has been having a little person with me when I run errands. While it does go faster without her with me, I really really love having company while I'm out and about. I totally relate to what you're talking about when you go by yourself and miss her!
While Sadie normally does pretty good on our Target trips or other shopping excursions, I do feel ya on some of this stuff! When she's had enough, she's had enough and I know I best hightail it out of there before shit gets crazy!!!! I'm the exact same way about taking her along with me for stuff like that, as opposed to leaving her home with Jason. Even though it makes things way more difficult (especially dealing with the car seat for multiple stops), I find my self bringing her along 99% of the time! My best friend and I we're just talking the other day about the radio flyer tricycle thing that has a handle that you can push them with…I said it looked obnoxious but apparently kids love the thing and if your willing to push them around in that, opposed to a cart, it buys most mamas tons of extra shopping time! Maybe it's worth checking out & taking one for a test spin at the toy store? Xoxo
I completely understand! It's moments like this when my husbands says "are you sure you want more kids?" My answer is always YES. Even these rough moments mean time spent with your little one and I, like you, wouldn't trade them! Enjoy that spunky little girl. She's precious!
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My answer is YES, too! Wouldn't change it for anything. Thanks so much, Courtney!!!!! XO
I am totally giggling at what a big girl she is in her boots and fluffy coat!! She is so expressive, but yep, I can see how she's an adventure at Target… but letsbehonest, aren't all Target trips adventures? 😉
YES – and Target trips are still my favorite!!!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
HER BOOTS AND COAT!!! So darling!!!!
Ok your post is a glimpse into my future (I think)…. My daughter is 10 months old and already doesn't want to sit still and isn't even walking yet. But she won't even sit… She has to stand and is already trying to push away when I'm holding her! The part about missing her… Brought a tear to my eye as I feel the same way so many times during the day when I'm at work. I agree you have to soak up the little moments when you can…. I will try to remind myself of that when I'm chasing my daughter through Target at some point in the very near future!
Oh gosh, that really sounds like Waverly when she was that age! But she really is the most fun, her craziness is one of the many things I love about her! I am sure your little one is the same way!!!! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I can definitely remember this stage! And it does pass, eventually! Mason was never one to sit still in a cart…he wanted to walk like a big boy. And he usually had his own agenda. It's better now. But, he wants everything in the store! ha
Oh my gosh I love you! My daughter is the same exact way. Sometimes after work before I pick her up from daycare I run to the store because it's just easier then I find myself looking at the other kids/parents and missing my girl. I'm glad someone else can relate!
Haha, glad you can relate, too!!!! I sometimes feel like all the other kids in the stores I am at are sitting quietly in their carts without even moving a muscle! 😉
oh my. I am always fearful that the day will come when my little guy will be tired of sitting in the cart and want to wander free. For now I'm able to bribe him into sitting with a pouch, a sippy cup, and lots of little snacks. I always admire the mommas whose little ones are not being the happiest of shoppers. But, it sounds like you have a good method. Plus, I understand the joy in the shopping trips, there is something fun about having your little along for the ride 🙂
Haha Carter is in the same stage when it comes to grocery trips! I couldn't help but laugh at your story…but know I'm right there with you…so I'm allowed to laugh right?!? 🙂 But I can completely understand the guilt thing…my husband on the other hand, thinks I'm nuts and is always telling me to take him to his grandparents or something while I do "me" stuff. I just can't though! What is it with this motherhood thing?!?
The dichotomy that comes with parenthood is amazing. Things our kiddos do that that drive us crazy are also what make us tick with happiness. It's so great that you recognize this and keep taking Waverly shopping with you, rather than realizing it after the fact, when it's too late, yanno?
Awwwwww!!!! That's all I can say! haha! So sweet!
oh target. such a battle. . . and what is with these kids and never wanting to sit in the seat anymore. lex whines "biiiig part" until i put her in the big part of the cart. OY.
Oh I feel for you. This is why I only do short shopping trips with Noah. My husband does the big grocery runs on the weekends when Noah naps. He is better with the heavy water and sodas. And I'm better with Noah in case he wakes up from the nap. It works for us for the time being 🙂
That's pretty much how every Target trip goes for us. Except it gets REALLY bad when I have to take the phone away at checkout so I can have the cashier swipe my Cartwheel. Then it's my worst nightmare, times a MILLION.
But, there will be a day when I know there won't be a tornado strapped into my red cart, and just the thought of that makes me sad.
Liam has always been a good little shopper until recently. And it's only target that he has issues with! He sees those red carts and insists upon standing in the main part. And we can't even handle going through the dollar section because there is always bound to be a car or truck in there that he wants! All part of the mothering experience! Isn't it grand?! 😉
YES! We're having similar experiences…especially at the grocery store. I'm dreading a trip that I have to make because my list is so long and I know my little miss will only stay seated in the cart for about five minutes before she starts asking to walk. It certainly is stressful, but you're right, it will end before we know it and we will miss those crazy moments. I had to laugh about the pretzels… we had a similar incident with goldfish!
What a double sided coin. Totally a pain at the time and an embarrassment, but one day it will be all gone. We double team pretty much all shopping trips with Aria. If she gets restless Chris takes her walking while I grab whatever we are there for.
I adore her little top knot and bow! With baby #1 on the way I'm trying to soak up all of the solo Target runs while I can!
Love. This. Post. So. Much. You are such a good Mama, sweet girl. Waverly is very lucky to have you. And you are very lucky to have her – your precious little mini me:) Loving that you are soaking up these crazy Target runs while you can. They will definitely be funny stories to share with her one day. I was laughing myself while reading the description of your trip. The 'all done' signal had me giggling! At least you know when it's about to get crazy!
God bless you! My son used to be like that but has gotten much better. It's that age. I love to do Target runs on my own! There's plenty of time for me to do other things with the kids but Target is my happy, lonely place 🙂
HAHA!!! You poor thing! I was just telling my Mom on the phone today that once I became a Mother, I immediately lost all since of pride. 😉 And I agree, when they begin to stand-up in the cart…that's the oh sh*t moment, I've got .5 seconds to come up with a game plan! xo
Oh thank goodness my child isn't the only one that's a complete disaster on shopping trips. I have come to dread them as well. He will NOT sit in the cart for more than 5 minutes. If he gets down, he's gone. And it's impossible to keep him entertained. Target needs carts with built-in iPads or something. 🙂
Sara, that is genius!!! Waverly would be all over that! And thanks for relating to this, I feel like when I am at Target all the other kids are sitting quietly! 😉 Hope you are feeling well!
First time linking up! And I'm a new follower. Will Waverly help you push the cart? I have a picture of my daughter pushing a cart through Target when she could barely reach the handle. She loved being a "big girl" and was much more calm.
Oh wow!!!! Currently outings are uneventful and I haven't experienced meltdowns from Baby K yet. I'm praying for you, sweet mama, that Waverly grows out of this phase. But man, oh man, she is too cute in that outfit. I love it!
her outfit is way too awesome!
One thing most of us mothers have in common, the crazy grocery store trips. Priceless. Love this post. xoxo
I really can't complain, Jaren is relatively good at the store as long as we stop and let him pick out a Matchbox car as soon as we walk into Target. However, I can absolutely relate. This week my husband stayed home with Jaren and I went to Target by myself. I found myself picking out a car for him even though he wasn't there and when I returned home my husband asked how my trip alone went. I started crying. Blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but I missed my little man. It's true, our little ones make the most mundane moments great and the very worst even better. XOXO
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Aw, at least you have the pregnancy hormones to blame it on!!!! 🙂 Love that you can relate!!!!!!
I can't tell you how it makes me feel – camaraderie, I suppose? – read/hear from another mom with a "free-spirited" wild-child, if you will. Kaitlyn is younger than Waverly, but I can already foresee everything you blog about her, happening with mine. It's reassuring since I always feel like I'm getting the side-glance look-over when K is happily howling at the top of her lungs and throwing things left and right. Anyhow, Waverly is an absolute DOLL baby in this get-up and I can tell how much you really cherish each moment with her. Will try to manage a little things post to participate in the link-up!
xx Viv at JoieDeViv
I agree, it is so comforting to feel that you are not alone in this!! Thanks for letting me know you can relate, & enjoy your sweet "spirited" girl! I definitely feel it is one of their best qualities, too! XO