What it takes to get out of the house with a 1 yr. old

I heard on the news this morning that the NFL Experience is closing and all merchandise is 75% off.  I really wanted to pick up some t-shirts and posters, so I decided that Nicky and I could do this.  We needed to get an early start, so I got Nicky fed and turned Mickey on so I could jump in the shower.  I got myself ready in record time and then got Nick dressed and his shoes on.  I then precede to "pack" things up.  I got some diapers and made sure I had wetnaps.  Then I filled one snack bag with graham crackers and the other one with goldfish crackers.  I got his sippy cup filled with juice and then put a yogurt cup in just in case.  I grabbed a bottle of water for me.  Now I needed hats, gloves and coats and loaded them in the car.  One last thing....I needed to get Nicky...I shut the TV off and picked him up...I felt something moist on my hand...never a good sign...I set him down to check.  Yep, poop going up his back.  I considered this a good sign because if this would have happened in the car seat or at the NFL Experience, this would have been a disaster...fortunately his blue jeans were ok, but the shirt had to be replaced.  After cleaning up the mess and redressing him...I was finally ready to get out the door and head downtown.  We made it there with no problem...I just drove down Capital until I couldn't anymore and pulled in a parking garage.  It was the Hyatt, so I wasn't sure I could park there.  I nice young man came up to me and I explained what I was doing.  He said I could park in the self-parking garage underground.  He told me where to go, so I followed his direction but when I got there, a gate was down.  I just assumed it would go up, but it didn't.  I sat there for a little while, not knowing what to do.  The nice young man came down to me and was smiling.  I say to him, " the gate won't go up" and he says, "Mam, you have to press the button to get your ticket and then it will".  I burst out laughing and so did he...I told him, "My husband worries about me...I have to die first".

Well, we found a place to park and I started to unload everything.  Got the stroller all set up with all the gear.  Then I got Nicky.  Another nice young man was watching all this.  I asked him how to get to the NFL Experience and he said, "Follow me".  Now I know what everyone was talking about, Indianapolis is truly the friendliest place and not just for the SuperBowl.  He got me out of the garage and to the elevator.  Indy is set up so convenient.  Nicky and I never stepped outside...the whole city is connected by these walkways.  With some help of some other nice people, we found the Pro-shop where all the merchandise was.  There were quite a few people in there.  So much of the merchandise was overpriced.  I saw women's t-shirts with some rhinstones on it that sold for $90 and mens sweaters that were $145.  Even at 75% off, they were still expensive.  All I wanted was some basic t-shirts.  Had to settle for t-shirts with the Giants and Patriots on them, but then, they were in the Superbowl.  They had some with just Indianapolis SuperBowl on them, but only the very large or the very small were left.  Got Rich a hat and picked up some posters too.  While I was shopping, little Nick was so good.  At one point, he slid out of the stroller..he was hanging half in and half out...his head was stuck.  I started laughing because I couldn't get him to slide the rest of the way out and I couldn't pull him back up either...some nice man came and helped me.  He held the stroller and I pulled Nick out.  He didn't cry, but it was probably because I was laughing so hard.  I decided it was time for me to get out of here, so I stood in line to check out.  Even though I had some things go wrong....all in all, I got there no problem and made it back home.  I need to do this more.  I am so used to other people taking care of me and doing for me.  I am so directionally challenged...always have been and the older I get the worse it gets.  Age robs you of lots of things, but I will keep getting out there and doing it.