I feel today was a big day. A Victory Day.

People. Today marks my first outing with Baby J. I mean, first real outing that wasn’t just me going over to see TC and Brother.

I’m talking full fledged packing up {by myself!} and heading out {by myself!} with a baby and all his gear.

It was also a bit of a reality check for me. I thought I was so prepared prior to departure. Oh, hell no. I had no clue what prepared was.

I can’t tell you how many trips up and down the stairs I made as I mentally went through every possible combination of what I might need — all the while doing this while hauling Baby J around in his car seat.

I had the brilliant idea to put him in his car seat, since he: 1. was sleeping and 2. I thought I was so damn prepared and almost ready to leave the house. Of course we all know what happens in these instances.

He woke up, screaming his head off and I was relieved that he stopped the second I picked up the car seat and he felt the moving motion. And let me tell you — it’s one hell of a work out going up and down stairs carrying baby gear and a damn car seat with  a baby in it.

By the time everything was in the car and I was backing out of the driveway, I was already running 35 minutes behind. How the hell does it take so long anyway to get all this stuff ready? I still don’t get where the time goes.

Still. It was a victory. For sure. Just to know that I can do it — I can pack up my little babe and get out of the house and socialize. Huge win! I don’t know why I was concerned about this, but I was.

I need to do more of this getting out and I will as I start to feel better … while I’m at it, I guess this means I should find some kind of Mom’s playgroup. That sounds like something Good Mothers do.

If it’s one thing Baby J is going to be responsible for, it’ll be getting me out more. I know this is a good thing, plus I want him to be a well socialized kid who is comfortable being around his fellow People, but I gotta say … I’m kinda dreading all that.

Since, you know, I’m the most socially unsociable person I know. Still puzzles me, as I truly do enjoy connecting and crave that human connection. But I’ve also come to accept the fact that a part of me needs to also be recharged {read: alone time} and is quite the introvert.

At least it’s looking promising that I’ll be capable of getting out with a baby in tow. And come on, I can surely make it with one when I see my fellow Mamas with four or more.