Shopping with Baby

Doing anything with a baby takes about three times the amount of time it takes when you're single.

Okay, maybe five times.

I'm now forever 30 minutes late, plan everything around naps (hoping that the miraculous 3 hour sucker we moms swoon over won't happen on the day we have plans), and expect to forget at least one item on my grocery list.

Man and I recently began car shopping. As much as we love Wilbur, he just didn't have enough space for the eventual second child. And while we have time, we figured we may as well do our research and do some math.  After all, it will still take us five times as long to get around to buying the car, right?

But for once, baby makes things easier.

I mean, yes, you have to undo your car seat and then reinstall it in each car you want to test drive. Double that because you have to reinstall it back in your car every time. And yes, you have to entertain a small creature while you wait the eternity car salesmen take to "negotiate" with their manager for an offer. And another eternity while they assess your potential trade-in's value.

But babies are also helpful in the Walk Out.

Our first round of price hunting ended with the Walk Out. As people with extremely nice credit and a fair amount for a down payment, we are expecting to pay the lowest price imaginable. We're also both raised by wise and frugal parents--including at least one self-proclaimed "cheap guy."

So faced with prices that are two grand above our price goal, Man and I walked out.

Oh yes, we love the car, but it's not a good enough deal. Besides it's getting too close to the baby's nap time, so we'll have to come back. Yes, yes. We'll definitely think it over. No really, we have to go. [cue baby fussing] We'll get back to you.

And we will get back to them. Later.

We'll just have to see how the summer treats them. And their price quotes.