indoctrination

I whole-heartedly feel that babysitting is merely an indoctrination into the world of parenting. I enjoy these opportunities to spend time with the little kids that I LOVE, and usually walk away with at least one great story to tell. Today's adventure in babysitting was no different (who knew that an impromptu 45-minute babysitting session would yield a long enough story for an entire blog post?!).

So the PILF (Public Interest Law Forum) auction was over, my tummy was filled with free pizza and creme soda, I had successfully purchased some shampoo/conditioner from someone who actually bid on something at the auction, and I was back at my carrel reading a book/talking to friends when my phone rang. It was Maricela in a bit of a panic saying that she was at the health center and wanting to know if I could come hold baby Abel for an hour. Considering the fact that there was exactly an hour before my next class, I told her I would be right there and asked Jordan for a ride up to the health center. When I got there Maricela dropped off the baby with me and I proceeded to baby-talk my way into little Abel's heart. This lasted for about 20 minutes and then I heard/felt something projecting from the baby.

I remembered past experiences of babysitting and being told that when Abel poops, you know it. Before today, I've never actually experienced such a thing, but there was no doubt in my mind that was what was going on. I didn't run directly to the restroom because I thought there might be more coming. So after the second time, I thought it was safe to get up and make my way to go change him. I leaned over to pick up the diaper bag and as I went to readjust the baby in my arms, I saw it... a streak of yellowish liquidy stuff was quickly appearing across the poor Abel's back. I quickly stood up and asked the ladies where there was a restroom with a changing table (I don't know why I didn't just assume that every restroom on the BYU campus had a changing table).

By the time I got to the restroom, the clothes were beyond saving. There was no disposable changing table pad available so I had to use the changing pad built into Maricela's uber-cute diaper bag. I felt really bad because I knew it was going to get dirty so I did what any logical non-baby-owning-auntie would do... I got about 8 paper towels from the paper towel dispenser at the sink and cover the changing pad with it. At this point, some random lady walks into the bathroom and gives me an inquisitive look as she sees my obvious lack of experience with exploding diapers. But fortunately she didn't say anything and I continued about my business. After I had successfully changed Abel's diaper, I proceeded to then clean up the gigantic wad of paper towels/baby wipes/dirty diaper that I had made.

I walked out of the restroom with a cute, happy, chubby baby wrapped in a nursing cover (because I couldn't find a change of clothes) and then started freaking out because I didn't know if it was going to be ok for him to not have clothes on. I called Luis in a panic and he was able to calm me down a little bit. There was nothing he could do, but at least he was there to talk to. 10 minutes later, Maricela came out and just had to laugh at her poor little clothes-less baby.