Day 9: Strops, Strawfries and Santa

Little D is 9 days old and it's a visitor free day but with the chronic weather and a 2 year old about to explode we decided it was a perfect time to head out to an indoor shopping centre.

Note the first mistake of parenting. There is never a perfect time to head out to an indoor shopping centre.

So, new car at the ready, double buggy filling the boot, 2 year old screaming in the back and Little D peacefully asleep and totally unaware, we headed out. Might I add nearly 2 hours after we'd started getting ready to go...

Arriving at the shopping centre we went straight to the Gormet Burger Kitchen for one of their amazing burgers  - mood was slightly soured by Roodles (the 2 year old) downing our entire haloumi starter, wailing for juice and hilarity at throwing menu on floor. We battled through and *enjoyed?"* our burgers, bribing roodles with shoestring fries, promises of Peppa pig and, pieces of burger bun. 40 minutes later and nearly £1 per painful minute we were in there *enjoying* ourselves, we headed back out. Little D sleeps on....

Phase 2 of day out - finding somewhere to BF Little D who is likely to end his nap at any second (3hours 30 and counting). Avoided the shopping centre BF room (never feel comfortable when women sit in there with their hubby's and they rudely didn't offer for him to leave) and holed myself up in the lovely M&S cafe. Perfect.

30 minutes later, Little D fed, OH turned up and sat with Little D whilst I attempt to hit ONE shop, to buy some more tunic tops. Roodles was having NONE of it. 10 minutes later I return to M&S FUMING! Following the dislocation of a mannequins arm, a horrific game of hide and seek amongst clothes rail, a returned umbrella stolen from the stand and, finally, dragging her 3 feet screaming as she lunged at someones handbag.

Time to go home.

Almost - everything was redeemed as we spotted santa's grotto. We took Roodles on the little bauble ride, and her first ever sit on Santa's knee and whilst there were a few hugs as she nervously approached the big man, she happily waved goodbye and proudly showed Daddy her "I've met Santa scroll".

Waste of a day? Completely. Worth it for that last 5 minutes? Totally.
Oh and yes, Little D slept on....