Christmas shopping with a toddler...

... pregnant, in the slushy snow... not an easy task.

Attempting to avoid shopping carts, because carrying your shopping cart cover is just one more thing to lug around... yet having a toddler running free inside a store, doesn't keep your sanity in tact for too long.

Attempting to let a toddler walk through the snowy parking lot, because it would be so much easier on your aching back... yet the said toddler decides it's fun to run and stomp through the slush, tempting fate to make her fall into the wet nastiness.

Attempting to distract your toddler with an item in the store so she'll be entertained while you are shopping... yet when you arrive to the check out line you are forced to buy said object to avoid a major meltdown. (Thankfully we'd replaced the glittered pear ornament with a plastic penguin bucket just in time).

Attempting to keep your toddler warm and buckling them into their carseat time and time again wearing their winter coat... yet that requires an extra two arms and is not so easy on the pregnant belly bending over that extra minute or two it takes to buckle said child in.

Attempting to get any shopping done when the time you allotted yourself in each store is cut in half because of the time you spent in the parking lot... and then cut in half again because of the distraction that occurs keeping your toddler entertained... and then cut in half again because, let's face it you're wiped out and just want to go home and go to bed.