Lots of Sunshine Mixed with Some Creepy

My sweet X-Factor is spending the week in Florida and Georgia with her "Nannie" (Dr. N's mom). So Z-man has the privilege of tasting the blissful of life as an only child. We're both having a blast, but missing X-Factor.

Today was gorgeous and hot! Z-man and I slept until 8:30, ate a healthy breakfast and ran some errands. While out and about, I stopped at Big Lots. I shared my Big Lots love with you all last Wednesday and after I did my good friend, Southern Mommy shared with me her Big Lots horror story. Since I never had a bad experience there, I thought that poor SM experienced a fluke. Well, it breaks my heart to say this, but after today, I will no longer be shopping at the Big Lots closest to me. Since I was not accosted by a drunk man, my story does not rival what SM went through, but it is creepy (cue music from a Tim Burton Film).

While taking my close out bargains to the check out counter, there was a man and woman behind us playing peek-a-boo with Z-man. Nothing strange about that. Happens everywhere. Here is the strange part, as my eyes shifted from Z-man to pay for my wares, the man, who was eating an ice cream sandwich (now that 's weird) said "Did you ever give him aspirin?" At least, that is what I thought he said. Thinking that it was another stranger who was about to give me teething advice, I smiled politely and replied, "No sir, he's too young for aspirin."

Well, he didn't say aspirin, he said ice cream. I know this because he held up his half eaten ice cream sandwich and said, "Well, I just tried to give him some of mine but he closed his lips tight and wouldn't take it, I figured he must not have had it before."

Next entered the maintenance man who had to clean up my jaw, which fell on the floor.

I started to shake, examined my baby to make sure he didn't have anything on his mouth, threw up in my mouth, and quickly walked out of the store.

A stranger tried to share his half eaten ice cream sandwich with my baby!

Of course my inner smart alec didn't kick in until we got to the car and I thought of a whole bunch of comments such as "Yes, I already taught him not to take food from strangers!"

I don't even take bites of ice cream after my own husband. The thought of some man I didn't know attempting to share his frozen snack with my son... a snack that said man bite into with his teeth. Praise God Z-man didn't even let the ice cream touch his lips!

OK, so after that lovely experience, we stopped at the Dollar Tree on our way home. The Dollar Tree is in a fairly decent area and clean, but I still held Z-man instead of putting him in the cart. After the Big Lots incident I was not about to take chances. If you live in my city, ask me via e-mail or in person about which Big Lots to avoid and which Dollar Tree to shop at to get some great deals. This particular Dollar Tree sells frozen food and other cold items for a dollar and freshness is guaranteed...and I check expiration dates. I stocked up on Steam Fresh veggies. I love them! And at $1 a bag...major steal! I also got two bags of name brand shredded cheese...very fresh for $1 each. I was pleased.

Later in the afternoon, Z-man and I hit the pool. We had a blast, although once we got there I realized that my mommy brain forgot to put sunscreen on his face. So we walked back home and took care of that business and went back to splash.

After a quiet dinner and some playtime, the little guy gave me the baby sign for nite-nite and slipped off to dream land at 7 p.m.