Baby Etiquette

I've long been wishing for Emily Post to come out with a book dedicated entirely to cell phone etiquette.  Not so much for my personal reference but perhaps to leave anonymously at people's doorsteps.  Having been a mom for 6 weeks now, I've got a new request.  Baby etiquette.  I'm not talking about showers and subsequent thank-you's.  I'm talking about everyday, common courtesy concerning babies.  And I could use parts of this book myself.  The first part of the book would need to address baby etiquette when it's NOT YOUR BABY.  In Jeopardy terms, Things You Shouldn't Comment On for $1,000.  I have to laugh at the audacity of strangers.  I just smile and nod when someone rather randomly suggests my baby must be cold because I do believe the advice is USUALLY well intentioned and because they have no Emily Post to turn to on the matter.  The second part of the book would need to address baby etiquette for parents.  Yes, you should step outside if your baby starts screaming in the middle of the Sunday morning sermon.  Now here I go sounding like a stranger with unsolicited baby advice when I would much rather just refer you to Chapter 7 in Emily Post's new book!  I'm a new mom, not completely confidant in my parenting skills, and desperately striving to be good at it.  I need Emily Post as much as anyone. 

All of this talk about etiquette came about in the past 2 weeks as Scott and I embraced being parents in public.  We started with dinner at Pearl Street Pasta.  Scott's law partner Katie and her husband Alton met us there on a Wednesday night.  We ordered wine and enjoyed adult conversation...it was if we were still ourselves...only a baby happened to be there too.  This gave us the confidence we needed.  Three days later, we spent an entire Saturday afternoon at Fat Mamas with some family and Millsaps friends.  The next Wednesday, Reene and I accompanied Scott and Katie to a three day Drug Court Conference in Biloxi at the Imperial Palace.  This past Saturday, Reene and I attended Katherine's baby shower in the afternoon, and then Scott and I took Reene to Cathedral's Crawfish Countdown that night.  My only babysitter (YaYa) was out of town, so it was either stay home or bring her with us.  It seems as if she really prefers the noise of crowds and music to being at home.  And then today, my first Mother's Day, we had a picnic on the bluff and spent the rest of the afternoon with family at Magnolia Vale.  SO, in the midst of figuring out this baby etiquette stuff, I'm having a great time with my daughter!

                                                            
                                                     Reene's first visit to Fat Mama's

                                                         Dressed for dinner in Biloxi

                       
                                               Getting excited about the baby shower

                                                              Crawfish Countdown

                                      Exhausted after giving me a wonderful Mother's Day