The Greed Gun

A couple weeks ago, my sister (the future, auntie Kari) was in town to spend some time hanging out and catching up. Since it was mid-week, we decided not to paint the town and get all crazy... otherwise, watch out... we can be quite the duo. Riiight...

Instead, we decided to do more conservative and constructive things like taking a 5-mile walk, chatting about her most recent vacation (including cruise dining, winning a Sudoku competition and averting the clenched jaws of alligators - seriously!) and setting up baby registries at Toys R Us and Target. I know... you wish you could've been there, right??

So then it began...our date with the "greed gun." What's that, you ask? A simple device used to plan the future with every hope, aspiration and dream in mind. You guessed it - the product scanner that introduces your family and friends (and anyone else who wants to search for you) to all those "wish list" items you have for the future mini-me. For those of you who've not entered the future-parent-to-be-domain, perhaps you know the greed gun from a trips to the store prior to your marriage? And if that doesn't spark it for you, certainly you've seen a rogue dad weaving stealthily around department store displays doing his best impersonation of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. He grips the registry scanner, peers down an isle of fragile goods, begins his raptor-like pursuit, turns a corner and points the scanner at an unsuspecting crystal vase his bride-to-be is holding oh-so-gingerly. Capisce?



Of course the intent with registries isn't really greed, but rather a simple opportunity to inform regarding those planning on gift-giving of what's really needed, necessary or just too darn cute to leave un-scanned.

Our progress wasn't exactly progress at all. I "mis-fired" a few times at Toys R Us and even though the scanner was supposedly equipped to delete items, I'm not convinced that actually happened. We did learn a lot though. Mostly, that there's SO MUCH to learn :) The sheer amount of options for bottles, strollers, bouncers, diapers and more, made me wonder if I'd ever get started. But with the help of some of you, I've now received excellent advice on what worked best in your opinion (or the opinion of your little ones) for products, brands, needs and wastes of time.

Now if I can just figure out the registry scanner...