Stolen Baby

Before I begin this post, let me preface it by saying...I don't leave Anderson. When I was in Garner, I ran uptown for a haircut. I left Anderson at home with mom because he was sleeping. I was gone for probably 20 minutes and it darn near killed me! That being said...

While spending time with Jordan and Jessamy in Ames, Mom, Anderson and I went to a Mongolian restaurant. We were having a (really!) early dinner...like 4:30pm and were pretty much the only people in the entire restaurant. Anderson had been in his car seat for a long time and was starting to get fussy. Because there was no one around us and we had a huge table, I decided to put a blanket down and let Anderson stretch out on the table. Instantly, every waitress in the place flocked to our table. They were all admiring the cute baby. From then on, they just kind of milled around us. Eventually, Anderson got fussy and wanted to be picked up. Mom was almost done eating (as if she needed an excuse!), so she reached to pick him up. Immediately, our waitress came over and said, "You finish eating and I'll hold him." She plucked him out of mom's arms and we were all too stunned to say anything. She stood a few feet from our table, bouncing him and talking to him. At first, I was shocked. But then I figured...hey...we are in a public place and in Ames, Iowa no less. He'll be fine. Gradually, the waitress started inching farther and farther away from the table though. She was taking him around the restaurant showing him to all the other employees. Jessamy had just gotten back from China and reassured me that that behavior was totally normal - they were fascinated with "white" babies. None the less, I was very relieved when she brought him back! And...the story gets even more random! Mom looked a me a bit later and said, "I think he is getting hungry." In swoops the waitress again with...a cream puff! And...a spoon! She was going to feed him because she heard mom say he was hungry! No no!

While I was in the USA, our church in El Salvador built a nursery. All of the older kids (preschool-junior high) go to Sunday school during worship. We have had an influx of babies in our congregation and I guess they figured it was time the babies had a place of their own. The nursery is right inside the front door of the church. When we walked into church the first Sunday I was back, a young girl (perhaps 12?) came over and tried to take the car seat from Hugo. She was a helper in the nursery and thought we were coming to drop Anderson off. No no! No leaving of the baby. She looked really surprise (and maybe a bit offended?). When she went back into the nursery empty-handed, an older woman came out and tried to repeat the process. Again, we wouldn't let her have Anderson. Everyone in the church entryway was watching this ordeal. Good. Let's have a crowd around to witness this awkward situation. When we got into the sanctuary, a THIRD lady came rushing over to take Anderson. No no! No leaving of the baby! During church, I looked around and noticed that there wasn't a single person under the age of 12. Anderson was the only exception. Oh well. Sorry if they thought we would have a "kid-free" church service. Not going to happen!