Strollers. Can't live without 'em.

At around 10 p.m. yesterday my friend Keely called me in a panic.

"Have you bought your stroller yet? Please tell me you haven't," she said, quickly, nervously.

"I have," I answered. We ordered it a couple weeks ago, so it gets here in time.

"Why, what's wrong?"

From the tone in her voice and the harried pace of Keely's speech I thought maybe millions of Canadian babies had just come down with lead poisoning from spending too much time in the popular wheely contraptions.

Thankfully, there wasn't a disaster. Just a cool product she needed to tell me about.

The Orbit stroller. Not only is it light, folds quick and easy, looks neat and has a baby bucket that converts from stroller seat to car seat in seconds, it has a similar toddler bucket too.

Now, I've never been good at thinking long term and I can barely wrap my head around the fact that I'm about to have a baby, but even to this confused mom-to-be, it sounds so cool.

It's only available in the U.S. at present. And it cost about a zillion dollars when you buy all the necessary attachments, but it's worth a look.

Like buying all essential baby items, stroller shopping was nerve-wracking. We had a long list of "things" we wanted it to do.

We wanted a stroller that folds to a standing position in one swift motion. But the one that does that, the Micralite Toro, has weird handles and its two front wheels were so close together my feet kept bashing into them whenever I tried to take a long stride (and believe me, I don't really have a long stride).

We wanted a stroller that allows the baby to face us sometimes and can be turned around to face the world too. One that has a lot of storage space, for diapery-type things and toys, I think (what else do you put in a stroller?). And, we were looking for something that's light, looks cool (because I still feel like that will make me a more competent mom), won't demand that we pay for it with our first born and will last us for years and years. We don't want to have to go through this again anytime soon.

With so many models to choose from at so many different prices, the decision was almost impossible  - especially since none of them seemed to do everything - well except maybe the Orbit...

The decision was made for us (thank god) when my mom just went and purchased a stroller to give to us as a baby present. What a lovely woman!

I need it!!!!

Last weekend I walked into my first baby store. I've been avoiding them so far in an effort to convince myself I can raise this baby mainly with love, not possessions. That I don't need the latest stroller or the most-streamlined high chair to be a good mom. That my kid will be just fine even if I don't have the newest, fanciest, state-of-the-art high definition TV baby monitor.

But then I saw it. It was green (my favorite colour). It had a cushiony soft  inside and was attached to a fun swingy arm that I can push. The swaying will make my baby giggle with glee.

It's a hanging crib. And it's awesome.

I can just picture it dangling from the ceiling or swinging from the giant cantilevered arm which will attach at its base if I'm nervous my ceiling might crumble from its weight.

My baby will be the coolest.

And by extension, I will be the coolest. And I've always wanted that.

That's it. I need to have this - for the baby.

"Forget it," my husband said. "The baby will have enough places to sleep. It doesn't need a hanging crib."

"But the baby neeeeeeds it!!! And the baby wants it!!!" I shrieked. And then it occurred to both me and my husband that I was being a baby. I want the crib for myself, I can admit that.

Sure, the swinging crib may make it more difficult to put my child to sleep in a still position once I get it used to all that swaying.... but... okay. Fine. No crib.

Darnit.