So...off to the mall we went today. It is rainy outside and we've been cooped up in this house nursing Maddie's tummy bug all week. She is feeling better and Will just needed to get out. We did our normal things - a little shopping, taking a look at the fountain outside of Dillard and throwing pennies in, and then off to the planters to play and the fountain/pond by Neiman's to see the ducks and turtles. Will was happily playing, sliding on the planters, running around, asking me for pennies (I had none) and asking perfect strangers (other moms) for them as well. I was a bit embarrassed that my child was asking another random woman for pennies, but she had a 2 year old so I let it go. Well, he goes back to sliding on the planters and I said "Will, lets go look at the little fountain". He calls it that because the other fountain previously mentioned is the "big fountain". Evidently he LOVED that idea and went running as fast as he could toward that part of the "pond". He hit the wooden railing that is there to keep kids/people out of the water at chest/waist level and FLIPPED over it into the water. He went flying. I stood there shocked for literally a second, then had a small heart attack as I ran towards him. He was on all fours in about a foot or foot and a half of water. He cried for a couple seconds but was just more in shock. Then he just sat there. He was SOAKED. Every bit of clothes were wet, the front of his hair and face were wet, he was COLD. I threw one shoe off and stepped into the water to pull him out - getting wet up to my knee. He was dripping everywhere, so I pulled off all his clothes. Now he is standing in the middle of the mall in just a diaper. I grabbed a burp cloth of Maddie's and dried him off. As I'm doing this two old snotty women walked by and one elbowed the other one and pointed at Will. You could see it on her face "Wow, that woman lets her son run around in a diaper in public. Trash!". I looked right at her and said, "He fell in the water, I'm trying to take care of him, just keep walking.". I was pissed. Stupid people. Really, at 70 years old you are talking bad about other mothers? I then refocused, checked him for obvious marks, cuts, anything like that and put him the in the stroller. I wrapped him in Maddie's pink blanket (poor boy) and we headed to Gap to buy him new dry clothes. Can't believe I was embarrassed about the penny incident earlier....
We got him a new outfit - gotta love Gaps 2 for $20 t-shirts and cozy pants. We redressed him in the dressing room there and we went to get lunch. He kept saying "Dill fell in little fountain. No fall in big fountain." I told him how scary it was over and over again. He also admitted it scared him and that we shouldn't run around the fountains. We'll see if that sticks.
I called Chris to tell him about it once we were all safe and I just couldn't help but laugh. I was almost in tears. Of course, I am most thankful that he is safe, but SERIOUSLY! Do you know how many times I've said "Will, be careful. You could fall in the water.". I NEVER thought it would happen. Chris said I should have taken pictures, but that was the last thing on my mind. I did take one after he was redressed in his t-shirt that appropriately says "Gone Bananas".
Life with crazy little boys is always an adventure. Today was one of those days and I imagine he'll hear this story every time we go to Northpark until he's 20, at least. Thanks to the very nice Northpark security guard who checked on us and helped me with him.
What a day! Oh...and Maddie just hung out in her stroller thru all of this and didn't make a peep. She was wide awake and happy as can be. THANK GOODNESS!!!
You'd never know he'd had any problems! I still can just see him flying thru the air...
