I have always known where the closest Babies r Us was. But I really did not have a need to head there till the first of those baby shower evites popped into my inbox. It was the first of many and over the years I had perfected the art of shopping off a baby registry at Babies r Us. It is a 5-step process

1) Enter store

2) Spot the registry computer and print-off list

3) Find a gift in your budget range

4) Ask an associate to guide you (or rather escort) to the item.

5) Pay for the item and get the hell out.

Over the years it has been my modus operandus and it has never failed. Occasionally, I did pick up a cute outfit or toy that was not on the list but honestly Babies r Us left me feeling lost.

A little over a year back on one of our usual visits to Babies r Us, R suggested we just browse around the store and get a feel for what is available and how much they cost and just be informed and prepared before we took the plunge into parenthood. I was quite excited and for a change my first stop was not at the registry computer.

The first aisle at my neighborhood Babies r Us carried an assortment of feeding items. There were probably 30 different kinds of bottles and I started feeling “it”. I quickly moved to the next aisle – the bathing aisle. Body washes, shampoos, body lotions, facial soaps, dusting powder, diaper rash creme filled rack after rack after rack. There were scented ones, unscented, organic and natural stuff, and tear-free stuff. There were three brands that called themselves, pediatrician recommended and one that said it was the No.1 choice of pediatricians. “The feeling” grew stronger.

I moved to the next aisle – the big items – carseats, strollers of all possible kinds, jumperoos, cradles, swings, bassinets and I could not hide my “feeling” any longer. As my head was reeling I spotted my savior – the registry computer. I did not bother explaining it to R, I just headed over to the computer and printed off the list. I quickly narrowed down my choice and was about to ask an associate for help when I came up with the super-dupper plan of finding the item myself. After all how difficult can it be to spot a rather big toy in a ginormous store?

I roamed and I roamed. I looked left and I looked right. The place was filled with parents-to-be discussing merits and demerits and with infants sleeping in their strollers or was it their car seat? But I could not find what I was looking for. I started feeling like I was in a maze with no exit in sight and the lost feeling was killing me. I decided I had enough and asked for help and was soon on my way out with a pretty wrapped gift.

But today, I am a Babies r Us veteran. The store does overwhelm me but shopping there has become a necessity. I know what aisles have what and I do previous research on what brands I buy. Afterall now that I am a mother, I want the best for my little one.

Another one of those changes motherhood has heralded in. Oh yeah I do love Babies r Us these days and I am heading there sometime in the next couple of days to pick up some more stuff for my lil one.