Searching for TPB

I don't know when the acronym LBD came into our collective consciousness, probably because I'm not the type of person to make it a point to own a perfect little black dress. The perfect bag (TPB) on the other hand, well, I've been re-inventing what I consider one of those to be for awhile.

When Madeline was first born, I had two Land's End bags (the Do-It-All and the Little Tripper). The big bag was perfect for carrying on airplanes and packing for road trips. The small bag was about the same size as the bag I carried in pre-parenting days, just better organized so that I didn't have to empty out the entire thing to find my wallet or Madeline's sunhat. Then I got a little tired of carrying around a diaper bag. Out in public, I couldn't help but notice that everyone else seemed to be carrying a cuter bag than I was!

Madeline was older, too, so all I needed to carry around was an emergency diaper (it's rare that I have to change her while we're out), a drink, and a snack. The rest of the bag could be for my stuff - whee! So, I asked my handbag-designer sister to make me a funky bag for Christmas 2005. I popped Madeline's diaper stuff into a diaper case, and I was feeling a little bit more like my pre-mom self again. This bag is the one I take out on special occasions.

Next, I saw some Timbuk2 messenger bags in one of the shops here in town, and my dear Chris bought me a Metro. It's smaller than the other two, but has a zippered pocket that fits a disposable diaper and a pack of wipes perfectly, not to mention an inside pocket for holdling a water bottle (or sippy cup, as it may be). This became my everyday bag. It's waterproof, and dirt just wipes right off of it.

The only thing about my two newest bags was that they were shoulder bags, and they'd go flying all over the place when I was chasing after Madeline at the playground. Enter the sling pod from MEC. It's the first bag I read for when I go out solo with Madeline now. It hugs my back closely so I can keep up with her unencumbered. There is a bottle pocket on the outside, and a few zippered compartments on the inside. I wish I'd bought one at the beginning of the summer, as it's TPB of the moment!

Comments

[gretchen]

OMG, I love you. I saw a bag in the grocery checkout shortly after I had Ingrid, and thought "oh, that's a great bag that isn't a diaper bag" and I couldn't get the nerve up to ask the owner about it, but, lo & behold, it's a Timbuk2 bag. Yay! Now I know!

[Brandi]

I've been in search of a perfect bag too. I'm still using the Little Tripper, and I'm so bored with it. I can probably count on one hand how many times I've had to change Abby's diaper in public. I'd love to find something smallish that's not a shoulder bag. I have to have an across-the-chest type bag because I always feel like the shoulder bag is slipping from my shoulder. Someday I'll find what I'm looking for.

[Stacy]

Diaper Bag shopping is fun, that is why I have about a half a dozen, from the Fluerville Mother Ship to Boujie Baby Couture I have one for every occasion, I dont even carry a purse anymore.

[Cynthia]

I realize this post was last summer, but hoping you'll see my comment anyway.

Re: the MEC Pod Sling. I've never seen a picture with anyone actually wearing it, much less a woman. I'm curious if my ample boobage will make the bag uncomfortable. I assume the strap would fit over?

Thanks!