Babies Make The World Go Round

In 1997, there was a song released - 'Gangsters Make The World Go Round'. However...I think the Westside Connection may be wrong.

One of the things I've learned over the last 24 months is that there's one baby that makes my world go round right now. Today, in the midst of a nice little Saturday of breakfast, yard work, birthday parties, and shopping, I was struck by just how much babies grease the wheels of the economy.

While we were walking through the mall this morning - yes, we went to the mall in the morning because we have a 14 month old - Amelia was grabbing a clothes mainly because she loves the colors and how the clothes feel. Meanwhile, I was reaching for my wallet...why? Well, because Amelia was doing what most babies do...growing like crazy. It's a vicious cycle: we buy food, she eats food (sometimes Scout shares in the spoils), we buy diapers, she plays, she drinks, she sleeps, and all the while she grows, which - don't get me wrong - I'm very thankful for.

However, I couldn't help but think about how the economy benefits from her growth. Babies require a lot of stuff, and the stuff gets purchased; whether the goods come from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Old Navy, boutique stores, stores from days of yore (for all of you Friends fans out there), consignment sales, hand-me-downs, etc. - you get the idea. Just as I feel that she's getting comfortable in her clothes, shoes, diapers or latest cuisine, she outgrows it or chooses to eat an entire avocado rather than her usual amount. She always keeps us on our toes, and keeps constant pressure on the demand portion of the economic curve.

Also, I'm always trying to come up with the latest baby crazed item....toy, safety item, food item, clothing item, book, sleep prop, etc. If you can come up with something that requires a yearly safety update, then you've hit a real gold mine. Update the product every few years, and you have a new market to tap. So far, I've come up with some pretty stellar ideas, and a lot of terrible ones, which may have been fueled by equal parts caffeine and lack of sleep.

All of this brings me to one point, I can't imagine my life any other way right now. It's great. I love shopping for Amelia, and seeing just what food she'll eat or try tonight. Usually I have a difficult time pulling my debit or credit card out of my wallet, but when those big blue eyes are accompanied by her smile, it just comes out of my wallet so much easier. I know - I know; it will only get worse as she gets older, as her toys become more expensive, and ultimately as she realizes that she has this power over me. My only hope is that I don't pick up the clothes, products, or food. Once I've passed that point of no return, the register beeps, and dollar signs are everywhere. It's just too easy to help the economy churn baby churn. See what I did there!