Our Little Baby Blog

A Little Sun

We're just back from our first weekend away from Anna. Seeing as how it's been two years since we've had any extensive adult time together and this new baby is due in mid-June, well, we were DUE for a no-kid weekend.

Our trip to Ft. Lauderdale did not disappoint.

Last Thursday we picked up the fantastic aunt duo of Pam and Meagan at the airport and then jetted off ourselves. Oh my goodness, how wonderful it was to escape Chicago weather and bask in the 75 degree loveliness of Florida. We purposefully made no plans (other than dinner reservations and lunch with some friends) so that we could just lay on the beach, read magazines, and eat ice cream. This sounds good anytime of the year, but it sounds particularly delightful when you're seven months pregnant. It just so happened that the one weekend in April that worked best for us was also our five year anniversary. We had a very nice dinner out on Friday to celebrate and ponder the fact that we have not only made it through five years, but we are about to be parents of two. TWO. That seems like full-fledged adulthood, doesn't it?

Aside from some major sun burns (I know, I know, I'm a burner not a tanner), we had the most peaceful amazing weekend in recent history. Just knowing that we could sleep in (though we didn't because our bodies are too set in their ways now :-) and be completely free from nap schedules and to do items, left us feeling so carefree. I have always had a hard time shutting my mind and worries off and almost need this kind of physicial separation in order to really relax. Dinner dates are great and wonderful and important, but this trip was really what we needed to actually remove ourselves from the day to day grind. I am so grateful that we could do this. Honestly, it was just what the doctor ordered.

First things first, Mike completes the WSJ crossword puzzle

The view from our hotel, overlooking the canal system

Dinner by the ocean

As you can imagine, we were dying to get away for a bit, but also quite apprehensive about how Anna would react when suddenly we weren't there. I mean I suspected I would be a little panicky myself without Anna, how is a two-year-old gonna feel?

Anna handled it all beautifully. She cried a bit every now and then, but seemed to take it all in stride. Pam and Meagan did a terrific job of keeping her busy. The weather was actually great here and, therefore, they could take her to the park, draw with sidewalk chalk and blow bubbles. She had a blast with them and really wanted to ride in the airplane back to St. Louis with her aunts. But, alas, all good things must come to an end and we dropped them off at the airport this morning. Thank you so much, Pam and Meagan! You guys are wonderful!!

We purposefully did not talk to Anna until Sunday morning. Instead, we called twice a day but spoke just to Pam and Meagan. I thought I was doing this to help protect Anna from getting upset, but I think it protected me more than anything because when I talked to her on Sunday morning, just hearing her voice brought me to tears. We couldn't wait to get back home to see her and I think a three day weekend was the perfect length of time for us.

Now we're back and feeling oh so much more relaxed. Just think, only two more years and maybe we'll get another trip :-)