Date night

Monday night, Kevin and I went on a date! This was quite an event for us as we haven’t been on a date since our anniversary in April. We enjoy spending as much time as we can with our little princess, and we usually do everything with her, but Monday night was our night to reconnect and spend a little alone time. Alone time that is with thousands of other people! We went to the Dixie Chicks concert at the Pepsi Center. The Dixie Chicks are one of my (our) favorite bands, and they will always hold a special place in my heart as the first time we saw them in concert (August 3, 2000) Kevin proposed to me on his front porch after the show.

I had Monday off, as I am only working part time right now, and I took my time (while Brooklyn was napping that is) getting ready for my hot date with my dear husband. After he got home, we drove to my parent’s house to drop off the little one. It made us feel okay about leaving her when we saw how excited my mom was to be able to watch her. She hadn’t had that honor since February….as I said, we don’t like leaving her!

When we got to the Pepsi Center, we made our way inside and found our seats, but not before I bought a really cute shirt with the Chicks on the front. Pretty soon, Pete Yorn, the opening act, began strumming his guitar and singing. As we sat there listening and at times singing along to the music, it was very apparent to me that I had my husband for the whole night just to myself. It was a really good feeling.

When the Dixie Chicks came out to the Hail to the Chief song, we were both on our feet clapping and screaming in excitement. The sound really good live! They played a good variety from their new album as well as from their older ones. When the song “Cowboy Take Me Away” began playing, Kevin grabbed me and held me tight and danced with me. It was so romantic. After he proposed to me in 2000, he told me that he made that choice to have that night be the night that he popped the question because he held me during the same song, and it just felt so right.

Monday night was more than a concert, it was a chance to spend some much needed time alone with my husband. I am so grateful that we had that chance.

Our little princess is going to be a 1 year-old in less than a month. As I said in my very first post when Brooklyn was turning 5 months old...where does the time go? This year has been the fastest year of my life and by far, the year where I learned the most. My sweet, precious daughter has taught me so much: patience is a must; how to get up and have the entire house cleaned by 9 a.m. (after all we were up, so why not!?!); mid-afternoon baths are so much fun; pulling things out of the dishwasher (dirty or not) is a much better game than her new ball popper; nothing is better in life than a wet kiss and little arms stretched around your neck in a hug; how DVDs, video games and books all look much better tossed on the floor as opposed to on the shelf; baby gates are really made for tossing toys and pacifiers over for Mommy and Daddy to chase rather than keep some little person safe; sippy cups are to be tossed on the ground after you are done taking a drink; mirrors are meant to play peek-a-boo with ourselves and see just how cute we really are.

I remember when we first brought her home from the hospital and she slept all day long and at night Daddy would swing her back and forth in her carseat to help her fall into a slumber. I remember when she first learned to hold her own head up and now she has learned and enjoys shaking her head "no" and nodding her head and her whole body "yes." I remember when she first learned to crawl and how she didn't know she could go anywhere she wants and now she leaves the family room and heads up to the living room all by herself. The time really does go by fast. And, seriously, where did our daughter go that just laid there and slept all day!?! She's turning into a toddler - that's where she went - and she's taking Mommy and Daddy along for the ride, and boy, are we glad she is!!

Zoom, zoom, zoom...

Boy, time sure does fly when you're having fun! I had all last week off while I was in transition from my old crummy, far-from-home job to my new fantastic very-close-to-home job. I could not be happier about the change I decided to make and the fact that I got to spend a whole precious week with my beautfiul, loving daughter. We had some really good mommy and daughter time. I got the taste of what it would be like to be a stay-at-home mom, and I loved the taste, but don't mind working now that I found the right job for me. I couldn't be happier now...a beautiful daughter who gives me hugs and kisses all the time, a wonderful husband to share all the ups and downs of life with, very supportive and loving family and friends and a job that I don't have to talk myself into going to. Life is sure amazing when you get a few moments to treasure without having to rush somewhere or meet a deadline that someone else set for you.

Trick or Treat

I'm taking on a tremendous challenge this week as guest blogger for Malisa as she savors a week off before returning to work. She's having a blast and dinner is on the table every night when I get home from work. I know, I know, it sounds chauvinistic but the food has been awesome. We took Brooklyn trick-or-treating the other night at the Aurora Mall where she got to meet up with Grandpa and Grandma, uncle Eric and cousin Kendall. I was really looking forward to trick-or-treating this year because Brooklyn can't have any of the candy. That meant mucho candy for Mommy and Daddy. Alas, we got to the mall a little late and the candy was mainly gone. Nonetheless, we had a great time anyway and Brooklyn was adorable as a little ladybug. Hey, this blogging thing is kinda fun. Malisa will be back next week and I'm sure sharing first impressions from her new job. Bye for now.