laugh your way

I managed to do it. I left Laney with Mike's parents for the first time. Maybe I can relax a little about going to work part-time now that I spent a day away from her. We left her so that we could attend a marriage seminar on Friday evening and Saturday. It was called "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage."

I'm not going to review the whole seminar. It is available on DVD and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. Besides being entertained, we learned a lot of things that we can apply to our marriage.

The best part about the whole thing was having some uninterrupted time together. I actually forgot what it is like to go for a walk with Mike and just be able to talk together without focusing on anything else. Sure, we can do that at home when Laney is in bed, but there are always other things that seem to prevent us from actually sitting down and having conversations. We tend to keep busy or even just have the television on in the background (or at least Mike does).

I feel renewed.

This weekend also reminded me that I need to make my husband's needs a priority. I tend to get so focused on taking care of Laney that I don't really make a huge effort with Mike. I'm not just a mummy, but a wife too. And I don't want to forget that.

How do you feed your marriage when life gets busy?

Family Rules

The long weekend is officially over. Part of me is glad. It wasn't quite the relaxing summer weekend I had hoped for, but we had some fun, nevertheless. We spent Saturday at my husband's family reunion and Sunday at his uncle's wedding.

I do have some things I would like to get off my chest. Sorry if this is too whiny and negative for you.

Dear relatives,

1. Please do not come up to me and yank my baby out of my arms. Ask.
2. If you are going to grab my baby please do not put her soother in your mouth and then give it to her.
3. No, my baby can not eat that.
4. You better believe that I am going to take her back if you even attempt to give her sugary treats.
5. Do not tell me that my baby doesn't need a nap when I try to lay her down.
6. Futhermore, please do not keep pestering the baby while she is supposed to be napping. Until you are the one waking up several times a night with an upset baby you do not get to decide if she needs a nap or not.
7. I will leave in my car to allow the baby to nap if no one will leave her alone.
8. I am so thankful for hotels.

Pfew. I feel better now.

Times Like These

What a wonderful weekend I've just had. We had one of those rare summer weekends with no plans and nowhere to hurry off to.

We spent some time in a local park, walking around.


We pushed Laney in a swing. She absolutely loved it.


We took her to the splash park, which she was a little more unsure of.


Then we set off for home with a happy baby.


Finally, I had some time of pure bliss on Sunday evening. I don't know about you, but I cherish time by myself every now and then, even more so after becoming a mother. Mike left to play basketball with some friends and Laney was down for the night (OK, a little more realistically, until the first feeding). I went out and sat on my deck and just sat in silence. I love evenings like that. The TV off. No music playing. No talking. I just took in the beautiful evening. I was alone with my thoughts. And it was wonderful.

Of course I couldn't resist a few dorky shots of myself taking it all in.