8

This week we celebrated 8 years of being married.

Thanks to Milo's grandmas, we got to go biking together, eat lunch AND dinner out, and stay out until 9:30 p.m.

But mostly, our anniversary day was just like the others.

Milo woke up. I nursed him. David changed him. David fed the dogs. He made coffee. I made breakfast. I packed Milo's diaper bag. He loaded the car. Milo took naps. He got a bath. We put him to bed.

Our anniversary was not super exciting. Not very glamorous. But I was aware of the rhythm between us. The gentle give and take. The way we have figured so many things out together.

And I was aware of how much I love having this person as my partner and friend, even after 8 years.

I still think he's funny.

He still thinks I'm beautiful.

We've been through big transitions together. And it's not always easy. But I know for sure that there's no one else I'd rather share a life with.

So, here's to us, David Baker. Happy 8th anniversary.

farewell

This is what I worked on yesterday when Milo was napping. Yep, instead of packing, I made this super cheesy video.

Why?

Well, for one, sappy music and photo montages are my love language.

And also it felt good to reflect on four years here.

To think about all the trails we have hiked, the friends we have made, and the baby we birthed. Oh yeah, and we got some degrees too.

We are making the right decision to move. I'm sure of it. I'll be glad to be "home."

But, saying new hellos requires saying goodbyes first. And making this video helped me do that.

So, here it is. Our "life in Denver"......

big guy & little guy

I love this big guy & this little guy.

But, what do I love

even more?

How much

this little guy

loves

this big guy

& how much

this big guy

loves

this

little guy.

goodbye, friend

Dear 2010,

You won't be over for a couple more days.

But I miss you already.

You were a good, good year. And I'm sad to see you go.

You were the year that this amazing guy turned 30

& graduated from nursing school.

And you were the year that I finished seminary

& earned this.

Oh yeah, and you were the year we welcomed this little guy.

He might just be the best thing ever.

Yep, I'd say you were a darn stinkin' good year.

Goodbye, friend. I'll remember you fondly.

milo's first thanksgiving

This year, David had to work on Thanksgiving day so, instead of heading to KC or spending Thanksgiving with friends here in Denver, we were on our own. We celebrated a day late, but it felt like Thanksgiving in the Baker house!

I've never made an entire Thanksgiving meal before, and I discovered that I really enjoyed preparing it. David helped me stuff the turkey. He put up our Christmas tree. I cooked. Milo listened to his first Christmas songs. We watched football and napped on the couch. We had a really, really nice day.

Mostly, we marveled at our growing baby who is amazing, healthy, and perfect. And funny! He brings so much joy to our lives and, perhaps more than any previous Thanksgiving, we understand what it means to feel full to the brim with gratitude.

milo, dressed up for his first thanksgiving!

david putting up our tree

my first turkey!

our table (small, but joyous)

david carving the turkey

mama & milo

my boys

midas, being a really good sport

watching football

thankful

on this day

that's made

for

giving

thanks,

I'm thankful

for

this boy

we made.

wine. it does a mama good.

Thanks to David's parents, David and I went out Saturday night. On a date. Without the baby.

OMG.

It was our second date since Milo was born, 115 days ago. Not that I'm counting.

I wore a new sweater. It was totally baby spit-up, baby pee, and baby booger-free. I did my hair. And brushed my teeth.

We left Milo at home with Yia Yia and Opa. My heart was beating as we walked out the door. We drove downtown and, holymother, downtown Denver is bumpin' on a Saturday night! Who knew?

We found a parking spot right in front of the restaurant. Unheard of. We walked in to the restaurant David picked out, the name of which I can't even pronounce, it was just that cool. The girl asked if we had a reservation. We said no. She told us it would be an hour and a half for a table. We went to the bar. Fifteen minutes later, she came to get us and took us to a table.

The date night gods were smiling on us, for sure.

I wasn't going to order a drink. I'm not a drinker. I didn't drink a lick of alcohol when I was pregnant with Milo. I've only had sips of David's beer since Milo was born. (Ok, MAYBE one glass of wine when I went out with a friend.) After all, I'm a breastfeeding mama and I have to be responsible.

But on Saturday night, when my stomach was a little anxious about somebody else putting Milo to bed, I decided I would order a glass of wine.

And oh. my. gosh.

I forgot how fun I was.

We laughed. And laughed. And flirted. And held hands at the table. And after dinner, instead of going home, we went across the street and ordered more wine and chocolate fondue.

We didn't talk about the baby. I wasn't thinking about Milo's nap schedule, his feeding schedule, his sleeping schedule, whether or not he's getting enough tummy time, how I can't seem to cut his nails short enough to keep him from scratching himself, or the fact that I can't get rid of the dry, flaky skin on the back of his head.

We didn't talk about any of that.

We talked like friends.

And we remembered how much we really, really liked each other.

And did I mention that I was fun?

Not anxious. Or irritable. Or annoyed. Or nit-picky. Or uptight.

I love, love, love my baby. So does David. We are learning how to be a family of three.

But it sure was wonderful to be two. Even if only for an evening.

(P.S. The headache I had Sunday morning when I woke up was totally worth it.)

grand gestures

Yesterday I was in a bad spot.

Milo missed his morning nap because we were at the grocery store and when I tried to put him down for his afternoon nap, he cried off and on for two hours. He was so exhausted by the time he fell asleep, that he slept until 5 p.m. Sleeping until 5 pushed his bedtime back, which meant he was overtired and fussy and waking up every 45 minutes or so after I put him down. I fed him at 9 and, as he was drifting off to sleep, my dog started scratching himself (a very normal behavior for a dog, mind you). But he kept scratching. And scratching. And scratching. And goodgod does he need to scratch himself RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BABY's DOOR??? His scratching (and thus collar jingling) sent me into a tail spin.

David took the baby from me and soothed him to sleep. And then he found me crying in bed. I told him I hated my life.

(I don't really hate my life. But exhaustion and hormones and dogs with jingly collars can skew your perspective.)

And that was when my husband intervened in a big way.

Pop culture would have us believe that grand, romantic gestures include flowers and chocolates and diamonds. Grand gestures are public. And grand.

But I don't need flowers and chocolates and diamonds. Here is how I know my husband loves me:

He hugged me. And then he turned off the baby monitor. And he took his pillow off the bed. And he moved to the couch. And he told me to close the door , forget we had a baby, and go to sleep.

And he slept on the couch. My husband slept on the couch so he could hear the baby. And when the baby cried, David fed him. And I slept.

I slept. Uninterrupted. (Ok, minus a quick 2 a.m. feeding that I chose to do in order to sleep comfortably. If you're a breastfeeding mother, you understand.)

And this morning, when I woke up at 7 a.m., I felt like a different person. My brain felt different. The world seemed less blurry. I was even able to be kind to my dog.

And that, my friends, is the story of my husband, his love for me, and the night he made a grand, romantic gesture.

David Baker, RN

David's graduation

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 30th, David!

Yesterday was David's birthday and we celebrated big! We went to breakfast at "Snooze" and sampled a pineapple upside-down pancake. Yum!

David thought our weekend in Keystone was his BIG birthday celebration but, little did he know, I had another trick up my sleeve. I took him to Wynkoop Brewery for dinner and our friends in Denver were there to surprise him. It was very cool. =)

He was flooded with cards and phone calls yesterday wishing him "Happy Birthday." It's easy to understand why this guy is so loved!

Birthday Weekend in Keystone

Since David is turning 30 next week, we decided this birthday celebration should be special. We headed to the mountains on Friday and spent two nights at the Inn at Keystone. Our friends drove up on Saturday so the boys could ski with David and the girls could keep this big-bellied gal company at the outlets.

Keystone is only an hour away but it felt like a real retreat from our hectic lives in Denver. We had a great time celebrating a REALLY awesome man! =)

Our Farewell to Summer

David is done with clinicals for the quarter so we took an impromptu trip to Dillon, Colorado. Dillon is about 60 miles outside Denver and, in my opinion, PERFECT for camping. 

We arrived early afternoon at Heaton Bay Campground near Dillon Lake. David found an empty site near the water and we set up camp. (Ok, mostly David set up camp but I helped. I LOVE being married to a boyscout!) 

It was lovely. We took the dogs for a hike along the shore. We played cards at the picnic table. We read by the water while the dogs chewed their bones. We drank beer by the fire that David built. AND, the BEST part about camping at Heaton Bay is that the town of Dillon is only 5 minutes away so we ate fish tacos at a local Mexican restaurant for dinner and got Starbucks for breakfast! 

We were gone less than 24 hours, but it was wonderful to get away together and a fabulous farewell to summer. =)