24 hours without Anni Joy

I learned several things in the last 24 hours without my daughter. You see on July 7th it was our 6th year anniversary ( ok, before anyone comments on the lucky 7’s things and the billion people that got hitched yesterday, let me just say that we thought it was a fab date way back when before “everyone was doing it”) and my Mom and sister graciously offered to watch Annikah for us so we could have a night out. A night out was had! We drove back to Chicago to actually get dressed up, have dinner, see the Color Purple, and stay at a hotel downtown. It was the longest time I have been away from Annikah since her birth (well, technically since her conception but since all she was doing then was hanging out making me sick and fat that may not count). Jason & I had such a great time. I learned several things in the 24 hours without my baby girl:

*I miss her a ton even when I have only been away from her for 10 minutes

*It takes time to mentally get “away” as in I needed a few hours to actually start to enjoy being away from motherhood and feel free without feeling guilty

*It is important for me to be away from Anni so that she learns to trust others and so that I learn that she will be well cared for without me

*Jason and I are best friends and we are so compatible (from agreeing on the choice of food to what we see for ourselves in a few years)
*I have become an idiot that cannot pack for myself (I forgot my purse and other necessities, but I always seem to have Anni’s sippy)

*I notice and talk to every parent I see with a baby (this is the same as with Annikah)

*I love being a tourist in my own city (we even attended part of a church service at 4th Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue– so beautiful!)

*Sleeping in is now officially a thing of the past (we were up at 7am despite staying up really late (wink, wink,nudge, nudge) but took the opportunity to sight see and walk along the lake

*It is fun to get dressed up once in a while and feel like a hot woman not just like someones Mama

*I love theater! It is so full of possibilities

*You have a lot less junk without a baby with you

*I LOVE Thai food (we ate at Vong’s Thai kitchen & we highly recommend the shrimp panang curry-yummy!)

*Michigan Avenue & the lakefront is awesome and I just do not get how anyone could not love this city!

*When you do not have to work around eating and nap schedules you can be a lot more laid back

*I am grateful we have family that is loving and caring and willing to bless us by loving Anni is our absence

Now that Anni is peacefully back at home sleeping in her crib (as I type) I am thankful for both my time with her and without her.