A Mommy and Daddy Date Night

Its so easy to get caught up in everything baby when the bundle of joy arrives. You sometimes forget to put the effort into the relationship that has gotten you to this point to begin with it. The fact is that the kids won't be around forever and they will have moved onto living their own lives, in the end it goes back to just the two of us. Of course Jack is only 9 months old so we have quite awhile before he is out of the house.

For us, it is incredibly important to make sure that Jack has a home where he feels safe, happy and loved always. We make an effort to not have yelling in the house, though sometimes it slips out in the heat of the moment. We want to make sure that Jack knows that his parents are in love, we want to be sure that we are good models of kindness and love, to show him how a healthy relationship should work so that he is a little gentleman when the time comes for him to find love.

With all that said, we can't forget about each other. Our first time out without Jack, was about a week after he was born, we went to see Angels and Demons. We have made it a point to not let having a little one change our lives so that it no longer resembles what we did pre-baby. I was one of the crazies that brought my 2 week old baby out to lunch and to the store. I needed to get some fresh air and he loved being outside! We still take him everywhere, we haven't stopped doing the things we love just because its not as easy (diaper bags, bottles, snacks, toys, coats, hats, car seats...). We still go to dinner, to the park, shopping... but there are times we need just husband and wife time.

We've gotten out plenty sans Jack (the grandparents love it!). This weekend was one of those times... we celebrated Valentines on Saturday since we would need a sitter and everyone else had plans for the actual day. We went to one of our favorites, Sirenas in Long Branch, for a late lunch. I can't even explain the deliciousness of the meal, and boy did we eat! We started with hazelnut and herb dusted portobello mushrooms topped with a tri color salad and a cognac vinaigrette as well as splitting a bowl of their amazingly wonderful bolognese! For an entree Steve had filet mignon with olive oil mashed potatoes and swiss chard with a delish mushroom sauce. Me, I had veal saltimbocca... yum! Of course, a bottle of wine was enjoyed as well.  And yes, even after polishing all of that off , there was still room for dessert! Pistachio gelato for Steve and an apple phyllo tart for me. The meal was incredible and so was the company :-) Its a really nice thing to enjoy a meal once in awhile without worrying about feeding another mouth besides your own (and no I'm really not good at using my left hand), to not have to bend over every few minutes to pick a toy up off the floor or to make sure Jack isn't trying to bite the table. No worries about Jack wanted to not be stuck in a chair which leads to screaming because he can't just be put down to crawl around. This is of course not to say that we didn't have conversation about our little guy... surviving the first nine months, planning his first birthday party and just how darn cute he is!

After filling our bellies big time, we headed to the movies to see Valentines Day... fitting for the day! It was sweet, light hearted and nothing complicated. There was an engagement than a breakoff of the engagement, love, cheating, all that fun stuff.... the part that got me is when Julia Roberts (plays a solider on her way home just for one day) arrives home for a great love, her son... could not help but get all teared up. Can't imagine what the men and women away from their families go through on a daily basis.

All in all a really nice time out just being husband and wife. Of course though, once the movie was over I was ready to pick up Jack and give him a big kiss. The times out just me and Steve are needed, it helps is unwind and reconnect on that in love level instead of mommy daddy duties. We need it because like I said, in the end its the two of that will be there to grow old together, to spend everyday with... to be with my best friend.