Our last night in D.C. we finally took Jim and Ann up on the offer to babysit Annie
while we went out on a hot date.
Boy is it nice to be a able to leave her with family,
rather than a sitter.
Lizzie drove to Oakton to help out for the night.
So Annie had 3 sitters!
She was the star of the show I am certain.
It seems to be getting easier to leave her for a few hours each time.
James and I hit the road for a fun night out on the town.
After all, this is the city where we dropped the L word
and got engaged.
So it always has a way of making me swoon over this handsome man I call mine.
First stop :: Carlyle.
A fun restaurant Allison recommended.
Whenever we get to go out for "special occasions"
James orders sparkling cider.
And that night was no exception.
We enjoyed a nice walk around the streets of Alexandria.
These are always favorite moments of mine.
When we can walk hand in hand and realize how very blessed we are.
We talk about the future and what it may hold for us.
Even though we often leave those conversations without a "for sure plan"
I always walk away with a bright outlook on the days in front of us.
Like I said, I picked a good one
After our stroll, we picked up this darling couple in "little Provo" for a little double date.
It was our first time meeting Molly and not only was she a blast to hang out with -
but she was also an excellent navigator around the city.
As we drove around we past the Jefferson Memorial, which brought back a flood of memories of the night James popped the question.
Gosh that was a romantic and fun night.
Molly took us to Dupont circle for some ice cream at Shake Shack.
{Our favorite was the Presidential Sweet - to die for - in every sense of the expression}
Why have I never noticed this building?
It's beautiful.
And then on a little walk to see the White House.
I had never been this close to the "executive mansion" and it sure was beautiful at night.
Before we knew it, it was 11:00 p.m.
We were like two kids past curfew - and didn't even realize how late it had gotten.
We were mortified when Jim and Ann called and we looked at the clock.
They loved spending time with Annie
and I was pleased as punch that I was finally able to relax
and enjoy some time with my main squeeze.
It is funny how having a baby changes your marriage - definitely for the better.
But you have to get out of the house for some one-on-one time.
Our attention is definitely being pulled in two different directions right now.
Between nurturing a baby and nurturing a career it is logistically a challenge to focus on us.
I imagine it will be this for the rest of our lives - or at least for the next 18+ years.
Nights like these feel like we are back in college, dating all over again.
Having a baby makes me gitty for a date night - just the way I was back when it all started.
Love it.
We dropped Mike and Molly off and headed home to pick up Annie.
I think we were both excited to see her after 4 hours away.
She was tucked in nicely.
We owe Jim, Ann and Lizzie big time!
Thank you for being the best, not to mention free, babysitters two parents could ask for.
On Saturday we packed up our things and headed home.
The office buildings were starting to re-open in Charlotte
and the city was returning to its normal ways.
The trip to D.C. was honestly one of my favorite vacations.
Since James was working - we didn't do a whole lot over that week.
We stuck close to home and just hung out with the Barkers.
It was really nice.
And I was again reminded what a wonderful family I married into.
We enjoyed the drive home - laughing at each other the entire way.
I bought a gigantic water bottle jug to help me down more water.
I haven't heard the end of it since.
I'll admit. I look a little silly lugging around a gallon of water.
The scenery was beautiful
and for the first time we walked in our apartment in Charlotte and...
it felt like home!
No comments:
Post a Comment