Guitarman and I have been out for two--count them--two dates since Snuggles was born eight months ago. The first post-Snuggles date was when my mom visited us in May.
Saturday night we went out for our second post-Snuggles date.
We know a few teenie-boppers and tweens we could probably pay to babysit, but that costs money. Guitarman's Mom is really the only family we have around that I feel comfortable asking for free child care. Unfortunately, she just isn't physically capable of babysitting for long periods of time.
Guitarman's Mom is a gracious, loving woman. Seriously. If I were more like her, I would be a better person. She loves Snuggles with a passion, and if she were able, she would babysit him all the time. Unfortunately though, at 78 years old Guitarman's Mom is legally blind, an insulin-dependent diabetic, and lives in a retirement center. What she can do is hold Snuggles, sing to him, and smother him in Grandma love. Snuggles loves her. While Snuggles is still small enough (and not mobile), we feel comfortable leaving him for brief periods with Grandma, especially when he's sleeping.
So Saturday night, Guitarman's Mom stayed with Snuggles while we went on a...... wait for it...... D A T E. We changed Snuggles into his PJs, left his bottle out on the counter, and left shortly before his bed time.
Since we're totally broke financially challenged right now, we needed a cheap date. So we went to our favorite bookstore where it's free to read. This was our conversation on the way to the bookstore...
Guitarman: Do you hear that?
Guitarman: Do you hear that?
Me: What?
Guitarman: Exactly.
*Laughter*
Me: No fussing.
Guitarman: No "Da da da. Whaaaaaa!"
Me: (imitating noisy car seat toy) No bee-didleee-doot-doo-dooot. Rattle, rattle.
*Laughter*
We arrived at the bookstore, and I stopped myself as I was about to open the door to retrieve Snuggles and his paraphernalia... We walked inside (sans stroller and diaper bag), and began to peruse the books. We made our selections, and sat down together at the cafe.
I looked at Guitarman's choices: A book on worship and "A Field Guide to Birds".
Me: (mockingly) A Field Guide to Birds?! *laugh*
Guitarman: (looking innocent and confused) What?
Me: An entire store-full of books, and you choose "A Field Guide to Birrrds"?! *laughing* I love you.
We bought two drinks (frappuccinno for me, tea for Guitarman) just so we weren't completely mooching off the bookstore. Then we sat at a table reading with only the whirrr of the espresso machine to punctuate our thoughts.
It was lovely.
All too soon the store announced its pending closure. As we reluctantly walked across the parking lot toward the truck, I whined...
Me: Do we haaave to leeeaave?
Guitarman: Yep, time to go home to Snuggles.
Me: I know, but it was so nice not being Mom for awhile... I just get so exhausted with the constant demands of parenthood.
Guitarman: Well, we should've thought of that before we did The Nasty.
*Laughter*
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