A "Real Life" Valentines Day

Can I just tell you how awesome my hubby is?

OK. Good.

Friday he arranged for a babysitter and took me out to a very romantic dinner for 3 (we took Gabrielle, of course). He really went out of his way to make the date special since we've not been out in a LOOOOOng time. We ate some spectacular Italian food. I had Chicken French with greens and beans au gratin on the side. Yummy! I love anything green and the greens and beans were to die for! During dinner, he gave me a fun card with a heartfelt letter inside. And yes, I teared up while reading but was able to keep my composure in public. Gabrielle kept things light as she chucked a gazillion cheerios onto the floor and tossed every toy we brought along. Overall, she was very pleasant company.

During dinner I realized what a good listener Tim really is. I've been complaining ALOT about wanting a snickers bar lately (I've been watching my chocolate intake after overdosing on OREO's last week) so he busted out some Godiva Chocolate Pearls after our meal - what a good man! I've also had some major fights with my closet lately and they have left me in some bad , down-right foul moods. He also informed me that he spent some time shopping for an outfit for me to wear to dinner but it never materialized because of my inconsistent clothing size these days - so now I get to go out and pick some clothes myself. It was a great Pre-Valentine's Day UNTIL...

3 AM - when Gabrielle decided she would exercise her lungs for several hours. Holy cow -is that girl LOUD. She must take after me. We finally got back to sleep at 5:15am and our Samuel woke up promptly at 6am with Gabrielle following closely behind at 6:45. Tim, nor I, were expressing a "Valentine's Day Spirit" to say the least. So, I took a nap and hubby in his exhausted state took the kids. Once I got up, it was Tim's turn to sleep, UNTIL...

Samuel's nice quiet play turned into hysterics when he decided to shove a small purple fluffy pom-pom up his left nostril. Samuel kept shoving his finger up his nose trying to get it out only driving that little purple pom-pom further up. Oh-boy, our first object up the nose experience. Tim had to hold him down, while I gently tweezed that snot cover pom pom out. He never thought he'd survive, but he did. And so did we, UNTIL...

Gabrielle picked up an itsy-bitsy-teensy-weensy unknown object from the kitchen floor with her newly perfected pincher grip (even though I vacuum and sweep like a mad woman) and began coughing, choking, gagging, crying and spitting up. Whatever was lodged in her throat (probably some crusty piece of food - gross) eventually made it's way down after a minor freak out from mama and then some prayers. She survived, and so did we, UNTIL...

Gabrielle found her way into the food pantry while Daddy was getting out some stuff for dinner. She's perfected the forward crawl and so she will hunt you down wherever you may be and promptly get under your feet. Daddy accidentally dropped a can of tuna fish and it landed on the poor baby's hand. Oh my did she cry. After a small freak out from mama and some prayers, she was just fine - just a little bruise.

Thankfully all the incidents of the day were minor and we celebrated our Valentine's Day the best way we knew how. With lots of patience, hugs and heart-shape cookies. Heart-shape cookies always make the day a little brighter. Thank you Eileen!