October 1, 2012

For Two


Although it's been twenty-two fun filled months since Little Smith was born, we have yet to get a babysitter. We're lucky to have my mother within driving distance (she has watched him several times so we could get a night out) but she's still a few hours away so it isn't a regular occurrence. I'm not sure when we'll finally take the babysitter plunge, but for now our date-night's are strictly at home.

I've actually grown to love our evenings at home. We are super grateful that Little Smith sleeps like a champ, so from 7PM on we are free to enjoy one on one time. In the summer when the days were long we loved sitting on our back porch, having dinner and watching the sun set. The last few week's it's been too chilly to eat outdoors, so our new ritual is getting cozy by the fire with a few drinks, playing Trivial Pursuit (still our favorite!), or just watching a movie.

True, dates in your pajamas aren't quite the same as getting dressed up and out of the house... we both love live music and in our pre-baby days we would go to shows a few times a month. Of course we miss it, and I know this makes us sound a million years old, but the truth is that we really love spending our time with Little Smith- and he keeps us on our toes so we're usually too tired to appreciate a long night out (although we are going to a show later this month- hurray).

I really value our simple home date's, just making that time to connect as two people seems more important than making lots of plans... at least for now!

16 comments:

  1. So true, as a couple we always enjoy sitting down and sharing dinner once the children are in bed. This is the only time we get to talk properly and I would be lost without this time to re-connect! Your fire looks very cosy :)

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  2. That´s nice and I can relate! To tell the truth; we´re on dates without our kids just maybe twice/year since we live so far from our relatives and haven´t found a need to get another babysitter - but we enjoy our nights at home so twice/year has been enough so far. :-)

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  3. And probably a LOT cheaper too! :) I already love being at home so I have a feeling that spending time at home will just intensify with time. :) Love the fireplace!

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  4. We need to take the babysitter plunge as we have no family close by but I'm in no hurry as Alice is the most unpredictable at bedtime and I don't think I could relax enough to enjoy a night out not knowing how her getting to bed was going.

    I love my Friday night date on the couch with my husband. Some of our best talks about Alice, about being parents, about our future, about LIFE happen there.

    Your fire looks cozy! And this weekend's weather was perfect for it, too.

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  5. Exactly what we always did. We never had a babysitter besides the rare mother or mother-in-law taking over for an evening. We always figured it was because we are almost always together-- our college teaching schedules often coincide, & the hours are non-traditional which gives us plenty of time together!

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  6. Lovely fire photos. We do the exact same thing. I can't remember the last time we saw a movie! We do a lot of date picnics in front of a movie, but as the weather is cooling, I think we'll be doing fires, too!

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  7. Such a sweet way to spend your evenings together really. E and I do a lot of the same even pre-baby for reasons of not having much money for nights out and really being two people who just love being in our home together. I can't wait for us to christen the fire place for the first time this season so we can snuggle up like you and your love. All that being said, I'm also really glad you all will be able to get out to a show soon since it's something so important to both of you. :)

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  8. Don't feel like a million years old-- we are the same way! It took us forever to find our first babysitter, but once we did, it still didn't lead to many date nights out on the town! I think it's hard when you have little kids. They need you, right?

    Plus, what is more romantic than snuggling up under a blanket by the fire? Nothing.

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  9. Thanks guys, glad we aren't fuddy duddies or the only one's who like to stay home, and as many of you pointed it is also way cheaper- no babysitter, no expensive meals/ drinks!

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  10. We do the same thing a lot. I like the idea of a fire in the fireplace, will have to do that soon!

    We try to go on a "real" date 1x a month, even then it gets expensive!

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  11. Looks like some nice, cozy date nights. We didn't go out much even before the kids were born, so I don't mind hanging home and watching movies. In our 10 years with kids, we have used babysitters only a few times!

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  12. Amen Lilly! It was a while before we had a date night out. 22 months is a fun age, and it is only going to get more fun!

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  13. If it makes you feel any better, Theo is 5 1/2 and we still have not had a *real* babysitter. I agree that at times it would be nice to dress up, eat great food, see a good performing arts show, live music, etc. But I also feel like there will be so much time for that - more time than these precious early years that are already slipping by faster than I ever imagined they would.

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  14. yep. we depend soley on couch dates these days too. which I actually have grown to love as well. netflix and a margarita.

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  15. We've had a babysitter once! And now that we're out in the middle of nowhere I'm not sure if that's ever going to happen again.. But I'm kind of a fan of jammies and netflix so maybe I'm not really complaining?

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  16. Your home is gorgeous! I'm desperate for a rocker like yours but at present there is LITERALLY no where that it fits- maybe I need to declutter and get rid of something in order to fit it in.Rx

    http://sandersonsmithstory.blogspot.co.uk/

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