Quality Time - "Mommy Dates"

The first few weeks with a newborn are always a haze for me.  Everyone is adjusting, there is the lack of sleep, the piles of laundry, the challenge of finding time to prep meals, unload the dishwasher, pay bills, juggle the simultaneous needs of two children and keep up with everyday things in addition to all the extra time spent nursing a newborn.  I didn't want Claire to get lost in all of that so I made it a point to have as many "Mommy Dates" as possible with her.  My goal was (and still is) one a day while Clark was napping.  I just wanted to do something with her where I could give her all of my attention and make her feel special and loved while doing something she enjoyed.  It didn't have to be big, just something where my focus was completely on her and she had 100% of my attention.  So here are a few memories of our "Mommy Dates"!

A bubble blaster in the backyard while wearing her favorite PJ's!

My first outing with both kids...our frozen yogurt date!  It went great!  Claire loved it and Clark slept through the whole thing.

Claire likes having a buddy in the backseat now!  Too cute!

Painting with watercolors!  I love how she says, "tap, tap. tap" every time she rinses the brush and taps it on the bowl and then says, "dab, dab, dab" every time she puts paint on the brush!  EVERY TIME!!! So cute!

Clark napping through the "Mommy Dates" 

Baking cookies!  One of Claire's favorites!  She loves to measure and pour!

Dressing up!  Love this sweet girly, girl!

I have really enjoyed our "Mommy Dates"!  We have had a lot of good times.  I won't lie though, the days are LONG and I am TIRED!  I am always super thankful, relieved and excited when it's finally time for Daddy to get home!

And one more, just because...