yteixnA noitarapeS

Being in Pennsylvania surrounded by family has given me the opportunity to do things I normally can't do.  I've gone to lunch with friends, gone out with my sisters, taken showers that didn't revolve around Babykins' nap schedule, and today Hubbykins and I are going to the movies.

These activities have left Babykins in the loving care of family for up to 2 hours at a time.  My aunts are always happy to remind me of the time they babysat me as a 2-year-old and I cried for 2 straight hours.  This is definitely not Babykins' problem.  She loves playing with everyone and hardly notices that I'm gone.

The problem is that Babykins has reverse separation anxiety.  In the living room with grandparents and aunts, she plays, she giggles, she crawls, she coos.  Not a tear in sight.  The moment I walk in the room, her bottom lip quivers, her eyes scrunch up, and the crying begins. 

I'm not sure why the reverse separation anxiety hits.  Is she punishing me for leaving?  Is she sad that the fun time is over?  Or is she just reminding me that she is firmly in charge.  If that's the case, she can stop crying...I'm sure I won't forget anytime soon who wears the diapers in this family :)

Return of the Mack

dFirst and most important, happy 7 month birthday, Babykins!!!  You're growing so fast and reaching so many new milestones, it's just amazing.  Mommy and daddy love you!

Last night, for the first time in almost 6 months, Hubbykins and I went out by ourselves for a date night.  Auntie MO volunteered to babysit while we went out to eat, and we planned to put the baby down to bed, then head out for an evening on the town.

Our plans changed a bit, but we ended up having a fabulous evening.  We went out early for drinks with friends, then returned home to put Babykins to bed, then headed out again for a solo dinner.  Auntie MO took a picture of us before we left, and when we saw it later, it was like looking at our pre-pregnancy selves.  Being out on the town with Hubbykins even made me feel like my pre-pregnancy self again for the first time in over a year. 

Despite being a little nervous about being away from Babykins, she had a fun night with her auntie and we had a fun night being grown ups.  We even managed to make it through the whole evening without calling home.

Babykins did make her opinion about our going out known, though.  Despite enjoying herself while we were gone, and going right to sleep when we stopped home, once we returned for the night she woke up every half hour for the rest of the night just to make sure we didn't go out again.  Just letting us know we shouldn't plan on making date night a regular event quite yet.