Valentine's Day 2014

Yes yes, I realize that Valentine's Day was two weeks ago. Better late than never.

This year, like last, we really didn't get to plan a traditional date or celebration of Valentine's Day. Last year, we were with Ava in the hospital so we got her a cute Vday bib, and stayed by her side.

This year we were again scheduled to be in St. Louis on Valentine's Day for doctor's visits. But if you've been reading this blog, you know that sickness postponed that visit. So we stayed home on Valentine's Day and worked on recuperating. We did however go buy a steak, and an impromptu pair of lobster tail's to fix for dinner the next night after Ava had gone to bed. And I have a confession...both items were purchased at Aldi's (discount grocery store). We have started buying 90% of our groceries there, and we thought we'd give it a try. The steak was a steak. Not the best I've had, not the worst. It was no Harter House tri-tip. We did try out a new cooking method where you get a cast iron skillet piping hot, add steak, DON'T TOUCH for 3 minutes (or 4 depending on thickness), then flip and repeat. Seriously no peeking. After your 6 minutes are up, you remove steak to a cooling rack to rest for at least 10 minutes. This method yielded very pleasing results and cooked the steak nicely. I'll do it again.

But back to those lobster tails. They.Were.Amazing. I am not kidding. You heard me right. Aldi's frozen lobster tails were super yummy. We just boiled them. I couldn't believe it.

Ya ya, I know my food photography skills are pretty lacking.

How was your Valentine's Day? I hope it was full of fuzzy warm lovey feelings. Speaking of, I also recently received my main Christmas gift from Wynston. He purchased me a bracelet I'd been coveting on Etsy; it's just a simple bar bracelet stamped with her first name and date of birth. Simple and lovely. I wear it almost everyday. Love <3

Post Season

Inspired me...

If you're gonna get kicked out of a game, you might as well do it the right way! Ha! Because who doesn't love baseball pants. ;) Fun cheesy fact...Wynston and I started dating during his sophomore year baseball season. Soo long ago. So the Cardinals may be 12 in 12, but we're finishing up year #13!

Back to the subject Casey...guess I'd better give up my early bedtimes for a couple more weeks now that the Cards won their Division Series. Go Red Birds! Wynston is holding out for a Cardinals vs. Yankees game.

Anyway, I'll be back soon with a 5 month post, since Ava turned 5 months yesterday. Today, we are enjoying the cloudy morning and getting ready to head into town for a few errands. Not gonna lie...venturing out with Little Miss can still be a big job...but this girl needs some formula and we may go peek at a few Halloween costumes. 

A date

Yesterday I got a special text. "We have plans after work. I will pick u up". Short and precise, with an element of surprise.

During my pregnancy and our first almost 4 months of parenthood, Wynston and I keep talking about how easy it is to find ourselves not putting the effort into "us" that we used to. It's so easy to get caught up in Ava, work, the never ending list of housework, family functions, trying to catch up on sleep....the list goes on and on. Dates are just something we don't get around to much these days. We get out and do things with other adults every few weeks (aka no baby, no diaper changes, no spitty shoulders) but rarely is it just US.

But not last night. He picked me up, and we drove over to a restuarant/bar/hangout over in our old neighborhood, where we used to spend lots of warm evenings on the patio. We sat and talked and just caught up. Of course, that conversation inevitably ended up being about Ava at times. But that's just life now.

So a big thank you to our parents who help out with Ava and give us the opportunity to re-invest in "us". So far for me, the dividends are paying out nicely.

Sunday Mornings...