a post-partum evening.

Last night S was going to be back late after being away for a few days. R has been needing more care lately. I think he might be teething; he's fussy, not sleeping, nursing all night--and yesterday--suddenly a runny nose. (People always ask if he's drooling a lot and eating his fist, but he's always done both of those things to slurpy cute excess.)

After an hour or so of putting pookers to sleep, I got the idea to open the bottle of wine S + I bought when we went wine tasting at the river last week. Wine is always better if you let it breathe, especially if it's good California winery-bought wine with an Italian name. I was lighting candles when I thought I should cut up some apple and pear and cheese and crackers to go along with the wine. Of course olives would look good in the middle of the food plate. I set all this up like an art project on our massive table. Then I artfully numbered the installations with folded post-its. 

This is the nicest thing I've done for S in a long time. (Though, I guess I did recently spend a day framing photos around the house and creating a family-photo wall for Father's Day.)

{the photo wall: I like the top right photo, because you can hear me smiling}

I figure it's time for us to be close again. It's like having a baby separated us a little. I have to admit I was one of those people who thought nothing would ever come between us; our relationship would be the same even after the baby.

Fast forward to reality: We literally have a little kicking Rowan sleeping between us and thwacking our faces every night. I hear it's really common for a couple's state of normalcy to take a while to return post-baby. Of course, what was normal before never returns after the baby ingredient is introduced. It's a journey; it's a tango. And so we adapt.

By the time S got home, I had already had to nurse R back to sleep three times. His little nose was stuffed  the last time, so I just brought him out to the rocking chair with me. We cuddled, and he fell asleep just in time for S' knock on the door. Oh, reality.

I would love to have a picture of all this, but that didn't work out. So here are my new favorite pictures of the boys.

{quartet at the monterey bay aquarium}

Eventually R sung his baby dinosaur noises on his way to sleep in the swing with his dad's hand on his belly. We poured the wine, toasted, snacked on apples, and retreated to the other side of the room with our wine glasses to sit on the floor and listen to quiet piano sonatas.

What's the nicest simple thing you've done for someone you love lately?