Back from the beach: My first nights away from my girl

Nicholas's dad's friend has a condo in SanDestin, FL that she graciously allowed Nicholas and me to use this weekend. My mom drove from Indiana on Thursday, saw Olivia's routine that afternoon, evening, and next morning, and (with only four pages of single-spaced typed directions from me about Olivia) kept Olivia for the next 54 hours.

Nicholas and I had a wonderful time just the two of us. Honestly, I felt really young not having Olivia with us. It reminded me of our graduate school days. Nicholas and I talked the entire five and a half hour drive to SanDestin--no radio, no CDs, no books-on-tape--just catching up on life. I started really feeling pregnant, too, probably because I had time to think about it. I am thinking that I felt the first little kicks from Baby, but I am not 100% sure.

The condo, on a golf course, was beautiful and peaceful. Nicholas and I rested, ate out, ate in, hit the pool, the outlet mall, and the movies. It was wonderful to spend some time together just us.

Of course, by Sunday morning, we were both itching to get home. I didn't cry when I left Olivia, and she didn't cry, either (probably because she loves my mom so much). But, I cried Sunday because I missed her so badly. I had to read on the way back to stop from tearing up. Mom said that Olivia started giving her a look after naps and when she woke up in the morning that said, "Oh, it's you." But, then was happy and played the rest of the time. No pictures from the trip, but I think all four of us had a great time.

Mom leaves tomorrow. She stayed an extra day to visit with me and help me (the perks of being pregnant!). I can't say how much I appreciate her coming and just taking over with Olivia for a few days. In the past couple of months, I had started to think, "If only I could have one whole day off." I got two, and that was too much!