The blind date

Two weeks ago, Matt and I went out to dinner with the mystery couple on a "blind date." That's how I refer to people whom Matt has not met and when I drag him out to have dinner or whatever with new people.  He hates this.  Remember Block Party 2008?  Well, the only thing that has changed since then is that Matt doesn't fight me on this as much as he used to.

Who was our "mystery couple" this time?   I met her in a photography class I took last year and since then we've met for lunch and to take photos. When the idea of dinner came up, we thought, "Let's bring along our husbands."  When I told Matt this, the color drained from his face and I wasn't sure if he heard me say, "We're going out to dinner with ______ & her husband." or "The doctor called and the prognosis is negative." 

In the end, Matt's blind date went fine and we had a good time - in fact, our dinner (of just pizza and beer) lasted 4 hours. If we weren't having a good time, could it have gone on that long?  But Matt's refusing to tell me if he had a good time because he knows if he says yes, I'll just sign him up for more blind dates.

It's not as if he's never done this to me.  His good friend at work (a woman) was dying to meet me and Matt dragged me to his Christmas party (where I knew no one) to meet her and her husband.  I wasn't dreading this at all, I drank 2 cosmos before they arrived and we all had a blast. Now they're one of our good friends, and not just "Matt's friend." My advice:  get drunk!

Last Thursday, Matt joined me when I went out with my old co-workers (because he knew them - i.e. the safe zone), and when I told the story of the "blind date" both of the guys moaned and said they felt for Matt; while the other girl was like, "How fun!" Is it a difference between men and women, or introverts and extroverts?  I told them, "Matt always says 'It was fun' afterwards," to which they replied... "Sure, it WAS fun, now that he can leave. You won't find him saying, it IS fun, during, because it ISN'T fun..."  Matt was just rolling with laughter, happy he was finally in the company of some sane, normal people.

So tomorrow night we have dinner plans with our neighbors... but Matt's not dreading that because we know them.   But in Matt's defense, going out to dinner with strangers is like me having a blood test. I don't want to go, I dread it for weeks, and I need to hold his hand. But somehow I get through it, and so does he.

Matt, if you hold my hand, I'll hold yours (said with a wink & a smile).

I have a new vice!

Sent from my iPhone

Eye Color

I found this eye color chart, which was funny because Matt and I were talking about eye color and I was telling him how my dark, Mediterranean genes will crush his as quickly as the Roman Empire conquered anyone in its path.

I really am a nice person.

But it looks like I'll only have a 50% chance of crushing Matt's Anglo-Saxon genes (Matt has green eyes and I have brown.)

Hmpf.

The high cost of Childcare

I just called a place that wants $440/week (or $1760/month) for infant childcare (5 days a week/ full time).  That made the place that only wants $395/week (or $1580/month) seem like a bargain!

Is childcare really this expensive?

Unfortunately, I'm calling "big" names because those places seem to have the longest hours (6:30am - 6:30pm) --while in-home care which I hear is about $250/week (or $1000/month) usually wants your child picked up by 5pm -- so maybe this is why I'm getting sticker shocked.  But these costs are equal, or more, than my mortgage. Personally, I think it's a conspiracy to get women out of the workplace.

In Chicagoland, I read, childcare for infants should range from $220-310/week.  That must have been an old article... but it wasn't - I just don't where these costs are coming from since it isn't consistent with the places I've called.

Fortunately, Matt and I have been living on 1+ salary for our entire marriage.  I always knew we needed to pay for daycare, so we tried to live as if we only made his salary and a quarter of mine (just in case I needed to stay home, too).  Even so... I was still banking on the fact that childcare would only cost us $300/week ($1200/month) max.  I do have to admit, that I am worried come January (when we hope to officially start daycare), I'm not going to want to leave my 5 month old anywhere. How flexible can I get my job to be??

LATER ...

Okay, I've called a total of 6 places and the range is $280 - $440/ week (or $1120-$1760/month) for 5 full days and $223 - $311/week -- or $892-$1244/month)  for 3 full days. None of them had a wait-list as of now (but unknown for January).

Next, I'll be calling the childcare association for our town because they have a referral system to hook you up with places that probably don't advertise on the web.  I would love an in-home place...

Time to start the TOURS.

Easter

We had the most beautiful weekend; for early April in Chicago that is not a given. We've had frigid weather even in late April, so needless to say every Chicagoan was outside this weekend lapping up the sun and the warmth (even though the breezes were cool).
In the morning, Matt and I took a wonderful 2+ mile walk on the Illinois Prairie Path & through the town. Now that the weather is nice, I can finally get outside and walk. Afterward, we headed to the country club for brunch with my family.

Everyone commented on how "healthy" I looked (read: FAT!). I can't deny that my appetite has increased, but Baby Screeman's hungry! What can I do? After that, we went to my uncle's for cake and coffee (it's his birthday tomorrow). They have a nice backyard at their house, but for some reason we all congregated on their driveway while Matt, my cousin, and my brother played basketball. Then finally, we went to our friends house for more desert and to play with their adorable kids. I got some sage baby advice, and Matt is learning that a 1-year old can grab a beer bottle off a coffee table in a split second! We have so much to learn!!

So overdue... photos!

Here are photos of both our 21week ultrasound (the Level 2 ultrasound) & the nursery walls.

The left arm

The right foot
Baby's looking down (head and spine)

Baby's looking down (head and spine)

Date night

Wednesdays have become Date Night for Matt and I.

A friend of mine told me that when she was pregnant, she and her husband enjoyed their birthing classes because afterward they would go out for ice cream and it was "couple" time for them.  Well, Matt and I have the same thing -- although not after birthing class since that lets out at 9:45PM!.  Every Wednesday, Matt meets me after my prenatal Yoga class and we have dinner together.  Last night the weather was so beautiful, we dined al fresco for the first time this year-- twinkle lights were strung overhead and the sound of the El cruising the tracks behind us made for a romantic evening.

Matt and I both talked about how much we look forward to Wednesday every week.  Of course after the baby is born, this might not be something we can do as often, but I encourage Date Night for all couples.

And if possible, choose someplace with the twinkle lights.