Over the past year I have generally allowed myself to bask in the joys of motherhood, simply being present and attentive to every giggle and cry from our daughter. I truly love caring for her and filling my days with all things baby related. For the first six months of her life this was as necessary as it was enjoyable. We are turning yet another page in our story. Baby girl is sitting up on her own and even starting to stand. She’s nearly figured out how to crawl and is now content to entertain herself for a few minutes at a time. Through this growing and learning, my husband has patiently accepted my single mindedness without complaint, happy to know that our needy newborn was being tended by her mother. 

Although being singularly focused on our daughter’s care and well being has been an incredible blessing, I was recently reminded of the need for attention among my other relationships as well. In short, it was high time for a day out to reconnect with that rockstar hubby of mine. We are both thrilled to death that I get to be home with our daughter but even in this it is still occasionally necessary to take a break and enjoy a date with the wonderful man I married. My parents were only too happy to give us such an opportunity during our Christmas vacation to Colorado. They sent us out for the morning with two tickets to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs while they savored some long awaited bonding time with their new granddaughter. We spent several relaxing hours soaking in the mineral pools and drinking in views of the river and mountains beside us. 

The maintenance of our marriage with romantic outings like this seems like a no brainer. However, it’s a lesson I must force myself to relearn each and every time we leave baby girl at home. I would gladly spend every waking minute with her if I could, but I also love my husband. Any happily married person can attest to the fact that staying together and loving each other through thick and thin is a constant choice and sacrifice which requires thought and effort. They’re right of course. Our marriage, though still in the shiny honeymoon phase in spite of nearly four years together, is just as deserving of care and attention as our beautiful baby girl.