Max is set up on the porch to paint and Bella is taking her afternoon nap. The afternoon nap is the only nap she takes, now. It’s a hard adjustment when they drop that morning nap. We’ve recently gone through the transition and have made ourselves a nice routine.

Bella is on a stricter routine than Max ever was and it works well for her. She is sleeping in her own room (except for naps) and usually makes it through the night. When she does wake up in the middle of the night, she usually can put herself back to sleep within seconds. I keep talking with Max about him joining her in their room when he turns four. Wish me luck on that. He has been less eager to leave the family bed. Even as a baby, he wasn’t having it for one second. I know it will happen, eventually, there's no rush. However, I’m not about to say that I don't miss sleeping next to my hubby. In the same bed. Using the same blanket. Privacy. Snuggles from a man. You get the point.

Hal and I are looking into getting a king size Tempur-Pedic bed within the next month - courtesy of Hal’s grandma. Next to it, on the floor, will be a handsome, plush, dinosaur sleeping bag.

Wish me luck with that, too.

Last night, Hal and I went on our first date since Bella’s birth. When we dropped the kids off at MIL’s, I was pleased to witness my son feeding his pet fish. MIL set up two areas with fish (in a make-shift self-sustaining giant fish bowl thing with aquatic plants) just for him in her back yard. MIL’s strength lies mostly in her love for nature and animals. She can throw a rotten tomato into her garden (which looks more like a lush jungle) and it will produce. Her coy are growing to the size of sharks. Max also has his own strawberries that he planted, cares for and checks on every time he goes over there. People should never attempt to connect to her, but animals and plants, its like she is one of them.

I do love this about MIL because nature is not my specialty. I don't like to sweat. So, I don't like to be outside in Florida. I’m concentrating really hard right now to not kill my only flowering plant. I'm afraid to actually hang it up on the porch because I don't believe it will live long enough for me to get to know it. Max dutifully reminds me that he needs to water my flowers. I'm certain this is the only reason the thing is still alive. MIL's gifts to Max remind me of how it takes a village to raise a child - even the crazy in the village has something of great value to offer.

So our night out on the town lasted 2 ½ lovely hours. Hal didn’t get everything out of it that he was hoping for (eh-hem - there was some pouting about that), but it was a much needed date. Hopefully we can make this a monthly outing - only I’d like to extend it a few more hours.

Bella is in that stage of learning to walk. She is a bit timid about it and often finds the fastness of crawling preferable. It is so much fun when she is in the mood to walk between Max and I. Her face lights up as she approaches me and then she shouts with glee as she turns around to walk back to Max. Fun times.

I am really amazed and happy about how gentle and caring Max is with Bella. He takes the time to set up some toys for her in a space away from where he is playing so she will stay away from his play area. He shows her how to do everything he knows how to do that he thinks she is ready to learn. He protects her by picking up small objects from the floor that she could choke on. He feeds her. He plays chase and peek-a-boo with her. He rarely is rough with her.

Makes me burst with love to see them interacting, playing next to one another and talking. How did I ever get this life??? I must have had a secret compartment stashing away all my good Karma until I turned 29.