I had all sorts of plans for today. Mimi and I were going to a baby shower for our dear friend Casey’s little boy-to-be in the morning, and then had some errands to run, as well as attempting to get some cute Valentine’s Day shots of Charlie. I had a little bit of a scratchy throat last night, but didn’t think much of it until I woke up with a full-blown uber-cold.

Luckily, Poppy offered to run her gift over to her so it wasn’t a total loss, but I am so bummed to have missed the shower. I do love baby showers so much and hate that I wasn’t there to help celebrate!! Poor Mimi, who at this point is just exhausted, took care of Charlie all day as I rotated from the couch to the bed, my head feeling like it’s the size of a watermelon.

Please pray for Charlie and I as we travel home on Tuesday. I am dreading the whole flying experience and with the added stress of not having a driver’s license it will take me longer to get through security. Of course I had to remove her shoes the last time as well, as if I would hide a bomb in my 17 month old’s Stride Rites. Pray that we will have kind people in our path. I am totally not above flat out asking for a TSA or cop-type person to help me get all the gear through security.

I am hoping I feel better by then, as I would hate the last few days of our visit to be clouded by sickness. I’m not sure where this came from, but trust me, it is a PAIN. We have had a wonderful trip, but I am anxious to get home and get back to our routine. Charlie has 3 more weeks of Aquababies, and another round starting after that. I am so excited to have fun things for us to do this spring/summer.

I don’t know if they have “Mom’s Day Out” in Chicago….if they do I’m sure it is VERY expensive….but after seeing Kelly and Dali in their little classes I am just so anxious to have that kind of set-up for Charlie. We are so blessed to have so many friends who have kids the same age, so luckily, Charlie is never lacking in companionship…however, it’s so much fun to see the little ones celebrating Valentine’s Day and sending them off to class with their little backpacks and snacks.

As time goes on, and Charlie gets older, I find myself longing for these little “comforts” of life that I never dreamed I would want. A home of our own, a backyard, hosting Super Bowl parties and Easter egg hunts…I do love the city, don’t get me wrong, and it has been an adventure these (almost) 9 years, but my heart longs for a pace that’s a little bit slower, cousins that are closer, and memories made raising our children in the down home state I grew up in.

With that, I am off to nurse my sinuses with a double dose of nighttime Nyquil…..