Fighting for Quality Time

PRE-baby date nights/quality time used to include things like:

trying new restaurants

late night movies

game nights with friends

reading together
last minute planning

eating, shopping and taking our time
sleeping in

and that's no longer our reality... :)

Fact: POST-baby quality time is tricky.

We always seem to be tired.

We have to factor in bed times, kid friendly dining options and speed of service.

We have to pack a bag to go anywhere.

Olive is great with people and enjoys being out and about 

BUT she can be unpredictable so we have to be very flexible in our plans.

We don't live near family so Olive goes with us.

We have to be home between 8-9:00pm.

Don't fret.

Date night isn't dead at our house;

it just looks different than it used to.

Here's how we fight for QUALITY TIME to still happen at our house:

1. Put Olive to bed and then have dinner for two

2. Order take out and eat at home

3. Rent movies or watch things from the DVR

4. Go for a walk together

5. Play in the backyard

6. Make intentional efforts to talk to each other about something other than the baby.  It's tricky because
our lives are pretty baby dominated but it's nice to change things up.

7. Plan a special dinner at home - something fun to grill, a new recipe to make together or pick out something new to try at the store.  The picture above is from a cookout for two we planned after Olive went to bed for the night.

8. Make a fun dessert to end the night with - we both like sweets so it's fun to bake them together, enjoy

9. Watch sports together and really pay attention to what is going on so you can talk about it together.  We watch football, golf, college basketball, etc.  My husband taught me the ins and outs of football and we both really enjoy watching all kind of games together.  I work hard to make game day fun and plan appetizers and other new recipes to try.  Some years we even play Fantasy Football.  I am pretty proud to say that I actually won my league a few years ago because he was such a good teacher :)

10. Go grocery shopping together and plan meals for the week.  My hubby likes to be included in meal planning and I appreciate the help at the store.  He also is in charge of the coupons and I do several coupon apps on my phone.

11. Go to church together

12. Just enjoy being together