10 dates before baby

We are in the single-digit countdown to Christmas and our due date.  So to soak in these moments with my amazing husband we created our "10 Dates Before Baby".  These are small things, and most of which we can do at home with no cost.  Marriage doesn't mean that the dating ends, and in fact, we have to be consciously aware to not get too comfortable and forget about dating one another.  We know that life will change drastically with the arrival of our baby, so spending as much time together just the two of us is important.  

I tried to find some fun activities that we already enjoy doing, and also added in some to soak in the holiday spirit.  Without further ado, here are our 10 dates:

1. Decorate Christmas cookies

2. Watch a Christmas move together and drink hot cocoa

3. Do a random act of kindness for one another

4. Have a lunch date

5. Go see the Christmas lights

6. Make a pancake breakfast

7. Take a long walk together

8. Get a gift for Minnie together

9. Go to the movies

10. Cheese and crackers while playing a board game 

Sunday night we kicked off our first date and decorated Christmas cookies, to which the husband told me he never did when he was a kid.  My mother in law soon corrected him, and I can't wait for us to do this next year with our little guy.  I'm pretty sure that more frosting went into Daniel's mouth than the cookies.  It was most definitely a very fun night with one another! 

life lately according to my iPhone

Life lately has been beautiful.  Sometimes I have to go back and look at my pictures to remind myself of all the amazing things that are going on in our lives.  How do I forget things so quickly?  

My dear friend Lindsay is due in just a week!  Ahhh, I still can't believe it.  What a joy it has been watching baby Sophia grow.  It still seems so surreal that Lindsay will be a mom very soon, holding her perfect daughter, and all I can say is that I have been blessed to be a part of this experience so far. 

We were able to get out on a date night...on a Monday night!?!?!  I'm telling you, Mondays are the best days for date nights.  It sets your whole week in the right direction.  We used a gift card to Karl Strauss, so we felt like winners.  

My procrastination has two loves: Pinterest and Target.  Both joined together to help me make place mats for our fridge.  A quick trip to Target for $10 (that was just for the mats, I had to spend more than that!) and 30 minutes later, and I had spiffy new mats for our fridge.  I feel like this will be much easier to clean!  Here is the tutorial I used! 

This week Daniel and I went to SDSU to pick up my cap, gown, and tassel for my graduation. YES, I am finally graduating in May with my Masters!!!!  I want to shout it from the rooftops.  Picking up these goodies definitely made me feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel, like all of this hard work is paying off, and this three year endeavor will be over soon. 

I just crack up at Daniel's text messages sometimes.  This was his description of our CSA box goodies. Those "non normal things" included beets, radishes, kale, and asparagus.  

Minnie is a big fan that I'm on Spring Break.  The other night we spent a good amount of time together catching up on our favorite shows.  And the way she sleeps sometimes cracks me up.  Sometimes I wish I could get in the positions she can, I feel as though my back would crack beautifully and feel much better.  

Babysitting my niece and nephew feels like a treat every time.  While Cam napped, Calli and I cut up paper (which ended up all over the floor in little pieces...so we had a "cleaning party" before Cam woke up).  We ate lunch outside, drew pictures, and watched Tangled until we both fell asleep.  I just love those littles! 

2 whole days

Picture this.

The Mr. and I had two whole days off together!  Friday and Saturday. 

You'd think that we would live it up, maybe go out of town, a little overnighter somewhere.

I remember looking at one another Friday morning, both sipping a nice big cup of coffee, bags under our eyes from the early morning work schedule my husband has now acquired, and even though we didn't say anything our eyes were both telling each other "let's just relax". Let's not go anywhere, do anything, make any set plans.  

No, we didn't sit around in our jammies all day...as tempting as it was.  We made plans, we soaked up the sun, but more importantly we took two days to spend with each other and friends, reconnecting and living for each moment instead of what we would do next. 

On Friday we had friends beach camping up in Carlsbad.  So we packed our bags, grabbed the sunscreen, made lunch and were off on our way.  As we walked around the campgrounds we kept wondering why we haven't done this before?!?  Each year we talk about beach camping but never make reservations in time.  After visiting our friends I made a reminder in my phone for January to make reservations for next summer!  That's how bad I want to go beach camping now.  The weather was perfect, the water was warm once you waded in it for a while, and I even went into the water. 

That night I did have plans away from the Mr., and it was hard leaving him for a couple of hours.  

My work friends, who are amazing by the way, had planned a fun night at a Ceramic Cafe.

We brought snacks and wine, they provided cheese and crackers, and we each created a beautiful piece of art. 

 On Saturday we lounged around the house, did some responsible adult things...like pay our vehicle registration, clean the bathrooms....but then we decided to just watch a movie.  Right in the middle of the day.
And it was bliss.
Later that day we headed downtown for a Padres game.
And we had the best company in tow.  Meg and her husband drove all the way down to join us, and it was a magical night!
Although the Padres lost, I mean really lost, we still enjoyed our conversations and company, laughing at one another, connecting beyond the blog, and hearing our husbands talking non stop was probably the biggest joy of all.

We ended the two day adventure with one another trying out a new treat from Trader Joe's.  

I'd like to say I want to marry this one, but it doesn't quite get a perfect 10.  

There's only 100 calories for half a cup, but it definitely tastes like yogurt.

  Thinking it would be a good alternative for ice cream failed miserable.  But it gets the job done!

keeping up with the lafuzes

Whew!  I can barely believe that January is gone and February is here.  Well, my grad school is in full swing so I've had to say so long to the days of coming home to no homework and weekends spent relaxing on the couch.  Life looks a lot different from two weeks ago, but maintaining balance has been my top priority.  I feel like I haven't shared what we've been up to lately so here's some snapshots to entertain...

making Sunday pancakes.

It's a tradition!

getting lots of kisses when I get home from little miss Minnie.

buying a new rug for our living room.  

We like it, now if we can just get a coffee table and make some pillows to brighten it up!

staying classy-ish for a fun date night.

having this breathtaking view in front of us while sipping a fabulous glass of wine.

To say I love San Diego would be an understatement.  

eating lots and lots of Fage greek yogurt + blueberries + pepitas + agave.  

I'm kind of obsessed right now.

sewing an adorable project for a good friend who is expecting a little boy.

I can't wait to show you what I made with a friend, but that'll have to wait just a couple more weeks :)

making this!

It took me less than 10 minutes to type, print, and cut everything.  It sits right next to our coffee pot since that's what we both see first in the morning (ha!) and we love it.  We just erase and write our own comment with a dry-erase marker.

spending lots and lots of time in front of the computer doing homework and lesson planning.  On the weekends you'll typically find me cozied up in the corner at Panera Bread or Starbucks glued to the screen and my textbooks.  

On Friday nights when homework is my companion, wine just might also be present.

dusting off the cowboy boots and buttoning up our plaid shirts to go line dancing.

Oh, how I LOVE dancing!

spending whatever time I'm not doing homework/work/errands on the weekend doing laundry...and folding socks.  Not. My. Favorite.

I'd like to invent a robot to come and do laundry for us.  I don't mind the washing and drying, it's just the folding that doesn't quite tickle my fancy.  If you know of something with this miraculous robot please send them my way!

lock it in the glove department

No, I promise, this isn't a repeat of my last post.  I'm sure the picture threw you off and I guess you'll just have to see our pretty pic just one more time.  I'm here today to tell you about one of my favorite dates!

So, we definitely have opposite schedules-especially on the weekends.  MLK day was the perfect day for some quality Mr. & Mrs. LaFuze time.  We started the say with some coffee, bagels, conversations, and reading.  Ah, it was glorious and so utterly relaxing. 

Then, we did what any other normal couple would do and went to Costco!  

Once all of the errands were done we planned our evening and set our for the movies then wine and cheese.  As we pulled up into the parking lot I was convicted of what my husband likes to call "cell phone gay".  I was checking texts, twitter, instragram, just checking in.  He called me out and at that moment I opened the glove box, put the phone inside, and shut it.  He was totally right, I totally get caught up in my phone instead of being intentional with us and our time together.  

You would think that I was itching to get back to the car after the movies, but I didn't even check it!  As we pulled up to our wine bar the phone sat, locked up in the glove box, but this time with a companion-his phone.  We had wine, scrumptious melt in your mouth cheese, and bread.  It was absolutely superb.  The best part was that it was just us, with no distractions.  It was seriously one of the best dates ever because we were just so engrossed in each other.  I felt as thought we were back in high school dating all over again, and I realize that this is what marriage needs to be like.  

Ever since this date we have made it a goal to be more intentional with each other.  I have been really making it my goal to come home and focus on my husband, not my work email, my blog, or school work.  I want my husband to know that I'm his #1 fan, that I support and love him, and that he comes before everything else.