6 Years Later

Posted by kara

Paul and I went out to a new fancy-ish restaurant on Sunday to celebrate our 6th anniversary. The Cunninghams came over to watch Toshi. We left a little after 4. (Time was dictated by Martha’s feedings.) As we walked around our old neighborhood, we saw a few strollers and families. I felt like we were posing as a couple of DINKs. Sometimes I feel half-naked without my kids at my side.

I felt so out of it during the beginning of the dinner… not sure if I was just tired and hungry, or just out of practice being out around adults. I made Paul decide on how many courses we were going to eat. He picked two courses. We had some delicious appetizers: grilled bread/ricotta cheese/heirloom tomatoes and chanterelles/zucchini/duck egg/parmesan. Then we enjoyed gnocchi/veal/turnips and veal breast (too fatty for me)/mint/peas/figs/feta. Those figs were DELICIOUS.

Later Paul said he picked two courses because he thought four would take too long. Good thinking because we got home just in time for Martha’s next feeding and Toshi had been sick. I felt like I was in a movie… you know the scene: parents have a nice charming evening and come home to a barfing chaos. Paul took care of Toshi and the barfed-upon items. I kept Martha away and plugged in the air-purifier. At one point, Paul caught me shoving cheesecake leftovers in my yum. (I love the cheesecake bites he buys me for special occasions. He knows to skip the flowers and go straight for the desserts.) I was just being practical though. I figured I should finish the cheesecake before I caught the barfing illness. Can’t let this luxurious treat go to waste. Anyway, it was a sad night. Paul slept on Toshi’s floor. I actually got the best night’s rest because Toshi didn’t walk into our room at 5 am for cereal and TV.

So today I feel like we’ve hit childhood (not just toddlerhood). We have Toshi on the couch with a sheet over it. I made her some sick rice. Of course, she barfed up all the sick rice all over the couch… Poor thing panics and screams, “MOMMY!” and then barfs ALL over. Her first reaction is to lay on her back or twist her head all around while she barfs. The second time, I forced her to sit up and held her head over a bucket. Ugh. She did not like when I did that. Finally she fell asleep. So I walked around with Martha, trying to lull her to sleep while eating leftover pizza. I felt like such a parent; I feel ridiculous more than half the time, but I think any other parent wouldn’t think it was strange at all. Oh, and I spend a lot of time cleaning up pee, poop, and now vomit. And yet, I don’t really terribly mind doing it.

Who knew that life would be so different in six years? All I knew was that life would be perfect as long as I was in it with Paul. That has held true and we have shared six wonderful happy years.

Photo from Jamus.