One Year and Counting

Hello mommies, I have been so busy that blogging has been harder for me to do, harder for me to have the time to sit and think about what I want to blog about so today since over the holiday weekend I celebrated my one year wedding anniversary I decided to share about our little getaway and how I feel relationships are once you add babies into the equation. Andrew and I have been together for four years, (I honestly had to think hard about that) we did not get to take a honeymoon after our wedding because Ophelia was turning one two weeks after the wedding, I was still in the morning sickness stage of my pregnancy with Jude so we decided to go away for a night to Philadelphia to enjoy some well deserved and needed us time. Andrew and I's relationship changed, progressed quickly with huge life events that for our age and maturity level at the time should of broken us. I got pregnant with Miss. Ophelia Paige after Andrew and I were dating for seven months. I believe all of us mommie's who had an unplanned pregnancy can remember the moment crystal clear, the positive signs, and the fear. I knew Andrew loved me so much but was he ready for this? Well I called him at work and told him, all he could say was "Okay, we will be okay."  By the end of that night, we had a baby book in our hand and a name picked out if it was a girl, Ophelia. We moved out and got our first apartment together, then we had our baby girl. Ophelia had colic and severe acid reflux. Cue non ending crying (baby and me) she was tough. Cue stress on relationship when were new parents with a baby who cries ALL THE TIME. I think the hardest part of a relationship when babies/children become involved is expectation. You have all these expectations of what kind of parent your partner will be. Maybe it is just me but my expectations of Andrew were in my head, I never voiced what I expected of him so cue me becoming so angry and resentful when he didn't do exactly what I pictured in my head. But how could he when he had no idea what was going on in my tired, stressed out mommy brain. Another way babies change your relationship for the better is you watch the man you love become this father figure, he becomes soft, and you two have this everlasting bond together. You two created these amazing humans from a night of alcohol and a queen size bed (am I right) but the little humans bring you closer than you could ever imagine. Over the next two years, we got married, bought our first house, and had another baby. Number one thing we've learned, just say what is on our minds at all times even if it isn't always the nicest at least it isn't built up inside us. Number two, take time for us. Cue our anniversary getaway...

Andrew and I stayed at the Sonesta Hotel on market street in Philadelphia, we splurge on a room there and were delightfully surprised on arrival they upgraded our room since we were celebrating our anniversary. The hotel is beautifully modern with red, white and black décor. An art bar, rooftop pool and a restaurant we didn't get the chance to dine in.

 

After we got settled into our room and had a mixed drink courtesy of the grey goose we had in our luggage we decided to go to South street to check out some restaurants, bars, art galleries, etc. We walked a good 500 miles is what it felt like in the 90 degree heat but we made it. The first thing we encountered was a pop up beer garden, which was amazing. The garden was smack dab in the middle of the city. The floor was a light colored mulch with trees, flowers, bushes every where you turned. Large tree trunk stumps were used as coffee tables surrounded by wooden lawn chairs and an area with cafeteria long, raw, wooden tables with metal, rustic chairs, underneath a wooden pergola covered in vines. The bar was serving mostly craft beers and a few mixed drinks. We got our troegs dreamweavers and sat and enjoyed each others company while enjoying the beautiful day. By the way it was free to get into the beer garden, the beer itself, complete opposite of free. $15 for two beers, we stuck to one each before we moved on.

 





 

 

Our next stop was the Magic Gardens, I've seen so many people go to it and I wanted to experience it with my best friend. It was in walking distance of the beer garden and $7 a person. We spent a good 45 minutes there but unless you are a huge art person, or took the tour that's pretty much the most time you can spend there. Very cool place, you are completely surrounded by art left and right, it would take weeks to look at every single detail.

 

 



By now the heat was getting to us and we needed some food and more drinks. We got a taxi and headed to Morgan's Pier. By far my favorite place there. It is located on the water with boats docked right behind the large wooded deck area. It had three different bar areas and several dinning areas. We took seats at the bar closest to the water and ordered some delicious drinks. A margarita for me and a dark & stormy for the Mr. The breeze coming off the water along with the misting fans was so relaxing, almost felt like we were at the beach. We ordered some fries because who cares about your diet when your drinking and celebrating. We stayed there for almost 2 hours, ordered several drinks and decided it was time to head back to the hotel to get ready for our dinner reservations.

 

Dinner was at The Good King Tavern. We chose this restaurant because one of Andrew's longest, closest friends, Mr. Aaron Bennawit or better known at the restaurant as Chef Aaron is the sous chef there and told Andrew he was going to do something special for us. We arrived at the small but cozy, dim lit restaurant and were immediately sat and told they have been waiting for us. Before we were even able to order a drink, two glasses of rose were delivered to the table "Compliments of Chef Aaron". Moments later appetizers were continuously delivered to the table. Each one better than the last but each one being absolutely delicious. It went from escargot in a brown, gravy like sauce to fried goat cheese in a salivating red sauce. Chef Aaron even whipped up a special treat of shark meat paired with fresh shredded veggies and it was divine. We ordered our main entrees, Andrew got the trout and I ordered the duck. Writing this is making me so. incredibly. hungry. We were given a few more drinks before we said our thank you's and good-byes' to the chef. We headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before we began our evening out on the town.

 

 

After our nap we headed back to the beer garden to check it out at night and then went to Chef Aaron's girlfriends' restaurant Los Camaradas. We spent some time there catching up with them and enjoying the best margarita I've ever had. Andrew somehow was still hungry after dinner and ordered some nachos which were awarded Best Nachos in Philly. Our trip came to a very hungover end and before we had to catch our train we headed to the famous Geno's to have a cheesesteak at 10 am hoping to soak up all the tequila. I can honestly say my anniversary trip was perfect for Andrew and I to reconnect without the stress of babies crying and toddler destroying the house left and right. I highly recommend any couples with young children to take a little trip away and get to know each other again.