A refreshing start to February

We had a lovely weekend of doing next to nothing. We sat around in a cabin where we ate ice cream by the wood fire, played Ya.htzee and got lost in one of the nearby state parks while I tried out some borrowed snow shoes (why have we not invested in these marvelous contraptions!!?) Gladys had a blast as well; she's a city dog born to live in the country, so the woods were the best playground she could have asked for.

We returned from our getaway in time to see most of the S.uperbowl. I got most of our tax info in order and E made some delicious chicken wings for the event. All in all a very nice weekend.

We have both had it with the winter this year, so getting away was a nice way to refresh for the rest of winter. We've had an outrageous amount of snow and cold for one season in this part of the country, and I've felt something like a shut in for the last couple of months. Coming into February makes me (wrongly, I'm sure) believe that we are just one month away from spring weather. Nevermind that March 1st hardly ever brings spring weather. Although the shift in weather generally occurs mid-late March, there is something about this mindframe that gets me through the end of winter every year. I think this year has been particularly difficult because I've limited going outside for fear of falling on all of the ice and snow (and a dog pulling on the leash only exacerbates that fear/reality.)

Maybe too, I know that spring is the last season before our baby arrives. I can hardly believe that he's coming!! This weekend I must have thought "I can't wait to see him" about 50,000 times. I know he's not ready to be here, and I know we still have quite a bit to do before he arrives, but I am really starting to day dream about holding him, changing his diapers and falling in love with his little face over and over again. I can't truly believe that we're going to be parents, and I'm trying to imagine what that might truly mean because - honestly - how can we really know until we're doing it? Today, I'm not afraid of the whole parenting thing; I'm just truly excited, dripping with the anticipation of getting there. There being that place that we've been trying to get to for 3 years. 3 years on this road to finally meeting our son.

Damn! I can't wait for spring!