Mama's Day Out

So a few days ago, I said to David, "I'm going insane. I need to get out of the house." David was very understanding and said that he was surprised that I hadn't gone crazy with cabin fever sooner.

I am definitely a "homebody" type; I love to stay in with PJ's on, reading, watching TV, playing on the computer (of course), etc. etc.. So this predisposition has helped me in a big way to remain sane being tied to an infant 24/7. Had I been more of a thrill seeker type, I would have gone homicidal a long time ago. I've actually enjoyed the relaxing time nursing (once I got over the soreness, yowza mama hooboy) with reading, chatting on the cell phone, and listening to my iPod. I've been mowing through books and magazines like you wouldn't believe, now that I have 8+ hours a day where I have to stop whatever megaproject I'm involved with to feed Benjamin.

But even my heightened appreciation for all things domestic had to come to an end. When sleep and showering start to become the highlights of your day, you know you need to do something or you're going to explode.

So I told David that I was getting out of the house. He was excited for me and told me to go for it, to not worry about getting back for the next several hours. I pumped a bottle for Benny and went into my room to get dressed.

This was another major milestone. I hadn't worn jeans since the beginning of my 3rd month of pregnancy - that would be June of last year. I've lost a whopping 32 pounds since Ben was delivered, and the number on the scale told me I should easily have fit back into my black jeans - but I was still wary. Everyone says that you shouldn't expect to be able to fit into your "normal" clothes again this soon.

But I was curious, so I tried them on and not only did they fit, they weren't even that tight! I was so excited. I was going to get out of the house, and I was going to wear something other than black yoga pants! Wahoo!

I brushed my hair (major luxury) and put on tinted moisturizer/SPF with a little eye makeup and some lip gloss. I hardly recognized myself. Aside from isolated lipstick incidences, I hadn't worn makeup since Christmas dinner. I felt like a total movie star.

Favorite jeans, makeup, really good hair day, and a few hours to myself? I could barely stand it. I got in my car - my car! (which, by the way, is still on the same tank of gas that David put in it the day we brought Ben home on Dec. 21st) - and was so overwhelmed with excitement that I couldn't decide where I wanted to go. I drove around for a while before deciding to treat myself to lunch at Bravo!, the new Italian chain restaurant at Bayshore. I didn't even care that it was 8 degrees out. Freedom never tasted so good. (The eggplant parmesan was pretty damn good, too.)

I then raided Bath and Body Works, where I loaded up on smelly things that were ridiculously on sale (75-90% off) and paid for them with a Christmas gift card from Mimi, my mother-in-law. Then I went to Barnes & Noble and bought a slew of magazines and books to keep me busy while nursing, and also got Ben a bunch of Dr. Seuss and Little Golden Books.

After that, I still had some energy and some time, but I had already been out for two hours and I couldn't really think of anything else I wanted to do, so I went home. After all, it's not like that was my last gasp at freedom - I'm going to make a point of getting out as often as I can from now on.

It's just going to require a bit more planning now, with a newborn.