Today started out like every other Monday. I got up with the boys and got everyone fed and ready for the day. I stuck dinner in the crock pot( can we say wife of the year?) and went to work.

I got done a little earlier than normal today, so I was excited to get home and play with the little men. I opened the door expecting Chase to come running over to say “HI!” in his most adorable baby voice (which I don’t have enough video of), and was disappointed to see he was napping. This is about the FIRST time I have EVER been sad that he was asleep by the way.

So I checked on dinner, talked to Jim and spent some time bouncing and playing with Jimmy-Jam…then the traitor fell asleep on me too. It figures that on a day when I really want to play with my boys…and the little jerks can’t hang. Damn.

So I finished dinner and got everyone up. We had our super yummy pulled pork sandwiches(sorry beach diet, I’ll get back to you tomorrow) and Chase sat down to play with his books and Jimmy was hanging with Daddy.

Who then said the best thing I’ve heard in awhile.

“Why don’t you take Chase to the park, and I’ll stay here and hang with Jimmy.”

Before he could figure out I was getting the better deal in this scenario, I jumped up and tossed sneakers on myself and Chase. We said “Buh Bye” and headed for the car. Just me and my little man, hand and hand. We hit the park at a dead run and had a great time running around, swinging and sliding. Every once and a while Chase would look behind him and wave at me as I followed him around and just say “Hi Momma, Hi!”.

After we had exhausted ourselves, we went and got some water ice, just the two of us. We sat on the bench, swung our feet and enjoyed our yummy dessert and a beautiful late afternoon.

To some parents this is a pretty normal day with their child. For me this was a huge treat . Having Jimmy has for sure put a limit on the amount of alone time I get to spend with Chase. I really miss the time when it was just the two of us, and every day was a new opportunity for an adventure. I love Jimmy to pieces, but he is at a very high maintenance age and that is just not compatible with the types of escapades my daring almost two year old would like to embark on.

I highly doubt that Jim knew how much it would mean to me to get to do this with Chase. I don’t think he knew that I would almost be in tears at the park, because I had just missed spending one on one time with Chase so much.

I don’t think he knew that this was one of the best gifts he could have ever given me.

This is Chase and I, taken June 8th, 2008. Exactly one year ago.