Whining, Wine-ing & Winning

Hello friends — it’s Valentine’s Day. It’s Saturday, and we’re still mommin’.

This morning started with waking up and having some quality time with my husband before the tiny terrorist wakes up. This is the time parents cherish — adult conversations, bill talk, and trying to figure out how to squeeze in a little sexy time before we have to watch Bluey and Bingo confuse their parents. (Let’s be honest — no parent plays the games that Bandit and Chili do.)

It’s 8 a.m., and I already hear the little voice:

“Daaaaaaaaaaad.”

(whaaaaaat? not Mooooooom?)

I don’t know if I’m insulted, confused, sad, or relieved that she’s calling for her dad instead of me from the top of the stairs… but regardless, here we go.

We try to make life entertaining for the two-year-old. She deserves exciting, unpredictable days — so breakfast is ready: pancakes with strawberries, a little pink milk, and her gifts — a Bluey mailbox, a Bingo lamp, and some candy.

The little sweet voice makes it all worth it…

“Thaaaank you.”

(because manners are important)

Does she like it?

The gifts? Yes.

The candy? Absolutely.

The pancakes?

Are you kidding?

What’s this shit???

They’re thrown. The temper is raging.

Happy Valentine’s Day (on a Saturday, mind you), Mom and Dad!!!

And just like that, our weekend is underway, and we have a toddler to teach life lessons to — how to share, how not to crap our pants, and how launching objects (great arm for future sports) and slapping Mom across the face isn’t nice.

Romance is alive and well.

Somewhere between cleaning syrup off a little face — and ALL over the kitchen — we exchange “the look.”

Not the hey, you got a minute? look.

The can we survive another day of a toddler controlling our day — and our lives? look.

Maybe during nap time… fingers crossed.

Continuing our rainy Saturday stuck inside, we play games, host a love-inspired karaoke play-off, and hold a spontaneous hide-and-seek tournament. My husband makes his girls’ day absolutely perfect. He’s extremely thoughtful with his gifts (I got an electric blanket for my recliner, which is SPOT ON because I am ALWAYS cold).

Gold star.

Nap time.

“How YOU doin’?” eyes are exchanged.

No further information needed here. The readers know.

We refer to this as:

Operation: Don’t Wake the Child.

Dinner is on a whole new level — Mom doesn’t have to cook… WHAT????

My wonderful husband treats me to steak and lobster tail. He can actually cook really well AND cleans the kitchen when he’s done.

I struck gold with this one.

Valentine’s Day when you have a toddler (or ANY day) is unhinged.

Do we always have time for a romantic dinner with champagne and rose petals? Tonight we do, thanks to Super Dad.

But usually we have chicken nuggets and Nerds stuck to our socks.

Here’s the truth:

Love doesn’t disappear after kids.

It changes.

It looks like teamwork.

It sounds like laughter at the end of the day.

It’s surviving the chaos side by side.

Even when the toddler drops a perfectly timed “fuck”

and sleeps between us like a fidget spinner.

This life we built together is messy, exhausting, loud —

and completely ours.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my unhinged families.

And now, OF COURSE…

it’s time to wine-d down.