date night in + baby k'tan

Ask anyone with a baby that likes to be held - sometimes you need a little help.  Claire is a wonderful baby in general, but she's not a big fan of hanging out solo!  I've worn her most of the day for almost her entire life, and it's made a huge difference in my ability to stay cool & calm, even when my baby needs to be held close.  

For a date night at home to feel as relaxing as possible, we enlisted the help of our new Baby K'tan.  I've never met a baby carrier I didn't like, but this one might be at the top of my list for baby wearing newbies.  It's virtually foolproof to put on, and crazy soft & comfortable for wearing around the house all night.  This is the carrier I ALWAYS pack in the diaper bag when Claire is visiting her grandparents, because they don't need to know any wrapping techniques or sling positions to use it.  You can see how easy it is to put on here.  

It's always nice to be able to kiss your baby's head and snuggle while you're still getting stuff done.  (Also, that's a babywearing tip in general.  Baby should always be close enough to kiss, and if you can't, they're too low in the carrier!)  

We made our favorite pizza for dinner, my knock-off version of Motorino's brussels sprout pizza, and shared a special bottle of wine that we'd been saving for a celebratory occasion.  What were we celebrating?  I'll be sharing that next week!  

All in all, a perfect night with my loves.  

(ps - I received my Baby K'tan courtesy of Little Britches in Mt. Vernon, IL.  All opinions in this post are my own, of course.  To look into getting your own wrap, you can check out Little Britches Facebook Page here!

date night: ruth's chris downtown st louis

Last week, I mentioned how Darrell & I had our first night out since having Claire.  We went to see one of our favorite local musicians play at Beale on Broadway downtown, and although it was a great evening, it was perhaps a little ambitious.  Staying up until 1 am when you have a newborn?  Kind of difficult.  More difficult?  Waking up with said newborn only an hour after going to sleep.  For our next outing, we needed something more our current speed, so when Alive Magazine invited us to attend a dinner showcasing Ruth's Chris new menu we jumped at the chance.  

I wore heels for the first time in what felt like forever, and carried a purse that doesn't have stroller straps!   

(dress by sonnet james, here)

Despite our excitement, I was a teeny bit apprehensive about going to a steakhouse.  I'm a pescatarian, and I kind of figured that we'd end up making a run through Chipotle after dinner so that I could get a real meal.  Though after one of the complimentary cocktails I had when we arrived, I had pretty much forgotten about food altogether.  

Just kidding, but that drink was really delicious.  (Get the blood orange sunrise!)  They had a ridiculous spread of appetizers for us, and I really should've tried harder to get more of this ahi tuna.  One piece was not enough, I could just eat this for my meal the next time we go, and I probably will.  

I needn't have ever worried about not having enough to eat, the food was AMAZING.  This was Darrell's salad, but they brought me one without the bacon.  I certainly didn't miss it, I'm a total sucker for a classic wedge salad.  

The dining room's view really can't be beat.  I never get tired of looking at the Arch!  

One mention of my dietary preferences, and they brought me a special dish.  This was pasta with an olive oil sauce, broccoli, and peppers, and it was beyond yummy.  

I was pretty motivated to save room for dessert, and thank goodness I did because this was unreal.  I would like to drink a glass of that Creme Anglaise every single day.  

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the night?  We didn't call our sitters (Darrell's brother & his girlfriend) for updates a single time, trusting that the baby was in good hands.  We had a perfect & romantic evening, even staying for one last drink at the bar before we left, and Claire had slightly more relaxed and happy parents to show for it.  

I can't say that I would have previously considered Ruth's Chris as a downtown St. Louis destination, but we'll definitely be back for pre-dinner or concert drinks sometime soon, especially to take advantage of their awesome Happy Hour prices.  

Need a date night of your own?  Ruth's Chris is giving away a Prix Fixe dinner for 4 through Alive Magazine here, to celebrate their downtown location's 5 year birthday!  

*This post is sponsored by Ruth's Chris, but as always the story and opinions are my own!  Thank you for supporting the companies that make this blog possible.