This past weekend was full of all of my favorite things: sleeping in, a massage, yummy breakfasts and fancy dinners, Christmas decorations, flowers, and sweet treats. It also included browsing cute downtown shops, working out, Christmas songs, and conversations over coffee and wine. Boomer was so sweet to plan a weekend getaway for our anniversary, and it was just perfect. Last year, we took a brief hiatus from our anniversary trips; with a newborn, simply going out to dinner was a feat! But this year, it was nice to go away again and spend time together. Boomer has talked about taking me to Pinehurst, especially after going there the last few years for an administrator conference. He has told me all about the huge breakfast buffet and delicious steak dinners, the nice rooms and beautiful grounds. As we were discussing where to go this year, he picked the location and took over from there, planning everything from the reservations to the meals and activities. And it certainly lived up to his descriptions!
On our way down to Pinehurst, we made a stop through Star to drop Emmy off at Boomer's parents'. Both Boomer and I have spent a night away from Emmy, either for work or for a Bachelorette Weekend or for that one date night we had in August, but this would be the first weekend (two nights!) that we spent away from her. I really had such a peace about it though, and there was none of the usual anxiety new moms might feel when leaving their little ones. To make for an easy drop-off, they even had a designated spot to leave her :)
After leaving Star, we made the rest of the drive to Pinehurst. We arrived just as it was getting dark, and before checking in, we walked around the Village of Pinehurst, a small downtown area with shops and restaurants. We ate dinner at a local pub called Drum & Quill. Even though we were in a tourist location, it seemed like a favorite for locals. It had great food and a quaint atmosphere. After dinner, we checked in and then walked around the resort and relaxed in the lobby. Everything was decorated for Christmas with multiple trees, each with a different theme, and even a gingerbread replica of the resort. We walked the halls and looked at the photos of the famous golfers that have played at Pinehurst. There seemed to be several events going on at the resort; some sort of military ball, plus a swanky business Christmas party, and a conference, too. It made for good people-watching as we drank our wine.
On Saturday, we were up around 7AM. ("Sleeping in" is all relative now!) We fit in a workout at the fitness center, then showered and went down for breakfast. Boomer had been talking up the breakfast buffet, and it did not disappoint! Made-to-order omelets, french toast the size of a brick, fresh fruit, biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs, danishes, pancakes, any breakfast item you could think of. We went back for seconds (and thirds!) while leisurely enjoying our coffee. After breakfast, it was off to the spa. Boomer had never been to a spa before, and I've only been a handful of times, definitely not a regular by any stretch of the word, but I knew enough to help us fit in. We enjoyed lounging by the indoor pool and then getting in the hot tub. There were also saunas and steam rooms in each of the locker rooms, so we tried that out, too. By the time of our couple's massage, we were already feeling relaxed and rested. As you can see from the pictures, Boomer went quickly from a spa newbie to a robe-wearing, cucumber-water-sipping pro!
After the spa, we got changed and then walked to the main clubhouse. We got to see the famed Pinehurst No. 2 and the statue of Payne Stewart after winning the '99 US Open. We also made another quick stroll through the village shops. Then it was back to the Carolina Hotel for dinner in the main dining room. Boomer and I both had steaks, topped off with the Pinehurst Brownie Sundae. Our waiter also brought a special anniversary treat for us. It was one of the fanciest meals I've had, and naturally we dragged it out for over 2 hours!
On Sunday, we again filled ourselves to the brim at the breakfast buffet. About halfway through the meal, I found myself tearing up and trying to hold the tears in as Boomer and I talked about the past year and just how much has changed. I was especially emotional as I talked about stopping nursing. Last Friday was my last morning nursing, so the weekend, when we first planned it, was to be a celebration for making it to that milestone. Little did I know that I would feel sad when it came time to actually stop. Boomer was a sympathetic ear and was so encouraging about my dedication to nursing and pumping. This morning was a little different as we all got ready for the day, but Emmy seemed unaffected by the change in routine. Instead of spending extra time in the nursery, we went directly to the kitchen for rice cereal. Hopefully the next few mornings will be as smooth as this morning was. I think I've mostly gotten out my tears, and now I am trying to set my focus on all of the fun milestones and moments in this current stage....like artwork from school!
Back to the weekend (I'm almost done, I promise!), after our breakfast on Sunday, it was time to hit the road. The sadness of leaving Pinehurst was dulled by the excitement to see our Emmy. We knew she was in wonderful hands all weekend. Bret and Cathy had sent us updates, and it always looked like she was having fun and generally being spoiled.
Emmy was loved on all weekend by one set of grandparents, and today she is home with the other set. I got a call pretty early in the day saying that she had a 100.0 fever and that there was a rash on certain parts of her body...her hands, her feet, and her mouth. Yes, we think she has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. Boomer and I had noticed some bumps last night and this morning, and perhaps our intuition should have told us to stay home. We are very thankful for grandparents -- grandparents that watch our baby so we can go away for the weekend, that pick her up from daycare when she is sick, and even take her to meet Santa. I'll close with these photos from last week's visit to Santa.
Hopefully we will have better success next year!
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