Just the two of us. Part 2.

At 8AM (which is sleeping-in with Mia away) Bella and I pressed our internal snooze button and snuggled for about three more minutes until Bella promptly started tapping my cheek. She was so excited for day #2. After breakfast we layered ourselves for a nature hike at the Litte Red Schoolhouse forest preserve. Apparently, I used to take field trips to the Little Red Schoolhouse when I was little but I have a vague recollection of it.

And here it is, the Little Red Schoolhouse.

It was built in 1886 to replace a one-room log cabin school--the first school building of the area. Now the LRS is used as a nature center and wildlife preserve.

Inside, there were aquariums filled with our local wildlife--like this frog that caught both of our attention.

Or the crow that scared the crapper out of Bella.

Or the stuffed raccoon that Bella turned around and found herself nose-to-nose with. I've never heard her scream so loud. It was so funny I had a hard time consoling her because I couldn't stop laughing. Mature Gina. Next, we headed off for a little nature hike. It was about 13 steps into the trail when my little peanut complained that her legs were tired. Hoisting her on my shoulders we took off and met some friends on the trail. After hide-and-seek, stone throwing and "raining leaves" we fondly left the Little Red Schoolhouse.

After eating a quick lunch I dropped Bella off at school and found myself alone for the first time in as long as I can remember. I came home and realized the importance of this two hour break. Giving me just enough time to clean the house, make dinner, do the laundy Facebook.

After school, Bella and I took a nap and woke in time to see Astro Boy at the local movie featah (as Bella calls it).

Drowning ourselves in popcorn and leftover Halloween candy that I smuggled in we found that Astro Boy didn't hold our attention as much as we'd liked. About 40 minutes in Bella and I decided to leave.

It was another perfect day. I really cherished this time that I spent with Bella. It reminded me of the two years I spent with her before Mia's arrival. I adore those memories, my first memories of mother and child, they will always hold a place in my heart. But when Eugene came home at 5AM and put a sleeping Mia into my arms, I felt complete again. Her smell--I missed it. It's crazy how your children come with their own specific smell. The four of us slept together in our bed for several cozy hours.

And then the beasts awoke.