Soup’s on Saturdays

Somewhere around the three-and-a-half month mark, my semi-manic I CAN DO ALL THE SAME THINGS WITH A BABY streak screeched to a halt. I’ve been feeling like if I hang back too much, or give up too many of the things I love, I’ll lose myself in this motherhood role and opportunities that were once mine for the taking would get handed on to someone else.

I had a good little snotcry and acknowledged I was taking on too much, too soon. As long as I manage my expectations for Fridays home with Emmett (recognizing we might only check off one chore or just read books and play on the floor all day), I think I’ll find a better balance.

Thankfully, the past two Saturdays have involved simple plans with friends and soup and a chance to relax.

My college besties Christa and Amanda drove in from Chicago and St. Louis last weekend. Their visit mostly consisted of taking the stroller down to the Shops at Roosevelt for lunch and a baguette at La Mie, to pick up a cheese at The Cheese Shop to melt into homemade potato-bacon soup, and to try on consignment clothes at Worn. Cooking and laughing together and streaming episodes of The Mindy Project was just what I needed.

Then today we finally made it out to Pella, the Dutch town 45 minutes from Des Moines where my friends Amy and Josh moved this summer. They live just off the quaint town square and had warm vegetable soup and cornbread waiting for us. It was great to catch up with them and see their little one, Linden.

Pella was puddle-wonderful and charming, even in the drizzle. We stopped by Jaarsma Bakery for a Dutch letter and took a quick little tour of downtown (windmills galore!) before heading over to Lake Red Rock for a short walk on the trail. It felt good to breathe deeply the musky fall smell of damp leaves and earth.