There are times when I just feel wiped out and about to go mad. It helps to hand the baby off to Michael, go to a bookstore/coffee shop, and just have an hour to be me. Not a mother, not a wife, not an employee--just me.

As soon as Michael is feeling better, I hope you'll be able to reschedule that date with wcg. Maybe take up country dancing again?

At Evan's 9-month checkup, our doctor's handouts started off with, "Nine-month-olds are extremely energetic. Make sure you're getting enough rest." Those two sentences didn't seem particularly compatible at the time, but for about a month there, I fell asleep for the night when Evan did, and it did help my mood.