Mother of Ambition: First Night Away!

Ever since Emmaline was born, I've been the person to put her to sleep at night. Ryan sometimes does her bedtime routine (massage, diaper change, a song, two stories), but I'm always there to nurse her into submission (you know what I mean...) and place her in her crib for the night. Needless to say, after 8 months of this, I was more than just a little nervous to go on a nighttime date, leaving my baby to be put to bed by someone else!!!

Ryan had gotten tickets for us to see Maroon 5 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre a couple of months ago. We HAD to go. We love Maroon 5 and I'd never seen a concert at Red Rocks (I know, I've lived in Colorado how many decades???). We asked my incredible sister (who Emma loves so, so, SO much) to babysit so we could grab dinner and go to the concert. Home around 11pm. Our first night date since Emmaline was born!

The concert was am-AH-zing! Gavin DeGraw opened the night and was better than I expected. Maroon 5 killed it and left nothing to be desired. They were incredible. Ryan and I had a great time. I managed to look at my phone only once every 10 minutes (until the battery died...). My wonderful sister put up with lots of tears and fussing but managed to get Emma to bed safely and I was grateful that her latest pulling herself to standing in her sleep and waking up screaming needing help to get back down phase was over and my sis didn't have to deal with that!

So, while it was so hard for me to leave knowing that Emma was going to have a tough time going to sleep without me, it feels amazing that my little sister kept my little girl safe and sound while Ryan and I were out and about for over 6 hours! (No, I didn't bring my pump to relieve my breast engorgement and yes, I'm paying for it now with a painful clogged duct.)

Here's the evening in pictures. Not that great because I still don't really get how to use my camera, I guess. I don't know how I manage to take the worst pictures at one of the most beautiful places in the world. For those of you who have never been to Red Rocks (for hiking or a concert) you MUST try to go at some point in your life. It's truly a beautiful experience!

Gavin Degraw:

Denver in the distance:

I wore sensible shoes and you should too if you go to Red Rocks! It's a hike to get to the amphitheatre! Incidentally, these cutie patooties are from my sister! Love that I got her hand-me-downs when my feet grew during pregnancy!