Wow! We went to Paris! And almost as monumental, Momma left my baby girls for 8 whole days! It was a great trip, with amazing things to see, and the most honest thing I can say about having been on the trip is that I feel so hugely blessed. Free plane tickets and free hotels and a great vacation with Grandma and Grandpa for our girls - who could say it was anything other than a gift from a Loving Father and a not-so-subtle hint that I needed a little time away?

I must admit, being pregnant seemed to dominate the trip in my mind and body. I loved every walk, tour, and day trip we took, but seemed constantly reminded that I was sharing the experience with more than just Jason. But I wasn't alone - we counted 17 other pregnant ladies, and 4 that may have been.... It didn't seem so much like the romantic city you hear about in the movies. There were so many families and strollers, each of which reminded me how much easier we had it to be kid-free for a few days.

Jason and I both really enjoyed the Orangerie. It's a small museum near the Louvre built just for Monet's 8 water lily paintings, which were painted just for this building (converted from a greenhouse). Monet's paintings are HUGE which pleasantly surprised us, and we enjoyed the rest of the museum mostly because it was small and digestible.

We enjoyed, among other things, the sounds and smells of a mass at Notre Dame, the stories in the windows of St. Chapelle, the cool air atop the Eiffel Tower, the affordable shopping in the Latin Quarter, the architecture of the Orsay Museum, the flowers and peace at Giverny, and the fountain show at Versailles.

I must admit - the food was a little rich for us, and we weren't quite rich enough for much of it anyway. But we had quite a few yummy crepes, some baguette sandwiches, one incredible quiche lorraine, some really french fries, and an abundance of free "snacks" at the Hilton where we stayed the first three days.

After being home for three weeks, I guess what I remember most is just enjoying the perfect temperatures and having my husband all to myself. In a couple of months it will have been 12 years since our first date. I'm still working on finding the "secrets for a perfect marriage," but it's got to help that we just really enjoy being together.