Marblehead, MA

Since I was in the Boston area last weekend I took advantage and planned to see my friend Erin and her husband Ryan.

Erin and I met in college. The first day we sat at the same table, we started chatting and by the end of the conversation we had hugged. I went home that night and told my boyfriend at the time that I had just met my best friend. She went home and told her boyfriend the same thing.

We leaned on each other through the ups and downs of our early twenties. When I was super college-doing-this-on-my-own poor and couldn't afford groceries she would pack an extra lunch for me and bring it to school. She has held my hair back for me when I puked (more than once) and always laughs at all my jokes. One time we went camping in February ( I know what the hell were we thinking right?) and while we lay in our tents in the below freezing cold darkness she whispered to me that everything would be okay and the sun would come up and the bears wouldn't eat us while I cried my eyes out scared to death. Even though I know she was just as scared as me she was strong for me. That's the kind of girl Erin is. If I had describe her with one word it would be sacrificial. If I got to use two words I would throw beautiful in there too.

Eventually Erin fell in love and got married and moved to Boston. I have never been more sad about a person moving ever in my life. But, I was falling in love myself and so that distracted me from becoming a complete mess about the miles that separated us. I stood next to her at her wedding and she stood next to me at mine. Being all grown up and married and 600 miles away from each other has changed things, but no matter what we love each other. This will never change.

So Erin and her husband Ryan picked me up from Bridget's house and we spent the day together catching up and doing lots of and lots of walking. It was the perfect way to wrap up my trip to Boston.

Lets lead the photos off with a couple adorable ones of Westley shall we?

We bundled up and went for a long walk around Marblehead...

 Westley eventually fell asleep.

 We walked and walked and watched the sun set over the water.

 And when we got home I put the baby to bed whlie Erin baked us an apple pie.

I only ate a few bites because Westley woke up very very upset and it took a long time to calm the little guy. But what I was able to eat was gooooood.

It was too short a visit for sure, but it was so good to see them both.

And if you are wondering, the flight home went pretty good. We had two seats all to ourselves which was great but Westley wailed for about 20 dreadful minutes and there was nothing I could do to calm him until he just collapsed into sleep.

The trip to Boston was so so good for Westley and I. Westley came home more chatty and smiley and giggly than ever and I came home feeling refreshed and so much more confident as a Mama. I felt like I had accomplished something with him. I also feel even more bonded to him because we took this trip together and had a lot of memorable sweet moments. But, we were happy to see Daddy's face when he picked up us that's for sure. Westley smiled so big that all of his gums were showing. It was great.