Going to the Library: 5 Reasons to Get Out During Maternity Leave

High-five to Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum for hosting!

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The biggest reason to get out of the house after you've had a baby 8 days earlier is because your older children are getting stir-crazy, and maybe you are too.

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Also, it's the first full day of your husband being off. This will, in fact, be the beginning of the longest break/vacation he's EVER had during residency, which alone is cause of celebration.

#dadcation time, y'all.

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There was sunshine today in PA, and that was also celebration-worthy considering the dreary days May has thus proffered. I am supremely looking forward to many more of these jacket-less days ahead.

And: toddler backpacks. Adorable.

The girls made me proud by repeatedly not acknowledging strangers who attempted to say hello; they would, however, say "bye bye" and wave occasionally. We had an extremely leisurely stroll to the library, considering how short toddler legs are, so I certainly was not over-exerting myself by any means.

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If you get out of the house, things happen like:

• A $50 fine becomes a $20 fine simply because your library card expired
• You pick up their entire collection of potty books because GHB decided she likes sitting on hers
• You find a couple cookbooks (and promise yourself a good fiction or non-fiction book once grading is completed)
• The new children's section is done and you love it! Your husband offers to watch the girls while you peruse books and you take him up on that offer. This means all hands on deck (because little people like taking all the books off the shelves in no particular order),

while you wear Stephen in the ring sling. Meanwhile, in the checkout line, a little girl asks you what is inside said sling; you're a little sad you can't say, "A puppy!" simply for the element of surprise.

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A big reason to get out is simply a change of scenery. We like to avoid crowds and have a place for the girls to run around, and they love being outside. It only took us 45 minutes to get out of the house, and a brisk 7 minute car ride, and ta-da! Historic downtown with its two hour parking.

Upon arriving home, the children and I all napped. Glorious.

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