https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:22:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367431 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:11:52 +0000 littlejoy 2367431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love getting out together ... hiking, mini weekend getaways. </p> <p>BUT, for the everyday stuff, we do dumb things, haha. </p> <p>We do carry out once per week. That night, we skip bath, and put LO to bed like 15 min. early. We grab a bottle of wine, hop into bed, and watch TV on the laptop. Since we're already in bed, it's "intimate", and generally leads to us cuddling or more. It's so dumb, but it works for us, and is like a fun date night at home. </p> <p>We also pick one night where LO eats dinner before us ... then I cook us a nice dinner to enjoy after she goes to bed. </p> <p>Lastly, we do our laundry on Sunday &amp; Wednesdays, and pile it all on the bed. Then, before bed, we fold it all and chat with each other. It's like a mini check in a couple times a week, and that seems to be a good place to say, "Hey! I'm stressed about work!" or "Hey! Did you know we haven't had sex for 2 weeks?!?" or "Screw this, let's fold laundry tomorrow, and catch up on The Walking Dead instead!" ... </p> <p>I'd really like to do 1 day a week with no phones or TV. I'm curious if other people do that, and how it helps!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367430 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:07:31 +0000 BabyMats 2367430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I flirt. We text each other and I'm flirting and when we come home from work the flirting continues. Its fun and we are playful and it lets my lo see us enjoying each other laughing and joking around with each other. Plus when I'm flirting I am always touching him in some way and vice versa. It makes it fun and interesting.<br /> And also getting out of the house. We go on family walk/jogs and it is just nice to be out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367216 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:15:13 +0000 Lilbear 2367216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hit a bit of a rut of never going out or on dates after DD was born due to finances, lack of non family babysitters, and DD having a chronic health issue. To get through it, I made DH a booklet of 12 pre-planned dates for Valentine's Day and we've been sticking to it. I also opened an account with care.com to find a good babysitter. </p> <p>Each month we look up what/where our pre planned date is going to be, and then we pick what date works best for our upcoming schedule, hire a sitter, and head out for some fun! It has been really fun and we look forward to each month's date. Some of the date ideas that I pre planned are: distillery tour, brewery bike tour, comedy club, golfing together, music concert, dinner &amp; a movie etc. It's really nice not having to think about what to do or where to go, and only focus on when to schedule it. Also, only going out once a month makes it not too much of a financial killer. </p> <p>DH loved the idea and has been already brainstorming activities that he wants to add to next year's date calendar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367080 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:00:55 +0000 nana87 2367080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Oh dh barely initiates being affectionate, it's totally something I do :silly: but when I do, he reciprocates, and then that makes me feel more warm and fuzzy about us, if that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367073 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:56:02 +0000 JoJoGirl 2367073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: I have told DH that over and over again, but it seems to fall on deaf ears :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367063 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:49:06 +0000 MrsSRS 2367063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: it helped us a lot. We benefitted from just embracing the cheesiness of most at home date ideas. Also, sometimes a gym date? Drop LO off in the nursery and either walk or swim and chat or sit in the hot tub. We joined snap chat and send each other silly/sweet/sappy pics too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367054 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:43:04 +0000 nana87 2367054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds really simple, but I've found in our relationship making an effort to be a little more affectionate goes a long way. Like, being affectionate for it's own sake, rather than to initiate sex, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2367045 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:40:39 +0000 JoJoGirl 2367045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Really smart ideas, especially since our budget is super tight too.</p> <p>@Autumnmama79: That's not a bad idea!! Would get me out of cooking, too ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366973 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:50:58 +0000 MrsSRS 2366973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are a ton of date night ideas to do at home after kid bedtime if you browse online. We did this for a while and it helped. The most important bit was the part where we agreed to leave our phones on the kitchen counter for the evening. Even just cooking a meal or watching TV becomes much more interactive when we don't have our damn phones glued to our noses. We did silly stuff too. We played HORSE with DS's baby basketball hoop, we tried new dessert recipes, we learned some new card games... Just agreeing to put the phones down every Wednesday night really helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366968 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:45:30 +0000 Autumnmama79 2366968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to add, could you go out even once a week as a family for dinner? We eat out a fair bit and I find its always nice to be out and about, plus dining with kids is always entertaining. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366947 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:30:47 +0000 youboots 2366947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Getting out of the house and trying new things. Short trips when we can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366946 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:30:37 +0000 MaryM 2366946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to get away from screen time. Even if we're not going out for date night, turning the TV off and having to look at each other makes a big difference. </p> <p>We're doing Thanksgiving alone, so I've bookmarked this blog as another possibility. <a href="http://www.catholicwifecatholiclife.com/10-questions-to-deepen-your-relationship-during-the-holidays/" rel="nofollow">http://www.catholicwifecatholiclife.com/10-questions-to-deepen-your-relationship-during-the-holidays/</a> </p> <p>Two of the questions are religious based (not sure if that's your cup of tea), but most aren't (and I think the first God question could be edited to not be so religious). and I figure a lot of them could even be used with family as a way to talk about something other than politics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366892 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:53:19 +0000 Autumnmama79 2366892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about signing up for a class or panning to meet a friend one night during the week every once in awhile? Same goes for DH. Sometimes to spice things up and get out of the routine, it helps to have a little time away, even just a few hours in the evening. Then you have a chance to appreciate the cuddles on the couch while watching TV for most other nights :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366865 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:26:56 +0000 gingerbebe 2366865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes DH and I just text each other from other rooms. It gives us clearance to say something silly or sappy or funny and usually it gets one of us to go find the other. We also text encouraging things during the day to each other for routine things - like thank you for getting up with DS, I know you are tired and I appreciate it. We also do "what did you think about today?" after the lights are off and just catch up for a few minutes. I also try to make or buy one meal a week I know he will really enjoy or get him a treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366851 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:21:22 +0000 lawbee11 2366851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We text each other during the day. Not super personal obviously but if one of us sees an interesting article or funny meme we'll text one another or just check in to say hi how's everything going. It helps to make it feel like we're not going all day without any communication. But yeah, I feel you on just wanting to veg out at home during the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366843 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:15:37 +0000 rattles 2366843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that it's cooler here, we've been having date nights in the backyard. We'll have a fire in our chiminea with blankets, a bottle of wine and s'mores supplies. It's a nice break from the Netflix zone out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366810 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:40:43 +0000 JoJoGirl 2366810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Definitely tougher finding stuff like that which is kid-friendly, or finding a sitter :( She naps 1:30-3:30 so that makes it extra hard to plan around naps and then of course we're stuck at home while she's sleeping. And we'd have to set our alarm clock for morning whoopie to go off before LO wakes up :-/ </p> <p>@LuLu Mom: yes an outing would help - we'll have to work on finding kid stuff to do indoors now that the weather is cold.</p> <p>@looch: That's an awesome idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366802 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:36:03 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2366802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Getting out of the house is key!</p> <p>For a little while we insituted Sunday Fundays when my husband was taking an all day Saturday course. We would find local events and festivals and buy tickets through Living Social or Groupon. Being pressed for time really made us make time for fun. We saw alot of families at these places.</p> <p>Since we both have to take off of work to attend OB doctor appointments we go out to eat afterward instead of just going back home. </p> <p>Impromptu morning whoopie. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366799 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:31:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2366799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Commenting to follow as DS will be here soon!</p> <p>Right now I won't lie - our favorite things to do are go to outdoor cafes or bars :/ Obviously that will have to change and we will have to get more creative!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366736 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:45:34 +0000 snowjewelz 2366736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I totally agree about the seasons! It's hard enough to find things to do with LO when it's cold out, let alone us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366727 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:40:03 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2366727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Getting out seemed to be impossible, so we've started doing at home date nights. We put the kids to bed, then have a special dinner, or wine and appetizers, or something like that. We make sure that it's not just snacks in front of Netflix, because then we don't talk to each other at all. </p> <p>Looking for other ideas though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366719 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:36:02 +0000 LuLu Mom 2366719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try to plan an outing a weekend, with or without the kids. This focuses on the family and allows us to have real conversations. We start to argue when we don't have adult time alone, so we know it's time to plan a dinner out/movie/ect. to just reconnect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366704 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:24:12 +0000 looch 2366704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find it more challenging in the winter months, in the summer, we can all hang out outside at the pool, we have the best weekends without having to do much planning.</p> <p>In the winter, we have to be more deliberate and sometimes weather ruins our plans. One thing I am thinking of doing is booking a local hotel with an indoor pool for a weekend. We've never done that, so it feels like a new experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366674 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:53:58 +0000 JoJoGirl 2366674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: It's so annoying and high-maintenance, haha. With all the changing and peeing and wet towels and blah blah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366672 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:53:06 +0000 Smurfette 2366672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: We started swim with it being the thing that Daddy does with her, she has done the last two summers, since he travels so much during the week. But I would always go cause then I would get her changed while he got changed. But we both are looking forward to her going by herself this summer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366671 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:50:07 +0000 JoJoGirl 2366671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Soo right now, since I go to the gym every weekday morning while DH stays home and takes her to school (my workday starts an hour before school opens, so he'd have to take her regardless - I just get up crazy early to work out), Saturday morning is like his ONLY day to go to the gym. So I take her to gymnastics while he goes, and we both go to swim class on Sunday. The fighting has centered more on whose turn it is to go in the pool with her ;) Although starting in December she goes in without us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366668 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:47:17 +0000 Smurfette 2366668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: We usually both take her to gymnastics. This way the other one can't just lay in bed all morning :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366665 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:43:01 +0000 JoJoGirl 2366665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Okay I just made the biggest, loudest, most inappropriate laugh in my work cubicle, ha ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366664 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:41:41 +0000 Cherrybee 2366664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep things fresh by nagging about a wider range of things, crying for no apparent reason and taking offence when he least expects it. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-things-fresh#post-2366655 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:27:41 +0000 JoJoGirl 2366655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Yes - exactly. I feel like our entire 2 days of weekend is filled up with either 1) arguing about whose turn it is to take her to an activity (swim/gymnastics) or 2) One of us entertaining her while the other does housework. </p>