Valentine's Sweetheart Dinner

We decided to do Valentine's early this year. Last year, we were pregnant and thought it might be a good idea to go out to eat one more year just by ourselves to celebrate (of course, Ian snuck along too, but he was really quiet!). While we enjoyed ourselves, we thought the loooooooooong wait time at all the restaurants was a bit much. So this year, we decided to go a week early and avoid all the lines. We took Ian with us to have our first family Valentine's dinner - and Ian's first time out to eat with just us. Grammy Jen's parents had given us a Red Lobster gift card for Christmas, which we had been saving for this special occasion.

Here's my two Valentine's getting ready to go.

Posing outside of Reb Lobster. We took this pix with the automatic timer on our camera. For some reason it came out a bit blurry.

So some guy took this picture for us. Ian had been bouncing up and down smiling until he hit the button to take the picture. Haha...that's the way it goes.

Our little munchkin was flirting with two girls at the table across from us. Doesn't he look all grown up in the high chair?

Yum, yum, YUM! We ordered lobster pizza - a Red Lobster first for us.

Ian loved it too! Aren't the bibs they have for the kiddos cute?

Unfortunately, Ian wouldn't keep his on. Good thing we had brought a back up. He also loved the biscuits! Seriously, who doesn't?

We also had seafood stuffed flounder (left), jumbo coconut shrimp (center), and lobster mashed potatos (right). I really liked the seafood stuffed flounder (also a Red Lobster first for us), but they used bread crumbs in the stuffing and James wasn't too big on that. Why? I have no idea - he just doesn't really like traditional stuffing (leaves more for me!). The coconut shrimp was, of course, fantastic!! I even got James to try the dipping sauce and he loved it. The lobster mashed potatos...yeah. Ummm...lobster and mashed potatos weren't really ever supposed to be together, I don't think. It sounded good, but didn't really look or taste appetizing.

Of course, Ian loved chewing on the straw that came with his kids cup. This is the first kids cup we have ever gotten for him!

What he liked even better was Mommy giving him water through the straw. (Thanks to Gramma K for starting his favorite restaurant tradition!)

Look at this baby taking in all those fishies! He was mesmerized by them.

And now, for the pièce de résistance: a sneak peek at some of my favorite Valentine's pictures that I have gotten of Ian. I know he will be a busy, running little toddler next year, so I am taking advantage of this year to get as many cute little poses as I can!

My little sweetheart! Isn't he precious?

Aunt Kt's extremely talented mother-in-law made this outfit for Cousin Ace last year. Isn't it cute?

And one more picture with Mommy!

Thank you again, Max and Karen Ann, for such a wonderful Valentine's meal. Happy (early) Valentine's Day to everyone!!