We finally did it! We took the plunge. We broke tradition. We shocked the nation. We broke all the rules. We let loose!

We left the baby.

It was the most wonderful three hours we've ever spent in our whole lives. Cheryl and I got a babysitter, made sure Joshua had all his Sesame Street videos lined up and ready to go, sippy cup filled, milk and cookies ready, and big brothers standing by to play. He DID get his hat on and put on his brother's shoes like he was ready to go too. But once he heard "Big Bird", he forgot all about us. We didn't have to do the "sneak out while the baby isn't looking" trick, or the "leave the screaming baby in the arms of the babysitter" scene.

Boy, if I'd known it was gonna be this easy, we'd have done this a long time ago!

We drove to our favorite Italian restaurant, Luciana's on Coast Highway, and got the best table for two. NOT two-and-a-highchair, not two-and-a-kid's-menu, just TWO grown-ups and a very long wine list. We sat down in a secluded table in the window and just stared at each other, enjoying the peace and quiet. I ordered wine. We had an appetizer, then salads, then the main course, then dessert and coffee. We actually got to sit in a restaurant for three hours without a care in the world.

At first I kept glancing at my cell phone, just waiting for it to ring, but after a while I forgot all about it. We talked, and talked, and talked without interruption. Cheryl got to eat hot food.

It was heavenly. I can't believe we waited until Joshua was 18 months to do this.

We are SO gonna do this more often.

To actually be able to carry on a conversation with my wife for 3 hours straight. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . . .

What would have been perfect is for us to come home, the kids would all be asleep, the babysitter would drive herself home, and we'd have a quiet house to ourselves.

Maybe in five years or so.

So life went back to normal as soon as we walked in the door.

But wow. What a night.