Happy Birthday to The Man

“What do I love even more than being married to you? Being married to you and raising our beautiful family together. Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband.” (Thanks, Carlton cardsJ)

This card is perfect for you because it’s absolutely true.

A long time ago, I was content simply being a couple. You had other thoughts, however, and convinced me we should get a dog. So we did. Then, so that pup wouldn’t get lonely, we got another one. Piko and Pili immediately won me over. Well, Piko did. Pili won me over after she stopped covering herself in her own poop. And then they both completely had my heart when they both stopped eating poo! (My gosh, they were disgusting creatures.)

Then my dreams came true when you proposed and we got married almost a year later. I thought that was the best of the best. But then you said that our parents weren't getting any younger. How about we try getting pregnant sooner rather than later? Well, all right.

So we did. And very easily!

Our lives aren’t effortless. Sometimes it can be very hard and it can feel like we have no time. And while I fondly remember a period in our liveswhen it felt like we had all the time in the world, what we have today is beautiful. I’m so glad you had faith that we would be great parents and have more than enough love to give all our babies. Our home is filled with love, laughter … and poop.

I’m so thankful your parents had you. I’m so thankful you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me. And I’m thankful you had the vision to see just how beautiful of a family we could be.

I love you.

 

That's right, I have a blog.

These updates are far and few between. I know. It’s just so hard to make time! If you've read my blog (and since there are probably only two of you that still do, then you have!), you know it’s a pet peeve when people say they, “Don’t have time!” Lies. Well, for most people. I know I have time even though it doesn't feel like it. Many a nights I zone out and watch TV or lazily surf the internet in bed. I just haven’t felt like blogging.

But quite a bit has happened.

I’m almost done with my first month at the new j-o-b. Crazy! Can’t believe it’s been almost a month. It's crazier that it’s been more than a month since I said goodbye to my old one. Even though I spent over six years at my former employer, it was very easy to leave. I honestly had no doubt when I initially made the decision to leave but it’s good to know that even now it feels 100% right.

We're nearing towards the end of the home buying journey. I just wired over a big old chunk of change to the title company this morning. Those words actually don’t do it justice. Let me try this: I just wired a heapin’ large sum of money that I would never ordinarily see in my checking account and probably never will.

Yes, that’s much more accurate. We are scheduled to do a walk-through tonight and have keys in hand by this weekend.

I hope I grow to love it. I think I will. I wish it was what we thought our next home would be – our forever home – because the thought of going through this whole selling and buying process again makes me ill. Oh, and moving! But I think (and hope) we will be here for a while. One thing at a time, though! The next things we have to tackle: bathroom renovation, minor cosmetic repairs, one medium repair (we want to move a big L-shaped bookcase that is mounted to the wall which means patching, painting and baseboard installation), and then moving.

We have two storage units packed like a Jenga game! I'm not exaggerating, we packed those units to the hilt. And we still have our apartment to pack up. One big regret is not selling furniture to the buyers of our old home. I think we just didn’t know what kind of home we were going to get so we wanted to hold on to everything. But now we have furniture that fit a 1700sq ft home that will somehow have to fit our new home is a cozy 1400. Clearly, it's not going to happen. We have to purge but it’s tricky knowing how we want to arrange things without doing the whole trial-and-error method. It’s just very hard for me to see how things look laid out unless I actually see it. I wish I had an eye for that kind of thing.

I know, first world problems!

Well, I’ll leave you with photos of our new home. We downsized our living quarters but upgraded in terms of school district. That what I keep in mind whenever I think about how we spend more money for less of a home - it’s in a good neighborhood, in a good school district, in a city I desired in which to raise my family and just one city over from my parents’ home. Oh, and 15 minutes from my new job. Overall, I’m truly a blessed and happy gal.