My Mr. Wonderful

My Andrew, my husband is my Mr. Wonderful ...

because he didn't have to be.

After a year and a half of dating, I thought I wanted to date other people.  The only problem was I couldn't stay away from Andrew.

When I found out in January 2007 that I was pregnant he could have left.  He could have claimed 'it' wasn't his.  He could have just moved on with his life.

but he didn't ... because he is my Mr. Wonderful

When I tried to make a life altering rash decision for the worse, he could have let me take the easy way out.

but he didn't.  He showed me love and grace and reminded me of my Father in heaven's love for us.

because he is my Mr. Wonderful

When I thought adoption was the best option because I thought that's what other people would expect, he could have accepted the fact that he didn't have to raise a child.

but he didn't.  He fought me with love and support.  He showed me that he could mature and that he was ready to be a dad.  And he asked me to marry him and start a family with him.

because he is my Mr. Wonderful

He changed Leah's first diaper.  He has always been better at swaddling than me.  He showered me after my emergency C-section because I couldn't support myself.  He held me when Leah cried and then I cried.  He is my rock, my best friend and the love of my life.

When the economy downsized two jobs and our second baby was born, he put his career dreams of finishing school aside and overlooked the stereotypes to stay at home with our babies.  He is such a wonderful father, already teaching 2 year old Leah to read.  He even saved her life.

He is the best father to our girls.

He calms me down and holds me strong.  He is the ying to my yang.

He is the spiritual leader of his household.

He is my Mr. Wonderful

and he is the reason we are a family today.

Happy Father's Day Andrew!

Visit Mama M for other Mr. Wonderful stories

You Complete Me pt.1

I could have taken the easy way out ... with the 'easy' relationship.  You see ... I'm a selfish person.  gasp...did she really just say that   I want everything to go my way, and I want it to go my way right now, and why can't the whole freaking world just figure it out ... my way ... let's get it right ... MY WAY ... right now!!!!!!

I could have married a guy who would cave in to my every demand and wish.  I dated a few.  No, let me change that ... every guy I dated before Andrew was that kind of guy.  Sweet ... but I could step right over them, and they would smile and let me do it.

Ever since we started dating, I always said Andrew was different...even when I couldn't put my finger on it.  Now I know.  He challenges me not to be selfish.  He will not let me be a selfish brat.  and even though I kick, scream, whine and yell ... deep down I know he is making me a better person.  He is completing me ... and I want to complete him.  I want to be better for him.

and that's why I find this challenge so interesting and intriguing and I'm excited to participate!

June 14 – Post Pictures from your dating days (or tell us all about it!). Think about one thing you used to do or have as a couple that you have lost in the shuffle of life. How can you regain it?

We met early one winter morning.  He knew who I was ... I was clueless.  He sent me a facebook message with his AIM screen name, and two normally shy people developed a wonderful relationship online.  Every time I was on the computer, I was checking my AIM to see if billytheeuph13 was on.  Our friendship was the deepest friendship I have ever built with someone in the shortest amount of time.  I think within a few weeks, he was just as good of a friend as a best friend I had known for years.

I talked to him about this guy I was totally crushing on.  Later in life he told me it killed him to give me advice, but he stood there and backed me up when I asked this other dude to go to formal with me.  He smiled, and told me congratulations.

And then, we went on a pep band trip.  I can't really explain, but on that trip something just triggered.  I didn't want to leave his side.  We explored the hotel together.  We watched tv in the lobby, and I gave him my gum.  For real, just put my chewed up used gum in his hand.  We played elbows in the hotel room until his roommates kicked me out so they could get some sleep.  I believe we feel in love that weekend.

But wait ... the Thursday before this trip, I had asked this other dude to formal, and here I am falling for my best friend.  Well guess what ... this other dude calls me on Sunday saying he would like to meet with me.  To make a long story short he pretty much tells me "God has told me that I'm not dating anyone until I meet the girl that I'm going to marry."  In a way I was crushed.  The first person I called was Andrew ... who was away on an Auburn Singers trip (yes, the day we got home he left again).  

He was sad for me (well, that's what he told me).  Before their performance I got an instant message asking me to that same formal.  I said "yes!" and it's happily ever after from there.

Well, mostly happily ever after ...

You know, we had our ups and downs while dating

and we have already had some ups and downs in our young marriage

but you know what

I believe in our relationship

because true love always works out

especially when you work to keep the true love strong!

These are my two favorite dating pictures ... I think they are both from 2005:

This post was so much fun ... ahhhh ... the memories!  I highly recommended this challenge to anyone, even if it's just to take a trip down memory lane

You know what I'm going to do to bring this feeling back -- I'm going to flirt more with my husband.  Back in the day ... someone once called me a flirt.  I'm sure it was meant to be a bit of an insult, but I just smiled.  I liked to flirt and I liked the attention.  So, I'm going to flirt more with my hubby to bring back those fun smiles and times!

...and he reads this :-)

Thought for this week:

How much time do you spend on a daily/weekly basis cultivating your marriage now? In what ways can you regain some of what has been lost in the daily shuffle of life?

  

My Husband = My Hero

My husband is my hero, and his actions reminded me of that again last night.  Here ... I'll let him tell you via Facebook:

Andrew's status:  "Just had the scariest moment of his life!"
People commented on his status kinda like 'what happened', 'this was mine' and here is what he put next:
"Well mine was me in the kitchen, making a bottle for the baby, and seeing Leah walk around the corner bright red with her mouth open and point to it not being able to breath! I did the Heimlich (I think) and she coughed everything up. It will probably take me a good while to recover from that. Leah on the other hand, is right back to normal. :-)"


Leah then went back to eating ... halfway through she said "Look Daddy ... I no spit up anymore."


When he called me at work and told me what happened, I just started crying.  and then I prayed.  I thanked the Lord for giving Leah an awesome dad, I thanked Him for giving Andrew the ability to remain calm at a time of crisis.  and I just thanked Him for Andrew.

Andrew jokes that he's here to calm me down.  That's for sure!  I freak out at the slightest thing.  When Leah got 2nd degree burns, sure I took care of her, but I was freaking out the entire time.  In a crisis is when I need to have my husband standing beside me and guiding me.  I can not express how thankful I am for him.

When I told him he is my hero and he stammered that it was all Leah's doing for coming to him and so on...yeah honey that's true, but it's also true that you are my hero.  I am so glad and thankful my girls have a dad who can and will save their lives in a physical and spiritual way.

Renewal wedding

I picked this theme this week:
2.) If you could do your wedding over, how would you do it?


For me, this really isn't an 'if'.  I am totally planning to do my wedding over ... ok, not really, but I am planning a Vow Renewal, hopefully in 2012.  


My wedding was super small, like only close family and close friends.  It was planned in a couple of weeks.  It rained, so the service had to be moved inside.  Oh yeah ... and I was 8 months pregnant.  However, I do love the colors in my bouquet and on my cake!

This next time around though, I'm going to wear a white dress ... like one of these:

and I'm going to have bridesmaids standing with me ...

wearing these totally cute dresses ... or something like that ... my goal is to have a dress that they would want to wear later in life!

and I would have decor something like this ...

but you know the one thing I would not change?

my dear sweet husband!


My color inspiration came from here:

my florist totally rocked!  It was the one thing we splurged a bit on, and they hit the inspiration right on the head!

I wove my sister

I love participating in this meme.  I've kinda used it as a challenge...to come up with things that make me happy that aren't my kids and hubby.  But this is just too good, I have to break this challenge.  During our two weekend tour of Alabama (or Amabama) we stopped to have dinner with my sister and my best friend.  After eating, Leah wanted to hold Audrey.  So they both sat in Andrew's lap, and while he was holding them she looked at him and said
"I wove my sistwer."
for the first time.  Here is how it looked in photos (I give credit for these to my wonderful best friend Ruth)

I love my hubby in black and white

Symphonies,
Harmonies,
Intricate within my heart,
The sweet music, you control,
Hypnotic tunes play vividly in my thoughts,
Images dance through out my soul,
Nourish this love.

Virtuoso,
A masterpiece,
Rapture from every cord,
Gateways to our future song,
Heartfelt moments,
Everlasting music will play,
Symphonies, this is where we belong;
Evolving love.

Poem found here...

A Valentine from Daddy

We woke up to three red roses on Valentine's day morning.  A rose for Christy, a rose for Leah and a rose for Audrey.  I thought I'd share the wonderful words written by Andrew with you as my black and white Wednesday.  Please visit A Long Road to China for more Black & White Wednesdays and a great blog.  Also linked at Seven Clown Circus.

A Rose for Audrey:

Audrey Anne, you have brought so much joy into my life in the last few months. I love you so much and I’m so excited to see you grow up, just like your big sister.

A Rose for Leah:

Leah Grace, you are my little booger! I love you more than words can describe. When I found out that I was going to be a daddy I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but you have made ever moment in the last few years the best moments of my life. I never feel happier than when I am holding you in my arms.

A Romantic Wordless Post

Since Valentine's day is about us as a couple, I've posted my favorite before kids photos! Thanks Mama M for hosting!

Loving Questions

Mama M Five Question Friday time!!!! I would also like to say that I have had a wonderful time this past week with Mama M's Valentine's week! I really enjoyed writing on the props.

If you're new to this gig (where have you been all my life?!!)...welcome!! We have a few simple rules for you!
Rules: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, grab the blog hop code (if you'd like) and link up! I would love you forever and ever, amen...if you'd link back to me, Mama M!
If you don't have a blog (get one) share your answers in the comments here, or on any blog along the way!

Okay, let's get started...
Questions for Friday, 2/12/10: (Thanks to Jennifer, Maryanne (private blog), Heidi, Jodi, and Jessica for their question suggestions!! Wanna be linked in a future 5QF? Head on over here, to my community and offer up your best questions!)


1. What is the one thing your love does for you that you can't live without?

clean out the cat box...really I hate the smell. and he takes the trash out, which isn't an easy thing to do when you live in an apartment complex.

He also gives me hugs when I'm sad. He lets me cry on his shoulder. He feels bad that sometimes there aren't words he can say to make me feel better. He plans for our future. He sits and thinks of the best way that he can support our family. He is not selfish. hmmm...I think I strayed from the question...

I can't live without him being a Dad to our girls.

2. When did you know your love was "the one"?

I have this memory, I'm not sure exactly where it is from. I think it was getting close to the year mark of us dating. I know we were at my apartment in Auburn. I know we were sitting on the couch, watching tv, just relaxing. He turned to me and said something to the tune of 'you know, we are going to get married one day.' I'm sure I blushed, but mainly I remember that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you are nervous, excited, terrified and happy all at the same time. Yup, that's the day I knew.

3. Does your love have a special ringtone on your cell?

Not right at the moment, just because my SD card with the music on it is in the computer and for some reason I can not think to put it back in my phone. A while ago I put Garth Brook's "Mr. Right or Mr. Right-now" because it made me laugh.

4. What are you attracted to most in your special someone?

his goofiness and how brings out my immature side inner kid

5. Did you know when/where he/she was going to pop the big question?

Well, if you've been folowing my posts this week, you know he didn't really 'pop the question'. I knew he wanted to marry me, but I didn't know if I wanted it to be with a kid or without. It was a wonderful suprise when he brought me the necklace with his mom's diamond. I didn't think I was getting any bling, lol.

Now it's your turn! Go post your answers, link up with Mama M, and play along! Leave me a comment and I will make sure to leave you one too!