Eight Years

Today is our eighth anniversary. This means I write about how lucky I am to have married Nate (and into his wonderful family) and how life has certainly changed since our wedding but oh, how it's so much better now.

Which is all true, so no need to expand on those thoughts, really.

But it is sort of nuts to think about our wedding day. It was a different life time ago, both Nate and I have agreed, but it still makes me smile to remember the excitement in 2007.

There was much unknown for the future laid out before us. I think I sort of expected to move to Wisconsin, for Nate to go through grad school, for both of us to work, and then have children. But I couldn't have known exactly what our life would look like eight years later, although I think my twenty-six year old self would have been pleased.

Together for nearly thirteen years, married for eight, and still writing basically the exact same anniversary post of bewilderment and contentment and happiness.

I love doing this crazy life with you, Nate. It's more than I imagined---more happiness and also more challenges. Just more of everything and I love looking back on our eight years of marriage.



First: San Diego trip to celebrate.


Second : Chicago trip to celebrate.


Third: we are parents, no trip! But baby Truman!


Fourth: back to Chicago for a quick getaway. I remember going through my miscarriage here but we still managed to have fun.


Fifth: out to dinner and the next day Cecelia was born!


Sixth : out to dinner and no new baby the next day;)


Seventh: out to dinner and a new baby a few weeks later.


Eighth: we are both working long days today, preparing for visitors to arrive for Cecelia's big day, and we hope to get a dinner out together sometime soon. Perhaps some wine after the kids go down tonight, laying on the couch, and watching a Lost? Sounds perfect to me.

Here's to the next year and to the past eight. (cheers!)

Seven.

Seven years married to this man. Together for nearly twelve.

It's cliche to say, but I love him more today than I did when we were two clueless college kids. I remember the 'world stopping' feeling when I'd spot Nate across campus. I remember those butterflies that would rise up into my throat when he'd email/call/talk to me. He was something different, and I probably knew he was The One from early on. Oh, how I loved that college frat boy and he fell hard for this sorority girl, too.

If you would have told me back then that I'd marry Nate, move to Wisconsin with him, start this new life together, and that I'd have three of his children I don't think I would have been surprised. But there would have been no way for my 21 year old self to fully comprehend what this life with him would entail.

It's so much better than I could have predicted. It's harder, more challenging and more chaotic than I dreamed. But it's full of such joy, gratitude, and laughter---how can you possibly tell a 21 year old girl that it really does get better each year? How can you tell her that the dreamy frat boy turns out to be the most amazing man, husband, and father that she will know? That it will be quite the ride but worth every bump?

Our wedding day was hands-down one of the happiest of our lives. But it was only the beginning of our happiest days. There have been plenty of ugly moments thrown into the past seven years but today, on our anniversary, I can't stop smiling thinking about the good ones.

(our wedding invitation, framed and on my night stand)


To my husband, on our seventh anniversary: I love you. Thank you for balancing my crazy side and supporting my strengths. Thank you for making me a mother to these children that are our world. Someday we will have time for Julia and Nate again, without the demands of little kids on top of our marriage. But until then, just know that I can't imagine doing this with anyone else. We are quite the team. Here's to the next seven.

Wedding Day: 2007






First Anniversary: 2008 (San Diego trip)






Second Anniversary: 2009 (Chicago Trip)






Third Anniversary: 2010 (New baby! No trip!)






Fourth Anniversary: 2011 (Chicago Trip)






Fifth Anniversary: 2012 (Last day of being pregnant with Cecelia!, dinner and dessert...then labor)






Sixth Anniversary: 2013 (dinner and drinks, a family of four)






Seventh Anniversary: 2014 (place holder pictures until we can go out to dinner together later this week. Memorial Day Weekend fun at Lake Michigan (another post to come)!)


Super pregnant for two out of seven anniversaries--not too bad.


Picture by Truman, taken yesterday.


Happy Anniversary, Nate;) Lucky number seven, baby.

six.

Six years of marriage, nearly eleven years together.

I can't help but reflect on our fifth anniversary last year: out to dinner and dessert, then labor started hours later and our girl was born at 8:05 am the following day. It's safe to say this year's anniversary won't be quite as eventful or memorable as our fifth. But, allow me to get a little mushy here: I can say that I love Nate even more now than last year. Just seeing him ease into his role as a dad of two kids, while entering the Threenager phase together as a team has made me love my partner even more. And sharing a 'holy crap, what a day' drink together at the end of a tough one is a good way to solidify that we are in this together. Even when the baby is acting a fool and her brother even more so. We are a team and we are in this together. And what a good teammate I have in this parenting game.

Someday our marriage won't revolve around being parents of small kids, and those times when we can actually make eye contact and have adult conversations together will become the norm. Until then, we will cherish our date nights and running together without a stroller and the quiet evening hours after the kids are asleep. Because our marriage is nowhere near perfect but it's still pretty great.

Happy six years to us.

May 27, 2007




First Anni: big trip to San Diego 2008

Second Anni: trip to Chicago 2009



Third Anni: whoops, new baby! No time to take a real picture of the parents, this must have been around Memorial Day-ish. Sorry, Nate ;( 2010



Fourth Anni: back to Chicago in the rain (really dressy here, love my hair!) 2011



Fifth Anni: out to eat for a date night, hours before baby girl is born 2012


Sixth Anni: out to eat last night....at the same place as last year, but no baby to follow the next day. 2013


It's nice not to be hugely pregnant and in labor at the end of this anniversary celebration. And I think I'm more content this year than ever. Ah, reflections of years past. So much fun.

So happy to be married to this guy with these two crazy kiddos.

Randomness

So first of all, I've had a glass of wine tonight and really feel the need to blog. Not sure why. I should totally start on Cecelia's 5 month post, since it's really 'due' on Sunday. But whatever. Not feeling it right now.

One tidbit of text before I bombard you with iPhone pictures: Nate and I have been debating (ahem, arguing/fighting?) about joining the gym for a bit now. In case you haven't read my blog before, I'm super cheap and pretty anxious when it comes to spending money. I think that spending money on a gym membership during the horribly cold and dark winter months in Wisconsin is a great idea in theory. I mean, Nate and I both value our physical health and fitness and let's face it---we are both in a lot better moods if we get to exercise.

But that's a big 'IF' right now. Because, well, life with two children when we both work outside of the home leaves very little free time. Especially since one of our children doesn't really believe in the sleep concept. This fact combined with the actual cost of a gym membership had me squarely on the 'I think it's a huge waste of money' side of things.

And my husband? He is on the 'I think we can make it work' side of things. I mean, he refuses to do Jillian DVDs and once it's colder than the artic outside and dark for approximately 18 hours a day, I get it--exercise is going to be harder and harder to come by around here.

So anyway, we debated the cost and the probability that we would actually get our moneys worth out of a membership. And I did something that I rarely do: I let Nate win an argument. And we joined the freaking gym tonight.

Of course, I couldn't be okay with JUST Nate joining because if he gets to have time for real, physical exercise that doesn't include listening to a baby monitor for multiple wake ups, then I want to have that option, too. And I didn't want to feel resentful or hang Nate's ability to work out over his head if he was a member and I was not.

Our tentative schedule is as follows (because I know you all care so much): I'm going to attempt to go at 5am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, since those are my days off and I wouldn't need to hurry home and get myself and the kids ready for daycare. I could potentially nap those days if I'm really tired (HA! That would require a baby who naps, and one that would nap during the same time as her brother, too!). And honestly? I'm usually up at 5 am anyway to nurse Cecelia, so why not just get out of bed after that particular break in the night and get a little 'me' time? Nate prefers to take the night shift and will try to work out on Tuesday and Thursday evenings after the kids are asleep. And then we will both go to the gym once more on the weekends, making it 3 days per week each. Not too bad in theory, right? We will see how it goes.

I tested out my theory of a 5 am workout today, by getting up to run at that time of day. And I was surprised by how rested I felt, how strong I felt, and how freaking AMAZING it was to get that solo run under my belt. Cecelia woke on her own at 4:50 to nurse (no, not for the first time that night---probably more like the 6th time, of course) and so I just got up right then. She woke up when I slithered out of the room and I was scared that she'd stay awake after that. She could've screamed for Nate the whole time, thus waking Truman up, too---but Nate told me that she fell back to sleep in our bed, by holding Nate's hand and drifting off with her daddy as her buddy. This is particularly heart-warming since she is still REALLY into mommy and doesn't tolerate anyone else if she is the least bit cranky.

Cecelia slept until 6:30 with Nate, and Truman woke at 6 when I came back from my run. Amazing! I'd say that was a success all around and I hope I can keep up the momentum to continue my early morning workouts. Especially now that I have a fancy gym to explore---it's the same one we belonged to before Truman, so it's nothing new. But then again, I'd say it's pretty new and exciting because it's been SO long since we could be gym rats.

Does anyone else work outside of the home, with multiple children, and belong to a gym? If so, do you feel that it's worth it? How do you make it work?

That's my main story for tonight. Also--can't wait for the election to be over. I will never ever talk about my political beliefs on this blog, and I'm not particularly passionate about politics anyway. But the whole thing just makes me nervous. I know who I'm going to vote for and I hope he wins, but I have a feeling it's going to be super close either way. Stressful. All of the heated debates on Facebook are enough to make me cringe--I just dislike confrontation that much, I suppose.

Also, one thing I was going to post as a status update on Facebook but then I just didn't (hate when my social media platforms get mixed up a bit!): The other day I was huffing and puffing up a giant hill, while pushing a double jogging stroller. And a man was standing at a bus stop, watching me struggle to haul this gigantic load of children. I figured I looked pretty horrible but he had to know I was at least pretending to be active and fit and all of that stuff, right? Apparently the double jogging stroller was a sign that I'm a smoker, because he seriously asked me, 'You got a cigarette' as I limped by. I just said, 'Nope' but then I thought of a lot of other funnier things to say once I was past him. Like, 'Sorry, just finished my last one on the first part of my run....with this GIANT stroller containing my children.' Or, 'Yep, let me just grab one from my baby.' Weird, no? Maybe the people who make double BOBs should consider adding a little cigarette holder on the hand bar. I think he was seriously disappointed that I couldn't produce a cig for him. Can't please everyone, I suppose.

Okay, now for a few iPhone pictures for your pleasure. That way I don't need to include them all in my 5 month post coming up (someday). Score.

1. Super-obsessed with Truman's new art display system in his room. I'm sure you've all seen the pin on Pinterest that shows the Ikea wires and clips? After a little investigating on Amazon, I found the 'Ikea Deka' version which is a little smaller and cheaper than the famous Pinterest version. I bought two and Nate hung them like a boss, no issues at all despite what some of the reviews said. Now we have a way to show off all of his amazing 2 year old artwork! Truman loves it and is so proud.







2. Cecelia's hair is awesome. And I love breastfeeding. And I make a conscious effort not to show you too much boobage in breastfeeding pictures. This one feels acceptable to me---note the hair and her huge eyes! And the reflection of me and my iPhone in her eye:)


3. After bath = one of my favorite times of the night. Observe.




4. This guy and his goofy faces. Love.



(and Nate didn't get home from work until 9 pm that night, so it's amazing that we were all smiles and surviving)

5. More early morning pictures of my crew. They never get old to me. Although I wish I would take the time to convert them all to B&W to make the horrid yellow light a little less offensive. Eh.




(his fishy face)








6. We took an amazingly fun art class for a month on Thursday mornings. Today was our last day and I'm sad it's over, for Truman's sake. The kid loved it!!


(it was Jackson Pollock day--hence the random splattery paint and abstract wonders. Also, my mom made Truman's paint smock. Freaking awesome)




(and Truman is seriously in love with Charlotte. Tickling each others' faces with a feather....)


7. Sophie the Giraffe is seriously the best teether ever. Poor Cecelia has to use her brother's hand-me-down but she doesn't seem to mind. 'She must be teething' is the most used phrase ever for babies aged 2-24 months, and we've started to use this excuse non-stop now! Yay. (no teeth yet, but they have to be the culprit of no sleep, I'm convinced. Phantom teeth suck!)






That's all the randomness I can muster up right now.  I should have been in bed about 1 hour ago considering my early morning. But sometimes it's fun to pretend like the day isn't totally over yet, and to soak up as much 'me' time as possible in the evening hours. I'm sure I will regret it tomorrow---or actually, later tonight when Cecelia is up numerous times.