A blog dedication to my hubby

I never really talk about J on this blog because I am one of those people who often give folks the side eye when they start gushing about their significant other on social media. So this post might be a little hypocritical of me but I can't let the year end without talking about just how awesome he is.

This year has been a trying year for us but we have also grown a lot in that time. I've known J for over 8-years and we are still learning about each other everyday.

When we first met, I often joke about the fact that he was wearing what I called bathroom slippers. They were these Addidas slip on sandals. Yes, he wore it on our first date!  
Side note: Guys, these are NOT first time date shoes. DO NOT wear these on a first date!!!

We were going to meet in an open parking lot close to where we both lived at the time. What you don't know is that I took one look at his shoes after I got out of my car and was not impressed so I almost walked into the store and pretended I didn't see him. 
BUT I didn't and I am so glad I didn't. Something stopped me in my tracks and over the course of what was supposed to be a quick 2-hour date which turned into almost 4-hours, I began the journey of falling in love with my now husband. Even then, God had things in motion that I didn't know about. 

That was in 2007. When my mom called me a few days after our first date and asked if I was dating anyone, I said "yes but it is nothing serious." My mom got quiet and said "hmmm...I think you should give this one a chance. I don't know why but there is something different about him." As they say, "mother knows best."

Since that first date, we've had many adventures together. 
 

Through the years, I have come to realize that he truly is the ying to my yang. There's been times where I just want to go off on someone and he has a way of calming me down so that I don't regret it later. Don't get me wrong...he certainly has his moments and sometimes, I want to give him a good pinch in a not so nice way. But his good ways far outweighs his challenging ways. 

J had never looked after babies or been around little ones as an adult before we had kids so he had a HUGE learning curve when JOE arrived. We had some pretty trying moments. From him learning to change a diaper to learning to hold a baby to learning to feed the baby. But the most important thing is that he was willing and he learned and became awesome at it. So much so that by the time JAE arrived, he was a pro. 
He is the one who has been feeding her in the middle of the night when she wakes up because I often get up at night to pump and he doesn't want me to have to get up a second time to feed or change her. He changes her in the middle of the night if she has a dirty diaper. He gets her to sleep almost every evening. 

Looking back, I don't think I gave him enough credit for how much work and love he put into being the awesome dad that he is today. So I am declaring it here to the world that he truly is an AWESOME DAD to our girls. He is great with them and 6 times out of 10, he is the one JOE wants to play with.
We recently had to go get JOE checked out for a medical procedure and when they asked "who do you want to hold you?" She said "I want dadda." 
As a mom, I was a little disappointed BUT I was also so happy to see the bond between them and how comforting her is not just something I do but something her dad does as well.

 

 

He really is my partner. Before I met him, I was always VERY independent. I felt like I could do everything on my own and didn't really need someone else. Even after meeting him and through our years of marriage, I still fall back on that independent part of me. BUT J has a way of making me take the help he offers. I know I don't say it enough so I want to put this out there...baby, you mean the world to me and your help and support each day is the reason I am able to be who I am. I love you from the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU for being a friend, a lover, a partner, my travel buddy, a shoulder to cry on, my baby daddy and most importantly, my husband! Bette Midler said it best. You are truly "the wind beneath my wings".

Boy, am I glad I didn't walk into that store. Becoming his wife and mother to his kids is by far the best decision I have ever made. 

While 2015 has been a challenging year, I am very much looking forward to a rewarding 2016 and many more years together filled with laughter, love, family and beautiful memories.