Mushy Alert

8 years together.

7 jobs.

6 years of school.

5 cars.

4 places of residence.

3 children.

2 people.

1 happy family.

Well, besides Ava in this picture.



Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I did not sign up for this."

Like when you're scrubbing poop off the wall or using 7 towels to sop up the standing water in the bathroom that your two year old flooded?

I do.

And I did.

Sometimes I wonder if, when Dan walks in the door from work and finds me scuffling around the house in my pajamas, hair askew, smelling like sour milk, looking wholly unattractive (and holy unattractive!), sometimes raving, and sometimes crying, while the kids run around willy nilly through an obstacle course of clothes, toys, and laundry, and thinks, "I did not sign up for this."

Though he'd never admit it, I am sure he has and for that I feel very sorry. I wish I was the beautiful, skinny, slightly more sane girl I was 8 years ago. At times I feel like I tricked him into marrying me.

In an agreement like marriage, where expectations play such a large role, I have been so lucky, to be a satisfied customer. Dan more than meets my expectations. I got what I signed up for and more. Dan delivers!

I signed up for him. I do not know a better man . He is a gentleman and a gentle man. He is exactly what I didn't know I needed, what I now know I need, and exactly what I want. Eight years later he is even better than I imagined.

And the discrepancy between our respective eight year metamorphosis makes me feel sorry sometimes but mostly inspired to try my best to be what he hoped for.

It is safe to say that I love Dan more each day. But for some reason, each time I have a child, it seems that my love for him jumps exponentially.

I really couldn't live without him.



Happy Anniversary, Dan! I love you!