Thank You.

October 15, 2011

Today is my 3rd wedding anniversary. Three years as Mrs. Dr. H in the books. It's remarkable how time can fly like that... I thought a lot about what I wanted to say in this post, how I could outdo the cheese-tastic outpouring of love that I displayed for years one and two (or do I just write a sentence and give you some Hump Day Distractions!?) but after reflecting on everything that happened during our third year as husband and wife, I think what I really want to say is: 

Thank you. 

Thank you my beloved Dr. H for a year of unprecedented support and encouragement. For a year of pep talks and planning, assistance and patience. Thank you for helping me face my fears, chase my dreams and chill the F out (because alone I clearly would have lost my mind). Thank you for enduring my melt downs and sleepless nights, my manic energy and breathless (endless) conversations. Thank you for teaching me how to use Excel (again) and for doing all my math for me. Thank you for dancing with me. Thank you for so much love.

In marriage, you are told there will be give and take and that the goal is to achieve balance between the husband and wife. Husband, I do not know how I will ever repay you for the year that you've given me, but I'm happy to spend the next however many years it takes trying:) I love you.

730 Days

When you put it that way, 2 years doesn't seem like very long does it? But somehow, in just 730 days, I've completely abandoned life as "me" and wrapped myself wholeheartedly into a "we" with Dr. H. 

After two years of marriage, we've found our rhythm as a couple and settled into a partnership that is inextricably a piece of who I am. I define myself, without a moment's thought, as half of a "we" and though that may sound corny, when your identity is defined in part by your love for and life with another person, the future feels filled with endless possibility. Because I know that my own strength is limited and that my ability to dream big is confined to only my vision of the world, but with Dr. H as my "we", I have someone whispering words of encouragement in my ear and broadening my perspective on what's out there to experience. Whether it's something small like motivating me to keep peddling up the giant Loire Valley hill or something huge like fantasizing about buying a home and starting a family, there is no me anymore without my "we".

So dearest Dr. H... my Peruvian hiking partner and fellow Brazilian beach bum, my Portuguese co-explorer and French biking buddy... here's to the 730 days behind us and the thousands of days of love, support and adventure ahead. You are essential to the definition of me and I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Anniversary. (#babeitup)

To have and to hold...

True love

...comes in all shapes

... and sizes.

As someone who has experienced the unadulterated joy of marrying my soul mate, who geeks out for the Supreme Court's wisdom and who believes in love above all,  this week's Supreme Court docket has my fullest attention. Change does not come easy and acceptance will never be universal, but we have to start somewhere. Here's to hoping we're on our way...

Happily Ever After: Year One

True love.

Today is my first wedding anniversary. Even as I write that, "first wedding anniversary", it sounds too adult to be true. But it is, and if I'm being honest (and extremely cheesy) it's wonderful. Everyone always asks you as a newlywed (a term I think I'm officially shedding as of today?) "how's married life treating you?" and you say "Great!" or, since Dr. H and I were together for many years prior to our wedding, "You know, mostly the same as unmarried life", but that's not really the truth. The truth is, I've found marriage to be fulfilling in the most unexpected way - I love it most for the partnership. Dr. H is my bud and in our marriage I have found the ultimate partner for planning and deciding, mulling and choosing. The comfort I find in facing decisions with Dr. H at my side is what makes having a husband the best. I get someone to blame if a decision goes badly (hehe) but more importantly, I have someone to listen to my fears, push me through difficult decisions and to scheme and dream with. In short, being married (specifically to Dr. H) rocks.

So husband, happy anniversary to you, to us. Thank you for being the ultimate sounding board, consultant, dreamer and partner. Our life together brings me happiness in ways I could never have imagined and I love you to the moon and back. 

First comes love, then comes marriage...

It seems that once a woman gets married, people immediately want to know when she’s going to start a family. I’m amazed by how many people have followed their marital congratulations with “when are you planning to have children?” The (extremely personal!) topic explodes in your face mere seconds after the volume on “what color are your bridesmaids dresses?” is turned down. Sometimes I just want to yell “WHOA there! One life milestone at a time please!!”

What’s really weird about my reaction to this question is that I actually think about having children all the time; but not in the “ohman I want one RIGHT NOW” sort of way (stay calm Dr. H), more like “someday when I do this baby makin’ thing it is totally gonna rock!” I love imagining what Dr. H and I will be like as parents: I love envisioning our little family adventuring in NYC and knowing I’ll have the perfect excuse to indulge in all the “little kid” activities I find so entertaining (arts and crafts, circuses, playgrounds!) I love the idea of being a mom. But I’m also well versed in known “lesser joys” of parenting - the exhaustion, deciding whether or not to leave the city I love and navigating how to be a career rock-star like my Dad AND a supermama like my stay-at-home Mom (can it be done!?) In the see-saw of my mind, couples getaways and date nights are still far more appealing than having any tiny 3rd parties join us. Is this normal? Is there a normal? I keep imagining some day I will wake up and magically “be ready”. Until then however, I will smile politely through the Baby Inquisition while mentally planning bicycling trips in France, boozy Tuesday nights and awesome Saturdays where I hide in bed with Dr. H until noon.

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