8 Year Anniversary!

This morning you are far away on a work trip, and I am sitting in the kitchen sipping coffee, watching our big little baby terrorize his toys.

I can't stop smiling.

I didn't think I could possibly love you more. But a year ago, this child came along, and everything got harder, better, richer, sweeter. Seeing you as a dad, experiencing you take care of our family, feeling the safety in your presence - it's a part of you I didn't know until now. I love you more now than every other year before.

I'm lucky, we're lucky, we are so lucky. I don't take it for granted.

Thank you for walking with me, respecting me, listening to me, empowering me, pushing me. Thank you for this epic year of Everett. Thank you for taking me on adventures and thank you for letting me take you on some. We've had quite the journey, you and I. And there is so much more to come!

Happy 8 years, my love. 8!!!

Photo by Rachel Koontz.

Happy 7 Years.

7.
7 years. 
6 cross-country moves. 
5 itty-bitty apartments. 
4 great states. 
3 to make a marriage work. 
2 wildly supportive families. 
1 sweet baby on the way.

Happy Anniversary to the kindest man I know.

I can still remember the morning of June 23, 2007. I woke up to the country birds chirping and the sound of my sisters bustling around, making festive preparations with peonies and mimosas. It was already a sweltering day, the sun ripening in the sky for a perfect plantation wedding. OUR wedding. And this morning? It feels like a million years later. Like we are completely different people than those two ruddy-cheeked kids who put rings on each other's fingers and vowed "yes" for ever and ever. But those Georgia birds are still singing for us and I couldn't be happier to wake up next to you. The one who has supported ALL my dreams and helped me laugh when they didn't turn out quite the way I planned. But all of this? It's so much better than I could have planned.

Thanks for being my dearest, fiercest best friend, my partner, my traveling companion, my sweetest encourager, my dreaming tree, and the perfect father to our little Everett, who is continuing to take over our bed. The past 7 years with you have been non-stop, what will the next 7 bring?? Oy.

Love you.