I Can't Believe

San Antonio 2005

It's been five years.  Man, sometimes that seems like so long ago, and then other times I think that is the blink of an eye. Or two eyes. Unless only one of yours blinks. But that's actually winking.

The night he proposed -- Babin's 12-17-05

Five years ago today, I went on the first date with this grouchy boy who demanded suggested that I drive to his side of town. And I got in trouble. And I was a mess.

The following morning at church when he told everyone and they all cried. Everyone but Santa. He's always jolly.

You see, originally, he was going to be right down the street from me, playing in his garage band with his buddies. {You may laugh. It's ok. He has a snarky comeback.} But like lots of things, with garage band buddies, it was cancelled last minute so he was no longer driving the 45+ miles to my side of town.

Fredericksburg, Texas   March 2006

Then the demands started. I should just drive one million miles out there. I was so against that. But his verbal ninja convinced me otherwise. Which was terrible. Because I thought I had all this time. Time while he was driving, while he was banding it up, to get myself ready. Nope. I'll confess that I drove a good bit of the way with giant velcro rollers in my hair. {Eeek. Did I really just let that go?} For shame.

Our wedding day  June 2, 2006

I actually drove to his house.

I know. I know I know! You can stop judging me already. In my defense {a wimpy one at that} we had all already googled him and his job to make sure that he was who he actually said he was. Those results were pretty funny in themselves.

More wedding love

So I pulled up to his curious little house and knocked on the door. And then we went to Babin's. It's fancy. Well, not really fancy, so much as out of my price range. I was a poor college student. I could not understand why he picked that place. Have you seen the decor there? There are fish hanging on the walls. Fish! Fish with funny names.

Our first Christmas together in our new house

We made fun of fish the entire dinner. We laughed a lot. Afterwards, we planned on getting some hot cocoa from Starbucks and driving around looking at fancy Christmas lights. We were in The Woodlands, afterall. Poor guy, he had no idea that everything closes down early. No hot cocoa. He couldn't even find any good lights.

Ethiopia   June 2009  waiting to hold our son

We went to Wal-Mart. Stop. I know you are so jealous. Wal-Mart. Can you believe it? Then I married this guy? We bought paper and ribbons and tags and tape and everything else and went to his house where I wrapped 95% of all his presents. And I made him listen to Christmas music. And I taught him how to wrap a box and tie a pretty bow. After we were all finished he sighed and realized he'd have a lot of explaining to do. His family was going to know something was up with all those pretty packages.

summer 2009

That's it. That's how it all started. Not a lot of charm, or planning, not even a goodnight kiss. But there was lots of laughter {and we all know how much I love wrapping ... and how fun I am in general} and he was hooked. That's all it took.

And I must admit, I am happier now than ever.