Marriage.

I'm only 25 so I haven't done a whole lot, but I can say without hesistation that marrying Ross is the best thing I ever did. This realization came to me this morning as I looked over and saw him sleeping. He was lying there (having taken ALL of the sheet, as per usual), with his face smushed into the pillow, lips pouting out, hand curled up under his chin as if pondering something. I love seeing him like this. It's not because it's the only time he's quiet (which is the complete truth-he goes from dead asleep to 574,657 miles per hour in 4 seconds flat). I love seeing him like this because this is how he always looks in the morning. I look at him and think, "That's my Ross." It's the most comforting thought and pleasant feeling I could ever ask for.

As of June 7, we will be married for 4 years. True, that's not the longest marriage in history (unless we are talking about Hollywood history), but it's the longest out of our close friends. We love our marriage and we take pride in it. That's not to say that we think we are better than other people. We have our problems. But we love how our marriage started and how it works.

Ross and I met in high school. We started dating the summer before junior year. We broke up the fall of senior year. Then we kind of got back together that spring. We were definitely not together that summer, but we were back together the in the fall of 1999. A romance reblossomed and sustained with the help of Instant Messenger. That's what we'll be naming our first born out of gratitude.

We got engaged in the fall of 2001. That's right. He was almost 21. I had just turned 20 a month earlier. It is absurd to me to think of that now, but that's how it went. We were married a year and half later.

It would be completely accurate to say that Ross and I are growing up together. We are so different than how we were when we first met, even from when we first got married. A lot of people warned me that it was dangerous to get married so young. You change so much in your 20's and that could mean changing in ways that don't compliment one another, thus drifting apart.

Things have changed. They are so much better than I could have ever imagined. I am so proud of the person Ross is becoming and I am grateful that I have been here to see this new person take shape.

I've changed, too. Ross requires me to be honest at all times. I don't know if he realizes this, but it's true. There's no point in trying to pretend to be something I'm not, because he knows me so well. There is no room for being shy or pretentious. You are who you are, and you're loved totally and completely, no matter what.

We laugh all the time. All. the. time. Before Ross came along I was extremely self conscious. Now I'll pretty much say anything, especially if there's a chance that he will laugh. You know, a laugh where he tries to talk but can't because he's so tickeld by something I've said or done. When that happens, it's like the heavens have opened up and angels are singing.

Ross and I have the expectation for each other that we will always be kind, whatever that means or whatever that looks like. I think that our shared desire to do good is one of the strongest joining forces in our marriage.

My love for Ross has not only grown exponentially, but also changed profoundly. He is my partner in every sense of the word. We are in this together and I'm so proud to be able to say that.

This is about as normal as we get...

Deep in the love

I love my husband more than anything in the whole world. I called him yesterday afternoon and basically told him he needed to make himself scarce so I could have the evening to myself. He did so without question. We reunited later that evening to take care of an unexpected guest (Remus who ended up staying with us until the wee hours of the morning while his mom was at the hospital-no worries, she's fine). My cell phone had died and Remus's parents called Ross to see if we could take care of the little one. Ross had no clue where I was, but was ready and willing to take care of the little buggar on his own if necessary. I was so proud that he was all set to help a friend out, even when it was COMPLETELY out of his comfort zone for an undetermined amount of time. Plus, Remus loves Ross so much and it's nice to see them entertain each other.

Hearts to the hubs!

P.S. Also hearts to the BodyFlow class at Gold's. Times of fun to the maxxxxx.

A Haircut.

Before.



























During.



























After.

Weekend Wrap Up...

Friday: Said goodbye to the instigator of all 5th grade drama because it was his last day, came home, tried to nap, met up with Ross's parents for dinner and Gallery 5 meandering, off to bed.

Saturday: Went to gym, went on an insane cleaning spree, got 5 Guys for dinner, bought a book, came home, finished Windy City scarf, off to bed at 2am.

Sunday: Gave up trying to sleep because I apparently don't do that anymore, made Communion bread for church, took Jenni to see Mark in the hospital, went to church, ate some brownies, got Taco Bell, came home, started this:

It will be a hat for me someday. I'm off to bed very soon because I'm truly exhausted.

True Love

Ross and I were just lying in bed watching MTV when I had a sudden, crippling craving for orange juice (I have had similar cravings like this before, like when I woke up one morning and told him that if I didn't have a crab cake that day I was going to punch someone in the face). I wasn't even whining, I was just talking about it. Before I knew it, he was out of the bed, getting dressed, and off to 7-eleven. The whole time he was gone I was sitting with my mouth hanging open, half believing that this was part of some tragic movie plot that would end in him randomly dying in a horrible accident, as I often do when things happen out of the ordinary. But, fear not, he soon returned with a bottle of orange juice for me, retrieved out of love and the desire to make me happy. He's getting snuggles^maxx tonight!

Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve

The Christmas holidays have gotten off to a spectacular start. Ross and I spent the evening alone which happens about as often as Halley's comet graces us with its presence. We cooked beef tenderloin in the crockpot and played Scrabble and Dominoes. All of that sounds like we're 85 years old until I tell you that whilst playing these games we kissed a lot AND watched Kill Bill vols. 1 and 2. I must say, while I loved the movies independently, watching one right after the other is amazing.

Ross and I woke up this morning before 10, only so we could get to McDonald's in time for breakfast. We came home, got real fat, and then opened our presents. I got a Dust Buster (I asked for it, seriously), Amy Sedaris's entertaining book, and a pair of fancy boots (which will have to be sent back because they are too small, but I'm more deeply in love with Ross than ever for even trying to buy me shoes). I also got lots of deodorant in my stocking, as well as a toothbrush, dental floss, and candy.

Ross got an NCAA official football (because he's 8), a copy of Moby Dick, and the Stuffed Cougar cookbook so he can make me dinner. He too got deodorant in his stocking, as well as candy, a spatula, and, the pis de resistance (I have no idea how to spell it and I prefer to say it like that anyway): plastic army men and a T-rex to be part of our nativity scene (pictures to follow soon, I'm sure).

Today will consist of me not cleaning up the mess from last night's dinner, Ross throwing the new football around with Justin Morgan, us going to church, and then dinner/presents at Ross's parents. I hope I get more deodorant.

Today was seriously a good day.

I mean, I had the wonderful Christmas miracle as mentioned earlier, as well as a good day at school during which some of my kids gave me presents that I will actually use (including Bath & Body Work Brown Sugar and Fig scented lotion-mmmmmmm).

The gloriousness all continued when I got home. I had a nice nap and woke up to my hubs telling me that dinner was ready. He fixed fish sticks and macaroni, which was my most favorite thing to eat when I was little. Ross has been refusing to fix fish sticks since we got married, so this was all very exciting. While we ate we watched Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I fell in love with Robert Downey, Jr. I was proud of myself for being in love with him because he is perhaps the most grown-up looking man that I've ever fallen in love with. Look:

Can we say handsome? Yes, we can, Mr. Downey, Jr., and you. are. it.

Along with that, tomorrow is my last day of work before winter break. I am very very excited.

He's old and he's mine

Today Ross turns 26. He is so close to 30, it's nuts. But anyway, Happy Birthday, Hubs. You're growing up so nicely. I love you.