Three Months!

B and I celebrated a double-whammy this weekend: our (belated) engagement anniversary and the three-month mark of our wedding. Hard to believe how long those 90 days felt leading up to the wedding, and how fast they're flying now!

To celebrate our engagement, B and I did a do-over of the actual big day, starting with the engagement sandwich (he never had a chance!) and finishing with B literally having the nervous fidgets as we walked up to the picnic spot. We packed the red wine and subbed in caramel kisses for the chocolate cupcakes of last year. Plus, we realized what the forgotten part of our picnic was-- black bean and corn salsa. Neither of us could remember what else had been the in basket. This year we opted for olive hummus and sweet potato chips.

I know, to some, it may seem odd to celebrate such "little" things, such tiny moments, but to us, they're big and real and, if I'm being honest, necessary these days. So many things are changing, both good and bad, and it makes me so thankful that we can sit and savor a moment or an anniversary that brings nothing but warm and happy memories flooding back.

So away we went. Granted, this picnic was much less stressful than the last, as B had a big question to pop and a ring box to hide in his pocket. We spent a few hours enjoying our dinner, walking up to the top of Vulcan ("About this time last year, you were ready to throw someone over the side, right sweetie?" "Absolutely.") It tickled me to see B actually get a little anxious walking up there, a good reminder of the pressure he must've felt in a) asking such a big question and b) wanting so badly for me to be happy.

Other than that, the weekend continued to be fabulous. We did a few test drives on Friday evening before repeating a now-favorite shrimp recipe. Saturday, we ran a few errands (finally got those tires!) and picked out deck furniture, which is a) half-off at Lowe's and b) now necessary as I'll be keeping my job after we move to Durham! For now, it's only until February, but that's six more months of income, benefits, and being part of a team that I really love. Thanks for the prayers!

Yesterday we had a fun flurry of activity when we realized my sister-in-law had gone into labor. They sent her home a few hours later to wait and, trooper that she is, she actually kept the plans to celebrate her three-year-old's birthday party at a local pizza place. B and I had a lot of fun catching up with the family, playing with the kids, and getting more boxes before turning in early last night. This is his last week at work here in town. Time has sure flown by.

I love you, B! Thanks for making these three months amazing!

Memories from this month: lake weekend with his high school buddies and their wives/fiances; another of his high school buddies got engaged (so exciting!); finished the wedding thank you notes (again); finished the wedding gift exchange game (finished our china, crystal, everyday, and wine glasses-- yea!); celebrated two monkey birthdays; almost got a puppy (whew! dodged that bullet); almost got puppies for two monkey birthday gifts (ha!)

Emotional Attachments

Granted, yesterday was a long(-ish) day. I tried again, unsuccessfully, to get my tires ("They are here, ma'am, they just aren't off the truck." "But you emailed me and told me to come!"). I got some less than happy news from a friend about recent test results. B and I had plans to attend two parties last night, so after getting home from tire-gate, what did I do? Start cleaning, naturally.

I broke down most of the spare bedroom and actually boxed up lots of the items that have already been sorted into "give away" and "to the siblings" piles. By the time B got home from his day-long firm golf tournament, I was standing in the pantry in a state of random dress drinking wine and eating ginger snaps. Oh sweet comfort food. Then I took him around and showed him all the things I couldn't do, like make the shelf snap into the bookcase and figure out how to take apart a bed frame. Pretty sure I've gotten myself excused from those adventures!

We sat on the bed for a few minutes and just recharged. One thing I've noticed since being married is that I'm much less likely to go on the offensive with B. I think I now take for granted that he's on my team and that we're facing everything else together. It is so so comforting. I don't have to prove my frustration to him, or stomp around to show I'm not feeling the best. Instead, I can tell him and know that he knows and that he wants to help. I think the methods I used while dating were more defensive and self-protective. This feels more vulnerable, but so much better.

We ended up skipping one party and going on to the second, then getting dinner at our favorite Greek place in town. Afterwards, we headed home where he chatted business with his Dad while I talked shop with my sister about the move.

After we both hung up, I moved on to trying on clothes in hopes of getting rid of some. The black dress Mom bought me the day Daddy died? It's going back. I like it. B likes it. But it's a little black party dress with this little raincloud over its head. So back it goes. I debated about the dress I was wearing the day he died, the one I had to wear while helping Mom make the arrangements because the only alternative were the bridesmaids dresses hanging in my closet at home.

I walked out with it and B said, "You love that dress." Which I do, but I turned to put it back in the closet and just started crying. He came over and said, "I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I just want you to be happy. If that dress makes you sad when you see it, give it away." Through little hiccups and tears, I cried into his shoulder, "But I feel BAD throwing it away, too." Wise man that he is, B came back with, "You're not throwing it away. Someone else will get it and like it." So out it went.

I think that's one reason that I'm anxious to get this move on the road. Going through my apartment is bringing up so many memories and little notes from Dad (gotta save the lawyer jokes from the newspaper that he sent!), that I'm eager to process what I can while I can, before I just get overwhelmed.

We're moving two weeks from today. Two weeks! I feel like there's so much to do between now and then. So many people to see, goodbyes (for now!) to say, and boxes to pack. For now, B and I are looking forward to a fun weekend of car browsing, going through wedding photos, and celebrating our three-month anniversary. Love you, sweetie!

No Friday! No!

Where has this week gone? The move countdown is on-- 15 days! I got great news on Monday that I'll be able to keep my job, at least for the time-being. So that means I'm officially moving over a weekend rather than departing here on a "last day." Wild!
Big news... selling things on Craigslist (so long, washer/dryer!), prepping for a wild moving day (two weeks from tomorrow, please pray), B received an offer at a Birmingham firm (yea!)... and so much more, I'm sure.
Right now, we're enjoying a wild week of dinners with lawyers, firm softball games, and an unexpected one-day trip to Chicago. Hopefully this weekend will be a little slower, though we're anticipating a few things already including a car test drive, organization of some important papers, new tires, and hopefully some purging of unworn or ill-fitting clothing.
The good news about all us kids moving at the same time is that I'm getting boxes from the siblings, so that's exciting! Booked the movers this morning. Always fun to start the conversation with, "Now, this sounds crazy..."
We've got 15 days left to enjoy the city, and B will be gone for approximately 4-5 of those. This is nuts. Bring on the monotony!

Weekend in Florence

B and I took off for the weekend up to Florence to a) see Mom (hi Mom!) and b) tackle part two of the wedding gift organization, Operation China, Everyday, & Crystal.

We left Birmingham after dinner on Friday, arriving long after everyone was in bed. I woke up at 6am Satuday morning (I know, seriously?) and couldn't go back to sleep. It was perfect, though. I got up and headed downstairs to hang with Mom, the dependable early bird of the house. We got to visit for an hour or so, then the kids started waking up. They're fun, but they sure change the mood of a room quickly!

I convinced them to let B sleep for a while longer and shortly after that battle, he woke up and made his way down the hall. They crew headed out for breakfast while we got started on the gifts-- sorting things into place settings, figuring out what we had, figuring out what we needed, and packing it all up into a (somewhat) manageable pile of boxes.

We figured out what needed to be exchanged and got moving, hitting three stores before finally stopping for lunch at 3 p.m. B was such a trooper! The ladies at the department store just ate him up, too.

B had been dying to try a BBQ place in town, Singletons, and boy was it amazing. Granted, we hadn't eaten since 6 p.m. the night before, but still so good. A few more errands and then we were home, where B, Mom, and I did a little more organizing, got the kids dinner, drank our fair share of wine, and then watched the wedding video so that the kiddos could see themselves in the ceremony.

Sunday, we headed to church and then I got to work finishing the packing while B hunkered down and helped Mom with little 2-man jobs around the house, then he went on to jump the Supra, wash it, and put it away in the garage so that Mom didn't have to worry about it. Super B!

It was so awesome being with Mom and just getting good hugs from her again. She's going to help us with the move in a few weeks, which I so appreciate! Plus I love having excuses to see her any day of the week. :)

One-Year Anniversary

One year ago today B was getting ready to pop the question. This morning on the way to the car, he looked at me and said, "Happy Anniversary, Baby." In my sleepy stupor (it was 5:45 am), I protested, "No no... the ninth isn't... oh you mean the engagement!" Sweet sweet boy. So fun!

I dropped him off at the airport for his flight to Chicago (day trip for work), and on the way I asked what he remembered about that date. Nothing! I think he was focused on getting to the question while I ended up looking back and cataloging everything about that day, starting with church and ending with Champagne. So much fun.

Happy one year anniversary to us. A year ago now I was sitting on the couch in pajamas with a big glass of apple juice and reruns of Law & Order: SVU. Poor girl-- she had no idea that she was about to be thrust on a crazy nine-month whirlwind!

Looking back, while I wish I could've married B a year ago tomorrow, I wouldn't change a thing. Loved having the fun emails, calls, and visits with Mom. Loved introducing B's parents to Florence. Loved it all.

He gets back late tonight, so we're celebrating with a low-key dinner at a favorite place. I can't wait!

Email of the Day

My thesis advisor wrote me this morning in response to my "name change" email, asking if I'd gotten married. I wrote back:

I did! On May 9th, I married fellow Princeton alum and 05er BK. He was in the history department, but we like him anyway. We'll be moving to Durham (from Birmingham) in about three weeks for his final year of law school at Duke, then to Jacksonville, FL after graduation for a one-year clearkship. I'm starting to wonder why I didn't pay more attention to my classes on the Odyssey!

He replied:

Well congratulations! Or felicitations, which is better etiquette, I am told. I am so glad that B is obviously a giant brain and someone who can handle all your future royalties and contracts. Secretly, I was afraid it was the ball player. I love baseball, but consider A-Rod and his matrimonial track record, not to mention substance abuse. Now if B and the ballplayer are the same man, then you have hit the jackpot.

Jackpot, indeed!

Car Shopping

B's sweet Jeep is about to give up the ghost, so we're doing a little car shopping when we have a minute. As a result, we now notice every. single. car. on the road while we're driving. That hasn't stopped me, of course, from continuing with my complete car ignorance...

B: Baby, look at the car behind us. That's the Honda. Do you like it?

Me: The Honda Acura?

B: The Honda Acura? What? How can you possibly be this confused about car names?

Me: I'm just that good.