5 Years

Saturday was our 5th wedding anniversary. The past few years it had worked out oddly to where Ty was on a work trip over our anniversary. I say oddly because it was the only trip he took all year and it ended up falling over our anniversary each year, totally out of his control. It didn't matter because we still got to celebrate together when he got home, but since he wasn't traveling on our anniversary this year and it was our 5th one, we wanted to make this year special. My parents sent us an anniversary card with $50 so we could go out for a date and Thomas said he'd watch the kids for us while we were out. So we had Saturday evening all planned just the two of us. I still wanted to celebrate with the kids so we had a special candlelit dinner Friday night. I, spur of the moment, decided to put some decorations from our wedding day out on the table. We had the crock pot meal I had already planned for the day, but added a special dessert. I had a Cheesecake Factory gift card I'd been saving to take Ty for cheesecake as a date and it had never happened, so I loaded the kids up and we headed out to pick up to-go cheesecake for dessert. Carter picked vanilla bean, I went with Oreo, and Ty chose a peanut butter fudge. Sweet Elise got to try a bite of each and then I gave her a spoonful of whipped cream. It was fun to surprise Ty when he got home from work.

Family picture before our special dinner.

Bird cage and candles were decorations at our wedding and the picture was just for fun.

After dinner I put on my wedding dress and Ty took a picture of me posing similar to a wedding day shot. Then Carter took a picture of me and Ty together. We went ahead and did our traditional anniversary dance to our first dance song and then watched our wedding video a day early. We weren't sure yet what time we would be going out for our date the next night and wanted to make sure we had time to do both of those things. Ty and I danced our first dance to Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band. There are so many special memories tied up with that song. When the song first came out, Ty and I had been dating for a few months. He asked me if I'd heard the song and I hadn't so he told me it made him think of me and had me listen to it. Then they played it at the bar we went to that night so we had to dance to it. A different night quite a few months later, we were sitting around with friends and the song came on. Ty started singing it to me and then said, "You know when I sing that line 'She's gonna be my wife,' I mean it." It was the moment that broke the ice and started our conversation about marriage. I can't hear the song without getting butterflies in my stomach. Slow dancing to it with Ty in the kitchen each year as I wear my wedding dress is the best anniversary present. This year I requested we also dance to Thomas Rhett's song, Die A Happy Man. Later I got to thinking about it and realized I've added an extra song to our anniversary dance each year. We've always danced to 2 songs, but the second one has changed each year. I thought it would be fun to document the different songs each year so I can remember later on down the road and maybe make us a special anniversary mix for our 15th! From what I remember it has been:

2012- Feet Don't Touch the Ground by Stoney LaRue
2013- Born to Love You by Ben Harper
2014- I Don't Dance by Lee Brice
2015- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
2016- Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett

Left: wedding day (obviously), Right: 5th anniversary

Me and my handsome dancing partner/life partner!

Saturday morning Ty worked a half day which isn't really a half day as it is 6 hours of work, 6am-noon, but they call it a half day. I took the kids to the free family day at the art museum which was amazing. They had a special insect petting zoo. It was the most fun we've ever had there. That evening I made smoothies and quesadillas for the kids and then Thomas took our annual family picture for us before Ty and I headed out for our date a little after 5pm. We decided it would be best to go early so we could be home in time to put the kids to bed and then we could have the evening to enjoy some drinks on the couch. It was so nice getting to go out with Ty just the two of us. When we got back Thomas told me since Elise was wearing a cloth diaper he just threw her poopy diaper out in the yard. I thought he was kidding but it turned out since our toilet in our main bathroom hasn't been installed yet so we don't have a diaper sprayer hooked up he wasn't sure what to do with the diaper. I couldn't stop laughing, it was just too funny! He also hadn't realized it was our anniversary until he was messing around on his phone while Carter watched a show. He thought we just randomly decided to go on a date and had no idea why we were taking a family picture even though Carter was holding a "5" candle. He definitely added some comedy to the evening! It has been a wonderful 5 years and I look forward to all the years to come!

I told Carter we were going to dress up for our picture and he insisted on wearing his suit.

I had to hold Elise's hand down so we could get a picture without her thumb in her mouth!

And I just can't help myself, I have to do a collage every year. I love seeing how our family has grown and how the kid(s) get bigger each year.

Read my post from our 4th anniversary here, 3rd anniversary here, and 2nd anniversary here. I wrote a post about my wedding day memories here and Ty wrote one about his memories here. I also wrote a post about my wedding week memories here.

4 Years!

7-9-11, such a special set of numbers for me. Not just consecutive odd numbers, but the day Ty and I joined together as husband and wife. The day we took our life together and made it official. We went from two separate I's to a we. Although I felt like we had done that long before our wedding day. I look back on that day just a mere 4 years ago but it seems a lifetime ago. I guess because it was a different life, a different me. It was the me before Carter. Before Elise. Before knowing what it was like to be a mom. It was the Ty I loved before even knowing what he was like as a father. Before seeing the look in his eyes as he held his newborn child in his arms. It was the Ty who had yet to help me shave my legs when my belly was so big I couldn't see everything, let alone bend over! The Ty who had yet to press and rub my hips as I went through childbirth. It was the Ty who had yet to be soaked with amniotic fluid. The Ty who knew nothing about breastfeeding or contractions or labor. And let's be honest, he now knows more than he probably would like to!

Elise almost looks like she's looking at the camera!

Our lives have changed so much in 4 years. We have experienced so much together. We bought a house and 2 cars, now a mini van. We have created life together 3 times. We have borne the loss of a pregnancy together. We have delivered 2 babies together. We have made difficult decisions. We have held hands. We have supported each other and held each other. Ty has given me the opportunity to stay home with our children.

Our lives are not what we had expected 4 years ago. I'd say they are better than I could have imagined. When I look back at our wedding day I am reminded of so many special moments, so much joy. I used to wish I could go back and relive our wedding day one more time more rested and able to appreciate it all a little bit more. I find I don't wish that any more. Now I wish I could relive the day each of our babies was born. That last victorious push before they entered the world. Holding them for the first time. Watching Ty meet them. Although I do love reliving our first dance in my mind as we dance to our song alone in the kitchen while our babies sleep or like this year with a baby sandwiched between us because the 3 minutes we wanted to dance were 3 minutes she absolutely, positively had to be held. Funny how life changes! When I look back at our reception photos I catch myself thinking how much more fun it would have been with Carter grooving on the dance floor. While I'm reminiscing I think back to our honeymoon and the simple, easy, laid back time it was. Just for a moment I wish I could be back there, sitting in the sand in a bathing suit, drink in hand, feet kicked up with nothing to do but hold Ty's hand and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Before I can even finish picturing it I'm already imagining Carter digging in the sand. Then Elise pops up, sleeping on my chest with her arms drunkily hanging over my sides. My bikini changes to a one piece. My drink disappears. Quicker than you can say happy hour my fantasy has shifted to include my kids and let's be honest, it isn't much of a fantasy without them anyway. 4 years. 4 amazing years. And I wouldn't change a second!

Our 3rd Anniversary

Yesterday evening Ty arrived home from his work trip.  I was holding Carter and we were heading into the laundry room when we looked out the window and saw Ty emerge from his car.  The biggest grin spread across my face and I screamed "daddy" to Carter as my stomach flipped over in excitement.  We immediately dashed out the door and ran to give Ty a big group hug.  Carter was laughing and exclaiming "daddy" over and over!  When we got inside I set Carter down so I could get a full-on big hug.  Carter allowed it for a moment and then slipped between our legs and wrapped one arm around my leg and the other around Ty's leg and fussed.  We took our family picture before I headed out to a tutoring appointment.  As I was changing back into my regular clothes Carter climbed all over Ty.

I should have held our number 3 candle over more so it would stand out against my dress.  Oops!

Laughing because Ty accidentally hit the rapid fire button.

I rushed back home after tutoring and changed back into my date night clothes.  We headed out to a fancy restaurant I had been saving a gift card to that I had received from a student.  Carter was tired because he'd only napped for an hour and a half and we were eating dinner late so he had no interest in sitting still.  Ty took him out to walk around for a while after we ordered.  When Carter was finished eating he began to climb all over me and I began to wish we'd gone with a high chair rather than a booster seat.  I took him outside to walk around and he excitedly exclaimed "daddy" over and over as we walked around.  Little mister just couldn't get enough of his daddy! 

When we got home Ty showed me their new trick they had picked up while I was tutoring.  Carter would step up on Ty's foot while holding onto Ty's hand and Ty would lift his foot, bouncing Carter in the air.  We gave Carter a quick bath and he was off to bed.  Once Carter was down I changed into my wedding dress and Ty had already pulled up our song, Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band, while I was in the other room.  We danced to our first dance song, watched our wedding video, and reminisced over the past 3 years.  On our first anniversary we had entered the second trimester with Carter.  Last year Carter was 6 months old and now we have a walking, talking, blast of an 18 month old son!  It has been an amazing 3 years and we couldn't be happier with how our life together has unfolded!  We are excited to see what year number 4 has in store for us!

After I made our anniversary picture collage, I wished I had included a wedding picture, so I made another collage with a wedding picture.

Wordless Wednesday

Today is Ty and my 3rd wedding anniversary.  We will celebrate tomorrow when he gets home from his work trip.  For now I'm enjoying our highlight video and pictures.  Our wedding day was so special and I'm thankful every single day that I get to spend my life with such an amazing man. 

Click on the links to check out our wedding video and photos:
Our Wedding Highlight Video
Our Wedding Picture Highlights and Engagement Photo Session Video

Walking Harper at the park by our house.

 

 

 

 

Pulling clean laundry out of the dryer for me.

We finally updated his chalkboard from his birth announcement. 

Watching Uncie Tommy play the Game Boy.

Laying with Zuma and Fezzik at Grammy and Grampy's house.

 

This is how you sit to eat breakfast.

Modeling the appropriate way to wear a bib.

 

Carter wanted to wear glasses like Grammy and put them on himself!

 

 

He decided to sit in the sink instead of on the counter to brush his teeth.

Luckily he decided to move his foot when he figured out how to turn on the water!

Using pens to draw Grammy a picture.

Check out his sweet new tiger socks!

 

He wanted to read the newspaper like Grammy.

Eating dinner outside after swimming.

Reading a new favorite book The Little Engine that Could with Grammy.

Doing some work in the computer room with Uncie Jeremy.

Had to answer the phone...

He was so excited to take a wagon ride to pick up wood for the fire pit.

Checking out the load.

This is what he's doing right now.

Daddy Day: The Ring

I started my search for a ring in late August, doing a lot of research online learning about the different cuts and colors and what not. I tried looking at rings online but that really got off to a bad start because I did not like anything I had seen. 

After about a week of that, I approached a co-worker of mine who has a friend who owns his own jewelry shop in Tulsa. I stopped by his office one morning (a Monday) and mentioned that I was looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend and that I had heard he knew someone in the jewelry business.

One of our engagement photos.

We sat and talked a little about what she liked (at this time I was fairly confident she would like anything and that’s what I told him). Towards the end of the conversation, I told him that actually, she really likes hearts. He said ok, not a problem, I will see what my friend has to offer.

I felt good about that conversation and figured I would give it a few weeks and see what he came up with. The next morning (Tuesday), my coworker walks into my office and lays a piece of paper down on my desk. It had sketches of about 4 rings on it with prices, stone weights and quality. The only way to describe the feeling I experienced when he laid that sheet down is with this phrase: “SH!T just got real”.

I was quite surprised that I had rings in front of me after only 24 hours but he claimed he said he had a ring with a loose stone so he figured he would swing by that night. So there I was with some options that after only a glance, two of them I knew I needed to see in person.

So the next day (Wednesday) he offered to take me up to his friend's shop over our lunch hour so I could see the ones I liked in person. In a matter of seconds, I knew which one I wanted. It was a ring with a main stone, side stones on both sides, and then about 4 chips down each side of the ring itself. The kick was that when you are looking at this ring from the front or back, you can see two hearts cut into the ring itself that allows you to see the bottom tips of the side stones.

I told them I would “think about it” and come back later. That night I started dropping hints to Liz, trying to get an idea of what she would like. Finally I flat out asked, if your ring had hearts incorporated in it, would you like that? She thought about it and said yes, but they don’t make anything like that. I told her that they will make anything I want; I just have to pay for it! To which she responded, don’t do that, it would be too expensive.

That conversation actually gained me two valuable (to me) insights. One: (the original goal) she liked the idea of hearts having something to do with the ring. Two: she assumed since I pressed her so hard on the hearts issue and the fact that I told her I could get whatever I wanted made, she assumed it would take me weeks or months to get a ring so she was not expecting a proposal any time soon. (I found out all of this after the proposal).

So the next day (Thursday) I went back to the store with my co-worker and told him that was the ring for Liz. So he got it out along with a box of diamonds and set them on the counter. Next he handed me a loop, a pair of tweezers and said, “now you get to pick out her main diamond” (all the other stones were already set, the main stone was not). THAT was cool. I felt slightly bad ass rooting around in a box of diamonds. Eventually I found what I thought was the best one and handed it to him. We did the paper work, I paid the man and was about to ask when it would be ready when he told me he was busy and that I probably couldn’t pick it up until tomorrow (FRIDAY!), again, I was struck with that feeling, “SH!T just got real!”.

Here I was assuming it would take a week or more to set the setting and then set the stone. I told him I would be back Friday at lunch to pick it up.

As it turned out, that was good timing because we were headed back to Liz's hometown that weekend and I felt like that was the right place to propose. It was weird sitting in a car with Liz for two hours with her ring not 2 feet from her at any given time in my pocket. We got to Pitt and I transferred the ring into my bag and stashed it in my room at her parent's upstairs. Later that night she even asked to borrow something that I had in my duffel bag at some point and I told her sure, just go get it. I would have loved to have seen my face about 30 seconds after she walked off, me having just given her PERMISSION to go rummaging through the bag I had her ring hidden in. Luckily she did not find it.

At this point I did not have a plan but kind of assumed that I would propose to her Saturday evening. Unfortunately she ended up getting a migraine and slept most of the day and evening (this in turn prevented me from proposing on Sept. 11th…).

So Sunday, her feeling slightly better, I convinced her we needed to go to the wilderness trails and walk to get me some exercise. There, where we went on our first date, I was finally able to propose! (and I am pretty sure she loved the ring).

The Proposal

Showing off my ring at the trails after Ty proposed.

It happened three years ago today.  The day Ty asked me to marry him, I said yes, and the whirlwind of wedding planning began.  It was a Sunday and we were visiting my parents.  Ty kept asking me to go on a walk with him and I didn't really want to.  I had gotten a migraine the day before and still wasn't feeling up to par.  Finally he told me he needed the exercise and I agreed.

We leashed Harper up and drove to the Wilderness Trails which was also where we took a walk on our first date.  Ty was holding Harper's leash in one hand and my hand with the other.  We talked as we walked and it seemed like just an ordinary day.

Ty kept turning his head and looking back at some people walking behind us.  I thought it was kind of strange, but chalked it up to him worrying about Harper (she's timid around people she doesn't know).  Apparently he was waiting for them to turn down a different trail so they wouldn't walk by as he popped the question.  After they turned to walk a different way Ty started reminiscing about our first date.  He mentioned how that day was perfect and how he hoped it would be an even better day today.

I was surprised by how sappy he was being, but was still none the wiser to his plans.  We were crossing over a large concrete bridge when he pulled me in for a hug and a kiss.  I laid my head on his chest and noticed his heart was pounding.  He asked me if I noticed how fast his heart was beating and I said yes.  Then he asked me if I knew why and I said, "Because you are exerting yourself?"  He said "No, because I'm going to ask you to marry me."

My mind started reeling and I couldn't believe this was it.  It was the moment I had been waiting for.  But then he just stood there and I stared at him.  I started to feel disappointed and decided he must mean he was going to propose to me sometime, but not today.  Ty later explained that Harper had pulled on the leash and he had stalled in fear she would pull loose when he bent down.

After what seemed like 5 minutes, but Ty swears was maybe 30 seconds, he got down on one knee, pulled a ring box out of his pocket, and asked me to marry him.  As I stood waiting for him to propose it was like my brain had stopped working.  Then when I looked at the ring box and saw it was red I panicked, I had never seen a red ring box before.  I grabbed the box and opened it to see a beautiful ring.  I don't really remember what happened next.  I do know Ty stared at me waiting for my response.  In my head there was no reason to respond, of course he knew I wanted to marry him.  When I finally realized I hadn't given a response, I yelled yes and wrapped my arms around him.  I couldn't believe it had happened.  I was going to marry the most amazing man in the world!

At that point in my life it was the best day I had ever experienced.  I was so happy, so excited, so full of love.  When I look back it was an amazing day.  There were so many emotions.  I imagine the butterflies, nerves, and excitement I felt were no match for what Ty felt (he will be sharing his story tomorrow).  

We have added so many more amazing moments together.  Days filled with emotion.  So many of those days were a mixture of the same feelings: nervousness, excitement, and love.  Our wedding day, the day we found out we were pregnant, the morning my water broke and Carter was born.  When I look back on each of those memories I am filled with love and happiness.  Ty made me so happy the day he asked me to marry him and he has made me happy every day since.  He is such an amazing partner and I'm thankful for every day I get to spend with him.

We copied the picture from the day we got engaged on our honeymoon with Ty's ring.