5 year Anniversary

I am going to write this post directly to John, so bear with me...

To my best friend, my partner, my forever love, John

Today we celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary!  5 amazing years together as husband and wife.  5 years of unforgettable memories.  5 years of ups and downs.  5 years of life-changing events that we have endured together.  5 years of becoming stronger as a couple, stronger as a family, and just plain stronger.

Here is my Top 5 of our first 5 years of wedded bliss:

5.  Our 2nd Anniversary trip to Traverse City.  Since our 1st anniversary was a complete rain out in Atlantic City (although we had a very lovely time), this trip was able to make up for it.  We spent a long weekend together in one of our favorite places, Traverse City, eating at some delicious restaurants, enjoying a few happy hour beverages, swimming and walking along East Bay together, and getting away from all our cares and worries for a few days.  We survived that unbelievable hot and exhausting climb up and down Sleeping Bear Dunes.  You were a rock that day, pushing me to keep going through that entire climb back up.  And when we trekked over the "little dune", which ended up being like 5 miles!, we kept each other laughing and sane.  This was our first trip away since our honeymoon and it was a special trip for us both.


4.  The day we found out we were pregnant with Hannah.  We weren't trying, it wasn't supposed to be yet.  But low and behold, the two pink lines on the stick were really there (and quite a few sticks for reassurance too).  It took some getting used to for me as I wasn't quite ready.  But you, you were so happy.  You couldn't stop smiling that whole day.  We went to the MSU Gymnastics Alumni meet.  You hid your exciting news from everyone although I know deep down, you wanted to tell the world.  We went to eat at Reno's with the team, you 'helped' keep our secret by drinking for "us" as I decided to be the DD.  You were so excited the first time we heard her little heart beat at the doctor's appointment.  You made so many changes in your work schedule so you could come to every single appointment with me, with us.  What an amazing husband you were during those long 40 weeks.  But it was worth it, every single day just to see how happy you were in the very first moment of finding out we were going to be parents!

3.  The birth of our beautiful baby girl.  I can't even begin to put into words how absolutely amazing Friday, September 16, 2011 was for both of us.  From the phone call at work telling you my water broke, to us scared out of our minds prolonging leaving the house; doing the dishes, washing that last load of laundry, sweeping out the garage, and then finally heading to the hospital.  We thought we had more time, but we were pleasantly surprised when 3 short hours later after arriving at the hospital, our baby girl had made her arrival.  I remember the doctor saying, "who wants to announce the sex?".  She turned our baby around and you looked at me and said, "it's a girl, she's a girl".  What an amazing moment to share, our new little family!  As we recovered, while watching the Tigers game on tv, we were still in total shock that our baby was really here.  Once we decided on her name, Hannah Elizabeth, it was time to spread the good news.  Hannah's birthday was such a special moment for me because we became parents, a mommy, a daddy, a family of our own.


2.  Honeymoon to Hawaii.  We were so lucky to spend 10 glorious days in such a beautiful world, unlike anything I've even seen before in my life.  We walked, talked, hiked, drove along the scariest road of my life, we swam with turtles in the most blue/clear water imaginable, we indulged on some absolutely delicious food (that unreal corn chowder soup!), we laughed, dreamed, and began to build our life together.  This honeymoon was the best start to beginning our life in the 'real world' when we got back home.  I will always remember our honeymoon, it was such a special trip with you and only you.

     

1.  Our wedding day-- August 9, 2008.  Without a doubt, this will ALWAYS be my favorite memory.  It was such a special, magical, romantic day.  I have never felt so much in love with you.  Every time I look at our wedding day pictures, I remember it all over again.  Getting up early to get my hair done, driving to the church (and losing the bridesmaids in the car behind us!), waiting anxiously for 2:00, holding your hand so tight as we stood on opposite sides of the nursery door for pictures and hearing you say "I love you" to help calm my nerves, watching the girls line up outside the church doors as they got ready to enter, holding my dad's hand as he hugged me and told me to enjoy every moment of this day, walking down the aisle with the biggest smile across my face as you stood there smiling (and maybe shedding a tear or two) waiting for me to begin this journey together.  Everything about our wedding ceremony was perfect, everything I could have wanted.  Then to the reception and celebrating with everyone.  The food was incredible, the room looked amazing, being surrounded by our family and friends who traveled from all over to be there for us.  We danced, we laughed, we cried, we ate, we drank, we enjoyed it all together!!  I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I had the wedding of my dreams, and married a man who is more than I could have ever dreamed about.
      

I wish I could slow down time, it feels like its flying by so fast right before our very eyes.  I don't want to lose another second without remembering it.  I need to remember to cherish every single day, every good morning, every good night.  With you I've found a once-in-a-lifetime friendship and love.  You're the friend that I want, the husband I need, the reason I have so much to celebrate today!  I love you today, tomorrow, and always.  Happy 5 year anniversary!