In Which Nobody Is Possibly Mushy

Dear J,

There are things you can't know about someone when you agree to marry him and raise a family together and spend happily ever after together. And it's a good thing you are twitterpated and hopelessly in love, because that's pretty much what compels you to make the biggest commitment of your life..

Plus, most people tend to put their best foot forward when they are dating. You can never really be entirely sure if some behaviors are lasting, or are just a show to win your hot self over.

There's really no sure fire way I could have known that you would be the kind of guy who comes home to utter and complete chaos, laundry everywhere, a screeching baby, and 5 other kids, all under the age of 5, hungry and tired and needy---and not even bat an eye. I pride myself on being a good parent, keeping my cool, being patient, and enjoying myself as much as possible, even amidst the chaos.

You made me look like a total poser last night. You quickly got dinner rolling and made dinner an entirely enjoyable experience for all 6 kids. And your wife. Even if you did bring home spicy chili chips for a bunch of little kids. Who insisted on eating them. And burning their mouths. But still eating them.

I think I can do things by myself. Things I don't have any business thinking I can do by myself. But you don't ever tell me I can't. Or make me feel dumb for being so delusional. You just quickly step in and pick up the slack. Or take over the reins completely and do it even better.

Thank you.

Thank you for bringing order home with you last night.

Thank you for doing every little dumb thing that needed to be done that I couldn't get to or didn't. Thank you for not letting the 5 year old talk me in to hauling the twin mattress upstairs so that he could have his cake and eat it too.

Thank you for being kind and gentle with me when I'm being a ninny-mom and having trouble letting my 5 year old be a 5 year old. And not a 5 year old who's treated like a 6 month old.

Thank you for always being kind to me.

Thank you for being late to work so I could clean up all the complete-lack-of-bladder-and-bowel-control problems that happened in the night before I succumbed to a lack-of- gag-reflex-control problem. And without Danyo dancing in the mess or hitting me with something or screaming in my ear because I'm cleaning up crap instead of...oh, looking at him.

Thank you for taking Bo to school even though you didn't have to.

Thank you for not yelling at me when the backpack you looked for for several minutes was underneath me the entire time. I so would have griped at you or made fun of you for being a big backpack-sitter-onner if the tables were turned. Thanks for being better than me. In so many ways. But never acting like you are.

And for never asking me what I did all day. Even when it would be a really justified question.

Pretty much every day (except when you leave your dirty socks on the floor) I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, to be married to you.

Then there are days like today when I am overwhelmed with gratitude that it wasn't a game to win me over---you really are as wonderful as I thought you'd be, and then some.

Thanks for putting an even better foot forward in marriage.

Love Always,
Nobody