Then: the post about loving your husband

When we got married back in April of 2010, there were lots of decisions to be made in the process of planning the wedding. From the photographer to the venue to the caterer to the dresses and tuxes...each decision was made (sometimes with jimmy's input and sometimes not) and that was that. One of the decisions that he did want to be a part of making was the DJ, the song list and our first dance song in particular. He wanted something very classic for us to dance to like Van Morrison or Frank Sinatra. I understood that, but I was very set on dancing to the Brad Paisley song "Then". It was weird that I cared about this because out of the two of us, music is for sure his specialty. But there was a reason. A good one that makes me so happy to this day that he let me override him on. What is that you ask??

We continue to live the lyrics to this song as we continue on with our lives as well as the overall theme. The theme of "I thought I loved you then". As in, when we first met and fell in love, in that moment, there was mo way I thought it was possible to be more in love or more smitten with this guy. No way I could be more in love with him then we were in those initial stages of our relationship.

Well guess what?? That part of our relationship was so great and I think about so often, looking back at those puppy love stage and thinking I has no idea what love really was. Because when Jimmy decided to get down on one knee on April 11, 2009 at Clinton Lake...I loved him so much more at that moment. We were so in love and it was simply amazing and couldn't get any better.

Well guess what?? It did get better and our love did get so much stronger. Because on April 10, 2010, we stood on front of God and our family and friends and promised we would spend the rest of our lives together. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. For richer or poorer. Forever. And man, staring into Jimmy's eyes on that church altar and experiencing that night with him....I was convinced that we couldn't be more in love. I was convinced the way I felt about him couldn't be any stronger.

However (hopefully you are catching into this trend....), then we decided in our first anniversary that we were going to start trying to have a baby. And when it didn't happen right away, we had to lean on each other and that loved deepened. And when God blessed us with the miracle of pregnancy and I took that test and finally shared the news with Jimmy...sitting on that chair together in our family room hugging and kissing about how our lives would change with this new little bundle of joy- our love couldn't have been any stronger or we couldn't have been more in love.

After going through a full (and long and hot) 9 months of being pregnant and all the fun and moodiness that comes along with that, Jimmy was sure a trooper. It was amusing because he would say no one ever asked him how this pregnancy was going for him (ha) and how he could never be in pain or complain (nope). But he was there to help me with my break downs (totally stepped up to the plate on the day care drama) and all the looming pregnancy to dos. He only missed one doctors appointment the whole time because he told me he loved hearing the heart beat. When it came down to game time he was all in. He was kept track of every move in the delivery room, held my puke bag and then my hand during the epidural a d finally my legs when it was time to push. Literally, emotionally a d physically couldn't have done it without him. I was so in love watching him. The song lyrics told me I would love him more and they were right; he was my rock.

When Charlie arrived though and he got to hold him for the first time, I snapped this picture.  And that was it.  I fell so much more in love with him.  I didn't think it was possible because I thought I loved him so much on all those times before.  But I did.  Holding that little baby boy that we made together and I grew inside me for a full 9 months...I loved him so much more.  A different kind of love, but stronger and deeper.  We were now bonded forever with this little man we made together.

Watching Jimmy as a dad the first few weeks was pretty amazing.  He loved on that little man so much.   I have loved every single moment that we have had together in becoming our little family.

First family picture!!

Love these of Jimmy feeding Mr Charlie the first day we got home.  We stopped a bottle and Jimmy was devastated...but now it's on again and he loves feeding him!

I love seeing them hang out together - it's so cute!  This is one of their favorite spots!

Some funny family pictures that my mom took - love the candid shot!!

So there you have it.  Thank you Brad Paisley for writing such an amazing song that is so true.  Because every time and in every stage I truly thought I couldn't love this man any more than I did in that stage, but guess what?  I love him more than I ever have. Ever.  I'm so thankful for him and am so lucky to have him as such a wonderful partner in life.  He's a great husband, best friend and dad.  I loved dancing with you to this song on our wedding day and every time I hear it in the last 2.5 years it could not be more true.

"Then"

I remember trying not to stare
The night that I first met you
You had me mezmorized
And three weeks later
In the front porch light
Taking 45 minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
I thought I loved you then

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than its ever been
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I remember taking you back
To right where I first met you
You were so suprised
There were people around
But I didn't care
I got down on one knee right there
And once again
I thought I loved you then

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than its ever been
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I can just see you
With a baby on the way
I can just see you
When your hair is turning grey
What I can't see
Is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
We'll look back someday
At this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then

And I thought I loved you then