*4 Years*

Four years ago today, June 10th 2006, I went on a date with a guy.  He was fun, charming, sweet, and a gentleman, of course!  Little did I know that he would become my best friend, lover, fiance, husband and now the father of our child.  I had just gotten out of a serious relationship, and so had he.  We were both cautious, but were looking to make a new friendship, neither of us wanted to play games and we both just wanted to be happy.  Well, happy we were, together.

Over the next few months we really got to know each other.  We went on fun dates and would spend countless hours on the phone talking (we lived two hours apart), would visit each other on weekends and would lie in each others' arms learning about what we liked, what we didn't, what we wanted to do with our lives, etc.  For our first few dates we went to a Brooks and Dunn concert, the Baltimore Aquarium, a Brad Paisley concert, Cape Hatteras, my first sushi date, the movies, church, countless dinners and I think I *may* have even cooked him a home made meal once or twice.  Hey, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach!  It obviously worked, so I'm not complaining.  He even came to my mom's family reunion in good 'ol "West by God!"  If that didn't run him off, I don't know what will.  :)

 Gettin' tipsy on the beach in Hatteras*

At the top of the Light House in Hatteras ~ Look how young and SKINNY we were!

He stole my heart from the very start, even my best friend said after just a short month of us dating that she knew Danny was the one.   I told her that I was madly in love with him, and that I couldn't believe that I had found such a great guy.  It was too perfect, things never worked out like this for me before, but it turns out that good things come to those who wait.  After dating for three months, Danny told me he loved me for the very first time.  We both had felt that way for awhile, but didn't want to rush things.  It was nice to get it out into the open, to know that we both felt the same way about each other.

This was taken in Richmond at my best friend's house.

 Our date at the Baltimore Aquarium

Our relationship progressed and we decided to move in together after 6 months {insert your judgments here, yes we were living in sin} of dating.  Neither of us had really planned on living with anyone before marriage, we had actually had a conversation early on in our relationship that it wasn't in our plan, but something just felt right.  Neither of us had to pressure the other to move in, it just felt natural to move in together.  So we started a life together, in my parent's 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath cottage (that they let us live in rent free).  They really don't know how much that helped us.  We really grew into the couple that we are today in that house and I cried the day we moved out.

Our first child came into our lives about 2 months after we moved in together.  He was a chocolate fur ball with blue eyes, sharp little teeth and lots of love!  We got our first dog together!  A chocolate lab, 7 weeks old, and we named him Eli.   

Seriously, how can you resist that cuteness?

 Fast forward another year, to Christmas 2007, and Danny popped the question!  It was so sweet, both of our families got to share in the moment and having him confess his love for me was beautiful!

Can you tell that I was shocked?

And here we are now...married for a year and a half, with two crazy dogs - Eli and Sadie, a cute little house we call home, a sweet baby on the way and four of the happiest years of my life to show for it. 

I am truly blessed to have such an amazing husband, two dogs that love us unconditionally, the joy of knowing I will be a mother and Danny a great father, my family, friends, our home and jobs that provide for us and each day that I get to spend with the one I love.  I know sometimes I get angry over nothing, don't always appreciate each and every moment of every day, but life is too short to have regrets.  I try to embrace each day and love with all I have. 

To many more years together ~ I love you Danny!