Ode To My Husband

Today Darrin took it upon himself to ensure that I would never again have to change a poopy diaper, never have to get up for a 2am feeding, never have to lose 10 pounds of baby weight, and never have to take a stupid pill for the rest of my life. He's spending the weekend on the couch, with vicodin, beer, the remote control, snacks and a blankie.  It would be every man's dream if not for the bag of frozen peas.

This was a tough decision for us.  We've talked a lot about having a third child but have just never felt like a third kiddo would fit into our busy lives - that if one of us were home full time we would do it.  But we both work and have busy schedules, and so we finally made the decision that two kids is enough for us.  And yet walking into that doctor's office today it really felt final.  If not for Darrin's steely determination (or was that panic?) I may have talked him into postponing. 

And as I reflect on things tonight, after kissing my babies goodnight, folding laundry, doing dishes, making cupcakes for a birthday party tomorrow, going through Ben's school work, putting away Lia's princess toys, and finally taking a moment to myself at 10:30 at night, I know we made the right decision.  So, in order to honor my husband for the incredible, selfless thing he did today, I dedicate tonight's blog to him. 

10 Reasons I Love My Husband (in no particular order)

1. My husband is McGuyver.  I first realized this when we went camping in Summer of 2001 and I completely forgot any cooking utensils, including pots and pans.  Darrin fashioned a skillet out of tinfoil, a CD case into a spatula and made fried eggs for breakfast.  Seriously, I never worry about ANYTHING when I'm with him.  I know he could get us out of any situation with chewing gum, a rope and a flashlight.  But he doesn't eat bugs like Bear Grylls, and I like that.
2. My husband didn't originally hit on me until I was single.  Even though we were friends for a long time, he waited until I was out of a relationship to start ours.  I later realized we had fallen for each other long before that, but I think it says something about him that he didn't intentionally interfere with someone else's girl.  He waited at least a week.
3. Without anyone telling him to, my husband asked my dad for permission before he proposed to me.  Anyone who knows my dad, knows how intimidating he can be.  But Darrin drove to our work, sat across the desk from my dad, the president of the company, and asked if he could marry me.  That takes guts and an old fashioned respect and I love that.
4. My husband is all man.  He hunts, fishes, burps, wrestles with the kids, teaches them how to pick up snakes and frogs, gives Ben man chores as he gets older and ready for man chores, plays baseball with the kids and fixes their bikes when they break.  He can build a fire with a couple of sticks and a rock, barbecue the socks off anything, do his own oil changes or other mechanic work and edge a mean lawn.  He stinks sometimes from all this man stuff, but I find it sexy.  And I make him shower.
5. My husband can make me laugh like no one else in the world.  Even though I know him better than anyone else, he still surprises me with his understated and unexpected humor.  I love nothing more than to see him catch an audience off guard and crack up and I think, that's my man.
6. My husband can build things.  When we first started dating and drove around town he would show me every water line he had installed in the city.  Thank God he has built more exciting things in the past ten years.  Now we show our kids the traffic operations systems he's installed, the underground utility systems at buildings around town, the fiber loops and street lights, manholes and cloud vessels.  What, that doesn't excite you?
7. My husband tells me when I'm being ridiculous.  Some of you might think I'm a little pushy.  I have no idea how that rumor got started.  But no matter how adamant I am about something, Darrin pushes back when he disagrees.  And usually when he puts his foot down, I realize he's right and I give in.  Thank goodness this only happens 5% of the time.
8. My husband is a chicken farmer.  He has nursed those chickens from three days old, keeps them warm with a heat lamp in the winter, remodels their coop to make them happy, and keeps them producing an egg a day.  You should see how proud he is when we get a double-yoker.  You'd think he laid that egg himself.   

9. My husband loves family.  He is an excellent father, even though he made me get up at night with the babies (something about him having to operate heavy construction equipment the next day - lame excuse and I'm still bitter).  My kids are lost without him.  He remembers much better than I do to have fun with them, play with them, chase them and tickle them.  He takes really good care of them when I'm away.  He is patient, but a firm disciplinarian.  He is steady and consistent.  Above all, he hugs them and tells the kids he loves them.
10. My husband makes me a better me.  Darrin encourages me to be my best and put forth my best effort, even if it takes me away from our family at times.  He is my number one fan and the only person who really knows the true me.  He communicates with me but knows how I feel without having to say anything.  He is my soul mate and the one that God intended me to be with.  I will grow old with this man because we share the same dreams.  I thank God every day for bringing Darrin into my life and I promise to cherish him for everything that he is.

If this post doesn't get me out of dishes this week, I don't know what will.  Oh wait, I have to go get Darrin another bag of frozen peas. . . .