So here are 8 things I love about the Big Dude...
1. He makes our family a top priority. We are #1! He wants to make sure he spends as much time as possible with us. And he even reigns me in when I get a little crazy with work and projects to make sure that I am spending enough family time too. Time is the most valuable asset we have. And he spends his time with us.
2. He loves me despite all my quirks. Yeah, I've got some peculiarities. Don't we all? And I'm sure some of the things I do drive him up the wall. But he puts up with them.
3. He has dinner waiting for me when I get home. When we first married, I did all the cooking. But after having Little Dude, Big Dude put the apron on and has been master chef of our kitchen since then. It's not that I'm a bad cook. He started cooking as a way to allow me to spend more time being a mom (see #1). He gets home before I do, and when I started back at work after maternity leave, he wanted me to be able to spend time with our baby boy (and nurse him) as soon as I walked in the door. It didn't take long before he realized that he likes cooking more than I do. And soon he was altering all my recipes. My handwritten recipe book now has sticky notes covering several pages with the words "Mike's Recipe" at the top. He still lets me experiment and create new recipes every once in a while (see #2), but as soon as he masters the recipe, he adds his own personal touch to it.
3b. He perfected my mom's cinnamon roll recipe. OK. This deserves a mention of it's own. If you have ever tried my mom's cinnamon rolls, then you know they are magically delicious. Men have crawled across the dessert over broken glass, trudged barefoot through the Antarctica, and swam through shark infested waters for one bite. And when my mom finally decided to share her recipe with us... well, let's just say she tends to leave a few small and yet important details out of her recipes. Partly because she doesn't really follow a recipe when she cooks our favorite treats. And partly because she has a little bit of an evil side to her. (You know it, Mom!) After a year of trying to get the rolls just right, Big Dude has to basically hold my mom hostage one day when she was visiting and forced her to show him exactly how she makes the rolls. And since then, he has added a sticky note her her recipe. Now, every time he pulls a pan of cinnamon rolls out of the oven, an angel gets its wings.
4. We never stopped dating... each other. Despite marriage, a child, and sometimes crazy schedules, he still takes me out for dinner. He knows how important it is to get away from all the distractions and make time for just the two of us.
5. He does all the disgusting jobs at home so I don't have to. Some people might take it for granted and even call it "man's work." But seriously... I bought this house before I ever met Big Dude and so I greatly appreciate having someone else who snakes my giant hairballs out of the shower drain, picks up after the dogs in the back yard, weeds the front yard, trims the hedges, and vacuums. He pitches in. And although he might leave his laundry piled in the bathroom floor, litter the sink with tiny sharp facial hair trimmings, or have me fend off any Jehovah's Witnesses that come knocking at our door, I greatly appreciate all the things he does around the house.
6. He's totally honest. Seriously. The guy cannot tell a lie. Even the idea of telling a half-truth makes him break out in a sweat and totally nauseated. Of course, that honesty rarely comes with even a trace of tact. And sometimes I think something must be broken in his brain because he pretty much blurts out whatever he's thinking. (He says that if he's already thought it, then it's just as bad as saying it, so he might as well say it.) But at least I never have to wonder where he stands. And I know that I can absolutely trust him. (Except to keep a secret... that's extremely hard for him. But he's improving.)
7. He's got broad shoulders. Both physically and emotionally. He has always supported me and encouraged me even when it meant putting his own desires aside. During our first few years together, I had to deal with some emotional trauma from my past. He made sure that I got the help I needed. He drove me to all my appointments. He never complained about having to deal with a crazy woman. He was there for me. I will never forget that. And it's not just me that he helps. He has a huge heart for helping others. He is often the first person to volunteer to help someone out. And you'll never hear him complain or brag about all the things he does. He does it because "it's the right thing to do."
8. In many ways, he's my polar opposite. Sure, most people wouldn't put this on their faves list. But seriously, how boring would it be to be married to someone just like you? Ugh!!! The best thing about marriage is having someone to help you grow as a person. He has helped me see things from a totally different perspective.
OK, I actually have many more things I could add to the list. You'll just have to wait for our next anniversary. Plus, I don't want to make you jealous! Trust me, it's not all unicorns and rainbows all the time. But we love each other and we are committed to each other. Plus, I find that writing out a list of things I love about him is a good reminder and makes me love him more!
