My husband and I have been together now for 15 years!
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Saying that out loud, it doesn’t sound real. Today marks our 5th wedding anniversary. We got married on the 10th year of our dating anniversary. If you told me 15 years ago I’d be in SoCal, happily married to this man, a stay-at-home mom of soon-to-be two little girls, with 3 dogs, a Disneyland annual pass holder, blogger, and loving it, I’d laugh. We started dating casually in High School the end of our senior year in a small town in Oregon. Yes, that makes us high school sweethearts. Moved in together immediately after graduation, in New Jersey. We returned to Oregon a year later until a job opportunity for him brought us to Southern California and we’ve been here since.
I never wanted kids. My Mom ran an in home daycare till I was 14. I raised a handful of kids growing up and thought that would be enough for me. I became a makeup artist upon moving to the LA area and loved it! I thought that would be life forever. Then my 30’s hit me. Now I have a toddler, expecting number two in weeks, and doubt she will be my last. Funny how time changes your perspective. Luckily, time has not changed the love I have for my husband. We have gone through many ups and downs in our life together, but we did it together. Our entire relationship we have made communication our priority. Through communication we are able to problem solve, compromise, and set real expectations.
I am humbled daily by the strength of our love. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Especially after having a baby. I didn’t understand why so many couples separate after having children, until I had one. There is nothing in this world that can prepare you for that challenge and strain on your relationship. I am fortunate my husband enjoys being a father as much as I enjoy being a mother. That’s not to say we don’t have our days. He drives me nuts, but he puts up with me. He supports me, and excepts me. Every night I lay down next to him knowing he will be there in the morning, and I get to be loved by him another day. While this may not be the life I imagined 15 years ago, I think it’s because my imagination wasn’t big enough.