Our Little Geekling

You guys. I love my husband. That’s what this post is about, so if you don’t want a lovey-dovey post then skip this one.

I’m so thankful for Jim. It’s ridiculous how much  he puts up with. He constantly tells me not to worry, consistently picks up my slack, and comes home from a hard day at work to parent our high-needs toddler immediately upon walking in the door. He doesn’t care if I don’t get to the housework, rolls his eyes at my (self-imposed) goal to have dinner ready at 6:30 every evening, and rolls with the punches when I suddenly need him to fly solo because I have plans I don’t want to cancel and he happens to be at home for a federal holiday when our “babysitter” (my mom) gets called into work unexpectedly. (That last one may have happened this week.)

He deals with crap at work and then comes home and doesn’t bring it here. Even when he needs to talk about work he rarely lets it affect his at-home mood. We talk about the future, watch tv, and snuggle up like we’re newlyweds. We kiss and hug and love each other deeply, even though we’ve been together more than 10 years and married for more than nine. He supports my educational goals and has put his own on hold so I can finish up what I want to do. He splits the housework with me and helps out extra when I need a break. Sometimes he comes home from a really crappy day at work and lets me go relax in another room while he takes care of Eriana because I’ve had a hard day and just can’t take defiant toddler any longer. He always always asks me how my day was, and empathizes when I have had a rough day. He changes poopy diapers with minimal complaints. He comes home early on days I have Graduate Teaching Academy or picks up Eriana at my mom’s house so I can go. He comes home early on Wednesdays so I can be a part of church choir. He doesn’t mind when I plan weekends with my girlfriends, and goes along with it when I want to meet up with online friends when we’re out of town. He loves our daughter with abandon and loves me with a loyal, and integrity-filled love.

He asks for little and gives so much in return. He shrugs off requests for gift ideas for his birthday and/or Christmas, and then asks me to put the money toward debts or to give it to charity instead of giving him something he doesn’t really need. He sticks up for me always, no matter the situation or who is up against me. He wants me to have whatever I want: materially, emotionally, educationally, and otherwise. He still tells me that I’m beautiful and doesn’t care if I don’t shave my legs consistently. He supports me when I want to change my diet or lose weight, but also lets me know that he thinks I’m perfect the way I am. He tells me I’m doing a good job with our girl and has given me so much by making it to where I can stay home with her, knowing that’s all I’ve ever wanted. He puts up with family issues, coming from my side or his, and we work together as a team to combat any problems or frustrations. He is a great disciplinarian with Eriana and picks up where I can’t.

He hugs me tightly and gives me kisses and makes me laugh and talks to me like a friend and like an equal. He argues well and puts up with so much, always saying that he’s not putting up with me and rolling his eyes when I thank him for doing so. He shoves off compliments, and still gets bashful and red-faced when I try to tell him I think he’s amazing. He is my best friend, after all this time. I’m so thankful for this man. I know that getting married as early and as young as we did could have resulted in a lot of unfixable problems. I’m just so happy to still have him here with me. He’s so much more than I could ever have hoped for, and while not exactly the person I fell in love with so many years ago, he’s so much more, and still the same good parts. I just love him so much.

Mexico, April 2012