two years

Mike and I have been together for two years. Wow. So much has happened in that short time, I'm not even sure where to begin. I'll make it easy on myself and everyone involved by leaving it at this: I love him more and more every single day. Thank you for being you, babe. 

My husband is marvelous.

Mike and I had been craving pizza all week, so last night while we were downtown we decided to stop into our favorite joint and pick up a couple of individual slices to bring home for dinner. As I was taking mine out of the microwave, the plate bent and my slice flopped face-down on the floor. I shrieked and picked it up as fast as I could, but it was already ruined and dirty. I cried about it for a while and Mike cleaned up the mess. He then insisted on eating his piece, and that he would eat something else instead.

Now that's love.

Too Much.

Last night I had the strangest dream I have ever had. More like a nightmare, really. After waking up feeling terrible about how hurtful the dream had been, I now look back on it and think it's rather hilarious. This is how it went (roughly): Mike and I had a fight, who knows what about, and he said he was leaving me. I, naturally, freaked out. He then turned into peanut butter, and I fed him to a cat.

Really?? So weird. So scary, yet so funny.

Perhaps the dream was a result of how busy we have been lately. There have been so many things to do, and not even big things, just tons of little things. Things like organizing the files, getting rid of things, school, address changes, name changes, whatever. So much I can't even keep up with myself. I am so extremely thankful at this time that I am not working. I've felt guilty for not working. It's hard not to feel terribly guilty, when Mike works 40 hours a week, just moved us up here, commutes a ridiculously far drive 5 times a week, is still in summer school, and is starting the Fall semester on Monday. He works so incredibly hard at everything he does, and even though I'm staying home for a good cause, I can't help but feel badly. I'm sure I will feel differently once school starts (Monday!), and of course, once Ava gets here. I suppose I should just shut up, be thankful, and enjoy the down time my husband is working so hard for me to have. It'll just take a little while getting used to.

As I just mentioned, school starts Monday. I purchased my books last week, and I must say, I am very intimidated! I have been going over the upcoming assignments, and boy, do they look intense. I am excited, though. Nervous as hell, but still excited. My classes each have different ending dates, the longest lasting until December 13. Unfortunately, it's my Anatomy & Physiology class, which is the only class I am not allowed to accelerate in or take the finals early. I wrote my professor and informed her of my due date conflicting with the end of class, so we're going to work something out with the Department Head so I can finish the class early. I'll have to work harder to accelerate, but it'll be worth not worrying about when I'm in labor pushing out my baby! Mike and I decided that I will go to school with him Monday and Tuesday nights and work on my homework while he's in class, that way I have some discipline, as well as reserved time, to get things done.

I'm not sure if things are ever going to slow down. On a lighter, happier note, Mike and I can now see Ava kicking around in my belly. It's so amazing! She was kicking like a madwoman the other night while I was sitting on the bed, so I looked down to see if it was visible and sure enough, it was! With each little thump inside, the outside of my belly looked like a bass pumping loud music. I grabbed Mike and we watched for several minutes until she cooled down. I will definitely need to record it next time.

"Kadah Pah"

This last week has been extremely eventful. Mike and I have officially begun moving, which means the room is half-packed and overrun with boxes. Moving day is in two weeks, on the 13th. I'm looking forward to being out of the city and away from the everyday busyness and ridiculous traffic. It will also be nice being in a larger house, or rather, a home.

Since the earlier part of the week was busy with moving, Friday, Brittany and I took advantage of Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic's Family & Friends sale (25% off everything!) and went shopping. I bought a couple pairs of linen capris and a dress from Old Navy Maternity, and a few onesies for for the baby. Next we went to BabyGap, where I spent way too much money on the most adorable clothes for Ava. I found several onesies, a couple of bundlers, a kimono pant/top set, and the cutest green sweater I have ever seen in my life. I've decided I am done clothes shopping, for both the baby and I.


Saturday was Mike and I's one year anniversary. We decided to celebrate it since we haven't had an anniversary yet, and because we just got married, wouldn't have one for the next year. He had to work, so Brittany and I had a yard sale in the morning at my dad's house to get rid of all of my stuff that was in storage. We set up around 5:00 and packed up by 11:00, when the heat was almost unbearable. I was able to sell most of my stuff, and we made about 100 bucks. I don't quite understand those who "yard-sale" shop. I was glad to be rid of things, though. We packed up and I came home, showered, and napped.

Mike came home a couple of hours later and napped with me for a while. We woke up and he told me to be ready for dinner reservations by 8. He was taking me to Coup de Tartes for our anniversary! I had driven by it countless times, and always wondered how it was. It's a little BYOB French patisserie/bistro that's in an old converted home, and it's supposedly very romantic. We picked up a bottle of Lo Tengo Malbec and headed to the restaurant. We enjoyed mozzarella & tomato salad, parmigiano salad, a three onion tarte with leeks, onions, caramelized shallots, and a gruyere custard. For entrees we had farfalle pasta with fresh basil and arugula pesto, locally grown organic tomatoes, lemon zest, fresh mozzerella, spinach and parmigiano- reggiano, and a filet mignon with horseradish and black pepper creme fraiche, roasted new crop Yukon Gold potatoes and heirloom tomatoes dressed with sea salt and 18 year aged balsamic vinegar. For dessert we had a four berry tarte made with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries topped with a cinnamon almond crumble and served warm with vanilla bean ice cream. Yum! The dinner was very romantic, mellow, and perfectly filling. We'll definitely be heading back for the next special occasion.


We came home and got in bed. Ava was kicking away like crazy, with more force than I had ever felt. I grabbed Mike's hands and put them on my belly, and we sat quiet and still, waiting. She kicked a couple more times, then boom! she kicked much harder, and Mike and I both jumped. He was finally able to feel her! I don't think we have ever been happier. It was the perfect ending to our anniversary.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Mike doesn't cook. Sure, he can make boxed macaroni and cheese (kinda), or toast waffles and heat up syrup, but his cooking skills are not the best. Occasionally he will offer to help me in the kitchen, usually grating cheese or setting the table (okay, not cooking, but still). We always joke that he would starve if I wasn't around, and we often wonder what he did before I was here to feed him. Mostly, he ate out, or simply didn't eat. Yeah, I know. 

On his days off we will usually sleep in, then I'll get up and start breakfast. The breakfast of choice lately has been eggs and "country-fried potatoes" (according to Mike). This morning I thought we would do things differently and I would teach Mike how to make breakfast. We always joke/worry that once Ava is old enough to eat people food Mike won't be able to feed her if I'm not around. He defends himself by saying "the dads are supposed to be the cool ones that order pizza". Riiight. So onto breakfast we went. 

I pulled everything out for him and set it up. I washed the potato, got out the eggs, oil, spices, cutting board, pan, knife, and spatula. I walked him through each step. I showed him how to heat the pans, and flip the potatoes without smushing them. He was doing great! Next came the eggs, which were a little trickier. He hesitated only when it came time to actually flip the egg. After I demonstrated how to flip the first one, he did the next two perfectly. The only thing he wouldn't touch was my ham, so I had to grill that myself. Hey, as long as he made the rest of it, who cares. 

I set the table while he served up the plates. I was surprised, his breakfast looked almost better than mine. But then I thought, wait a minute, now that he knows how to make breakfast...next is dinner! 

 

"I've never been bored one day with you"- Mike, while having drinks at T.G.I.Friday's

I love being married. I love everything about it. I love that Mike and I are young and learning things on our own, like signing up for benefits and car insurance, or changing names and documents and bank accounts, or making a grocery list and shopping together, or having the courage to say "I don't think we can afford that" to the other. I love going to bed and waking up next to the same person, every night and every day. I love the amazing sense of security. I love leaving love notes around for each other. I love relaxing in silence, and knowing the silence is okay. I love watching out for someone else. I love being as One. 

I keep thinking, "this isn't happening to me". 

The truth is, I never imagined I would be where I am today so soon in my life. Just over a year ago I was set on being independent until my mid-twenties, just quietly living the single life and having a "good time".  But then Mike came into the picture, and everything changed. Quickly. Very quickly.  

When I first met Mike, I was sitting in the back room at work counting the daily deposit. He popped his head around the corner and asked to speak with my assistant manager about an application he turned in. She introduced us, and he left. I didn't think twice about it. 

A week or so later he was working in my store, as an opener, the same shift I worked. We hit it off almost immediately, and I was so relieved to finally have an accomplice in the daily "fun" of Starbucks. You know, sharing sarcastic humor, inside jokes and imitations of problem customers, and music (because Starbucks' music rocks). I really have to credit the music here, because Feist is really what I think got the ball rolling. 

I say Feist because, one: if you have ever listened to her, you will know she is amazing, two: her new album was to be released right around the time Mike and I started hanging out, and three: I loved her, and Mike loved her, and this we both knew. So one day I read this article online about how Feist's album release date was pushed back. "What?!", " Seriously?!", " No!", and "I have to tell Mike!" popped into my head at once. I thought this was the perfect chance to start an out-of-work conversation so I sent him a text message informing him of the news. He was at school, and we began small chat on who knows what. The conversation ended with a date and time to get together the following week. Might I add this was not "a date", at this point, there were no feelings involved. 

Long story short: the first night we hung out was amazing. This ultimately led to a summer full of endless fun. Eating pints of Ben & Jerry's, night swimming, countless shows, Chipotle burritos the size of our heads, passing out on the dirty condo floor listening to music, last minute trips to Tucson, picking me up for work at 4 am, Harry Potter reading contests, laying in the middle of my yard on a mattress at midnight, riding bikes, long walks from the condo to my place, margaritas (extra salt for me, please!), mattress shopping, afternoon movies, and getting one hour of sleep several nights a week. Just to name a few. 

I couldn't get enough of this person. We would open the store together and work 4am to 1230 pm, go home, and call the other no later than 1pm asking "wanna hang out?". It was a fabulous cycle that never seemed to end. I would have felt clingy, but I didn't, because this person clung just as much back. 

It wasn't until a couple of months later that feelings started to set in, and confusion on whether or not risking this friendship for a relationship would be worth it. I later found out that Mike felt the same way for at least as long as I did, although neither of us knew of the other's feelings. Finally, after Mike and Jack had stayed with me for almost a month during their remodel, Mike made his move and kissed me. 

Things pretty much snowballed from that point on. I moved out of my place and into the condo with him, he proposed, we got our little surprise of a pregnancy, and now we're married. All within 8 short months. Those thoughts of being single until I was 26 left my mind so fast, I'm not sure where they went. I just knew from the very beginning that Mike and I were meant to become something much greater than those summer nights. It also proves a strong point that "when you know, you just know". Few understand this crucial point. 

I am so blessed to have found such an amazing person so early on. Every single moment we share together are moments that I will never forget. I love that I found someone to grow and evolve with, someone who understands me, and someone who I understand. Someone that I always have fun with, whether it be as dull as setting up a car insurance policy or as exciting as leaving town for a few days. Someone that I know will love me for the rest of my life, and that I will love forever, too. 

A Wonderful Wedding!

Mike and I are now husband and wife!! The wedding was absolutely wonderful. Everything turned out so beautifully, and everyone had such a great time. We are so sad it's over so soon. 

Married life hasn't felt very different yet, surprisingly. I don't have a wedding band, so perhaps that might add a little to it. Mike says he feels so different, but I'm almost positive it's mostly because of his ring. I catch him looking at it admiringly several times a day. It's cute, I think. It is so exciting, getting your ring, and having that little constant reminder of the amazing love you have. I've had my ring for several months now so that shock is somewhat over for me, but I know how he's feeling. Besides the ring though, there are other little things that feel different. 

For one, my name is now 'McCurley'. I haven't had to use it but once, and it was quite awkward. I was on the phone scheduling my ultrasound, when the receptionist asked for my last name. It came out sort of like this: "bbb..uu...mm..m..McCurley!". Mike was in the other room, laughing.

Secondly, I get to say "husband", and Mike, "wife". For our honeymoon we stayed at this adorable bed and breakfast in Sedona. Our first morning there, we noticed the menu included sausage, so I took it on myself as a new wifey to visit the chef and request that "because my husband is a vegetarian, is there any way we can get eggs instead of sausage?". It came out surprisingly naturally, but I still felt sort of out-of-body saying it. It was both exciting and scary! Mike, the wonderful husband he is, has also taken the liberty to start introducing me. Over the Fourth of July weekend we attended a couple of friends' family barbeques. This is how it went: "Hi, I'm Mike, and this is my wife, Sophie". It's adorable because Mike says it before I even have a chance to say anything, so I know he just loves it. We feel all "grown up and stuff". 

Then there are other little more insignificant things that make me feel married. For example, I get really excited when I make Mike food. I love making him a meal that he enjoys. Lately I have been bringing him homemade breakfast to work during his lunch break (it's usually early, around 9 am). I feel proud to be a wife, and to "serve" my husband. Perhaps I should find a more friendly word to use than "serve", but there is a certain satisfaction that I get out of doing things for him that make him happy, for example, filling his belly. I think I fit pretty perfectly into the role of "wife" (and Mike, husband). This is not to say that I will completely lose sense of "who I am" in my new role, but just that I am very much enjoying this new part of my life.