When I first moved to Dallas to attend school, I was hired on at a bank. (I had worked in banking since high school) Joe was actually the first person I met when I went in for my interview. He worked in New Accounts so his desk sat right there in the lobby. I had the option to approach him or another guy, and I thought Joe was pretty cute so I approached his desk. I quickly saw the wedding band and immediately backed off. Lucky for me, Joe and his previous wife decided it wasn't going to work out, they just got married too young. Coincidentally, right around the same time my long-distance boyfriend and I called it quits...darn the luck, huh? LOL We started hanging out more and more as friends and eventually that grew into something special. When did I know he was the one? When I brought him home to meet the family and he fit right in. Right off the bat he got along well with my Dad and my brother (not to mention Brad) and that's truly what sealed the deal for me.
After about 5 years of dating he FINALLY proposed. Yes, I say FINALLY because I don't think I could have waited a second longer! (Remember, at one point I didn't ever want to be married to anyone)
The proposal was magical; exactly what I had always dreamed about. It was on Christmas Eve 2004 in front of the family. I wanted a proposal with family included because poor Joe was not marrying just me, he truly married my entire family! He had already asked my Dad's permission and apparently EVERYONE knew about it but me, and that's hard to do in this family! The ring was in it's box at the bottom of my stocking, which when I think back was weird because we never really did stockings, but I didn't catch on. Mom informed me that I had forgotten to look in my stocking after all the presents were opened, and as I dug into it I found a bunch of candy and then a little box. I thought it was earrings. I opened it, looked up to Joe and he was already on one knee. Do I even need to tell you that I said yes?
On September 10, 2005 we were married down by my hometown at the East Texas Arboretum in Athens. My wedding dreams were fulfilled with a simple wedding followed by the most fun reception I have ever attended! We partied our butts off that night and I'm happy to say that over 3 years later the party has yet to stop!
For our honeymoon we went to Cozumel for 2 weeks and then it was back to reality.
We decided to start "not not trying" to conceive (as my wonderful husband called it) at the first of the year 2007. On April 8, which was Easter morning, I took a test and it was positive. You're supposed to use your first urine of the day, so it was about 6:00 am, I believe. I took the test in to show Joe. He looked at it, smiled, gave me a hug, and went into some sort of weird trance for a few hours. I guess it took some time for it to sink in! LOL I immediately called my parents and then played the waiting game until it was somewhat late enough to start calling everyone else. I think I might have been able to wait until about 7:00 am!
I had a wonderful pregnancy. I did have a low-lying placenta, but that ended up being a blessing because it fixed itself, but because of it I got to have tons of sonograms!
Remember Joe's weird trance I mentioned before when we found out we were pregnant? Well, it happened again when we found out it was a girl. He was terrified to have a daughter because he knew she would have him wrapped around his finger (and she does).
My last day as a banker was Friday, November 23, 2007. At 7:00 am on Monday, November 26, 2007 I checked into the hospital to be induced because Hana was getting so big my doctor was concerned I would have issues giving birth. I did, in fact, have minor issues so after 15 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing Hana Grace entered the world via cesarean section at 10:11 pm. My life was forever changed at that moment. Joe couldn't even take pictures of her he was so shaken up. Bless his heart, he watched the whole thing and I know he'll forever remember seeing my organs sat out on the table next to me! LOL He's scarred for life!
Our wonderful family and friends were there practically the whole day and didn't leave until the wee hours of the morning.
We all just sat around and oohed and ahhed at how beautiful she was (we still do that). And thanks to my dear cousin, Jennifer,
we have it all documented, except for the birth part. She took so many pictures and emailed them to everyone who couldn't be there. I don't know what we would do without her. I swear I feel like she gives, gives, gives and never takes. I don't feel like I could ever do enough for her to pay her back! I probably would've just let her keep taking pictures because I didn't really notice she was there, but apparently there came a point where it was bothering Joe and he gave her "the look." It was right about the time I had to have the puke bucket sat in the bed next to me. She stopped with the pics at that point, but they started right back up as Joe came walking down the hallway in his scrubs with baby Hana's hand and footprints on his shirt! (Y'all can all see the pics right now in your head, can't you?)
We had so much help during my recovery, and even today we have people fighting over babysitting her, not that we even need a sitter that often. We'd rather spend our time with her than apart from her.
I know how truly blessed I am. I have the best family anyone could ever wish for. I fell in love and married the man of my dreams and he is a wonderful husband, provider and father.
He gave me the most precious little girl who (in my opinion) looks just like him and loves him so much.
She is such a joy to us all and I laugh when I look back and think of how I never wanted marriage or children. Now I can't imagine my life without my husband or my child, and I want about 3 more kids to boot! LOL I do have to give credit where credit is due. I couldn't have done any of this without the love and support of my parents. I aspire to be as in love as they are and to have a marriage that lasts and lasts just as theirs does! Sometimes it's hard work, but it's worth it!
And now my little angel isn't a baby anymore. She's grown into such a wonderful little person. I love watching her grow and change every day. It's amazing how one little girl can touch the lives of so many people!
1 comment:
Wonderful story. I will miss everyone Thanksgiving Day. Luv always.
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