Reason #233 Why I Love My Wife: Her Eyes

It’s been a while since I wrote anything in this blog, and I apologize for that. I apologize to my wife, to those who enjoy reading these, and to myself.

Life can certainly get in the way, but that doesn’t mean I have stopped loving her or love her less. In truth, I love her more today than I did when I last published a post (#167, I believe).

There are innumerable ways and reasons I love her and right now I want to talk about her eyes.

They sparkle. They reflect the love inside. And they are so much a part of my life that when I look into them, I mean really look deep into them I can see an entire eternity of love swimming around in them.

I also see that in our daughter’s eyes.

They say the eyes are the gateway to the soul and I believe it. She has such a beautiful soul that it’s no wonder her eyes are completely amazing to me.

She doesn’t see it, but maybe that’s because the mirror doesn’t reflect the light of one’s soul. I can’t see anything special in mine, but she may feel differently.

I think I’m going to wrap things up here for tonight, go grab my wife’s hands, and just gaze for a while into the wonder and splendor that are her eyes. Gotta go now.

Reason #167 Why I Love My Wife: The Happiness She Brings

Let me be honest here for a moment … I wasn’t a very happy person most of my life. I wasn’t angry, but I wasn’t happy. There was always something missing. I suppose any time a person deals with sudden loss when they’re 17, just about to graduate high school, it can affect them for a long time.

It did for me. I look back on those days and have a hard time resolving the young boy I was with the man I have become. Don’t get me wrong … I’ve got a long way to go still, but I’m in a much better state of mind. I’m stronger emotionally and mentally than ever before. I’m more successful. Most importantly, I’m happy.

People often say you can’t rely on someone else for your happiness, and they’re right. However, we are social creatures. We strive for companionship, friendship, and love. When you’re not with the right person, you know it whether you want to admit it to yourself or not.

When I first met Diane I wasn’t expecting much. I was just ‘looking’ and wasn’t finding much of any interest. I had a lot of work to do in my life to get where I wanted to go. But then I met her and we clicked right away.

There was a deeper emotional and spiritual connection that we shared from the start. We communicated on a deeper level than I had connected with anyone else before. She made me feel happy just thinking about her, being with her, and enjoying time together.

I had been in bands for years, lead singing, playing guitar, jumping on top of bars, dancing with the crowd, and it was great. There were some experiences during those years I wouldn’t trade for anything. There was good. There was bad. But they were all amazing.

After I stopped playing out (stopped pretending I was anything more than just another person clinging onto some lost dream), I didn’t miss it at first, but then it became an itch again. But I didn’t want to go back to that life.

I wanted more. And I found it. With Diane, even the times when we fight are better than many of the good times I had in the past. That’s because I know when the storm passes there will be a rainbow.

Now I get to see this amazing gift Diane has from a different perspective. I get to see the endless smile, I get to hear the laughter, and I get to experience the joy our daughter has whenever Mommy’s around.

Happiness is a choice. When you meet the right person that choice is so much easier. I’m grateful to have met Diane, my wife. She truly does bring happiness wherever she goes. It’s sort of like the sunshine, I guess. It follows her everywhere, even if she thinks it has nothing to do with her.

It truly does.

Reason #98 Why I Love My Wife: Our Baby Abigail is 9 Months Old!

This time last year Diane and I were probably sitting around (waiting for spring to one day arrive) wondering what in the world we were going to do with a baby. We’re both in our 40s (me a bit closer to that mid-forty line) … we were too old to even think about having a kid, right?

The cutest smile!

I guess not.

We were nervous. Abigail Grace was likely to have Down syndrome. Along with that could be a number of health problems, including heart, intestinal, low muscle tone (whatever that meant), thyroid issues, increased risk for leukemia, and the list went on and on.

In short we were anxious. The regular screenings were all good and we had recently been given an ‘all clear’ from a Yale Hospital doctor for her heart, which was a relief.

A year later and life with Abbey is amazing. It’s wonderful. It’s better than we could have ever hoped for. She is absolutely adorable. She laughs, she smiles, she rarely cries or complains … the only issue we really have with her is her tendency to get up several times during the night, though she’s making strides in that area as well.

At 9 months, we could never have imagined just how much she would change our lives for the better. We look forward to the next 3 months, her first birthday, and every day after that!

Reason #77 Why I Love My Wife: It’s Mommy Time!

Today I was thinking of doing something a little bit different. This time, I’m going to step off stage left and allow our beautiful daughter Abigail Grace to take center stage. She wants to tell the world all about the wonderful woman who is her Mommy.

I wuv my mommy!

Okay, ladies and gentlemen …. Abigail Grace!

Ah bah bah da bah. Thbtbhtbtbh bah bah da.

A ba ba ba ba da bah bah da bah.

Ayahyahyah bah bah da bah.

 

How about that? 8 months old and already so articulate!

Just a few days ago all we could get from Abbey was the occasional crying fit when she was hungry (or had to poop really, really bad) and some monosyllabic diatribes that went on for hours. Within the past couple of days, though, she has been forming more sounds. It’s been quite interesting, and exciting.

Today she rolled over for the first time on her own! Diane’s been working with her to encourage more physical agility and motion and it’s been paying off.

When you become a mom for the first time at 41, I guess it’s a bit different than when you’re in your early 20s or so. You’ve developed a specific routine, certain expectations, and now they need to be unlearned.

Diane’s one great mommy and, as you might have heard already, Abbey absolutely adores her!

 

Reason #64 Why I Love My Wife: How Much She Loves Our Daughter

Yes, I know most parents actually love their children more than life itself, but there are others who take advantage of them, use them for their own gain and purposes, or who hire nannies to take care of them because they simply can’t be bothered.

Celebrating Abbey at the baby shower/wedding.

When we had Abbey, I was 43 and Diane was 41. We aren’t spring chickens and it’s not easy to reinvent life at this age. I didn’t know what to expect working from home, the challenges we’d face, especially with a child with Down syndrome.

It’s been quite a ride so far, I must say and each and every day I am more and more amazed at just how much Diane loves our daughter. It’s as though this caterpillar wrapped itself in a cocoon and is beginning to work its way out and is now a gorgeous, breathtaking butterfly.

Abbey’s getting a great personality now and the reality that, yes, we have a baby, is finally sinking in. The challenges will continue to arrive at different days, but seeing the pure, unadulterated love that pours from my wife, gushing over our daughter, is an incredible sight.

We both loved Abigail Grace from the moment we found out Diane was pregnant and that love has only continued to grow deeper and deeper. Seeing that love grow, blossom, and strengthen each passing day is a gift in itself and I feel like the luckiest man alive.

Reason #61 Why I Love My Wife: She’s Teaching Our Daughter Well

There are so many things to worry about these days, especially with an infant daughter, that you sometimes wonder if you’re doing the right thing for her, if you’re teaching her the best nuggets of information, if you’re giving her brain enough food for nourishment.

Hmm … what’s she got?

I don’t have to worry about that, though. Diane is vigilant about exposing our daughter to as many new experiences and language that she’ll be well adjusted and smart.

Just look at this … how many other 7 month olds can decide whether to hold ‘em or to fold ‘em? This is a picture of our dear, sweet, precious Abbey looking across the table to her Godma Olly and trying to read her body language.

What’s she holding? Does she have a flush or full house? No, I think she’s bluffing.

In all honesty, though, this was a friendly card game I don’t even remember the name of it. Abbey wanted to be up with the adults and she decided to grab Mommy’s cards. She wasn’t really playing poker … in fact, I think she wanted to eat them!

Diane and I vowed that we would expose our daughter to as many new experiences as possible in life for as long as we could. So far, we’re doing well in that respect and Diane’s the major reason for it.

Abbey is exceeding our expectations, considering she has Downs. She amazes us every single day and for that we couldn’t be happier, or more grateful.

Ah ha! I got this!

Keep it up, sweetheart … you’re doing awesome!

Reason #53 Why I Love My Wife: She Finds the Oreo in Me … Wherever We Go

When our daughter Abbey was born, it was a joyous moment. Family came to visit, we’ve been fortunate to see other family members across the country so they could see her as a newborn, and we’ve received so many wonderful gifts for her … but one stands out.

Oreo.

A small stuffed zebra with teething rings, a mirror, and even a bumble bee rattle attached to its feet. It was a gift from our son’s best friend and she took to it right away. We’ve since learned it’s most likely because of the black and white contrast that babies are attracted to, but it will always be a special part of her life.

Now, everywhere we go and see zebras or even zebra stripes we see Oreo. One day we visited the pediatrician’s for Abbey’s routine 6-month exam and sat down in the waiting area. We were the only souls in the room at that time and unbeknownst to me I was sitting in perfect position to become Oreo.

Diane started laughing when she noticed it, grabbed my phone, and took some pictures. I may not have four legs, hooves, or eat grass and hay, but I’m honored to be an ‘Oreo’ for one day.

What have I become?

We’ll show Abbey these pictures when she’s older … and I’m sure she’ll still be holding Oreo … and we’ll get a good laugh from it with her. What more could I ask? Seeing my daughter laugh is priceless.

And something tells me my wife will find the Oreo in me wherever we are.