Ten Things about the Hubs

I have so enjoyed reading about everyone else's dh's (thanks, Anne!) so I have been meaning to add mine to the mix.

Our proposal actually sums up dh quite well, it was incredibly well planned and thought out since he is such a planner, very personal and reflected how well he knew me by having my family there at the end and other nice touches, involved delicious food which we like to enjoy together, he listened to me about wanting quality over size, but he wanted size in the ring so he got both, but he didn't want to pay an arm and leg so he found a way to get what he wanted for the price he wanted (by doing research, taking his time, and networking!).



Here are my ten facts about dh:

1. Dh is strong and sure about himself and his choices.  He doesn't waffle when it is time to make a decision.  He is a man of facts and figures, and doesn't get overly emotional when it comes to decision making.  For example, when Dr. Hilgers told us we should ttc right away, dh didn't think twice.  He told me it was a "no brainer" since we wanted a family and this gave us our best odds.  He is definitely a numbers man, but then he is an accountant and I can't fault him for that.  He makes lots of good financial decisions for our family and our long term future.  No one could accuse him of being short sighted or overly impulsive.  He is my rock.
2. He is a family man.  Dh has loved children since long before I met him.  And he is a natural.  He knows how to get down on their level and correct them in a way that doesn't make them cry, but makes them want to please him.  He also knew how to get down on his hands and knees and really play.  His neighbor girl fell in love with him at his first house, and would come ring the bell for him to play!  I used to think he didn't want a girl because he was so into sports, but then I saw him with my nieces and the neighbor and knew that wasn't the case.  My niece would literally walk around with our engagement picture before she was two and say "my (his name)."  (I used to say "hey, I am on here too!")  Finally I got to the real answer from him about having girls "Girls grow up and meet boys.  I know about how boy's think!"  Haha!  Dh will be on the porch with a shot gun for sure!  He definitely hasn't disappointed since we've had our son.  He is an incredibly involved loving father.
3. On a similar note, dh takes his role of parenting and being a husband very seriously.  Not just financially as mentioned above, but specifically here I am talking in the safety relm.  To the point that I give him great grief about it (I call him "safety patrol" and "hall monitor!")  He was the king of everything approved by consum.er reports for our son.  He doesn't like the blinds open in the play room because someone might be walking by and see how cute Charlie is and want to steal him.  Seriously.  I could go on, but you get the picture.  It is nice, but sometimes it gets tiresome. I appreciate it deep down.  Very deep down.  Safety is why dh doesn't have his name on my blog.  I am trying to protect his privacy, though I don't care nearly as much if I protect my own.
4. Dh is incredibly affectionate.  On our first date we were in an elevator and he begged to kiss my cheeks. He genuinely is a cheek pincher.  Like an 80 year old aunt stuck in a 34 year old man's body-lol.  I knew when I met him we would never get to the point where we don't kiss anymore.  We kiss.  We snuggle.  We are the annoying couple that shares a chair, or lays together in one recliner.  We spend the whole time after having Charlie in the same twin hospital bed.  We nap in the same porch swing on our deck.  Obviously I love all this closeness as well, so I think I am incredibly lucky!
5. Nicknames.  It would be hard to talk about dh without talking about his love of giving people nicknames.  I can hardly believe I never had one prior to meeting him and can barely remember the long list of nicknames over the last 7 years.  Where they have come from is fuzzy sometimes, as they evolve and the little thing will start one, but there have been good ones and not so good ones.  I mentioned I was "his big woman" throughout my entire pregnancy.  I was "Snicks" for a long time from "snickerdoodle" and then shortened to "snicks" and then for a time it was "snickalee" and then it was just "lee."  They get ridiculous, but it is all in good fun.  I think it comes from his fratern.ity roots.  Hmmm. I need to come up with a nickname for dh for this blog...
6. Success.  Dh strives to be good at everything and he succeeds for the most part.  I really think it stems from losing his dad at 12.  It has defined him in a good way.  He made the most of it.  He is super close with his mom, and he always wanted to make his dad proud.  He worked hard in school, got good grades, made lots of friends, played sports (something his dad and him shared) and excelled at them.  He got a great job.  He was successful by the world's definition.  Somehow along the way, he stopped practicing any faith (his dad was Catholic; his mom is Lutheran and eventually remarried a Lutheran), but I introduced a new definition of success to him and he is working hard to meet that one now too.  There are few things he isn't good at, but those are one's he hasn't worked at enough-golf, patience!, reparing things around the house, and cooking.  However, he is working on all three at the moment and he has perfected grilling chicken, steak, brats, and pork chops to the point I would choose his versions over a restaurant anytime.
7. Sports.  This is huge.  Defining.  It is definitely its own category.  He watches-football (nfl and college-he has season tickets to his college), basketball (mostly college), and baseball.  He plays.  He played tennis in college on scholarship.  He plays basketball once or twice a week even now and he is good!  He used to play softball when we met (but heck, so did I, lol!)  He got two gold medals at cor.porate challenge year before last-one for single's tennis and one for 3 on 3 basketball.  At the same time he won another local tennis tournament.  Is pop a shot a sport?  He rocks at pop a shot!  lol He also knows tons of sports facts and closely follows recruiting of his alma mater.  He is actually in OK City for the games this week.  It is a huge part of who he is.
8. Hubby not only works hard, but he "plays hard."  That was always his motto.  He knows how to go out and dance and have a great time.  He loves to sing loud and off key to the music and I love it too!  He has even gotten on stage with the band at a lake (liquid courage) and sang Billy I.dol!  We used to go dancing a ton when we were dating.  We also love to go to piano bars, play video games, play board games especially trivia, and eat out a lot.  We have also taken many nice trips and they are all memorable.  Like when we went to San Di.ego and saw a Charg.ers game and ended up on the jumbo tron.  And went to Na.pa.  And the zoo.  He is a fantastic trip planner.  Or when we rode dolphins together.  Or zip lined in Mex.ico-by the way, not the best place to zip line, something about safety standards not like they are in the U.S.  A story for another day...
9. Dh is stubborn.  He asked me when we first met if I was stubborn, because if I was it wouldn't work because he was too.  I said yes, even though I didn't think I was, it was just to test him.  In hindsight that probably means I am, right?!  lol  I told him only on important things, because if you hold your ground just to hold it then that is just pride.  I think it made him think.  He chose to look into the Catholic faith (he grew up Catholic but was never confirmed) because he felt it was important to see if he wanted to go down that path as an adult, and it was really important to decide prior to proposing, because that was the right thing to do.  He would never ever ever be Catholic just because I was.  It was too important.  But he is now, and because he chose it.  Which is awesome. Now if he would only elevate faith to the level of sports and safety around here, and he would definitely get me to heaven!
10. Without dh, I would stay in my task oriented bubble and be checking things off my list instead of living life.  Really living it.  This is just a small example, but if it weren't for dh I wouldn't necessarily notice that it is a beautiful day.  But dh celebrates every beautiful day by encouraging us to take a family walk (with Max the dog) and/or by grilling and us eating outside. 

I have known dh for almost 7 years, and we have been married for three and a half.  I believe he is the perfect person out there for me.  He is my rock, he truly completes me and helps me enjoy life; he brings out the best in me.  No one can make me happier and no one can hurt me more.  He has my heart.

Pictures: the night we got engaged (way above), a wedding that was one of our first dates (now this is at the very bottom-oops!), our first trip together to Chicago, dh's confirmation, singly loudly to American Pie while dancing at our wedding, zip linining in mexico on our honeymoon, and sharing the hospital bed after Charlie's birth.