The first year of married life was cupcakes and dandelions compared to the first few weeks. When we got back from the honeymoon, it was all we could do not to panic. We both secretly wondered: IS THIS IT? IS MY LIFE OVER? ARE WE OLD AND BORING NOW? DO I REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?!
There was also the inevitable crapstorm that comes with combining two lives into one space. At one point (after being ordered to get rid of some clothes) I dramatically threw all my winter coats on the floor and stormed out shouting, “FINE, throw them out. I’ll just freeze.”
Not our best moment.
Fortunately the pressure of being newlyweds was only temporary and soon we fell into a very healthy and happy rhythm. We moved, we moved again, we got new jobs, we took some trips. You know, life went on.
And then we got pregnant.
It was October of last year and the doctor had recently told me that Austin and I had a less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally. But, after weeks of feeling tired, sick, and confused, I decided to pee on a stick anyways, even though pregnancy seemed as likely as fat-free Doritos.
In the long tradition of doing and saying things at inappropriate times, I took the test at work and almost fell off the toilet when the double lines showed up. I went home shortly after due to panic and hyperventilation.
Austin was there and noticed I was acting nutty soon after I walked in the door. I went into the bathroom to collect my thoughts and decided to write “Hi Daddy” on my stomach in eyeliner as a little ice breaker for my big news.
After a fairly awkward speech about our “great three years together,” I lifted up my shirt and watched as Austin slowly processed the information and tried to form a response. I have never seen a person truly speechless until that moment. One might have thought I told him he had a third testicle.
Eventually shock turned to joy and soon we were smiling and giggling and congratulating each others reproductive systems. Nine months later and I popped out a baby so perfectly proportionate and healthy you’d think we’d bribed God.
I have mentioned plenty of times the goodness of Austin and how wonderful he’s been through pregnancy, birth, and these first few months of motherhood. What I haven’t mentioned is how much it’s confirmed what I suspected all along–this is a good man. Sure, he was always pretty great–but it wasn’t until he became a father that I really, truly knew.
We are, despite ourselves, blessed.
***
this might have brought a tear to my eye. just one. no more than that. i’m not, like, an emotional person or anything.
i love this. thank you for being so honest in your posts. it’s so bleeping refreshing.
So sweet, Kate.
I hope there’s a part 5 ;)
if only there were fat free doritoes…
He ORDERED you to get rid of some clothing??? Oh dear.
Oh, oh OK. So this is only the best love story ever. And it doesn’t even end? I can’t even…
If I could hug your blog and whisper sweet nothings in its ear, I would do it. Because I am in love with it.
That is all.
Oh that’s sweet. Thanks Debbie, the feeling is mutual.
so i just read through your whole love story (found you via debbie jo’s blog), and think it’s the funniest best love story ever. love your honesty! also your name is not so bad either ;) and i went to school in lancaster (MU)..so there’s that too. plus i’m about to get married and we’re buying a house next week, so this part 4 really hits home. i will NOT throw out my coats, but i might have to give us some jeans..(sigh)
hey wow just read this – what a great story [i think great stories are the imperfect ones as they show the perfect ones to be lies] and thankx so much for sharing – just felt really real and we need so much of that in the world – had a fantastic story myself with two proposals to the same girl [God issues the first time and so was a not now more than a no] which involved stunning picnics and wind-picked-up-and-flying-over-the-mountain laptop computers and engraved carrot rings and finally a giant Donnie Darko [as opposed to friendly easter bunny] costume proposal at 3 in the morning or something… and it’s not always easy for sure, but it is good… [ah just spent a whole bunch of time trying to find my story on my blog cos sure i wrote it but can't so you will have to let your imagination fill in the blanks] but yay!