Day 2: Reminding Those You Love, They Matter

Today's blog is going to be harder for me... I'm supposed to educate you on something that I know a lot about or am good at.  Well, that could be any number of things.  I was a teacher for 5 years, so I could educate your ears off about education, but that would be more like jumping on a soapbox, which I don't think should be the intent of this blog post. ;)  I'm a huge history nerd, especially when it comes to the South and my great state of Texas, so I've thought about that too.  And of course, I spend my days trying to be the best momma and wife that I can possibly be.  Which I spend almost all of my time doing.  <3

So I'm going to just start typing and see what's easiest for me to educate you in.  *wiggles eyebrows*

My husband and I have been married for 7 years, dated for 3ish before that, and were best friends for 3 years prior to that.  To say that I knew what I was getting myself into {as far as who my husband is} would be the understatement of the century.  ;)  We had a very rocky start to our relationship, since we basically skipped the dating part and jumped right into super serious mode {we basically already knew everything about each other}and to be honest, it scared the hell out of me.  I couldn't even begin to fathom that what I'd looked for in every boyfriend prior had been standing right in front of my face the entire time and I had been completely blind to this fact. Because of some poor choices I made in my little *freak out mode* the first few months of our relationship, I basically spent the next year reassuring him of my feelings.  It's something that's always stuck with me: you don't ever let the ones you love doubt your feelings for them, ever.    In our second year of marriage, my dad left my mom and our family without any explanation, the night before the first Thanksgiving we hosted at our house.  It was another important lesson in never taking the things you love for granted, because one day they could be gone.  Luckily, things have worked out that my father is now back in my life, five years later, but I definitely try not to ever give him any doubt that I want him there.

I say all this to say that I've learned, without a doubt, that it's the little things in your relationships/marriage that matter most. There's no excuse to not take a few minutes out of your day to remind the ones you love that you're thinking about them.

               I write my hubby little notes and leave them in random places.  He saves all of them.  <3

My hubby and dad both love chocolate chip cookies.  {I found a fabulous recipe off Pinterest that I've tailored and dabbled with and they looove.}  If I bake some, I made sure both have them to munch on.  

I send both men in my life random texts to let them know I'm thinking about them.  

I'll post things on my hubby's FB wall that remind me of him.  

He always comments on how it brings a smile to his face.  :)  

I'll make my hubby a playlist for his car ride to work.  

I know his favorite foods, and try to cook one of them once a week.

{Being preggo chasing a toddler hinders this at times, but luckily he's super understanding, haha!}

I try to make far more encouraging comments than negative/worrisome ones.  

{This is especially hard for me since I'm a natural worry wart...}

I encourage him to go out for a couple of drinks with the guys when he needs to, which isn't often {he'd rather be home with us...}.  

I give him time to himself every night to wind down and do his "guy stuff": watch Spartacus play his video games, whatever he wants to do to have some alone time and relax.

I surprise him with sweet projects from our son for his office. 

I always have a pitcher of sweet tea made and in the fridge so he never has to ask. ;)  

I always say thank you.  It's never not necessary.  

I tell him I love him a ridiculous amount of times a day.  <3

We find shows we enjoy watching together, and carve out time to watch them.  Luckily, we have pretty similar tastes so it's easy! 

OK, so I guess this turned into a 'how to remind those important in your life that they matter' kind of post... but that's what happens when you just go with the flow. ;)  Mostly it's the men in my life, but both are extremely important to me.  One fathered me, and the other is the father to our kids. Both pretty important in my book! 

On a side note, here a few of the many things he does for me:  <3

{When I could drink, before I was preggo again...} He'd bring home my favorite beer, wine, or even a yummy frozen concoction he'd discovered at the store.

He makes us breakfast every Sunday morning.

He puts our son in bed every night.

He will surprise me with a favorite food: this is a big deal when you're pregnant and have cravings!

He says the sweetest corniest things to me at the most random of times, and I love every time he does it!

He lets me sleep in one day on the weekends {we take turns}.

He steps up and takes care of things for my family, without me ever asking him to.

He sends me texts/emails/pictures that reminds him of me.

He will randomly call me during his busy day to tell me he loves me.  <3

Don't forget to do a little something extra for the important people in your life!