Your anniversary is one of the few special dates in your life that you get to choose. I like J.D.'s and mine a lot. I like that it honors my Mom and Dad's marriage of 31 years by its proximity to their day, June 17. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I like that it's right next to their day but also different, as each relationship is unique. As for J.D., he wanted a day he could remember. At first he requested June 6th (mostly as a joke, although with an element of seriousness), but as I told him then, our marriage isn't the Invasion of Normandy (wrong metaphor). However, he did get his "6" in there, and I can safely say he has never forgotten our day.
I'm glad I chose the 16th, but most of all, I'm glad I chose J.D. (and he chose me)! On our wedding invitations I quoted Emily Dickinson's line from poem 279: "Of all the Souls that stand create-- / I have Elected-- One--." Perhaps Dickinson isn't the greatest model for a line to start a marriage, but marriage is very much about choice and dedication. J.D. and I work hard to make each other happy. We know it's always the little choices that happen everyday that seem to matter most. And whatever else is wrong or not quite how we'd like it, it's just never as important as each other.
Today we tried to make homemade ice cream. We've had this machine since we got married 7 years ago and decided today was the day to use it. Well, turns out, homemade ice cream is a lot of work. First, we bought groceries: sugar, half & half, whipping cream, eggs, flour, rock salt, etc. But when we got home, we realized we'd forgotten the ice, so J.D. went back to the store. Meanwhile, I started warming the milk with sugar and flour... 5 cups of milk that took 2 pans. It was pretty warm here today, and while cooking and dancing to Abba had some fun in it, mostly it was important to constantly stir the mixture. So, I stood vigilant for 20 minutes over the stove. The eggs were ready and whisked in a separate bowl. The recipe called for 1 cup of the warm mixture to be "gradually" mixed with the eggs and then the eggs "gradually" mixed into the warm milk and cooked over medium for 1 minute. At 25 minutes, I asked J.D. to come trade off with me, so I could take a break. A minute later when I returned, to my surprise and honestly my instant dismay, the eggs were completely mixed into the now boiling milk. I explained that "gradually" didn't mean pouring steadily. But then I realized... it's just ice cream. J.D. was trying to do it for me and share in the work. So what if it's fried egg ice cream? No biggie.
We still haven't tried our homemade ice cream; it's still in the freezer. We went out for fondue instead. But after today, I'm very tempted to say-- just grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's and call it good.
I guess my ultimate point is that after 7 years, J.D. and I have had our share of annoyances and disagreements, usually over similar silly things. For example, I work to clear the extra time off the microwave and to not open the screen door with my elbow, while J.D. works to remember to put the toilet seat down and to turn the shower knob all the way off. Those are the constant little choices that build a marriage and show respect and love for each other. Most of all, we make the choice to communicate without fighting. I can honestly say J.D. and I have
never raised our voices to each other or said anything unkind that either of us regrets. We don't use hurtful absolutes like "you always" or "you never." I know since each relationship is different, there are some perfectly wonderful relationships where it's ok those things happen and life goes on, but that's just not how we work.
Loving J.D. is the best thing I've done in my life. Neither J.D. nor I are perfect-- far from it-- but we're almost perfect together. I really believe that the love you put into the world, even between two people, changes the world for the better.
On the menu for tomorrow: fried egg ice cream.
279
Of all the Souls that stand create--
I have Elected -- One--
When Sense from Spirit -- flies away--
And Subterfuge -- is done--
When that which is-- and that which was--
Apart -- intrinsic -- stand--
And this brief Drama in the flesh--
Is shifted -- like a Sand--
When Figures show their royal Front--
And Mists -- are carved away,
Behold the Atom-- I preferred--
To all the lists of Clay!
I should have posted these a long time ago. These are from June 16, 2011, our 10th Wedding Anniversary. We had a family picnic at Shaw Nature Reserve by a lake and under some Bald Cypress trees. Jonathan loved running around and playing with his Dad. We went for a walk to see the lily pond, but Jonathan started having a fever, so we went home. Later when he was feeling better J.D. and I did go to dinner together. 
Wild hair baby. 
Grandma B sent this green squeaky kitty today. Jonathan has a new best friend toy. He jumps every time when it squeaks at him, and then he smiles.
Here's a picture from a few days ago. Jonathan now has his first tooth! It came in on June 3, 2010-- his 6th month birthday. J.D. calls it "Chomper." I call it "Toothy."
June 14, 2010-- 6th month doctor's appointment. Jonathan is growing well and is a healthy, happy baby. He weighs 21 lbs. and 1 oz. He is 27.5 inches long, and has a head circumference of 44 cm. His height and weight are in the 90th percentile. His head circumference is in the 50-75th percentile. Here he happily gets weighed. 
The whole family... waiting together at the doctor's. 
He received two shots and the vaccine they drink. He only cried for the second shot and stopped after I picked him up and hugged him. He had a slight fever the day after, 100.8, but he seems to be recovered for the most part now. I do think most shots are harder on the parents than on the babies. We didn't give him any medicine, since our doctor told us about a study in which they found acetaminophen tends to slightly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccines. We want those shots to work as well as possible! 
Your anniversary is one of the few special dates in your life that you get to choose. I like J.D.'s and mine a lot. I like that it honors my Mom and Dad's marriage of 31 years by its proximity to their day, June 17. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I like that it's right next to their day but also different, as each relationship is unique. As for J.D., he wanted a day he could remember. At first he requested June 6th (mostly as a joke, although with an element of seriousness), but as I told him then, our marriage isn't the Invasion of Normandy (wrong metaphor). However, he did get his "6" in there, and I can safely say he has never forgotten our day.
