I'm a married woman!

This is my third week as a true grown up. I'm living in an apartment... with my HUSBAND! It feels so natural, so... perfect.

Our wedding in itself was perfect. I honestly can't remember how many times we've used that word, perfect, to describe the day. We drove to Abilene on our wedding night to stay in a hotel before driving to the DFW airport the next day, and the whole time we were grinning from ear to ear, repeating "Gosh, that was perfect... I wouldn't change a thing."

This being said, we DID get pulled over that night... for going 72 in a 65 (night time). Thank the Lord our friends had written "Just Married" on our windows, or the deputy might not have believed us.

No worries, we just got a warning. :)

Looking back, there were a few minor details that I was stressing over on our big day, but I just LOVE how everything unfolded. Simply beautiful. Just like I had always imagined.

Our honeymoon was beyond awesome! We went to Las Vegas (we both turned 21 in May, so this was perfect timing)! I had never been before, so just walking the strip and seeing all of the buildings, fountains, etc, was incredibly neat. Ryan was excited to gamble, but once we actually got down to it, we lost money way too quickly. We decided to have 40 bucks a piece to gamble at our own leisure, and I think I ended up losing a total of 10 on a slot machine and keeping my 30. Ryan, on the other hand, lost 20-30 real quick on one game of black jack, and decided to quit while he still had some money. He did, however, win $156 on a slot machine off of ONE spin that cost 40 cents while we were waiting for our dinner reservations... VERY cool. I swear, you would have thought we won at least $1000 with the way we reacted. It was such a blast. :)

Exactly a week after our wedding (the day after we got home from the honeymoon), my niece Ashley got married... to a gentleman named... RYAN. Yes, we both married Ryans. They are expecting a baby in January. So exciting... this means me and MY Ryan can hold off on the whole baby thing for a while and play with theirs! ;)

Speaking of babies... my nephew Jason and his wife Laura had their baby girl Layla on the 13th. I haven't been over to see her yet, because I won't be able to refrain from loving on her, and Ryan has been pretty sick for the past week or so and I don't want to give her anything... especially with her being 3-4 weeks premature.

I have found that I'm not as good of a cook as I'd hoped to be... but I'm having so much fun trying. It's always fun to have dinner ready for Ryan as he gets home from work (even though it IS at 9:30pm).

We still don't have the apartment as clean as I'd like it... but I mean, really, it's taken weeks just to get all the boxes from our wedding gifts out of here! Still in the process of moving the last of my stuff over here from my parents house... and we will hopefully have that completed this weekend.

I'm missing my mom and dad, and my fat little dog... but Ryan and I visit them often. I'm not sure if my dog will ever forgive me for moving out, but she's always excited to see us when we stop by.

I love my parents so much... and I'm so grateful for the way they raised me; knowing I deserved nothing less than perfect. And I thank God every day that Ryan fits that description.

I can honestly say I love my life right now... and I wouldn't change a thing.

my heart

I'm in love. Deeply, madly, butterflies in my stomach, I can't catch my breath, 16 years old kind of love.

Yes, I'm aware that Ryan and I started dating when we were 16... and geez, that was over 4 years ago... but I love him even more now than I did then.

When I hear a love song, I picture his face. When I imagine the future, I see us with children that are breathtaking and beautiful... because they look like him.

I love everything about him.

his laughter.

his smile.

his kind heart.

his gorgeous eyes.

the way he rolls those eyes when he thinks I'm being "a goof."

the way he knows what buttons to push in order to make me furious.

the way he knows that I'll only be mad at him for a moment.

the way my hands fit perfectly with his.

the way he tries to slip my hand into his pocket when we're walking and holding hands.

his sense of humor.

his optimism.

his constant encouragement.

the way he brings me back to reality in a split second.

the way he forces me to see the good in others.

the way his eyes light up when he gets excited about something.

the way he always wants me to choose where we're going or what we're doing... even though he knows that I hate making quick decisions.

his patience.

his love for life.

his acceptance.

the fact that he calls me by my last name... which will soon be his.

the way he admits when I'm right... sometimes. ;)

the way he makes me feel beautiful even when I know I look far from it.

the way he acts around children.

the fact that he wants children of his own.

the way he calls my mom "mom."

the fact that my dad calls him "cousin Ryan."

hearing him say "I love you" to his parents or grandparents on the phone.

the fact that he's willing to share his family with me.

the look on his face when he listens to a song for the first time.

the fact that I know he'll have that song memorized by the next time he hears it.

the fact that I have to tip-toe to kiss him.

the way he kisses me.

the way he brushes the hair out of my face.

the way he jokes around.

the fact that he's such a hard worker.

his motivation.

his care-free heart.

his love for animals.

the way animals love him.

how much he's grown up in the past 4 years, but can make me feel like we're 16 again.

the way he loves me.

the way we've only become closer over time.

the way I miss him when we haven't seen each other all day, even though we spent a year and a half apart.

the way I cry in chick flicks now because I know how it feels to have something so great and the thought of that being taken away is heartbreaking.

and most importantly, his love and faith in God and how I know that he will always keep Him in the middle of our relationship.

In 5 months I become a Marlar.

and

I. can't. wait.

:)