In some aspects, it’s hard to believe we’ve been married for 7 years already. In other ways, it seems like there’s never been a time when I haven’t known you and loved you. You are my best friend, my beautiful wife and I cannot imagine my life without you. God blessed me so much when He gave you to me, you’re more than I ever deserved and more than I ever dreamed for and hoped for.

In the Bible, the number 7 typically represents completion and perfection. Over the last 7 years, we’ve grown and we’ve changed, yet our love has remained. Although things have been far from perfect (and by ‘things’ I mainly mean me), I want you to know that my love for you has grown with each passing day.

A “wise man” (a.k.a. your dad) once said, “life isn’t all about sex and pleasure… it’s a lot of hard work”. Even though we’ve laughed about that over the years, he was right. This past year has certainly been difficult. We’ve been forced to drastically change the carefree life we once knew and become responsible parents to the cutest little boy in the world. But through all the sleepless nights and trying days, it’s been amazing to see the incredible mommy I knew you’d always be.

I love you Carrie, so, so much! You are patient, loving, gracious, gentle and kind… more than I could ever hope to be. At the same time, you’re funny, witty, silly and sarcastic… all the qualities needed for survival with me. Thank you for being the best mommy and the best wife in the world. Thank you for 7 wonderful years and here’s hoping for 70 more! I love you baby.

“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I… I will be here

If in the dark we lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
‘Cause I… I will be here

I will be here…
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to crying
Through the winning and losing and trying
We’ll be together
‘Cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I… I will be here

As sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
I… I will be here

I will be here…
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we’re older
I will hold you

And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true
To the promise I have made
To you and to the One
Who gave you to me

I… I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
So I…
I will be here…
We’ll be together

I will be here.

Yeah, so my life has dramatically changed since the last time I posted. It’s funny looking back at some of your old blogs… you tend to discover that the things you really cared about at the time are so far from your radar now that it makes you laugh. Yep, that’s me. Reference my previous post and you’ll see what I mean, LOL. Free On-Demand TV via the Internet? We’re just lucky if we can watch a 30 minute show these days…

So now we’ve got a little boy, he’s 6 weeks old already too, hard to believe! He was born February 3rd and has been a welcome addition to our once mundane lives. Not going to lie, those late night feedings are not easy, and those times where all he wants to do is rear his head back and wail are not fun either, but I wouldn’t trade my new life in for anything else in the world. I absolutely love being a dad. I don’t mind the poopy diapers or the spit-up, or even those times (i.e. last night) where you look over at your kid and narrowly avoid taking a stream of pee to the face… it’s all good and I’m enjoying it tremendously.

I know I’ve fallen into the stereotypical, first time parent role… you know – waking up in the middle of the night just to make sure he’s still breathing, freaking out if his paci hits the floor or if the dogs get too close to him… and thinking that everything he does, every movement he makes is magical. But I’m good with that too. I’d rather look back at this time and laugh at how overly protective or silly we were instead of looking back 10-20 years from now filled with regrets. I know at this stage in his life, all I can really do is hold him to make him happy… and it’s not possible to do that too much!

Landon & Me

Ok, so I can’t wait to be a dad… I keep counting down the days and months in my head. While some guys kind of dread the interruption of their routines, I welcome it with open arms. Not that I don’t enjoy my carefree evenings of just plopping down after work and watching TV or just hanging out with Carrie doing whatever we feel like doing, whenever we feel like doing it – I enjoy all those things very much. But I’m ready for the drastic change that’s about to take place. And yes, I know it’s going to be a drastic change… the rude awakenings at 3 in the morning, the endless stream of poopy diapers, the spit up, the throw up, the smell.

While I’m not at all looking forward to those things, I can’t wait to hold my little guy in my arms for the first time and see the little miracle God’s given us. In a weird way, I think when that happens for the first time, I’ll finally understand God’s love for me as His child, and I can’t wait for that moment either. Maybe some things will just start to click for me like they never have before, I don’t know.

It’s seemed like forever ago since we found out Carrie was pregnant, and I know for Carrie, it feels like she’s been pregnant forever too. I keep thinking ahead to February 2nd and then realize it’s only the end of September. Kinda feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, doing the same thing day after day after day. I know little Landon will be here before we know it, but it sure feels like an eternity away at this point. If you’ve read my Bio, then you know I’m not a patient person… at all, ever. But at the same time, I know if there was ever anything worth waiting for, this is it.

126 days and counting…