top 5 reasons why i love you today..

So...i've been thinking about this a lot since our talk last night and I didn't know how to come right out and say it without first putting my thoughts to paper (or internet in this case) so here goes.  


5  because you say what I need to hear (you might want to save this email somewhere b/c I might not admit this too often :).  But last night's talk, though it was difficult to hear, and though it has taken me some time to digest, I'm glad you shared.  I want you to feel like you can always talk to me about anything (and i want to be considerate enough to provide an open ear when you need it). 


4.  because you put up with my temper tantrums (thanks Rachel Ray for putting a brotha' on blast...) and hopefully as I get older, more mature, i'll either get my way more often (jk) or learn to be thankful for what i have when i don't


3.  because of everything you orchestrated today with the grocery trips and the food schedules and balancing everyone's needs...you keep our household running as an efficient, well-oiled machine and I appreciate it more now than ever...you're a great mom


2.  because after all these years, you're still the one i'm in love with


1.  because as I sit here, eating my yummy cabbage, all I can think about is how I can continue to work on being a better man for my woman so that she can have everything that she needs.  that's a testament both to God's work in me and your inspiration.  I'm sorry it took me this long, and this format to get all my feelings out there, but i'm certainly willing to talk things out with you afterwards now that i've been able to collect my thoughts.  either way, i love you.  


SDW3

Proud of you

...just saw you walking down the street with your walking buddy and I thought about how sexy you look and how proud I am of you sticking with your workout regiment.  Looking forward to hanging out with you today!

Have a Great Day!

Hey babe, 


I woke up thinking about you this morning and wanted to tell you to have a good day.  I know your exam will go well, you will perform excellently and confidently and you'll enjoy the work you get to do as you practice being a nurse practitioner!  Kiss my daughter and tell her I love her.  I miss u, see u soon.  


love sdw3

hey dear...

hey beautiful, 


i just wanted to write you to let you know i love you.  as i write, Riles is standing next to me while i lay on the floor, pulling at my ear and doing some kind of weird panting noise...she reminds me so much of you with her inquisitive nature lol.  and...now she just took off my glasses...omg lol.  


in other news, i hope your day of resting is going well.  as you can see, Riles and I have not been up there all day to bother you, even though i have had several questions (i forgot the last time i fed her, so now i'm not sure when i should do it again, also, what food should she eat for lunch?  more of the banana and cereal, and omg- why did it take us a half an hour to eat the banana/cereal mix eariler!  i videotapped it for the show...).  and....Riles just fell over, but she got back up again so...that girl's a trooper tell you what!


baby, i want to go on a vacation with you- somewhere relaxing, even if it's only for a weekend getaway, and if we need to, i'm ok with bringing riles.  i've been looking in this Atlanta mag and there are so many great places, it's like begging us to come...


ok, yeah, one more thing.  i definitely want you to go get a massage one day this week.  so, lets book you an appointment together today for either tuesday or wednesday (probably wednesday) when you can go in the morning.  you deserve it.  who spoils you?


love dewitt (maybe i should start calling myself that?)

Looking forward to Lovey Dovey Time

The only time I am ever lonely is when we have to spend time apart, and every moment spent with you is a moment in bliss, and it's only dwarfed by the next moment we spend together.


Today I feel like writing because I probably have so much on my mind, but I'm glad that I can always share my thoughts with you boo!

Purpose in our Storm

Hey boo, 


I know it's been a while since i wrote to you, but as I was praying this morning about us and thinking about all the things I have to do/accomplish for the day i started thinking about a few other things.  My mind wandered back to when we were green college graduates (or almost grads), the day before graduation and we just got up and went to buy a car (our first one together!).  Then, not to long after we'd gotten married (about 2 weeks I believe), I left to go to Houston for a month and we weathered that storm.  Then my mind zoomed past all of the other milestones, buying a house, getting preggers, having Riles, starting grad school, etc to now.  


We've been through so much together and it seems like we're always on the move, going from one level of achievement to the next.  I just want to make sure we're taking the time to enjoy the phase of life we're in.  I know it may seem difficult to do at times right now, but we have so many good things going on for us right now.  Never again will Riles be this age, and admittedly I feel like I'm missing out on too much of this phase of her life (hopefully Saturday morning time w/daddy will help me get caught up).  I want to make sure we're taking the time to enjoy one another too.  I'm sorry I went to bed last night acting poo poo and didn't enjoy the brief time we had together last night.  Let's not do that again.  


I'm glad we're in the phase of life that we're in.  It means that we're growing and moving closer to our destiny.  I'm proud of hearing you talk about planning Saturday morning for you business, it's a good omen of things to come.  Let's just make sure that despite the challenges of now with full time school schedules, raising a baby, dealing with jobs, keeping a clean house (can i just tell you by the way that it's so freeing not to be caring about the condition of the house everyday!) whatever, we're stopping to smell the roses together.   I love you, we're doing big things, let's appreciate our purpose in whatever storm we're in.  

Thank you!

Thank you!  

1. For indulging me in a trip to A-town the past few days when I most needed it.  
2. For entertaining my grandma all those times I "pulled a Raymond" lol
3. For letting my grandma feed our daughter turkey without turning into angry new-mom
4. For trusting strange dude to hold our baby, even though he wanted to feed her a chickenbone
5. For curling up in the queen size bed even though i took up all the space...
6. For letting me buy Madden 2011 (you don't know about that one yet...)
7. For cutting watermelon!

Does this sound familiar?

Just some of the things i'm working on...:) - PS you might want to share this list with your new mom friends boo.  

No matter how painstakingly daddies-to-be pore over the pregnancy and parenting guides, there’s invariably a lesson or two they’ll overlook about dealing with a new baby and a postpartum woman. And, according to Bumpies, guys tend to miss the same few things over and over. From real moms, here are the top things women wish new dads knew (yes, there’s an entire section dedicated to diapers).

Pregnant women/new moms: Print it out, add your notes, and hand to your husband. New/soon-to-be dads: Memorize it. Now.

#1. We still want to feel sexy.

1. "After having a baby, we never get tired of you telling us that we’re still sexy and that we look ‘the same’…even though our jeans tell us that’s not entirely true!" -- gearheadsbride
2. "Even though she’s now the mother of your child, she’s still your wife and wants to be treated that way." -- chromiumman
3. "New moms need just as much attention as that cute baby!" -- harmonden
4. "All we want is to be loved, appreciated, and told how amazing we are -- not just as moms, but as sexy wives too." -- Emmajoanne

#2. We’re new at this too…and it’s hard.

1. "We may be nurturing and maternal, but we’re really scared too." -- soulcandybt
2. "Spending time with the baby during the day isn’t a series of lounging and naps for new moms. It’s hard work entertaining a baby!" -- kim*mik
3. "We’re making it up as we go along too!" -- ljpeach
4. "Just because we’re at home on maternity leave doesn’t mean that we aren’t working all day as well." -- kpropes
5. "We’re not superwomen." -- Berwyn

#3. We still love you; we’re just tired and cranky.

1. "The desire for you is still there, even though we’re exhausted!" -- Tina12312
2. "Although the attention obviously shifts a bit at first, we love you more than ever!" --Soon2BMrs.P
3. "We get a little cranky, but don’t take it personally." -- kathypease
4. "All the moments when we ‘take over’ as new moms are simply a mom compulsion and have nothing to do with not trusting your ability to take care of the baby." -- ChiTownHipster
5. "We may want sex less (at first), but we love you even more than before." -- txterri

#4. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are NOT easy.

1. "Leave Mommy’s boobies alone!" -- lsl_53@yahoo.com
2. "How it feels to be a woman and have all these goofy things coming out of your body -- babies, placentas, milk, etc." -- bethann5
3. "The after-birth pains are as painful as early labor." -- HSlater351
4. "How long it takes to REALLY recover from pregnancy." -- kdkdkd
5. "How emotional and difficult breastfeeding can be. The first two weeks are crucial and extremely hard for a new mother. There’s no way a new dad can ever understand the effort a new mother goes through to try and do the right thing when a thousand opinions are flying at them, plus issues such as latching, production problems, etc." -- CoolMama

#5. We need some help…and some breaks.

1. "We’re so tired and emotional. Bring us a simple meal with a flower and take a walk with the baby while we eat and nap. Everyone will be happier in the long run." -- jjampm
2. "We need our naps, so thanks for changing the diapers and turning away unexpected visitors." -- choochoo428
3. "Tell us it’s okay when we get a little grumpy." -- shanstan
4. "When you watch your own kid, it’s NOT considered ‘babysitting.’" -- pielum
5. "Your support is needed after birth just as much -- or more! -- as during pregnancy, labor, and delivery." -- Linnea_Ann
6. "You can be very helpful without being asked to help first." -- edq143
7. "Just holding the baby isn’t really helping. Try cleaning the bathrooms or making dinner." --idahomom
8. "Sleep deprivation is soooo hard to live with. Give your wife lots of help during the day." --impnpixie

#6. Diapers diapers diapers!

1. "How to change diapers without vomiting." -- indygoldenmom
2. "How to not use the entire box of wipes for one dirty diaper!" -- jananddom
3. "I’m not the only one who should change our baby’s diaper!" -- BusterJess
4. "How to properly change a diaper…and dispose of it!" -- ashley17
5. "Moms need sleep too, and poop doesn’t kill." -- auntiethesis

Run to you....

Aww....you've got to listen to this version of this song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5-1TluPMI&feature=related 

Holding you in the storm

Hey baby, 

I loved holding you early this morning during the throws of the storm...it made me think of a poem i'd read so i wanted to share it with you...
Holding Hands


We sit together, your hand in mine
Time matters not, all is fine; 
The simple touch of skin to skin, 
Stirs a warmth that reigns within.


Hand in hand, all barriers dissolve, 
Our souls merge, all cares resolve;
An energy flows from your hand to mine
Fills my heart, soul, and mind.


Touching so close, the world fades away, 
Reality dims in loves strong sway;
Words are not needed, none are said, 
By just a touch, our souls are wed.


Looking forward to holding you some more :)

Why i love you more today than yesterday...

Thanks baby for being with me through these difficult adjusting periods of the last few weeks...i promise we'll pull it together soon and get into a more comfortable groove.  You've been great though, taking care of things at home when crisis have come up and also comforting me even when you may not have completely understood why or what was going on.  


I'm glad that I picked the right woman for me!  I won't imagine another person who could do the things you've done, demonstrate the grace under fire, and still be an inspiration for me as I watch you with our daughter everyday.  Riles is blessed to have such a great mom and i'm certainly blessed to have such a great wife.  

The love of my life

I can't tell you how many times this past week I've been able to depend on you as my rock, and seen you come through for me!  I love you, I love you, I love you!  There's not another woman who can take your place, i'm convinced that God designed you with me specifically in mind.  You know how to say the right words at just the right time (like when you gave me good advice the other night) and you know how to say them in the way that i'll best receive the message.  


I know it's been a long week for both of us, I just wanted to let you know how continualy impressed by you I am.  From the beginning of this week, seeing you light up when we went shopping and knowing that you're such a beautiful woman- I got goosebumps when I saw some of your confidence come back when you were wearing your new clothes!  


I'm looking forward to spending time with you later either today or this evening :)

Thinking about you...

You know, Mrs. Samantha Wakefield, you don't make it easy being your husband sometimes....ok, that was probably the wrong way to begin.  Let me start again.  


I think I miss you.  Nope, I'm sure of it.  That's what I think is so difficult about being a new parent for me.  I don't get to see you one on one.  And when we do get the rare moment alone, one of us (usually you for good reason) is usually too tired or doesn't feel like being touched or bothered.  I was really looking forward to today being a time where we could at least get away for a little bit of time, perhaps for a few hours where we could reconnect.  I miss being able to just spend time with you without thinking about what's happening with Riles (who, coincidentally is now passed out on the floor next to me...).  


Man, this learning how to be a new parent thing is really kicking our asses huh?  Lol, well, I'm glad to be in the trenches with you.  It's not all that bad (in fact it's pretty awesome most of the times), but there are good days and bad days sometimes...just don't let the bad days change your mind...remember that PJ morton song?  Ok, now i'm rambling...i'll see you when you get home.  


SDW3

It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I've written specifically to you...  Do you remember how when we used to date, and during the first few years of our marriage i would write little notes to you sharing my thoughts?  Yea, those were simpler times it seems.  Now, it seems like there's so much other stuff to do, who has time to do any of the simple things right?  I hope that's not the case, I mean I really hope so.  


I've got to tell you baby, I don't like all the fighting we've been doing recently.  It seems like we argue about way too much.  I mean, really, the thermostat?  I remember a time period when things like that wouldn't even phase us.  Now, it's the starting point for WW3!  


While I was in the barber shop this morning, my barber was telling me about his anniversary coming up (2 years) and he was joking how he's trying to get to my level.  He mentioned that it's been tough these first 2 years, but he's had to buckle down and get it done.  It made me feel proud of him, not because I'm familiar with his personal struggles, but because it reminds me that this in fact is a choice.  And I was happy for the choices he'd made to accept responsibility for his marriage.  


Over 5 years ago, I choose to marry you.  And now, as I'm watching Riles ignore Curious George while instead spitting up all over her exersaucer (go figure), I realize that having a child was our choice.  I'm pretty satisfied about my choices, at times ecstatic because I'm so happy about how things have turned out.  Sometimes though, particularly at times when I go too long without reminding myself, I forget how good I have it.  You're a big reason why things are so good in my life and I want you to know that. 


love SDW3