Happy Anniversary, my Marty

Today is our first wedding anniversary! I would have been shocked to learn a year ago that on July 19, 2009, we'd be celebrating our first year of marriage with a 13-day-old son. And even though I've never been more exhausted in my life, I've also never been as happy. Of course, finding a diamond ring next to my French toast on my breakfast plate this morning may have launched me into a new stratosphere of happiness... Thank you for my anniversary present, Sweetheart, and thank you for a year of wedded bliss! Looking forward to many, many more. I love you!!!(p.s. -- I now owe everyone and his brother a return phone call or email. Please be patient with me as I slowly return to the world of communication from the Land of the Sleep Deprived!)

pictures from Indiana wedding reception

Hopefully I'll get more in from various people, but for now, here are some good ones!

The bride and groom

My fabulous best friend Kate (Life in the Cooper House) with her hubby Dan and their cherub in my arms, Adele (they drove all the way from Michigan -- a 7-hour round-trip -- to surprise me and to meet my hubby and spend time with us; I hooped and hollered when I saw Kate's dark head appear in the doorway!!!)

Yes, more cake, Honey

My too-adorable nieces and nephews. I'm holding the birthday boy Elijah (his 2nd birthday was the day before this) and you can see I have to heft him, he's a chunky monkey! Notice also Ethan's smile; I smiled like that from ages 2-5, so it must be a family thing.

What happiness looks like...

In 2 days, we will celebrate 2 months of marital bliss. I know now why that phrase was coined -- because there truly is such a thing.

My Marty: Honey, I can't believe the things you've put yourself through this past week just to make your bride happy and content in her new home. Enduring 2 flights with me on Friday, the world's worst plane passenger, all the while holding my head to your shoulder and rubbing my back and telling me funny stories to keep me from panicking...Then on Sunday, meeting my family members and good-naturedly allowing yourself to be grilled, all the while laughing with them and smiling at me from across the room...Then on Monday, putting in 5 hours of tough work to load up a Budget truck of all my 31 years of accumulated belongings from my parents' house, only to climb into the truck cab to drive 9 hours back home to Tennessee, all the while kissing my hand and telling me I'm beautiful (the unwashed hair in a ponytail, no makeup, and grubby clothes prove that love is blind!)...well, I simply must declare myself the most fortunate woman in this galaxy!

I love you, Sweetheart. Thank you for all that you do, and for being who you are.

The beauty of black & whites

The first one is a favorite because we look so relaxed and...Southern! The middle graces the cover of the wedding album, and the last might be our very favorite of them all. (Click on them to see larger...) Once again, I have to thank Leslie for a job well done!

And no, I can't promise this will be the last wedding-picture post. In fact, I have to go finish packing my bag (a new London Fog suitcase, mind you) for our flight to Indianapolis tonight. My parents are giving us an Indiana reception for our friends and family who couldn't make it to the Tennessee wedding. So I hope you'll pardon me for staying in the wedding spirit for just a while longer!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

My favorite pic of me, then Marty's favorite pic of me

Today

Exactly a year ago today, a conversation began between two people...

I first spoke with Marty on August 21, 2007. He sent me a communication over eHarmony (yes, some of you don't know that...I swear I'll tell the whole story here some time soon!) and I responded. He actually got in under the wire; I had been cleaning out my account on that site when I saw his message and his profile. The words "master's degree in English" practically peeled my eyelids back, and I wrote him back, hoping (if nothing else) to talk to someone who loved literature like I do and who could perhaps be a friend.

Today that friend is my husband. Today I'm playing on Shutterfly, building a wedding album with over 300 amazing pictures -- and countless incredible memories -- of our wedding just a month ago.

Today I am praising the Creator of heaven and earth and all things perfect and beautiful for bestowing on me the love of my life, the best friend I've ever had, the prince on a white steed straight out of the fairy tales. True love does exist, friends, and it's the most real thing in my life.

Today I am thankful for my Marty! Happy anniversary, my Sweetheart!

Need a photographer? Have I ever got the girl for you!

She is killing me, they are so good...

Oy, she is good

My dearest Leslie was my wedding photographer. I haven't yet seen all of my pictures, but she sent me this one today to tide me over for a bit.

The first of many pictures, I hope

My sister took this picture of me and my groom stealing a kiss at our wedding reception. The picture barely does justice to the joy we feel in being married to each other.