Happy Birthday Love Muffins!

So today is my sweet husband’s birthday and I am missing him because he is far far away working (aka playing golf in sunny AZ while it’s pouring rain here). One of the things I love about his job is that he’s here pretty much every night with us and when he’s not I get a little bit sad. Rin does too. But have you ever noticed how absence makes all of those annoying little quirks of your spouse fade to the background and you remember all the nice thoughtful things about them? It’s that way with me anyway and since he’s been gone I have been thinking of all of the things that make him a great husband to me and a wonderful father to Rin. So on this, Peter’s 38th birthday, here is just a small sampling of the many reasons I am very happy to be married to this thoughtful, hardworking, supportive, and loving man.

He…
Talks about me when I am not around (too much according to some people)
Lets me have the TV remote anytime I want it- even when the Masters is on
Knew the second we saw Rinat that he was our son
Calls on the way home every day to ask if I need anything from the store
He loves me fully and completely and loves our son even more
Lets me be whoever it is that I think I am
Went with me to every single fertility appt- the only man there every time
Gives me every bit of credit for keeping our family together even though it’s not true
Goes all out playing with his son and lets Rinat pound on him like a prize fighter
Is nice to me even when I don’t deserve it
Tells me I am beautiful every single day
Puts family ahead of income
Cleans up- sometimes
Gives into every crazy scheme I have- “Hey, lets adopt a baby from a country we’ve never heard of!”
Takes the night shift with Rinat without me having to ask
Grabs the phone out of my hand when Carson calls so he can chitchat with her
Loves to read my celeb gossip mags
Would drop anything to be by my side if I need him- even if it’s just for a hug when I get bad news
Is firm and loving with our son
Always believes the best about people
Will drive to MacDonald’s when I’m sick to get me a milkshake
Loves to shop more than I do
Tells me that things will work out even when he’s not sure they will
Is passionate
Is always willing to watch Rinat so I can have some girl time
Has been there for me more than anyone else for the last 17 years
Has every confidence we’ll make it another 50

I love you Peter! Happy birthday! You are a wonderful husband and father and we are so lucky to have you in our life. See you soon.
-m

"Did you know it my 'pecial day today?"

Hi Everyone!  We have known Rinat for 3 whole years now.  Yes, THREE years.  We are so unbelievable happy that this sweet, thoughtful, talkative little boy was able to join our family and I just can't imagine our life without him. I love his little face so much that sometimes I just don’t think I can stand it anymore. I am compelled to scoop him up (despite the “Mama, ‘top it!”) and give him kisses multiple times a day.  Even the days that he tries my patience to the very limits are good days.

So today was Rinat’s special day. I’ve been talking about it for the last week or so. Pretty much any time he tells that he simply MUST have some toy that he has found at Borders or the grocery store I just tell him to keep it in mind for his adoption day and if that’s what he wants when the time comes, then it is his. So we decided that for Rin’s day, we would trek it up to the Baltimore aquarium and it was worth every second in the car. We had an absolute blast. The look on his little face when he saw the giant rays or the teeth of the shark is better than any gift I could buy.

The highlight was, no surprise, the dolphin show. Rin was mesmerized by the dolphins as they jumped high into the air performing the tricks that they have undoubtedly done a million times before.

And after the dolphins had flipped their final flip and waved goodbye via splashing fins, he absolutely insisted that we go back to the amazon jungle where we found a tiny little poison frog and lots of very loud birds for him to imitate.

And then to the part that we all love- the sharks. For anyone who doesn’t know Peter, he is absolutely and ridiculously afraid of sharks. He will barely even step foot in the ocean though I have to say that he does put up a good front for Rinat.  I on the other hand am afraid of the jellyfish but I am still completely entranced by them at the same time. They are just so tranquil to watch. I could sit in the jellyfish area for hours just watching them do their slow undulating dance.  I get that same feeling I do late at night as I wait for the last little bit of fire to die down in the fireplace before I head up to bed.  It lulls me.

But then I was brought back to reality because, about an hour past his nap time, Rin was done for the day. And I mean DONE. He sat his little fanny down and screamed “NO PICTURES” at the top of his lungs which just made me laugh.

Check out this photo. I told him to give me ‘mean face’ and it of course made him laugh. If you look closely, you will find my two favorite people in the reflection on my glasses. My whole world reflected right back at the camera.  As long as I have my boys, the world is good. 

Post nap, we relaxed and played a little and then headed out for dinner at Rin’s fave Mexican place where he refused to eat his broccoli (therefore the return of ‘mean face’) but I thoroughly enjoyed my grown-up drink. Nothing better after sweating all day long in the DC heat. And when the waiter came and brought our little pumpkin some tortilla dough to play with he yelled “Did you know it my ‘pecial day today?” at the top of his lungs. I wish we could all celebrate each other so fully and so happily. Rin was so elated to be himself today.

And a little after-dinner treat. Can you believe that he picked ice cream over Georgetown Cupcake.  He's crazy.  But couldn’t you just melt into his little chocolate brown eyes?  All it takes is one look and I just want to give him anything he wants on a platter.  Spoiled little bugger.

I have to say that it was one fabulous and very special day for us all. The best part was that it was us, all day, just us enjoying each other.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  We have been up to lots lots more but I will save that for another epic post. I hope you all had a special day today. Love to all, -m