Thursday, October 7, 2010

Dear Torsten, volume 4

Dear Torsten,

Exactly four years ago today, you and I went on our very first date. Just over two years later, we would be married. On this day four years ago, neither of us knew that would happen--but we both did have a sense that this date wasn't going to be like most others. That this relationship was special right from the day we met.


I probably say this every year, but this past year has been our best yet. Big stuff has happened--you quitting your job to start your own company, me getting pregnant--and when we look back on this year that will certainly be the stuff that stands out... but it isn't just that. There are little things, too. We hosted Christmas at our own home for the very first time. We settled into Denver and started establishing a real little network of friends. We took walks in the snow and hikes in the sun. You held me all night as I cried when I didn't get pregnant our first month trying. I wouldn't have even thought it was possible, but everything that has happened this year has made us even closer than ever. Not everything that's happened to us has been good, or easy--but the overall flavor of this year has been wonderful, because it was a year spent with you.


I still can't believe that I am lucky enough to have this life with you, to live with you every day and go to sleep with you every night. That we have created a child together and in a few months we get to meet this child and spend our lives with him. You have been nothing but supportive and understanding throughout this pregnancy--rubbing my back every day, coming to every prenatal appointment, discussing names for hours (even if you DID suggest the name Fritz in all seriousness, and let's just try to forget that you also argued for Alfred and Kelis), reminding me to take my vitamins without lecturing. You are adorably excited about having a baby. I really do swear that he looks just like you, and let me tell you right now that I will be disappointed if I'm wrong.


I hope that he is like you in other ways too. I hope that he develops your ethics, your strong sense of right and wrong, your desire to always do what's right. I hope that he has a sense of humor like yours, that he can find the amusing or ironic in any situation. I hope that he will make faces like you do. I hope that he will have red hair as a child like you did. I hope that he will be adorably serious when he's concentrating like you are. I love these things about you. I can't wait to see in what ways our child is like you, or like me, and in what ways he will be all his own self.


This next year is going to be, without a doubt, the most life-changing either of us has ever experienced. In some ways I wonder if we're crazy to voluntarily change things up so much when our life pretty wonderful exactly the way it is. But really I know that things will always be wonderful with you, no matter the situation. Because you yourself are wonderful. And I can't wait for the next part, because I know you'll be there too.


Love,
Jess

15 comments:

  1. Aw, that's so sweet! happy 4 years together!

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  2. I got a little teary reading this. Here's to the best year yet.. so far! xx

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  3. You two are adorable! Happy four years. :)

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  4. Has torsten had a constant crick in his neck for the last 4 years? :)

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  5. I feel like I'm intruding on a really personal moment ... albeit, a really lovely and charming moment. Great tribute letter, Jess!

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  6. Happy date-a-versary, you two!

    BTW, I think Fritz is an adorable name! Seriously :)

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  7. Awww. Congrats on your 4 year dating anniversary!

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  8. What a sweet post! Happy 4 years of togetherness!

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  9. This is so wonderfully sweet. Happy 4 years you two!

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  10. Very sweet. And I am silly-excited to meet this baby of yours.

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  11. awww.. this is so sweet! <3

    -Mia
    http://miafied.blogspot.com

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  12. This is so beautiful. You two are truly an inspiring couple and I'm so glad that you found each other. :-)

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  13. Too lovely. You're both blessed to have one another. And may there be many happy years ahead.

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  14. Congrats on the four years. I have been following your blog for over two years and remember all the wedding perps.

    You guys are the perfect example of how and inter-cultural marriage can work. Most of us are not lucky like that. I was married to a Venezuelan woman and her family could not come visit, so our marriage ended when she returned home. Maybe it is that the hispanic culture is so different from our culture.

    But I digress, wishing you many, many years of marriage bliss and the healthy and welcome arrival of you baby.

    Vivan LeRoux

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