Day 174.

Dear New Husband,

It has been a football kind of day from start to finish. First, with my guest posts on your sports blog: the dallas hokie [Which you can read here]. I have to say, I'm super proud of myself. Don't get me wrong, I know that I know some things about college football, but you make me feel even more proud of myself.

Then, we got to go see Texas high school football tonight. 

So fun to see my cousin all grown up and in band; even more fun to see that legendary Friday Night Lights of Texas high schools. Pretty fun stuff. And a really great reminder that life after high school gets so much better than you can comprehend at 15. 15-year-old me could not even comprehend marrying; much less marrying someone who compliments my talents and has endlessly fun football debates with me.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 173.

Dear New Husband,

I had a great day with you today. More importantly, I had so much fun filling out those questions for the guest spot on your sports blog [Anyone out there that doesn't read it, my guest post will be up tomorrow. Until then, you can read it here]; that's such a fun thing we can share together. And its fun to show all your friends how you truly married the best woman. ON THE PLANET.

Anyway, thanks for letting me drop in on your dude club and bring my 2 cents about my school and conference. I truly enjoy being Mrs. Dallas Hokie. And grabbing margaritas and free Chuy's with fun couples. Da best.

I love you,
Your New Wife.

Day 172.

Dear New Husband,

Ah, Wednesdays. Class.

Its seems now the tables have turned and my schedule now gets in the way of everything. Huh. That's a new one. I oddly feel victorious when someone asks for what our schedule is and I triumphantly get to say: No! We cannot attend! I have class.

Truly sick thought processes though. But I'm thankful for you and you putting up with my gloating about academia. Don't be surprised if I'm slightly despondent next semester when you go back to class and I work. Don't be surprised when you come home to new school supplies and me asking you to describe who the biggest buffoons in your class are; the idealistic weirdos that always raise their hand and are ridiculously over eager.

And I'm thankful that you don't try to talk me down about my academic anger at myself when I realize that I've over-exerted myself this semester - you just let me roll around in my stress and anxiety, because at the end of my whining, I always talk myself into reason and calm myself down. That's so nice of you to realize that. You're such a fast learner, El Huz.

I love you,
Your New Wife.

Day 171.

Dear New Husband,

Naturally, with college football season fast approaching, we had to make cookies in homage to our alma maters. 

Life is sweet with you, Hokie. Even though your cookie making/decorating skills make it seem like I married a 4-year-old.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 170.

Dear New Husband,

Well. We both survived our first day of school. My last first day of school ever [Well, unless I really pursue that pipe dream of law school. I really cannot help myself. I love learning #hermionegrangerprobs] and your first day of your second semester of graduate school. Its even more darling that our classes are at the same time. 

But as an old pro at higher education, let me encourage you with these tips:

1. Write down all of your due dates in a place that you look at regularly. For me that's a planner. For you, that would be my face. So get out your permanent marker.

2. Please don't raise your hand in class when the professor has less than 20 minutes of class left. Everyone hates that. Including me. If you do that, well. I'll still love you but think you're a dweeb.

3. Just don't raise your hand. No one likes that one opinionated/brown-nose kid. Yes, even if that person is someone as adorable as you.

4. Take snacks to class. Those vending machines are asking you for $2 for a bag of Peanut M&M's. Just say no and eat the fruit snacks I so lovingly purchased for you.

5. Observe the parking lot rules. Parking lot attendants on university campuses are more oppressed than the cast of Les Miserables and will give you a ticket for whatever they deem necessary. I got a parking ticket my first semester of graduate school because I put my parking pass on the wrong side of my windshield. . . .Pause for reaction.

With these tried and true tips, I'm sure you will succeed! Although I'm sure you would succeed if you ignored me. But this is cuter.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 169.

Dear New Husband,

What a day. It seems like we were in the car for half of a year. 

Sorry I get so dramatic sometimes about stuff that is inconsequential, such as being in the car for extended periods of time. But I'm always thankful for you and your willingness to stop for a treat or two. Or several.

But, as per usual, you are wonderful and are a constant source of support, care and love for me. And unintentional humor.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 168.

Dear New Husband,

See! My family loves birthdays! We just cannot help ourselves! Birthdays are the best! And, we kept my Dad's surprise party a surprise! No one ratted it out! I know we are notorious surprise ruiners, i.e. you asking my parents if you could propose to me got ratted out, and I recently ratted out that I got you a couples massage for your birthday.

We literally cannot help ourselves. We get so excited we want everyone to share in the excitement, even for the person the surprise is planned for. So if you learn any habit from my family, don't learn the surprise ruining habit. Learn the surprise and birthday loving habits instead.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 167.

Dear New Husband,

I just love that you're a part of my family. I love that you get to be part of the fun ride that is belonging to my family. And I'm so glad we're here with my family to celebrate my Dad's big 6-0. 

And yes, we can borrow Band of Brothers [Our birthday present to him no less] from my Dad. I'm honestly not surprised that you love it. . . Maybe it will materialize for your birthday as well.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 166.

Dear New Husband,

I'm so glad you like New Girl; rather you're the reason I've been so motivated to catch up with it now. I feel as though I'm the one that should have turned you on to this marvelous tv show, but I'm glad that you're the reason I'm watching it. Its not as though I didn't watch the first couple of episodes, I did. I just got busy with that whole planning a wedding business. . . I don't know why I'm justifying just not watching this show to you. What a weirdo.

And thank you for hanging up our wedding pictures [Our decorating is almost finished! Yay!] and not being sad we're having leftovers for dinner.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 165.

Dear New Husband,

Such a fun treat getting to see your sister at the airport today as she passes through our neck of the woods to jet back home from her whirlwind trip. I know you miss your family [And I miss mine a lot too; the downer of living away from family], so I know how much you loved that.

And I just have to say we have awesome friends. A year ago we had pretty much no friends and now we have friends; people like us! Its a joy to share life with you, but an even larger joy to share it with others that are just as nerdy and quirky as we are.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 164.

Dear New Husband,

Another day of feeling like my lungs are made of lead. And I am beyond ready to join the rest of society. But thanks for reminding me that sometimes society is not all its cracked up to be and I should rest and not rush myself to get better. 

Because then I would probably whine a lot more.

Thanks for being open to trying spaghetti squash - I know its weird, but its the same price as a box of noodles and healthier for you. Plus, check out all of those leftovers! Plus, you actually liked it! I even asked you 12 times to make sure you weren't fibbing.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 163.

Dear New Husband,

We have wedding pictures on our wall! My wedding rings our clean! We went out on a date!

And I still am not feeling like a normal person and have the sleep schedule of a 20-year-old boy. 

3 to 1, that's not too bad odds, right? Wait, don't answer that. I missed the 'odds' lesson because I skipped my first stats class in college a lot (Sorry, Mom).

I love you,

Your New Wife Who is Really Beyond Ready to Be Better.

Day 162.

Dear New Husband,

Still sick. But Lie to Me is a nice thing we (Rather, you) can watch on Netflix together while I sleep and hack up the lung infection.

Too graphic? Its probably all the crime dramas we've been watching. The plus side of all of this is how I now I have abs without trying. Thanks, coughing.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 161.

Dear New Husband,

Headed out for our first night out for the first time in a long time - I'm so incredibly excited! I'm slightly feeling better, its almost chilly outside thanks to the rain and we're going to celebrate one of my favorites birthdays!

I'm so excited to wear makeup and socialize with others. . . I may be too excited. So you're obligated to be my filter and grab my arm when I start to overshare about my illness.

Okay. Yeah. I'm overly excited. This does not bode well.

I love you,
Your New Wife.

Day 160.

Dear New Husband,

After sleeping for at least 15 hours today, you think I'd be ready for a night on the town!, which you so sweetly suggested. Granted, a night on the town with someone who has bum lungs included your sweet options of going to Pei Wei or Chipotle. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it that far. I still don't know how I didn't fall asleep in the shower.

But you were sweet, as per usual, and we went to Blockbuster [Which I am surprised still exists - but 99 cent rentals of non-new releases: who can say no to that?!] to get Mean Girls. What a sweetie.

Thanks for being you and for somehow not being as needy in the health department as I am - although I was ahead of you anyways.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 159.

Dear New Husband,

Still sick. Still napping. Still loving going to bed at 10 pm and waking up at 11 am the next morning. Still enjoying cough syrup with codeine and having a Blu-Ray player so I can nap on the couch with trust Netflix by my side.

I bet you didn't realize what an adventure you were marrying - just probably not the adventure that you had in mind. Fortunately, I've got the sense of humor going for me to redeem for my shoddy immune system.

Also, inhalers are weird.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 158.

Dear New Husband,

Well. I'm officially sick. You entertained me, brought all my favorite things but we couldn't stop this one - I'm sick. With something pneumonia/bronchitis/upper respiratory infection like. 

Thankful for doctors and modern medicine that provide me with a CD that has pictures of my chest x-ray on it so we can examine all the mucus and nastiness in my lungs in the comforts of our own home. I would post it on here, but feel its weird to put my own x-rays on this blog - seems too. . . something. Weird?

Although, you have to admit I'm the best date you've ever had to an ER clinic, am I right?

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 157.

Dear New Husband,

I don't know how I talked you into watching "A Room with a View"; a decidedly British period movie, fraught with romance and British humor.

But I realize how lucky I am that I am married to a man that doesn't mind when we watch those British period dramas that I adore so greatly - not that you really welcome them, but you don't mind watching them as I swoon all over chaps named Darcy, Knightley, Rochester, Emerson or Heathcliff. Today, that is what I love most about you - you really do mean it when you say that you would do anything for me. That includes British dramas.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 156.

Dear New Husband,

Despite the annoying and ridiculous allergy business that has decided to take up residence in my eyes, lungs and throat, it was an enjoyable evening with you. 

Finally getting our plates and bowls to finish out the last of the wedding gift cards we have was satisfying and somehow bittersweet. No more wedding gifts. No more thank you notes. . . Sigh. I liked writing thank you notes. I still do; but what else is new. This is what happens when you have a Texan mother - you end up saying things like "Bless your heart" and taking pleasure in writing thank you notes.

But I'm so glad I have you to lug around heavy dishes and follow me around Ulta while I try to figure out where on Earth they keep the finger nail clippers. I mean seriously, why isn't it back with the nail polish?! Ugh.

Thanks for being you, for being finished with Monday night classes and always being up for frozen yogurt.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 155.

Dear New Husband,

Lazy Sunday, ending with psychedelic Closing Ceremony of the Olympics. I'm still slightly surprised that you didn't know how weird the Brits are; wait, weird is not the correct word. . . Eccentric. I think that's actually the 'Southern' way to say that someone is weird.

But today went by so quickly - but it was nice to actually have a lazy weekend with you. This summer has flown by and to finally get some lazy time. . . Bliss. You're da best and I love getting to hang out with you.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 154.

Dear New Husband,

Dinner on the 48th floor of Thanksgiving Tower. Check.

Drinks at The Belmont pretending we're hipster and feeling as though someone at Apple needs to get on the fact that the iPhone flash is so painful. Check.

And ending the evening with a rented movie - I still can't believe you never had seen The Sixth Sense. And I still can't believe you weren't surprised as the rest of humanity was/is.

It was all a great celebration for celebrating a year since you gave me this. . .

Thank you for loving me, choosing me and not proposing on a lit up scoreboard. Instead, one year ago, you took a bent knee next to an art museum. The only thing that could have topped that is if you dropped a knee next to Diet Dr. Pepper or the cheese section. Thank you for thinking of me and being the best person ever to be with as we try to walk down this weird and unknown road of marriage.

I love you,
Your New Wife.

Day 153.

Dear New Husband,

I LOVE FRIENDS. And finally having people over to our home; sharing my "home cooked" pizza, some vino, and having good conversation and laughs brought on by a wonderful round of Apples to Apples.

We live a good life, honey bunny. Except that our new place is pretty hard to get to. We might consider investing in a flare gun so people know to drive towards the light.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 152.

Dear New Husband,

A busy and accomplished day. I just have to brag on myself that I strategically saved us so much money at the grocery store today AND buying a new lamp for me so you could have my old one and your bachelor pad lamp could begin its life somewhere else.

Congratulations on your frugal wife, who makes you homemade egg sandwiches and makes you watch The Natural; which turns out is super boring in the middle, but now you get the references to that movie that the Ballpark in Arlington makes when someone hits a home run.

So thankful to spend time with you in our home. Such evenings are incredibly difficult to come by with both of us working and in school, and all the various activities we're involved in. I'm so thankful when I get to spend sweet time together at home.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 151.

Dear New Husband,

Here's to election years! To actual political/opinion debates that do not end in slamming of doors/windows/mouths. But most of all, the fact that in our differences there are still big similarities. We desire the same end goal, just a difference of how to get there.

Here's to the fact that we don't run the world. Instead, Beyonce & girls do that. Thank heavens. You definitely couldn't pull those boots off.

I love you,
Your New Wife.

Day 150.

Dear New Husband,

You've given me more than anyone else; specifically, three stamps in my passport.

Thank you for asking me to adventure with you. 

Although technically, this was my work trip. But see those hairs there? I'm splitting them. But overall, this photo encompasses almost every reason why I decided binding my life to yours was a solid idea [Way better than the idea of sponge hair curlers. Who ever invented that torture device for little girls should be hung]: Your sweetness, gentleness, kindness, warm heart for others, adventurous spirit and love of other countries.

Thanks for not playing it safe.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 149.

Dear New Husband,

Monday's are bittersweet. They're sweet because I get to work from home and get time to myself to work on craft projects as well as work on actual work. It's bitter because I see you when you leave at 8 am and then see you at 9:45 pm when you get home from class. Bummerz. 

But I got so much done today and now am exhausted. Know that I still love you and am still excited when I know you're on your way home; despite however tired I may be.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 148.

Dear New Husband,

Something about an 8 hour car ride. . . Woof. 

But I am glad to be home with you, to our mess, to our life and I am so blessed that you tell me that you love me.

Cause we'll be okay. I'm not going away. . . We're just fumbling through the grey.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 147.

Dear New Husband,

I hope you know that besides visiting my brudder and sisty-in-law, I wanted you to visit their dog so I can slowly convince you how much you need a dog in your life. I didn't even have to talk her into coming up and putting her head in your lap. She did that herself because she senses that you need to know how snuggly and sweet her kind are.

She just wanted you to know that she is available for a head scratching, should you feel the need to scratch someone's head.

This is just another one of those treats that is integral to our relationship, FYI. But thank you for a great day and for being the cutest date to the Rangers v. Royals game.

I love you,

Your New Dog-loving, Wearing you down to dog-ownership Wife.

Day 146.

Dear New Husband,

You drove 8 hours today and didn't complain at all! I hope you know how much I appreciate you doing stuff like that. And stuff like taking a day off of work so we could come here and visit my brudder and sisty-in-law. I want you to be a part of my family and what better way to be a part of my family then to take a long road trip!

But I hope you know how treasured you are by me and the things you do to make me happy. With all the driving to see my family so we can get some quality time in, and with all the treats, too! We can never forget the treats, which are such an integral part to our relationship. 

I mean, lets face it. When I whip those treat paws out, you roll your eyes and say "What can I get you?" What a stud.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 145.

Dear New Husband,

What a day. I feel like I start most of my entries off that way, but we seem to be uncharacteristically busy and have "What a day" days more often.

But as we prep for our road trip tomorrow, we retain our busy-ness and our ability to try to find time to woo the other one in the midst of homework, tests and life in general.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 144.

Dear New Husband,

Date night, date night, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaate night! And I bet you never thought that when you were younger, that your future wife would be the girl that was silently weeping next to you during an action movie.

I can't help it. I'm a social worker/tender-heart/feeler. We see the human emotion in everything. Plus, how could you not?! Ugh, Christopher Nolan, you rat. Such a good movie.

Plus, you realize how lucky you are that I chose The Dark Knight Rises for date night, right? Just checking to make sure you still realize that you got the whole enchilada: Insecurities, independence, irrationality, and interests of a dude.

Okay. So. 1 for 4, that's not too shabby.

I love you,
Your New Wife.