Hi there, it is me again, its been a while eh?
Sorry about that.
Today we are going to talk about something real. Something serious. Something looming. We are talking Valentines Day. The big V. V-Day, one of the most critical days of the year. One of the few days of the year that lets you sleep in the bed, or on the couch.
(FYI Ladies- This would be the part when you would call your man to come and read…)
There are two types of Valentiners. Ones that absolutely go over the moon for it, and ones that despise it. I happen to be somewhere in between those two. The day does not completely annoy me, however I’m not much for the random holiday thing. I not here to tell you which one you are. That is your business. But I will say regardless of which one you are. This year do something nice for your lady. She deserves it. Here is you guide:
Valentines Day does not have to be all-fancy-like with roses and dinner and makin’ babies. You don’t have to get all dressed up and go dancing. Don’t get me wrong all of that is fantastic and a wonderful evening. But to me, that is not what Valentines Day is about. Valentines Day is like Mother’s Day, without church. It is a time for you to tell your lady that you love her. It is her day. And it can be simple, and it can be romantic, and it can be knock your socks off fun all at the same time. Just be sure to make it your own. Don’t be typical.
You know your significant other better than anyone. Get her something that she really wants. Get her something that makes her feel pretty. Get her something that takes care of her. Get her something that tells her you appreciate everything she does. Get her something to tell her that she is perfect.
I’m sure you get her red flowers EVERY year, right? Well this year change it up. If you always give her red long-stem roses that you got on the side of the road for five dollars, change it up and get her white, pink, and red tulips. If you always give them to her when you come home from work, it will always seem like a last minute thought. Change it up this year and have them waiting in the bathroom for when she wakes up that morning instead. If you always have them in the morning, change it up this year, and send them to her office and surprise her there with flowers. That will make her feel good all day.
If you typically give her chocolates, change it up this year and bring home chocolates, a bottle of wine and make fondue.
If you typically give her jewelry, change it up this year and find a piece of jewelry that is different. It does not have to be diamonds, or anything expensive. Get her something that fits her style, something that when you see it in a store you can picture her wearing it.
If lingerie is in your repertoire each year, this year change it up and get her something different. Regardless of what you may or may not think, women do not want to wear that sexy stuff all the time. This year go for a practical gift like underwear or a nice bra. It will make your lady feel good about herself everyday she wears it. This year don’t buy something that she will wear once in a blue moon, go practical and get her something she can wear once or twice a week.
Now, do we need to talk about buying underwear and lingerie? Shame on you if you have never bought your lady something nice from Victoria’s Secret. Listen, if you are not man enough to go in there and pick out something nice, then your girl needs to move on. Go in. It’s not scary. It’s not confusing. And most of the time, there are attractive sales women everywhere! Go in there and ask, “What is the most popular bra right now? I need an everyday bra that my beautiful wife/fiancé/girlfriend/partner will love.” That will not only make you feel good about doing the right thing, but it will also make the attractive sales women give a you a nice smile and then take really good care of you. And in a last resort, if you just can’t bring yourself to do it, then the online store will have to do. Then you can browse as long as you need to.
If you are a dinner and movie at home kinda guy, change it up this year and YOU cook a nice dinner, or order take-out, or pick something up from her favorite restaurant and bring it home. If you like going out to dinner, take her to her favorite spot. Don’t take her to the sports bar, even if she wants to go. Take her somewhere nice. Get her to put on lipstick and a cute dress and go out to dinner and movie. Don’t take her to something dark or intense or scary (unless that turns her on…) take her to something girly and fun, a romantic comedy or something light-hearted.
Lastly, don’t get her something from the neighborhood drug store. Pay attention, man. Put some thought into her this year. It’s not hard. It’s not expensive. But it’s going to take some thought, and maybe some planning. But take the time to do it. Your girl is worth it. And it’s your responsibility to tell her that. Don’t mess it up this year. Surprise her. Make her smile. Make her laugh. Make her cry. Make her happy. Make her feel pretty. Tell her you love her.
(For the record, I am totally against the lingerie talk in this post. It goes against every modest fiber of my being. But Chris insists that guys need some direction in that department. Whatever. I’m still against it. However, since Chris hasn’t blogged in YEARS, I’m trying not to discourage him. So, this is me. Being encouraging. You’re welcome.)
27Jun
Fifteen years ago, if someone would have asked me if I knew who Kate was I would have said, “that redheaded girl?”
Twelve years ago, if you would have told me that I would begin dating the girl I would eventually marry I would have said, “you’re crazy”.
Ten years ago, if you would have told me that after I married Kate we would pack up and move to Connecticut I would have said, “you are off your rocker”.
Six years ago, on our wedding day, if you would have told me that we would buy a house in Connecticut and have two dogs I might have fainted.
Four years ago, if you would have told me that this would be the house that we would have our Bean in, I would have smiled with fear.
Two years ago, in the middle of a long night, if you would have told me that the little Bean would fill our lives with so much joy, I would have said, “you are too tired to think straight”.
One and a half years ago, if you would have told me that we would soon pack our bags and fly south, I would have said, “it is so hot in Florida”.
One year ago, if you would have told me that our house would be vandalized and we were having a baby girl, I would have said, “now that’s just ridiculous”.
Nine months ago, if you would have told me that we would only be in this house for eleven months, I would have said, “I’m staying here forever”.
Six months ago, if you would have told me that the first three months of having our second baby would be a very long three months, I would have said, “nah, it will be fine!”
Two months ago, if you would have told me that we would be buying a house in July, I would have said, “you are too tired to think straight.”
One month ago, if you would have told me that our little firecracker Gracie would finally settle down, I would have thrown you out.
Twelve years ago, if you would have told me that I would still be able to enjoy a quiet rainy Saturday sitting on the couch watching movies with that same redheaded girl, I would have unknowingly smiled.
Kate,
I stopped wondering what the future will hold many years ago. Our lives change every single day, so I do not even worry about what is next. But I do know that I love my life. I am married to one of the coolest, most beautiful people that I know, and even though every minute isn’t sunshine and rainbows, every day I love you more and more. Kate, twelve years ago we were trying to make it home by curfew and look how far we have come. You have made me a dad, and you have watched me grow into a man and I am so thankful that I have you each and every day. You are an amazing mother, a spectacular wife, and my best friend. There is no one I would rather go through life with, and I cannot even imagine what the next twelve years will bring. But I know that I want you to be by side through all of them.
I love you,
Chris
26Mar
All day I have been thinking, “I wonder if Kate will have enough energy to put some pictures up tonight?” Then I thought, “wait a minute! I have a blog too!” I know its been a while since you have heard from me, but that should explain the life of a dad and husband to a pregnant wife. I’ve been busy just trying to survive.
Brutal I tell you. I’m so glad that’s over!
But since I have this little space of my own, and I’m just so darn excited to show her to you, I figured I could give you a few highlights of the last few days/hours/minutes cause I know you just can’t stand it. I don’t blame you either, Gracie girl is C.U.T.E. Now I won’t go into too much detail because I know Kate will want to give you the play by play. But here are some highlights.
This is Gracie and I right when she came out at 6:25pm. I think I look weird in this picture, but I guess its that new daddy look.
That is the look Bean Man had when he first got a look at his little sister. I think he was more nervous about me wearing plastic scrubs then he was about Gracie.
Mom and Gracie getting to know each other while we waited for Kate to be able to move her legs again. It took a long time for that epidural to wear off. It also took a long time for my fingers to recover from the epidural incident. Ouch.
Kate looking so happy to not be pregnant anymore. You can’t see me in this picture, but I was doing a jig as well. I’m so proud of her for making it thru 38 weeks without actually killing me. Love you Gracie’s Mom! By the way you look amazing in this picture, it must be that new mommy look! 
This is when Bean Man really got to meet Gracie. He was so curious, a little nervous, and very gentle.
This is a perfect little moment captured by yours truly. Bean Man was leaving that first night and said “Bye Bye Momma, Bye Bye Baby” It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard.
Sweet little Gracie.
See Bean Man, Gracie has little fingers too!
I’m going to end there… just to keep the suspense.  I will say before I go that the second time around is great so far. It was such a wonderful surprise on Friday to get that phone call saying, “sweetie we have to go to the hospital”. I think I have been smiling ever since, except for those few minutes where I thought I was going to lose my fingers. Having a second baby is so fun! You know what to expect, so it feels like a walk in the park! When Bean came we were scared, like any new parents. But with Gracie I know what’s coming. I know how much joy and love came into our lives with Bean Man, and I can’t wait for that to grow even more now that we have a Gracie girl too.
…But two is enough. Haha. Stay tuned.
15Nov
I need to reach out to the men for a minute.
For some of you, you haven’t reached this point in your relationship quite yet. For others, this will be a battle that is long gone and forgotten about. But it is inevitable, this will happen to you at some point. When you move in with a woman, your going to have to fight for your belongings. I will say that there is usually a grace period. Sometimes this grace period is 5 minutes and sometimes its 5 years, but at some point the big discussion about YOUR stuff will happen.
Now some of you could be categorized in the small percentage of couples that have the same taste. I’m really not sure how that happens, but sometimes the stars align and two quirky people fall in love and combine their star wars collections into one magnificent super collection. However, this is a small percentage of you out there.
Typically what happens during the big move in, if your combining your stuff into a brand new place, the woman decides which of the man’s things can stay and which one’s need the boot. A few days ago I was talking to a co-worker who was saying that she recently moved into her boyfriend’s house and that she hates his huge brown leather reclining couch. For those of you in this situation, i’m sorry, but you have zero legal authority to make him get rid of that couch. You moved into his house, and until you get married or move to a new place, that stuff stays.
I would like to state though that some of these items need the boot. That six foot tall cardboard cutout of Britney Spears that you grabbed out of that grocery store and kept in your living room for 3 years, that probably needs to go. Sorry Britney.
Also, that inflatable Budweiser Chair with cup holders that has a matching eight foot tall inflatable goalpost that used to come in handy when solving roommate arguments… that can probably go too. These items need to go and it’s okay to let them go. You’re an adult now. You can pass these things along to a younger generation.
There are, however, items that get tossed out or packed into a closet that are arguably worth holding on to. This is where the epic battle begins. The fight over your possessions is one of the first fights you will have when living together for the first time. Things worth fighting for are things like your shot glass cabinet, your stereo equipment (which really has no place in this fight. Women have no say when it comes to anything dealing with the entertainment center), your frosty mugs, that jacket that you have worn everyday for the last 10 years, your tools, grilling equipment (also in the no discussion category), posters, house decor, bed lines, etc. Some of these will make it through and some of them you might have to part with.
With that said, if your lucky enough to acquire a man cave in your new place, it’s all yours! Let your lady do whatever she wants with the house and you can take all of your stuff to your man cave, which she has no say in. This is really the best case scenario.
The reason I bring all of this up is that during the last month or so, while we have been getting settled in the new place, I discovered a box of lost treasures. These beauties.
These were lost in my battle. Honestly I was focused on some of my other valuables and these were quietly tucked away while someone was unpacking the kitchen (this someone shall remain nameless). They have been packed away for years and almost completely forgotten about. When I found them, I flashed back to that day and decided that it had been long enough! I was bringing these bad boys back! Move over Tupperware, I need some space! And you know what, this was the best decision I have made in a long time. Kate likes using these “cute”, themed, plastic cups. We have been using them for years, and they were fine… only because I forgot how great it felt to hold a real pint glass!
Listen up guys. I’m calling on you today to find that box of lost treasures. Pull out your pint glasses and make space in the cabinet! Take back some of your man-hood, and don’t settle for cute plastic cups anymore. You deserve a nice heavy frosty mug. One word of advice though, your lady will try to fight back. Example A: Katie yells from the kitchen one evening, “OH NO! one of your glasses “broke” in the sink!”
Touche, wife of mine… Touche.
dads
Man Cave
In the Kitchen
Vacation
