Chris and I have been married for 4 years. We were high school sweethearts. He was the first person to ride in my new car when I turned 16. We dated as high schoolers do – dramatically and sporadically- for a few years and then it was time for college. We decided to go to separate schools so that we would have the experience of meeting others.  Four years of long distance dating later, there was a diamond ring on my finger and we were married the summer after we graduated at the ripe old age of 23.

Everyone thought we were crazy.

Things pretty much haven’t slowed down since we got married. We moved that summer to Connecticut, where Chris had been accepted to Yale Drama for technical theater. I went to work full-time for a year and then I decided to pursue a masters of my own while continuing to work. Chris and I both graduated (finally!) in May. He began a full-time position in June of 2008 working in the automation department of a large scene shop in New York building scenery for Broadway. We bought our first house that same month and are trying to figure out how to own a home one day at a time.

We found out a few months later that – SURPRISE! – we were pregnant!  We had our first baby in June of 2009.  While the Bean (as we like to call him) has certainly changed our marriage and our lifestyle, we are loving every minute of this new phase.  We’re learning more about our marriage and each other, and we just can’t wait to see what life will bring us next!

With so much happening at such a fast pace, it is easy to get caught up in a panic. There are lots of variables in our equation right now, and I’ve never been good with math.  I was an English major for crying out loud!  As we both learn to balance our family, careers, friends, home, and busy schedules, I’m sure there will be days – maybe even weeks? maybe even months?- where we will be ready to kill each other or ourselves, but for now we’ll continue to ride this wave of good fortune for as long as possible.

This blog is not a how-to guide for marriage.  It certainly isn’t meant to be advice on the right way to begin and grow a marriage because, goodness knows, Chris and I are the last people who are qualified to give that kind of guidance.  And Lord help the person who turns to us as an example!!  Marriage is hard.  Its messy.  Its complicated.  But more than any of that, its a heck of a lot of fun.  This blog is to share our story, our ups and downs.  Its an inside look at a real marriage.  A real marriage that we work hard to keep.  And a real marriage that I’m proud of.

Its our love story, and its quite a ride…