Anniversary Recap

Our anniversary was last week!

Three years of marriage in the books, woohoo!

Hunter and I were talking about how small of a number that seems in comparison to how long we've known each other and wanted to get married ha.

Whenever people ask how long we've been married it feels so funny saying only three years because I've loved the guy since I was 14!

Now here we are with a 2 year old, one baby on the way, and three years of marriage under our belts.

Life has been insane lately but there's no one else I'd rather do this insane life with than Hunter.

He's working two jobs consistently and another when he has time and gets asked to.

He's also going to school full time and working so hard to graduate by December.

I'm at home growing a baby and raising a toddler while running three business of my own.

It's challenging, but at the end of the day, we have so so so much to be thankful for and forever to spend with each other :)

I was going through my old journals last night and laughing at my teenage self and how smitten I was with Hunter.

"I can't believe this is real life! He's so dreamy and perfect in every way. I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

I wrote that after our first kiss, awww young love ;)

While we probably get on each other's nerves a bit more now (ha), I still think he's the dreamiest guy alive and I still feel incredibly lucky to be his wife :)

I wasn't feeling my best the day of our anniversary but was so excited about dinner.

We planned to go to The Black Sheep Cafe in Provo which is one of my favorites!

I was craving their buffalo nickel burger literally all day. 

Hunter sent me the sweetest text when I woke up and as I was getting ready for dinner, he brought in the cutest bouquet of daisies. 

He put some lemonade in champagne glasses and we toasted to three amazing years together :)

Then we headed out to the restaurant where we had an amazing meal and incredible service.

You guys, if you haven't been to Black Sheep, you need to go!

Hunter got the special which was filet mignon with a whole lot of other fancy things and it was seriously soooo good! I kept stealing bites ;)

I got the buffalo nickel burger which is a ½ lb. Buffalo burger with lemon-rosemary mayo, jack cheese, grilled onion, a cabernet sauvignon reduction (uhmm this is the best part), arugula, and tomato on a pretzel bun and served with rosemary cotija fries.

Are you drooling yet??

Gosh I'm craving it now haha.

Like I said before, you need to go!

Every single thing on their menu is delicious.

Sorry for the iphone quality food pics. We were so excited to eat I forgot i had my nice camera!

Overall it was a great and low maintenance way for us to celebrate three years in the books :)

(the lower maintenance the better for this pregnant mama)

Thank you soo much to Black Sheep cafe for  an amazing meal and to Hunter for 3 incredible years of marriage :)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy 

0

Year Two

As of yesterday, Hunter and I have been married for two years!

To be completely honest though... it feels like so much longer!

I mean, I've totally loved the guy since I was 14.

Everyone told us that the first year would be the hardest.

I would have to disagree in our case.

We already knew each other pretty well so the first year was spent making memories as newlyweds and loving every single moment together.

We had been dreaming about being married for years before it actually happened so when we finally tied the knot, every waking minute seemed perfect.

Year two... was a bit harder.

Now I don't mean harder as in "I wish I never got married." More like, "this little person will not stop crying and I am on my very last nerve" kind of harder.

Adding a baby to our family during our second year of marriage tested and tried us in ways we really didn't expect.

We still felt like newlyweds but had to devote almost all of our attention to the little baby that "needed us more."

Year two was spent figuring out how to balance being parents and nurturing our marriage.

It was spent comforting and calming each other down in the moments we really had no idea what else to do to help Oaklyn.

It was spent working together to figure out parenthood.

It was spent crying over watching her grown up.

It was spent celebrating in her victories,

It was spent mostly, revolving around, our daughter.

This post is not to say that I regret having Oaklyn so early on in our marriage.

It's also not to say that year two wasn't a good one, but more to say that during year two we grew together in a way we didn't know possible.

Oaklyn demanded a lot from us and at the end of the exhausting days, we had each other to turn to.

During the days that my PPD kicked into full gear and I couldn't stop crying over every little thing, Hunter showed me that he will always be there.

When our little girl in the room across the hall would wake up in the middle of the night and I couldn't bare one more sleepless night, Hunter managed to gather the strength to take the shift. so I didn't have to.
When nothing around the house seemed to get done and I still hadn't gotten dressed at 4 pm, Hunter still let me know I was the greatest mother and wife.

What I am trying to say is that after reflecting on year two, it was just as amazing, if not more, than year one.

It was different. It was physically demanding and mentally exhausting.

But, it taught us how to love when we didn't think we had anything left to give.

So Hunter, Thank you for the two best years of my existence.

I'm so excited to grow up and grow old with you.

I couldn't have dreamed up a better fairy tale.

I can't believe that I get to live this life with you by my side.

I remember that summer of '08 so clearly. 

You dove into the water and somehow I just knew.

I knew you were the one I wanted, and I'm so glad you saw it too.

You are my best dream come true. Sometimes I can't believe it really is a reality.

The past two years of marriage have brought ups and downs, highs and lows, but more than anything, they have brought me more happiness than I knew one person could have.

Thank you for being there for me when I need you and for loving me through it all.

Thank you for being my Prince Charming and for continuing to "date" me.

And thank you, so much, for making me a mother and being the amazing hands-on and involved father you are.

I watched you win football games, I watched you graduate high school, I watched you head off to college, I watched you leave for and return from serving your LDS mission, I watched you get down on one knee, I watched you say "yes" across the alter, I watched you when you saw that positive pregnancy test, and I watched you become a father. 

I can't wait to see the other milestones we will hit together in life.

This love is ours Hunter, and it is a love that only comes once in a lifetime.

I loved you then, love you still, always have and always will.

Last anniversary Oaklyn was a week old.

We both agree it may have been the lamest anniversary ever haha.

We also think it's pretty funny that Oaklyn will be around for every one of our anniversaries! Ha!

This year we had a wonderful anniversary together.

 I really don't know how we'll top it!

I woke up to a sweet text from Hunter followed by a sweet note on our dry erase board.

When I got in the car, there was even a love note on the front seat!

Later, I took my time getting ready for our night out.

Hunter took me to Bombay House in Provo and it was SO good!

We then went to Cold Stone and took our ice cream to go.

We went to this park that has special meaning to us and walked around hand in hand laughing and reminiscing.

We got home and spent some time with Oaks before putting her to bed.

Hunter then handed me the first clue to my scavenger hunt!

I couldn't believe he planned a little scavenger hunt for me!

The clues we adorable and so poetic!

Each place had a gift waiting for me and I teared up because I was so happy.

I decorated a wall in our house with some garlands and balloons and wrote him a special card.

I also made chocolate covered strawberries and we sipped martinellis.

It really was the perfect day!

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

0

Happy 18 Months My Love!

Somehow I blinked and Hunter and I have been married for a year and a half.

Time has surely slipped away from me.

It's even crazier to think that for 6 of those months we have had Oaklyn here to crash the party ;)

Everyone told us the first year would be the hardest...

The first year could not have been better.

What they should've said is "The first year after having a baby will be the hardest"

(if your baby is as needy as my Oaklyn, that is)

But nonetheless, it has only been different and much less carefree.

Still, wonderful. 

Hunter and I met at a pool party the summer of 2008. 

Now we're here, the summer of 2015 is coming to a close and we are getting close to our second anniversary.

How.Did.That.Happen.

I still remember getting dressed every morning for school and looking in the mirror not to observe how I thought I looked, but trying to picture how Hunter would think I looked.

I remember pulling into the school parking lot and seeing his black jeep in the parking lot with him sitting inside waiting for me so we could walk into school together.

I remember hiding from my cheer coach in my car so she wouldn't tell me to go home instead of waiting for the football bus to pull up so I could see Hunter and congratulate him after a great game.

I remember when Hunter graduated high school. I was sitting on the track watching him wave to his family in his cap and gown. I put my sunglasses on so he wouldn't see me crying. 

I remember going over to his house at 6 in the morning to send him off when he left for his first semester of college. 

I remember talking on the phone for hours and hours on Sundays wishing he were back in San Diego.

I remember watching the car drive away after giving him the last hug for two years with mascara filled tears staining my cheeks.

I remember opening the mailbox several times a week and when his letters finally came, savoring every word he wrote.

I remember the night we were reunited. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. But somehow, it all just fell back into place. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might beat out of my chest. 

I remember the day he got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever. He slipped a sparkly ring on my finger and I felt happier than I could've imagined. 

I remember saying the most important "yes" of my life on March 1, 2014. I was wearing white, he was too. We both had tears in our eyes and were so anxious to see what eternity had in store for us. I couldn't stop looking at my groom that day and just thinking how lucky I was to have the most amazing husband all to myself. Finally.

I remember Hunter carrying me across the threshold. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. We made it, our dream came true.

I remember showing Hunter the positive pregnancy test. I was so nervous, but his excitement made it all feel okay.

I remember our first road trip, our first cruise, the first BYU football game he played in, helping him with homework, our first Christmas...

I remember the day I went into labor. Hunter was right by my side all day timing contractions and trying not to get his hopes up.

I remember him holding my hand as I pushed and pushed then looking up at the biggest smile on a proud new father. 

I remember the high's and of course I remember the lows...

But most of all, I remember and still feel like, that smitten teenager I once was. 

You've stolen my heart forever Hunter, Always and Forever.
Even when I'm exhausted after a long day with that chubby 6 month old we have, I'm still so excited to see you walk through the door.

Here's to Moore and more memories to be made.

I love you with all my heart Hunter Miles. 

Here's to 18 months of marital bliss and an eternity of amazing memories.
I loved you then, love you still, always have and always will.

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

0