Happy Birthday, Honey!

I started this post on DaddyClay's birthday, but actually finished and posted it a few days later. In fact, he came home from work the day after his birthday to find the browser open and the "post-in-progress" with only the introduction and the #1. Not even the first reason! He joked about my unfinished post and then said, "at least, I hope it's unfinished!" A few of his friends gave him a hard time about me not having anything to say, but that's not true! So without further ado:


My husband turned 30 today! In honor of this wonderful man, I have compiled a list of thirty things I love about him:

1. His many funny facebook status updates.
   
2. The way he helps with the dishes and other chores that I loathe.
3. The way he sees our life together and the future- the possibilities are endless!
4. His (ridiculous) love for every DC sports team.
5. His specific fascination with the Washington Redskins. Before marrying him, I never knew you could read/talk/listen to radio shows about football year round.
   
6. How his knowledge of football has rubbed off on me- I'm a two time Fantasy Football champion you know! All I know about football (except for my sorry bengals) I learned from him.
7. How hard he works at his job- even though it can be at odd hours when no one sees it, or programming things that others think is all "fun & games."
8. His incredibly organized side of the closet (although I still can't put the laundry away according to the system).
   
9. His determination to figure out & fix things on his own (cars, a/c units, anything electronic). It usually saves us money in the end.
10. The way he drives all the way (or almost) whenever we go on long car trips.
11. His awesome insight when he teaches or preaches- depth mixed with honesty and humor.
12. The fun he has playing with our girls- tossing Big Sister in the air when she makes a goal or hits off of the tee, making Little Sis laugh adorable baby giggles, being horsey... the list goes on.
13. His passion for staying informed on political issues, even when I'm ready to plug my ears and throw in the towel.
14. Our shared excitement for traveling and experiencing new places. I wish we had time (and funds) to do it more!
15. Softball- from watching him bat or field to hearing how his pre/post game speeches went.
16. His creativity. He has great new ideas, a clever writing style, acting talent, and he can even sing the bass/baritone parts to some of the hymns at church! What a renaissance man. :)
    
17. The fact that he loves our animals- dogs and cats. Fish, maybe not so much, but still...
18. Certain predictable things that remind me of our established life together- he will always remember to get the mail (and ask me first if I did, to which the answer is almost always no) and call right after he leaves to remind me to turn off the porch light. Though sometimes I roll my eyes at things like this, they are the small everyday things that make us who we are as a couple.
19. His goofy Don King wig.
20. The fact that he has more clothes (and takes longer to get ready) than I do. (Okay, I might have more clothes overall, but not that all fit at one time.)
21. His constant struggle with the lawn. Recent battle: a lawnmower that stopped working mid-mow.
22. I can barely stand to admit it, but... the flaming truck. I both love & hate it. I am still, after eight years of driving it, mortally embarrassed to be seen behind its wheel. However, I always know it's him, and we've been a lot of places in that redneckmobile.
23. The way he appreciates (and accommodates) my abnormally great need for sleep.
24. The fact that he looks good in anything from a suit on Sunday to the cut off t-shirt he wears to cut the grass.
25. How sentimental he is (although it does make it pretty hard to get rid of anything at our house!)
26. His patience with my mothering frustrations, mood swings, and sometimes control-freakish tendencies.
27. Although it is less frequent these days due to all of the craziness of our lives, we have FUN together!
28. He lets me warm my feet on him in the winter, with only a little complaining :) Icefoot is a compliment, right honey?
29. The way he can't ever just let me come up with something to give him for his birthday/father's day/Christmas/etc. but has to start presenting me with a list of ideas nearly a month ahead of time.
30. The home, family, history & vision we have built together and the commitment we've made to continue building them.
    

I love you! Happy Birthday!