One year down... a lifetime more to go!



One year ago today I married the love of my life. Mark and I met while in college and after a year spent becoming best friends we decided that we meant more to one another than that. November 9, 2006 we became official (technically the 8th but that was another good friend's birthday and I wanted us to have our own date... so I waited until midnight to agree that we should date). We've had our ups and downs over the past few years, and we've been through a lot together, but I believe every experience has helped us grow as a couple. May 2008 we got the surprising news that we were expecting a baby. Even though I shared the news with my best friend Molly before telling Mark, he got over it and our excitement grew about the little life we were bringing into this world. February 11th, 2009 we headed into the hospital and after a tiring 38 hours of labor, the evening of February 12th, our little angel was born. Learning and growing as new parents really brought us closer together. May 1st 2010, my 25th birthday, Mark proposed to me and I of course said yes!!! So... that brings us to where we are today. Living in a little home in Oregon City, with our daughter and our cat; complete bliss.

From now until death do us part... I plan on practicing patience, saying I'm sorry, admitting when I'm wrong, not making my excitement so obvious when I'm right, give kisses before bed each night, end each call with "I Love You" and continue to build our family with the most amazing father and husband I know.

Mark and I had planned on going to the coast for the weekend, but with the weather deciding to get up into the scorching hot temps and lightning looming over our district, I decided we better cancel our plans and hang out close to home. My parents took Amelia camping for the weekend... two whole nights away from Mama; a first. Mark and I started out our Friday night at the local pub and made plans to spend Saturday in downtown Portland. Saturday morning we slept in late and then headed to the Portland Art Museum. There were 5 Monet paintings that I was dying to see, and thankfully Mark appreciates art as much as I do.

 Monet

 Monet

Van Gogh
Mark made reservations for us at the Portland City Grill, a schnazzy place on the 30th floor. Let me just say, dinner was amazing and the view was fantastic! All I can say is thank goodness we didn't eat lunch and had a very small breakfast. We started off with a Kung Pao Calamari appetizer, Mark had a beer and I had a Champagne Supernova. For dinner Mark had a steak with asparagus and fries (they stacked his fries all fancy-like and drizzled a sauce over them) and I had crab cakes with gnocchi and some greens. They treated us to a chocolate mousse dessert with brownie, cherries and vanilla bean whipped cream, but Mark had also ordered buttermilk donuts for himself and vanilla bean creme brulee for me. We were so full by the time we left, but it was incredible food.


Kung Pao Calamari

 Champagne Supernova

My awesome husband

The view from our table

It was nice to spend a weekend with just Mark, but we both missed Amelia so much. Sunday we just lounged about and then picked her up. She gave us the biggest squeeze ever! I'm so blessed to have such an amazing little family. 

Our girl this morning... happy to be home with her Mama, Daddy and Rudy Cat.

Our house is still sweltering hot. I think it is time to hit the sheets upstairs with the AC.

Ashley Elizabeth
2 Comments

2 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary! Even though I've had numerous opportunities, I have yet to actually make it to the Portland City Grill. My husband isn't much for fancy restaurants, so I doubt I'll get there soon. I'm glad you enjoyed your meal!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you! My husband doesn't care for fancy restaurants either. We usually hit up the food carts in Portland or go to some little hole in the wall on Belmont or Hawthorne where we can wear our jeans and t-shirts. It was nice to get dressed up though. As a one time thing it was great, but I can't imagine spending that kind of money on just a date night. Do you live in the area down there?

    ReplyDelete