ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Happy One Year Anniversary to my incredible husband Chad. This year has truly been the best year of my life, I cannot image life without Chad. There is no way for me to put into words how much I love him, it wouldn't even begin to convey my adoration for him. 

I love you Chad, more than life itself. I am extremely happy we have been married for one year. One year down, eternity to go.

Video I made of some of our memories from the first year of marriage. Enjoy.

1 Year Anniversary from Hailey Spencer on Vimeo.

A couple of kids

We made this video for Harry so he could see our house while on his mission. I promise only the first few seconds are tilted wrong.

Chad & I were reminiscing about our old house in Provo. We loved that house. It was small, quirky and perfect. It was a blast living in that house, we have the best memories living there. From the amazing vaulted ceilings, to the taco stand on the corner, the limited heating meant we had to be cuddling all the time ... 

Like I said, it was perfect.

I think every newlywed should live in a small, quirky place for a little bit. Do it before you live somewhere nice and forget about the simplicities of life.

Looking at our lives right now I've decided that Chad & I are just a couple of kids who are desperately, hopelessly, shamelessly in love. 

Almost one year and still newlys.

Just love

Chad & my one year anniversary is less than one week away. I can't believe it's been one year and at the same time I feel like we've been together forever.

Chad & I were laying in bed talking and he said, "I never thought I would feel so close to someone. We've only been married a year but I feel like I've known you for so much longer. I feel so close to you, you're my best friend." 

My heart melted.

Chad is great at being affectionate and expressing his love towards me. I on the other hand, have a harder time expressing my feelings. But in the almost 365 days of being married I have learned something that makes the biggest difference for me ... 

Just love.

In the middle stages of being married I found myself letting the differences of Chad and I get in the way of my loving him. I would look at our music, cold cereal, bed time differences and think, "we're just too different ..." then those thoughts would turn into feelings. Those feelings then got in the way of my love for him. 

After one particularly stressful week I came to a hard realization. All week I was pushing Chad away from me. Fighting against his love and not accepting the love he was trying to give to me. The entire week he just wanted to love me. Why was I letting our differences get in the way of my infinite love for Chad?

That night I made a goal for myself. No matter what happened I wouldn't let anything get in the way of my love for Chad, I was going to just love him. That has made a huge impact. Rather than pushing him away I bring him in closer. Rather than allowing our differences to be a problem, they now compliment each other. Rather than not actively waking up everyday and choosing to love Chad, I now actively love him.

Love is a choice, and from that choice comes the feeling. In my short amount of time of being married I have learned to just love Chad, and be active in my love towards him.

Thank you Chad for being the best example of choosing love every single day.

Bane of my existence

For a couple weeks now I have been craving Sour Mambas. This craving isn't like, "oh I want some but if I don't get any no biggie." It's more of, "I NEEDED TO HAVE THEM YESTERDAAAAY!"

And I swear I have been to every grocery store here in Richmond with zero luck (also can't find Jr. Mints ... what gives RVA?) Chad, being the sweet hubby he is found a 24 pack of Sour Mambas on Amazon. As you can imagine 24 packs of Sour Mambas have some inherent problems.

1. I only need one pack
2. I would devour all 24 packs in one sitting
3. Where would we put 24 packs of Sour Mambas?!

I told Chad not to order them and I would just make due. You guys ... that was literally 2 weeks ago and I cannot get this craving out of my system ... I've been going back and forth about ordering the 24 pack or not. It's gotten to the point that I'll pull up Amazon just to look at them during grad school ...

Well today there was a lovely large box sitting on our doorstep, from Amazon, addressed to Chad. He brought it into the bedroom and said, "OK, this is an anniversary present. You can open it now or in 10 days (anniversary September 20)."

I asked him, "well do I want what's in the package now or will I want it 10 days from now?" You know what my hubby said?!?! Chad, "you will enjoy what's in the package equally now and 10 days from now." Whaaaaaat?!

Then I asked him point blank if the package was Sour Mambas, annnnnnnd he wouldn't tell me. This back and forth questioning of the package went on for the better half of dinner. On the one side "I really want Sour Mambas." On the other side, "what if it's NOT Sour Mambas?! I might be disappointed and ruin my anniversary present ..."

Chad told me I had ten minutes to decide and I battled with myself not coming to any conclusion. So there sits the Amazon package ... waiting ... tempting ... 

Playing doctor

Last night, I wanted to help Chad practice for his "patient history" exam today.
(It's where the doctors ask all about your medication, family, health, recreation history, etc.)

He looked at me cautiously, with a raised eyebrow and asked, "You really want me to ask about your history?"
Me, "Yeah I'll make up a character!"
He agreed and started right into it by sticking his hand out for me to shake it, "Hi Mrs. Spencer, I'm Chad. I'm going to be asking you a few questions before the doctor comes in."

Me, "HOLD ON! First, why did you say your name was 'CHAD'?! Shouldn't you say 'Dr. Spencer?'"
Him, "Babe, I'm not a doctor yet, so I'm Chad." And he continued ...

He proceeded to ask me lots of questions about my past medical health, family health, etc.
Somehow (and believe me, it just happened, no pre-meditation) I was a young married women, who had polio, small-pox and chicken-pox as a kid. My right eye didn't see very well, my parents were both dead and I had 6 brothers and 5 sisters who were all diabetic and alcoholic. I was anorexic because my husband was physically abusive, while sleeping around with other women. (What?!?! Guys, my imagination is uncontrollable sometimes ...) 

Through all of my ridiculous answers Chad was very professional and never ONCE broke out of his "doctorly-med-student" vibe he was sporting. I must say, it was pretty darn sexy.

After that he "robed" me (put a towel under my arms) and proceeded with the physical exam. Everything was fine until he said he wanted to look up my nose.

Me, "Are you serious?!"
Him, "Yeah, tilt your head up."
Me, "NO! There are somethings that should be left to a patient and her doctor, NOT husband and wife."
Chad shrugged, I'm sure he thought it was no big deal. But seriously?! How un-sexy is to be like, "hey husband, come look up my nose ..." grosssssss!

All in all he did a really good job (like I have anything to compare it to ...)
It was fun to see my man in action and the absolute confidence he had.
Mr. Spencer will make a fine Dr. Spencer.

Where you invest your love you invest your life

You guys, lately this saying has really been ringing true to me. I've been thinking a lot about school, work, timing, etc. I've been thinking about Chad starting medical school and how he's about to invest countless hours into becoming a doctor. I know at different times in life you need to focus on certain things. Medical school, career, raising kids. 

But I think that no matter where your focus is, you need to make sure you're investing your love into the things that are the "most important." It is possible to be in school, work and still have a solid relationship with someone. 

I fee like too many people get caught up in "making a big paycheck," "becoming super popular," "getting the latest gadget," that they forget to invest their love into people.

Where you invest your love, you invest your life. Let that sink in a little bit. I know I need to do a better job of investing my love into my relationship with Chad. He's really good at being married, I'm really only "so-so." My new goal is to invest more love into my love for Chad.

Us against the world

Today Chad and I were having a conversation via text about some girl at work who was going to get fired. I usually wouldn't take a particular interest except for the fact that it messes with my Chad time. Her getting fired means that Chad will have to go back to working Thursdays, Friday mornings and Saturdays. Chad already works Saturday and Sunday nights. So when the heck do I his WIFE get to spend time with him?!?! #needymuch?

*sigh* I guess I this is good med school training right? Oh but wait we're NOT in med school and I want to spend as much time with him as possible before he does legitly go to med school and I see him even less than I do now. #isthatevenpossible?

I digress.

As we were sitting there talking I noticed something. Since being married things are no longer, "Me versus everyone else." It's become "Us versus everyone else."
It's true.

When he tells me about his co-workers who are less than intelligent I instantly hop to his side and team up in the "oh my gosh I can't believe they really did, how dumb is that?" When I tell him about a fellow classmate who keeps dropping the ball he automatically says, "wow you're right she can't get it together!"

And truth be told I like it.

I like knowing he's got my back like I've got his.
There's no wondering "will he take my side?" Because I already know he has my side.

I'm sure there will be times where I'm completely out of line, but he'll still back me up, then later when I've calmed down tell me what he really thinks. But I know he'll still take an attitude of "Us versus the world."

And quite frankly with Chad by my side we could take on the world.