[ Dear Birthday Boy ]

dear birthday boy/baby/hubby/best friend forever,

you turned 29 years old on tuesday.

we've celebrated your birthday together since 2004.

that 2004 birthday was actually our very first date. thanks for asking me, by the way.

since then, i've watched you turn from young man, to man, to husband.

one day you will be daddy, and i look forward to watching you shoot guns with our boys and dress up dolls with our girls (hopefully two of each, awwww).

the other day, you said that the most important thing to you about our one day child is that he walks with God. i think you're pretty cool for wanting that. i think it's pretty darn special that you think we should start praying for him now, before he's even a little peanut on an ultrasound photo.

over the years, i've watched you work hard at the jobs you've had, go through the loss of a job you thought would be yours forever, and endure the wait of your dream career. experiencing december 2010 - may 2011 without you, while you were gone making that dream happen, made me stronger and made me realize just how good i have it with you. sometimes we forget that when we are together every day. i'm so glad that your dream is now yours.

i had to leave beautiful san diego to be with you for this new adventure... i guess that just goes to show how much i love you :) but that's okay-- the sunsets and open skies in arizona are capturing my heart just okay. and i get to experience something new with you. we have so much fun together.

i love how you don't like to hit the pillow at night without saying our prayers. and how you make me say them when i don't feel like saying them. and how you push me to do the things in life that are good for me. we've been through a lot together, ups and downs, but you've always fought and believed in us.

you said on tuesday night that-- although your birthday was consumed with working and catching up on sleep-- you got to spend it with the most important person in your life. you're so sweet... i think i'll keep you. oh, and thank you for saying that i looked beautiful, even though my mouth was puffy and fat looking from visiting the torture chamber [dentist] recently.

happy [belated] 29th, baby, and cheers to many more.

love you,

heather

p.s.  you said you want a baby by 30... guess we better get busy. just sayin'.