5 Years - November 14, 2009

Six years ago I met the man I call the love of my life, M. We met as I've mentioned before, on myspace.com. The main reason, besides his good looks, that I decided to email him was that his screen name was AC/DC (my favorite band, ever). We quickly hit it off via email, and soon after started chatting on the phone. Both of us were in relationships at the time and not looking for love. I'm happy that we found more than love, we found a true connection. For the past 6 years M has been my best friend, and my partner in crime. We talked for an entire year before actually becoming a couple - which I will admit was really hard on me mentally and emotionally. He needed time to himself after the break-up with his girlfriend. Some M time as he put it. I soon realized I needed the same, I had just ended a long relationship too, so we had the Single Summers we both needed. Oddly enough it took me leaving for an entire week with friends on a trip to Costa Rica with NO communication with him for him to realize he was falling for me (this was 10 months into us talking as friends). He knew he liked me, he knew he wanted to get to know me better but I think the distance between Maryland and Alabama worried him. We got to see each other the following week after I arrived home from Costa Rica. It was that weekend (Nov. 14th, 2004) we sealed the deal and became boyfriend and girlfriend. I moved to Alabama the following September. It's been a great ride, and I am so happy I made the first move. Little tid bit - the night we finally met in person (first picture in series), he had no clue I was coming to meet him. My best friend, T, myself and 2 of his best friends planned a whole trip for me to come surprise him at a local bar. I was so nervous I thought I would barf the whole day - it was crazy. Literally this is what movies are made of. The moment was in slow motion and all and the butterflies were amazing. He came out to the bar area where his friends were standing (he had a friend in town from Florida he hadn't seen in a while - his FL friend introduced his friends from FL, including my bestie T (as a fake out) and then they said "Oh yeah, and here's my other friend Kelly" they all moved out of the way and the look on his face was priceless! I remember him smiling and hugging me really tight. As we walked into the karokee room (another huge bond between us)... he held my hand. Finally I got up the courage to ask him if he was mad that I did this - and he said no, he was thankful and excited. A few moments later we posed for a picture with me and his good friend that helped me plan this event -he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek and I knew right then we were cool. That night we shared our first of many kisses, ones that I hope will never end. So here's to 5 years baby - I love you more and more everyday!!! (Images of our 1st year together).

Celebrating Us...

• What are your middle names? Michelle & Jay
• How long have you been together? 5 years.
• How long did you know each other before you started dating? 1 year.
• Who asked who out? He asked me out.
• Who made the first move? A road trip from MD to AL as a surprise - I say I made the first move.
• How old are each of you? I'm going to be 33, he's going to be 31.
• Did you go to the same school? No not even in the same state.
• Are you from the same home town? No very far apart.
• Who is the smartest? We are both pretty smart cookies.
• Who majored in what? We are both art majors. And graphic designers.
• Where do you eat out most as a couple? At home and probably at On the Rocks or Ricatoni's.
• Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? North Carolina and Maryland.
• Who has the worst temper? Neither of us really - unless you count horrible drivers.
• How many children do you want? Start with one, go from there - I need a ring first. *wink*
• Who does the cooking? In the beginning he did - I could only cook hamburger helper and spaghetti. Now it's half and half... although I love cooking now so he lets me.
• Who is more social? Are you kidding - we both are.
• Who is the neat-freak? I think I'm more obsessive but he helps clean so it's a win/win.
• Who is the most stubborn? Definitely me.
• Who wakes up earlier? M, hands down.
• Where was your first date? The Station (bar that we met at), other than that I'd say the night he took me to Ricatoni's for the first time a few weeks after my first visit.
• Who has the bigger family? M, definitely - he has 2 sisters and 3 brothers!
• Do you get flowers often? Not "official" flowers but M's always sweet about picking flowers in the yard to bring to me. I miss having the huge magnolia tree in our front yard they'd make the house smell amazing.
• How do you spend the holidays? As evenly as possible. Thanksgiving is usually with his family and we try to spend Christmas with his parents and then rush to Maryland to be with my dad.
• Who is more jealous? We both get a bit antsy when it comes to people hitting one me or him but we keep our cool. I know he's coming home with me. I just don't like when girls disrespect me or our relationship.
• How long did it take to get serious? One year. Although I had serious feelings for him before that.
• Who eats more? Luck of the draw...
• What do you do for a living? We are both graphic designers.
• Who does the laundry? We share this responsibility.
• Who’s better with the computer? We are both computer savvy but he's way better than I am about maintaining a computer, fixing it etc.
• Who drives when you are together? Half and half but we usually drive my Jeep. His is for camping, canoeing and mud riding... mine is the "city jeep".
• What is "your" song? I don't think we officially have one, but if I had to pick one, I'd say "Patience" by GNR - it's very fitting. It took a lot of patience for me to get to where I am. I wanted to be with him so bad but I had to be patient and wait until he knew what he wanted so we both could be 100% sure about this, and us.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABY! Here's to five years and MANY more! Love you! ox