HAPPY 3 YEARS!!

Happy 3 year anniversary baby!!

Three years today I married the most wonderful man ever! We have actually been together now for 6 years, but it doesn't even seem that long! We are still so in love and so comfortable with each other. God knew he was the perfect person for me! If ever there was a "soul mate," I really feel he is mine! He is so loving, kind and patient.

Bryanna, my 10 year old is the reason (and she doesn't let me forget it) that Laile and I started dating. We were going to church in the school building where Laile was a flight instructor, and she would run into his office and play around in him. I mentioned that my daughter was getting me a date, but little did I know that would really happen! We glanced at each other often and finally started to talk a little when we were there on Sundays. I never really experienced butterflies in my stomach with anyone, but found myself just that way whenever I thought he was not going to be at the school! Finally, one day when I felt this way, I saw him coming up from the runway outside. That day he asked me for my digits and put them in his cell phone.

It had a been a long time since I had dated anyone so I was both really nervous, but also excited! He called me the next day right before I started to work out and asked me to dinner on Thursday and I said yes.

First date:

I was running around trying to get ready for Laile to come pick me up for our date. I was really nervous and was hoping he was not going to be one of those people who ask me where I want to go, instead of having it all planned and taking me wherever. When he showed up, he had a rose behind his back that he surprised me with, and after showing him my place, we left for dinner. He took me to a restaurant named McGills in Tulsa, and it was a very romantic setting with dim lighting and a fire place. I felt good that he talked a lot too bc I was chattering like crazy bc I was nervous. (Mind you I know I talk a lot, but this was more than normal.. and it was the 1st date so I wanted to make a good impression too!) It was crazy bc even on the first date, I was talking about having a baby and this and that, that you would never think to talk about with someone you just started to talk to!! But Laile was so interested and even asked questions. It was great how well we got along! The food was great but the company was even better! After we finished, he asked if I liked coffee.. OF COURSE! He took me to Nordaggios, which happened to be owned by a friend of the family, and this was one of my favorite places to go, as was his! A friend from work said we were meant to be if this was the case. ;0)

We had great conversations over coffee and really enjoyed hanging out. I asked him if he wanted to go with me to pick up my daughter, who was almost 4 at the time. He agreed. When we picked Bryanna up, she looked miserable bc she had an allergic reaction to the dog my friend had. Her eyes were all swollen and I felt so bad for her! When we got home, I was hugging on her, and Laile gave me a sweet hug and left. It was a great date!!

The next day, a bunch of people from work told me there was some 3 day rule that the guys doesn't call for 3 days after a date, which I thought was absurd! They warned me in case this happened so I didn't get upset. Luckily for me, he didn't feel this way and he called me that evening! He said he was helping someone move, but I said if he wanted he was welcome to come hang out with Bryanna and I. Shortly after I received a call back to take me up on that offer! We had lots of fun playing with Bryanna and she wanted Laile to dress up like Peter Pan for her 4th bday. He said he would, but luckily Bryanna wasn't down that he didn't actually do that.. kinda thankful for that! ;0)

After this, we were inseparable, and I could not believe how wonderful he was to me! I think it was the day after he hung out with us.. or it might have been after our first date, I came home and found a pink and red rose laying on our doorstep! He left one for Bryanna and I both! It was so sweet! Then, our days of dating were filled with romantic cards and notes left on my car at school, and we had lots of coffee dates and such. He really treated me like a queen, and Bryanna like a little princess. It was more than I could ever imagine!

After a year of dating, I ended up moving to Dallas, TX due to a job change. I figured that this would be a good test to see if Laile truly was the one for me, as this would be long distance, and since he was a pilot I knew there would be times we would not be together if we got married. Things still went very well, though we missed each other while we were apart. It was great through all the years we dated, for us to really get to know each other, and each other's families too.

Three years, January 1st, 2005 Laile proposed to me at Fogo de Châo. I kept wondering if this was the night, but couldn't figure out where the ring might be. We had been eating for awhile when he reached down for a minute. He started talking about various things, and then asked me to marry him! I told him yes, but I don't think he heard me at first bc while I was looking at the ring, he asked if that was a yes. I told him I had said yes, but again yes yes yes! The ring was/is beautiful. He had it hidden in his sock! He knew I wouldn't think to look there! The waitress heard him propose and they gave us a free dessert, with Congratulations written in chocolate sauce around the plate! It was really neat! Though we were stuffed from dinner, we felt obligated to eat it since they gave it to us for free! When we left I called everyone I could to tell them the news! The next day I just went to David's Bridal to check out what they had at their $99 sale, and ended up getting my dress already!

We made plans to get married in Tulsa, on April 2, 2005. - More to come on details later.. baby is crying.

For now, Congratulations to us honey! I love you SOO much and thank God for you everyday! Even though you can't be here right now bc of work, I know there will be many more anniversaries in the future too!