Dear Adam,

Happy 5 years, FIVE YEARS! Doesn’t that feel like a big deal?

Like 2 kids in 2 years big deal?
Like surviving a global pandemic together, big deal!
Like being quarantined for over 7 weeks alone together, big deal!

Little Adam and Kristen had no idea what year five of marriage would look like when we walked down the aisle together 5 years ago today. But I also don’t think we imagined it could be this sweet.

I don’t think I quite envisioned that I could love someone so deeply, so honestly, and so truly. I didn’t know that kind of love even existed. You have shown me that real love, the kind we work for every day, is the purest form of love known to man.

The love you show me every day is the kind where you show up daily. You pour into me and to our family. You give me grace, and joy, and a steadfastness that has helped us both be our best selves.

Adam, you are every bit the man I dreamed up all those years ago as a little girl in my room, and so much more. You’re kind, slow to anger (God knew I needed this trait in a spouse because I can be a little devil), hilarious, kind, warm, calm, wise, sweet, the best dad, insanely handsome, and so loving.

I am so blessed to have spent the last 5 years calling you my husband. I am so proud to be yours.

This life we have built together is nothing short of amazing and honestly Adam, the next 5 are only going to get better. I can't wait for our adventures and travels, life experiences, and for all those little in-between moments that add up to the big ones.

Thank you for keeping me sane in all this coronavirus madness.
Thank you for indulging my Oreganos craving because you know that being pregnant in quarantine is hard.
Thank you for making me mocktails every weekend so we can pretend like we're both drinking together.
Thank you for encouraging my dreams, listening to my vent sessions, and always making me feel heard.
Thank you for loving Quinn with a love so fierce.
Thank you for talking me off a ledge when we found out we were pregnant, again!
Thank you for being you.

Thank you for being mine. Thank you for choosing me every day.

I love today more than I did 5 years ago, and I didn’t know that was possible. Happy Anniversary my love, you're my greatest adventure.

Dear Adam,

Can you believe it? We've made it a year as parents. We successfully lasted 365 days and we did it with the happiest, sweetest baby.

Isn't it crazy how this time last year, we were one week in to the parenting game. Honestly, I knew then that you'd be the most incredible father. Wanna know why? Because until Quinnie was about 2 weeks old, I never changed a diaper. If there was pee or poop, you jumped up and grabbed her quicker than I could get off the pillow I was sitting on. (Labor is a beast people).

You woke up with me at every feeding just to sit with me because you knew how lonely the 3 am darkness got. You brought me coffee (and still do to this day) every morning because you knew without it I wouldn't survive. You walked Quinnie when she cried, sang to her when she fussed, learned all about breastfeeding so if I ever felt lost, you would have some answers. You learned about diaper rash, bottle feedings, and how to suck boogers.

And now, you get up at 6am, get Quinnie up and go to work every day for us. You check in every day all day with me to ask for pictures of Quinn, get updates on me, how work is for me. You help me take Instagram pictures, you are late to work for birthday breakfasts, and you leave work early for doctors appointments. And then, you come home at 6pm and don't even act tired. You kiss me, grab your sweet baby and jump into dad mode without skipping a beat.

I see you mow the lawn, pay the bills, take out the trash, clean up the house, pick up groceries, grab me wine, order and make dinner all so I have just a little less on my place. I see you give Quinn baths, read her books, rock her to sleep, and then have time for me. I see you schedule date nights so we don't lose our spark. I see you pursue me, love, and cherish me. I see you work late because you're working hard for us. To build us this amazing life, to create a future for us, a future for Quinn.

All of that isn't lost on me.


These may seem like little things Ads, but honestly, they're huge things. These are the things I tell people when they ask, "How's Adam doing with the parenting thing?" I tell them parenting was actually made for you. I tell them about how Quinnie lights up when you walk in a room and that the love you two have for each other is intoxicating. I tell them you are dad goals and I won the lottery with you.

Ads, I'm sorry if I don't tell you daily how amazing you are rocking this dad thing. I'm sorry if sometimes I compare my "tiredness" to yours just because I was with Quinnie a little bit longer than you were. I'm sorry if some days you walk in the door and I feel like running out. Parenting is hard, but you make it so much easier.

Thank you for not only being on this journey with me, but sometimes carrying me through, letting me carry you and making it so dang fun. Your hard work is not lost on me. This parenting thing is hard work, coupled with more hard work, but so much more love. I am so so grateful.