A is for....

Andrew.

I've been wanting to write about this guy for a while now and since he's out getting some drinks with a friend, I get to do it without him around. He'd probably be quite annoyed if he knew I was doing this and I'm hoping he won't delete the post. But today I had one of those times where I realize just how wonderful he is and I have to share despite being warned by a friend who was warned by someone in her church not to brag about your husband because then someone might want to steal him. I'm going to brag, but I don't thing anyone reading this is out to steal him, right?

When we got married, Andrew's grandfather officiated and I kept telling Andrew to ask him not to mention eternity. I knew I loved Andrew. I knew marrying him was the right and best decision. I just didn't want to think about an eternity. I knew every day I couldn't wait to see him the next day and the next day came and it was the same thing. I knew eternity was built on chains of todays and tomorrows and each of those would be spent either with him or wanting to be with him, but taking it all in one chunk seemed like too heavy a weight. I also knew that for me, the longer I spend with someone, the more I love them.

We've been married nearly ten years and I still feel the same, minus the fear of forever. Here's the thing, Andrew is the most selfless man I know. He gives and gives and gives so much that I'm afraid it has turned me a bit spoiled and perhaps made me insensitive to his kindnesses. That's why I wanted to write this post. I wanted to put into words all those little things he does that I should but don't thank him properly for.

Andrew comes home from a long day of work and takes over feeding and bathing and putting to bed all three boys as much as is necessary for me to be able to exercise. That's manly. But even more, he has never complained about it and treats that time as if it is as much of a priority for him as it is for me. That's gentlemanly.

Andrew comes home for lunch every day to help me feed and put the boys down for naps so that they can sleep at the same time and I can have some quiet time. He could be going to lunch with guys from the office or could just use his lunch to eat and relax and de-stress, but he doesn't.

Andrew does the grocery shopping every Saturday, sometimes with me and the boys, and sometimes alone. We do a big weekly shop to take some of the stress out of the week but it's a GIANT pain. Andrew does it and doesn't complain. That's manly (even if he's pulling one of those old lady grocery carts). Some weeks he does it with a couple of the boys, without me. That's gentlemanly (especially when he's got a kid strapped to his chest and is pulling the old lady cart).

Andrew has been known to incite the ire of some of my friends' husbands as my friends tell them what Andrew does. But then they all love him because the guy is just fun to hang out with. One of my favorite things to do is watch him interact with his friends and my friends. I feel like his charm outshines my social awkwardness so I can just bask in its glow.

Andrew works hard. The man fulfills his duties and obligations no matter how irksome they are to him. And he keeps his cool most of the time. When he doesn't, it's kind of exciting. He has so many different personalities to deal with at work but manages to be incredibly diplomatic and sensitive without getting caught up in personal dramas. And then he comes home and deals with three little boys and a usually cranky wife.

Andrew has a habit of going after bad guys. A few weeks ago he threw his bike at a purse snatcher. A week ago he caught a guy getting into someone else's backpack. For some reason, the American in me tends to cheer him on until the wife and mother in me catches on and realizes how dangerous that can be around here. Fortunately this latest episode only resulted in Andrew needing to get a haircut and put in his contacts to disguise himself from the neighborhood do-no-gooders for a few days. That'll fool them, I'm sure.

Most of all, Andrew puts up with things like me spending our last night in Florence searching for the perfect ice cream bar after spending all day looking for the perfect but expensive leather jacket and getting the just right last pizza. I thought he was going to leave me after that one, but he didn't. Maybe he just didn't want to waste the plane ticket back. He understands my obsessive need for things like made beds and picking up before I eat and he doesn't try to change them. I, on the other hand, can't help but tease him by flipping one or two light switches the wrong way in his parents' basement because I know how much it bugs him to have them not going the same way.

Sorry for the long post and please feel free to skip it. He wasn't supposed to be gone this long but I got to let a few things out. Andrew, I see the things you do for me and for us and for others and I just wanted to thank you.

P.S. Andrew's birthday is coming up. Anyone have any fun Andrew stories or things you love about him you'd be willing to share?