(Editor's Note: Another thank you to Casey from Half As Good As You for the suggestion. I thought John's and my story was pretty cute, but I also remembered that I had written before about Sprite's first profession of love and thought it fit the topic as well.)
The beginning of November, 1999 brought us to the two month mark as a couple.
I stretched out on John's bed, the soft music on the stereo and the dinner I had eaten a few hours earlier working together to set my mind afloat as the darkness of the room dulled my thoughts.
I felt the mattress shift a bit as John settled beside me.
"You awake?"
"Mmm?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I don't want to move."
His lips brushed mine. My eyes opened and I smiled at him, still feeling the newness of "us" and the quickening of my heart when his head dipped down again to bestow another kiss.
The quick kiss deepened and I sighed, content with him, the night, the world.
"If I tell you something, will you promise not to get mad?"
I stared at him, not sure about how to decipher his statement. "What do you mean?" I asked as I thought of what it could be. Had he found someone else? Was he bored with me? Did he want to date other people? What the hell? Everything was going so well, what could he possibly want?
"Your breath stinks."
I slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes widening at his frank delivery and instantly regretting the fajitas I had eaten earlier. "Do you have gum?" I mumbled from behind my palm.
He smiled and reached over for his pack.
Once I chewed a bit, I felt brave enough to remove the barrier from my face and caught John staring at me. He leaned in for another kiss.
"Is that better?" I asked when he pulled away.
"Much."
Again, we kissed then he raised himself up and looked down at me.
"I think I love you."
Before I could react, he swooped in again and stole my words with yet another kiss.
My stomach flipped in response. He loved me?
He lifted his head up. "Are you okay with that?"
I looked into his eyes. "Uh, yes. I mean, yeah. Definitely."
(Now I really miss him. Crap. Saturday? Are you there Saturday? It's me, Desperate! Come home, John!) (Am I coming off too needy?)
"Love You", Mean it
(First posted August 4, 2008)
"Shun duf werber. Hi, Elmo!" Cackle. Crack.
"Jen."
"Hm?"
"Sprite's up. Your turn."
I twist to look at John, whose head has been swallowed by the comforter. He's not moving, which means I have to.
My turn, my ass.
I fumble for my glasses and look at the clock. 7:54 AM. Sundays are not meant to start so early.
The monitor sounds off again. I can hear her chanting "Diaper". Oh, this will be fun.
Slipping out of bed (Slipping, that sounds so graceful. It is more like flopping since my legs don't seem to be on the same page with my brain as my legs are swinging around to hit the floor and my brain is shouting at them, "No! This is wrong!"), I step over a sleeping Blue whose billowing snore tells me she is not getting up, not even for Sprite. Sprite will just have to lick herself this morning.
As I make my way to Sprite's room, my thoughts are jumbled. Grumble, snort, what the hell? Mr. I can't find anyone to play with on my stupid game stays up until after 2 AM walking and dying and then decides it's my turn to get Sprite because his stupid retinas can't face the sunlight? We haven't had turns since the kid started sleeping through the night! And all of a sudden, he remembers who last got up with her? Good God. "Good morning, love."
Sprite turns from her bear and sees me in the doorway. "Hi, Mommy!" She waves and scrambles out of her bed. "Hi, Elmo! Hi, bear! Hi, flawhur! Hi, batty!" As she rattles on with her morning ritual of greeting all the critters in her room, I change her diaper.
First chore accomplished, I set her down. "You're in a good mood today," I say, "why don't you share your sunniness with Daddy?"
"Hi, Daddy!" Sprite stands there, expecting him to show up at any moment.
"No, honey, Daddy's in Mommy and Daddy's room. He's in bed."
"Hi, Daddy!" She takes off, on course for my bedroom and a possibly sound asleep John.
I walk after her, my brain still trying like hell to keep up with my legs who happen to be morning people.
I catch up in time to see her demanding to be pulled onto the bed by a bleary eyed John, who's still somewhat in REM. He gives me a quick glare for thwarting his sleeping-in efforts and turns his attention to Sprite.
Sprite has decided he is playing at the whole sleeping thing and she will join this game. "Nite-nite," she says and snuggles down into the comforter, her tushy up in the air, wiggling a bit as she acts out sleeping, or her version of it. I sit on my side, my revenge against John now complete, and watch her root her way headfirst around our bed.
She pops her head up at intervals and smiles at us, content to know we're paying attention.
The sunlight isn't harsh yet. The room is cool. We're all in good moods. I'll be making pancakes soon. June Cleaver herself cannot steal my perfection. In fact, this morning can not get any better.
I settle in a bit and continue to watch her when she comes in close and leans in for a kiss. I accept one and as she draws back, she says, "Love you". Her first time saying it.
And somehow, it gets better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I absolutely LOVED reading the wonderful Spins this week!
Maureen Lynn over at A Chronicle of My World Travels
Joanie over at Joanie's Random Ramblings
Iambellaluna over at Iambellaluna -New to the Spin Cycle!
Nothing Fancy over at Nothing Fancy
Camille over at Archives of Our Lives
Casey over at Half As Good As You
The South Dakota Cowgirl over at Whoa My Horses!
Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs
Ellie Belen over at Distracting Minutia -New to the Spin Cycle!
Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher
Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel
Cristin over at Tiptoeing Through The Tulips
Kendra over at Life in the Slow Lane
Meli over at Meli's Rambling Randomness
Jim Styro over at Speaking in CAPS -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Laufa over at Morgan Madness -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Arwen over at Spors in the Desert -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Lisa over at Boondock Ramblings Jen Rants and Raves -Updated today! Fresh Spin! And a guest post!
Leslie over at Captain Crazy -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Carrie over at Cole Pack -Updated today! Fresh Spin! She's back!
Bex over at Adventures of the Grigg Boys -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Sandie over at Sandie Simply Says -Updated Saturday! Fresh Spin!
Don't forget to say hi to the new Spinners and drop a love letter with the veterans!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next week: Summer plans
Mama Badger from Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs made this brilliant suggestion in the comments and I loved the idea.
Tell us your summer plans! Are you planning a trip somewhere? A staycation unlike any other? What do you typically do during the summer? What about summers of your past? How is Summer time treated now compared to when you were a kid?
Did you get to stay up until all hours of the night? Did your parents find the closest summer camp in which to shove you, trusting a high school senior whose greater priority was to watch the guys running the P.E. sessions instead of keeping you out of trouble?
How about your kids? Do THEY have plans for the summer which are a little more optimistic than your own plans?
Discuss!
Only a *real* man could follow up telling you that your breath stinks with a declaration of love. I simply adore John - you, my dear, are a lucky woman.
Posted by: Jan | June 05, 2009 at 05:24 AM
http://lifeandtimesofawickedstepmom.com/2009/06/05/spin-cycle-saying-i-love-you/
Posted by: WickedStepMom | June 05, 2009 at 06:48 AM
Both stories are great!
P.S. Come home John!!
Posted by: WickedStepMom | June 05, 2009 at 06:54 AM
I have posted.
Remember when we would sign or say Love Ya! We just didn't know did we.
Posted by: Laufa | June 05, 2009 at 07:27 AM
At least he kissed you again.
Posted by: Laufa | June 05, 2009 at 07:28 AM
All I can think about is "YOU GET TO SLEEP IN TIL 7:54 ON SUNDAYS?"
Lucky Lucky Girl!
Posted by: Nothing Fancy | June 05, 2009 at 07:32 AM
http://desertspor.blogspot.com/2009/06/beginning-of-story.html
Posted by: Arwen | June 05, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Gah! Kids are the best. That is so adorable.
My summer is all about relaxing it up at our lake place. We have a boat up there and I park my ass on it for just about every weekend during the summer that allows...Ah, I'm day dreaming of that at my desk now instead of actually working.
Posted by: iambellaluna | June 05, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Awww. And would you ever have guessed that ten years later you'd be picking boogers from his nose? :)
Great stories!
Posted by: Robin | June 05, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Both of those stories had me saying 'Awwwwwwww!' out loud - after some giggling, of course... ;)
John's definitely a keeper, and Sprite is way to precious! :)
Posted by: Stacy (the Random Cool Chick) | June 05, 2009 at 09:45 AM
How cute!! The stinky breath, not Sprite... KIDDING! I love the little bits you give us on your relationship with the hubby. You guys are fun together it's awesome.
Can't wait to spin again!
Posted by: GiGi @ Incrementum | June 05, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Loved the "your breath stinks" True love there when one can be so honest.
Posted by: Pseudo | June 05, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Hahah, a declaration of stinky breath and then a declaration of love, it's perfect. As was Sprite's first time saying it... it's so cute to hear those words from a toddler's mouth.
Posted by: Casey | June 05, 2009 at 11:14 AM
I loved your stories - Hearing "I love you" for the first time from someone big in your life is always incredible and the best thing is it never gets old!
I finally spun a spin myself! Yay for me!
Posted by: Leslie | June 05, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I didn't really do the spin this week on my blog, but I did post a guest post on Jen at Rants & Raves and that can be found here: http://jen-rantsraves.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-wuv-you.html
Also, your John is about as romantic as my Hubby sometimes with his timing, but still comes off as sweet. How is that possible?
Posted by: Lisa (Jonnysmommy) | June 05, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Im back
http://colepack.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/cleaning-up-the-final-chapter-spin-cycle/
Posted by: carrie | June 05, 2009 at 02:43 PM
that's so sweet! i completely melted the first time gabriel said, "i love you, mommy." when ethan said it for the first time i thought,"well, its about time you start giving back a little!"
i spinned!
http://griggboys.blogspot.com/2009/06/spin-cycle-love-story.html
Posted by: bex | June 05, 2009 at 05:39 PM
PRECIOUS!!!!
Oh I Love this topic!!!!!
I can't wait to read others!!!!
Posted by: RatalieNose | June 05, 2009 at 05:45 PM
I love this post!
Melted my heart. Thank you so much! I got the book :)
And the goldfish are adorable... Can't wait to get a quiet moment to read it. Thank you again!
Posted by: Michelle | June 05, 2009 at 07:36 PM
I often plop the kids in bed when my hubby is trying to "sleep in." What a cute story! You inspired me to write my own love spin. I'm sorry it's so late!
http://lemondroppie.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-love-you-lily-style.html
Posted by: Ginny Marie | June 05, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Aw! Both of those stories are fantastic. You guys are all so lucky to have each other!
And yeah, a guy who can tell you that without bloodshed is seriously a keeper. Think he can tell MY hubby? ;)
Posted by: Keely | June 05, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Awwww. Both great I love yous, even with the slight derailment of a post fajita dinner.
I'm still waiting for my youngest to tell me he loves me. I know he does, I just want to hear it once. If I have to hear how much he loves kid's meals, I'm gonna punch someone.
Posted by: mrsbear | June 06, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Oh, great spin! I remember the first time Oscar told me - he demanded Nelson bring him in to kiss me good night (I was nursing Miles) and as they were leaving, Oscar said, "Lub you, Mama, lub you." And then I died.
Posted by: jenni | June 09, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Hello all, I'm new to this. I am a follower of Arwen's blog - and decided to give this a try. So here's my post for last week. I'm a student right now so life gets a bit nuts for me....
http://ecologyoflife.blogspot.com/2009/06/our-story.html
Posted by: Ecologista | June 10, 2009 at 12:22 AM