The post below is a repeat of a post that I wrote almost a year ago, but that I was reminded of the other day. A parent from the kids' school mentioned to me in passing that whenever she goes by our new house, she's struck by how "happy" it looks. Which, of course, made me smile, and think of my love-note-dream, and how this cute little house we're now living in really is just exactly the house I was dreaming of all those years ago.
_________________________________________________________A love note to Lena, circa 2001
(now hanging on the wall in our office):
Some images from the past year:
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10 comments:
Perfect.
:) :) :)
Just when I think you couldn't top the smile factor, you've done it again. As twomomsandababy said, perfect. Simply perfect.
This was one of my favorite posts! I don't mind seeing it again one bit.
It did remind me of something I had been curious about for a while, but was compounded when Lena "guest posted" last month and said that you two never call each other your real names. It's something that I've definitely notice in your blog for the past year that I've been reading it: eschewing Lena's name for "my Love," etc.
I'm curious: Is there a special reason for that? Is it something you've always done? Was there a conscious choice involved? Is there a story behind this.
It has made me think about how I call my own significant other and when I chose to call her by her own name or a "pet name" or other term of endearment. I guess what I find so interesting is your choice to be so public about NOT calling each other by your real names.
Keep up the great stories!
so lovely.
ALS: There is no good explanation for why Lena and I don't call each other by our real names. We just never have. Even in the very beginning, before we were a "we," I think Lena called me "baby," and I called her . . . nothing? I don't remember. Eventually we started calling each other "love" or "my love" and then, after so many months of that, there was no going back. Lena calls me "Alexa," my given name, when she's frustrated and trying to get my attention. It does not have good connotations. I really never call her "Lena" or "Lean" (as close friends/family members sometimes do). I just can't. But we refer to each other--when talking to other people--by our real names all the time. I think I do a mix in the blog, sometimes referring to her as "Lena" and sometimes as "My Love," depending on the context.
One cute story: We have never ever, ever called each other "Mama" or "Mom" when talking to each other. That is one of my pet peeves (and I think it's one of Lena's too), when people talk to their spouses that way. And the kids, from very early on, picked up on the fact that we were "mom and mama" to them, but "love" to each other. I remember Lukas at only two years old, asking me, "when is Mama--I mean, when is your love--coming home?" So sweet.
At this point, if Lena were to call me Lex, and if I were to call her Lena, it would just feel a bit harsh. I do kind of regret the situation; it would be convenient to call her name in public and not have it feel MEAN, but it is what it is. Sometimes we use "amor" when we're out and about to try and tone it down a bit.
We have at times tried to train ourselves to use our names, but so far, it just hasn't worked.
I totally agree with that parent. I drove by your house the other day at dusk...the house was bright and cheerful and definitely looked happy. Congratulations on dreams coming true.
i love this post. i've thought about doing one with the same title! it just makes me smile and i absolutely agree, they really do come true.
~ashley
a happy home = amazing gift to your boys, to each other, to yourself.
lovely.
Hi!
Word is, you're a Smithie. We'd like to add you to the Association of Smith Alum Blogs (smithalumblogs.wordpress.com), but we don't know which class year to associate you with. If you'd like to be added, drop us a line at smithalumblogs@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Sarah & Amanda
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