Look at me!

Every week, Bryan takes a picture of me and my belly. Sometimes he won't stop even after I'm done posing.

Let me share this picture he took of me as I was walking up to grab the SD card.

Can I be vain for a second? I think I look cute. I barely look pregnant from the front! I love the curves.

It's hard to feel beautiful when you're this big and pregnant, but I like this. I also like that my owl slippers made it into the shot.

6 Years with Bryan

I've never been in a relationship with someone this long. 6 years is a really long time. I'll prove it.

In 2005, I met Bryan through the improv team at Clemson. Our group really liked to go to parties.

There's Bryan on the left and me on the far right. I barely knew him.
FUN FACT: That's Jason next to me, Bryan's best friend and my other boyfriend.

In the late spring, we both were recently single and Bryan asked me out. We went to Greenville on April 28, 2006 for our first date and when Bryan tried to kiss me at a stop light on the way home, I pulled away and said, "The light's green!"

The second day of being together, April 2006

our first year of dating

We dated that summer and I had no idea that we'd get so serious - so quickly.

6 month anniversary - at Justin & Erin's wedding

one year anniversary at Melting Pot

In our second year, we went on a cruise together, went to Disney World (three times), started our duo show (and performed in three festivals), started the Rapscallion, went to New York City, and got engaged.

bar-hopping in Clemson

Gainesville Improv Festival

New York City, March 2007

In our third year, we celebrated my graduation and my 21st birthday, moved me to Chapel Hill, lived apart that summer - I lived with Zach Ward (what?), made a lot of trips to each other, celebrated our first Christmas with family, went to Disney World (twice), got married, went on a cruise, moved in together, did comedy at DSI together and got ready for Bryan to graduate with his PhD.

my 21st

rocked my first year at DSI

new years 2008

honeymoon

In our fourth (and most crazy fun) year, we did more comedy at DSI, visited Charleston and Orlando, moved to Philly, Bryan got his PhD, went to Del Close Marathon in NYC, spent too many weekends and too much money going to NYC all the time, went to Disney World, celebrated our first married Christmas, joined the N Crowd, and found out that we were trading the big city for a small town in Oklahoma.

 

first meal in Philly: cheesesteak

he's a doctor!

more weekends in NYC

In our fifth (and most scary) year, we clung to each other, spent everything we had on a three month long road trip to see all our friends, performed at the OKC Festival, started performing with OKC improv, started our new jobs, started a new improv community, celebrated Christmas at Disney, did festivals and took the college kids to Chicago for spring break.

moved to our house in Oklahoma

OKC Festival July 2010

OKC improv

started an improv team

daned the waltz in the Nutcracker

Christmas

In our sixth (and most tumultuous) year, we celebrated Brooke's graduation, made a trip to Florida, celebrated my birthday in Philly, I got my new job, fell in love with OKC, found out about Bryan's mom's cancer, celebrated 10 years of MTS, decided to try for a baby, found out that I was pregnant, shared the news with family, made trips to support Bryan's mom, and found out that we'll be in Oklahoma another year.

It's been a really crazy six years.

I can only imagine that this year will be our most crazy yet as we embark on this whole parenthood thing this August. It was really nice to look back through the pictures. We have had a lot of really incredible times, sweet pictures and a lot of love. There's nobody else that I could love this much. I am lucky to be with Bryan. He really is perfect.

Happy anniversary, Bryan. 6 years and we still got it ;)

Oh, baby, it's love.

It's Valentine's Day. I've said it before, I love a holiday about love. We even made a video about it two years ago.



I love love. I love flirting. I love holding hands, kissing, cuddling, whispering in Bryan's ear and of course, doing the love. This day really isn't that big of a deal unless we make it.

Instead of focusing on presents or cards or whatever else people think of, I take this day as an opportunity to treat Bryan like I did when we first started dating, with little surprises and waking him up with kisses and holding hands in the car and texting sweet nothings. It's hard to be romantic every day, and today's a perfect reset button.

Go on, love your person. Kiss 'em. Grab 'em. Bang 'em. Do all the lovey stuff you love.

This morning I was late to work because I spent thirty minutes just being with Bryan this morning. Who wants to get ready when you can cuddle with your love on Valentine's day? Today, we're meeting up for lunch, and wherever we go whether it's a steakhouse or Mexican or McDonald's, I know it will be romantic because I'm with my love.

And for the first time in weeks, I will be making a gourmet dinner (no spaghetti with sauce from a jar or Kraft Mac-n-Cheese or takeout). I will be serving my love homemade ravioli with homemade alfredo sauce and yummy homemade garlic bread with delicious chocolate melting cakes for dessert. I am already hungry thinking about it.

I couldn't ask for a better man, a sweeter husband or a more loving best friend with whom to spend today.



Happy Valentine's Day, loves!

My Favorite Photographer: Erin Scott

Bryan and I have been together almost six years. In our six years, we've had all sorts of pictures, but the best ones are by our good friend and fantastic photographer Erin Scott.

When we got engaged in April 2008, she took our pictures.

When we got married on New Years Eve 2008, she was there to photograph our wedding.

When we moved to Philly and made it through the craziest year of our marriage, we had one year portraits by nobody else but Erin.

And so, this year for Christmas, I wanted to capture the Buckley family. I wanted portraits while Mom was feeling better, while all of us were together and while we broke the baby news. I called Erin once more.

I love these pictures, and I ordered prints to hang in the baby's room, so he or she will know how excited the world is for the arrival. This little tiger and full-blooded turtle is gonna be so loved.

And I know who we're calling for baby pictures...