countdowns.

since taylor and i started dating my life has turned into a compilation of countdowns... how many days until he leaves? how many days until he comes home? how many days until (insert really fun thing we get to do together here)?

right now i have a few countdowns going...
taylor comes home: 2 weeks, 1 day
redsox vs. orioles game: 2 weeks, 5 days
engagement photos: 6 weeks, 2 days
1 year anniversary/engagement party: 9 weeks, 1 day
move to california: 9 weeks, 6 days
fly back to virginia for sarah's wedding: 14 weeks, 6 days

i'm getting really good at keeping myself busy while he's away. he's gone for a month this time and i can't say that it's "flying by" but its certainly not dragging on like the 3 weeks he was gone in december did. i've been to my cousin's wedding, worked a shit-ton and took my favorite rugrats to king's dominion... this weekend i'm going tubing with girlfriends, next week i'm sailing on a 52 foot catamaran yacht with my best girlfriend (who i haven't seen since february!!!) and then trying on a bunch of wedding dresses i can't afford at a swanky, upscale bridal salon outside of dc :) while, poor taylor is stuck in a lonely hotel room cooking pizza in a saucepan on the stovetop becuase he bought a frozen one and forgot he has no oven... oh, to be a fly on the wall in that place...

not shaving my pits for weeks is gratifying but i miss my future hubs none the less. i'll leave with you with some pictures...

engagement party location: the marsh mansion.

i love the front lawn.

the tots. exhausted <3.

shut your pie hole.

never in my wildest dreams did i think i'd be blessed with such an incredible future hubs. i'm going to brag now... he is handsome, strong, determined and tough. and underneath that manly exterior he constantly suprises me by being thoughtful, caring and pretzely-cute when he says things like "baby, you can have both closets in the master bedroom."

never in my wildest dreams did i think i'd catch so much shit from my family for finally being happy. i like to say i have a very loving family but these days they are just down right opinionated. i'm sure my upcoming move to california is overwhelming them (few albrites have strayed from the family compound) but they're incessent negative comments about me moving on with my life are just pushing me away, further and faster. that makes me sad becuase i should be soaking up every second of my last 10 weeks here with them but i find myself avoiding them.

my mama has been my rock, my #1 fan and best friend my whole life. if anyone should be upset that i am growing up and moving so far away it should be her. i actually somwhat expected her to be irrational about my pending nuptials and cross country move but she has stood by my decision and been there to support me when the other irrational lunatics ladies in my family haven't.

a wise man with some crucial facial hair once said "you have to do your own growing... no matter how tall your grandfather was." his name was Abe Lincoln and i'd like him to scream that in a few people's faces for me.

we're engaged!

i should be sick and tired of telling this story by now but i'm actually enjoying giving these speeches. i like the all eyes on me aspect of it most. it's obnoxious...

for as long as i can remember, i've looked at the clock at 9:11 (morning or night). taylor's birthday is september 11th. fate? duh. at least that's what i've always told him. in the weee hours of the morning on june 13th, taylor told me we had been together for 9 months and 11 days. mushy :) then he shined a light into my sleepy eyes. i was irritated until i opened them and saw the most sparkley thing ever tucked into a little black box with a tiny light shining down on it.

i squealed "CAN I PUT IT ON?!" before he even had time to ask me to marry him. embarassing.

he claims it wasn't "romantic" and then i promptly remind him that i was super naked (with the exception of my newly aquired rock) when he asked me to be his wife. doesn't get much more romantic than that my friends.

i suppose you stalkers want to see the ring? wish granted.