valentines day — STORIES — Not So Private Parts

Heart shaped boxes, cheap chocolate, and plush teddy bears lining your local drug store. ..Valentine's Day is that time of year where lovers young and old profess their love and appreciation for one another. Dinner reservations are made, babysitters are booked weeks in advance, and couples who have not had sex in months, finally make the time to cue Marvin Gaye, and get it on. However, THIS Valentine's Day has proven to be quite different for the hubby and I. But first, lets rewind..

My husband I have now been married for 10 years, together for 14. That means..We have now celebrated 14 Valentine's Days. Every year, we have made time to go out, grab some dinner, look deeply into each other's eyes and reflect. Yes, we have been THAT couple. Around this time last year, I was three months pregnant, nauseas, and exhausted due to a tiny human making his home in my uterus. Our V-Day last year? We got a sitter for our oldest, and went to our favorite Indian Restaurant and celebrated another year and our soon to be new addition..Good enough. Years prior more than likely may have been more elaborate and perhaps a bit more sexy. But hey, it worked for us..

Fast forward one year and an extra kiddo later, and here we are. Saturday night..Valentine's Eve..the oldest kiddo has a fever..the youngest, just getting over his first cold..And the hubby and I..well, we are still adjusting. This year, our Valentine's festivities included convincing a nine year old to drink his fresh pressed orange and turmeric juice and rest, all while entertaining an energetic teething six month old..Real hot..I know.

So where did these unforeseen/ foreseen events leave us on this lover's holiday? It left two exhausted parental units on the sofa, watching endless amount of 'Making a Murderer' while scoffing down vegan donuts(courtesy of the Mother In-Law)..Was I ok with this? Is this how I imagined this Valentine's Day #14 to be? Yes and of course not. Am I thankful? Absolutely. I have the privilege to share my life with someone who I not only love, but I like. And Isn't that what all this V-Day hoopla is about? So THIS Valentine's weekend, as we stared longingly into each other's sleep deprived eyes, I remained thankful for progression, change, and the shifting that causes us all to proceed forward in love. Here's to all the lovers..I pray your Day is filled with the love you so deeply deserve. As for us..NetFlix and Chill? More like Netflix.....and more NetFlix.