It's the little things

Monday was my 14th Anniversary. It's sometimes amazing to me that we have been married that long. Sometimes it feels like m-u-c-h longer, and sometimes I can't believe how fast the time has flown. Yesterday I was thinking about this and something came to my mind that I haven't thought of for a long time. And since many of you don't know the story, I'll tell it now....
Eleven years ago when I was pregnant with Sam, Chet and I had a conversation about my stay in the hospital. Although I don't remember the specifics of the conversation, I had told him that I was not looking forward to looking ugly after having the baby. I said that I imagined myself tired and pale in an ugly hospital gown receiving our new son and other visitors. In hindsight, now that I've actually been through the birthing process, I realize that vanity flies out the window with modesty, and your biggest concern is generally the health of your baby. But before such an event, you really do think of looking pretty. So I mentioned this to Chet in passing and didn't think of it again--until I was in the delivery room laboring with Sam. That is when my darling husband gave me a gift. I opened the box to see that he had purchased a lovely white cotton nightgown, and then taken it to my mom for alterations. She had split it up the back and hemmed it, and then sewn on ties of white ribbon, so this beautiful nightgown was my substitute for an ugly hospital gown. When Sam was born and pictures were taken of me holding my minutes-old baby, I was in a nice gown that the nurses were happy with too. Things like that, little known facts but great stories, let me know that my husband loves me very much. And I love him too!