The Definition of Selflessness

Saturday night was a rough one. Pierscen was up like clockwork every two hours. (Which meant that I only slept for 1.5 or less of each of those intervals.) The fun continued into Sunday. He wouldn't eat or sleep very well. Snacks and cat naps. And lots of crying in between. I knew he was exhausted, but like a two year old, he fought and fought. At long last I got him to sleep, just in time for Dodger to decide he was done playing outside and wanted back in. NOW! Nap time over.

By the time Ryan came home from church, I was thoroughly exhausted. We were going to go to his parent's for dinner, but his uncle decided to host the sibling dinner that day, so dinner for the family was cancelled. We could have gone to my parents, but we decided we wanted to have a nice stay-at-home dinner with just the three of us. I don't think we have ever done a Sunday dinner at home with just us. To make it seem more special than just a regular day at home, I spent some good time digging and relocating a wide variety of items until at long last I found that thing... you know - the one with the four legs and a flat top meant for eating... oh that's right! The kitchen table! I honestly do not recall the last time we actually ate dinner there. Probably during our first year of marriage. Sad, but true. I had planned out dinner, but when Ryan came home, he decided he wanted to make dinner instead. He went to work right away and within an hour we were sitting down to a wonderful authentic German dinner. It was super yummy and I could not thank Ryan enough for doing it.

After dinner we went for a walk and then came home and did the dishes. Once finished, I plopped down on the couch. I still felt hammered. I flopped over and tried to take a nap, but I can't sleep if there is other noise like the tv or something on the computer. And that couch is possibly the most uncomfortable thing in existence. Ryan kept trying to get me to go bed, but I refused feeling that I needed to be there for Pierscen. After an hour plus of just laying there miserable, Ryan pulled me off the couch and escorted me to bed, ignoring my weak protests of "But I need to be a mom..."

I woke up fifteen minutes after midnight. Pierscen had evidently fallen asleep before I did out in the living room and was just waking up to eat. Ryan glanced at the clock when he came in the room and said with a yawn, "I need to be up in five hours." Up until then, I had no idea that he had to work early in the morning (he was working a double shift to boot.) Here he was - really the one that needed the sleep, and yet not only did he make dinner, but he let me sleep for several hours without a word of complaint. After Pierscen ate, I took him out in the living room to settle down again. It was the least I could do to allow Ryan to fall asleep without the baby crying next to him.

I was incredibly humbled. It made me realize all over again what a lucky girl I am. I could not ask for a better husband. Thank you Ryan for your selflessness. I couldn't do it without you.