I am not really a “typical” woman when it comes to a lot of things.  I don’t particularly like to cuddle or hold hands.  I tend to be cranky and temperamental.  I’m an anal-retentive control freak that is militant about a large number of household-related tasks.  I am completely lacking in sympathy and therefore make a terrible nursemaid.  I often forget to say “Thanks” and “I love you” and in general am truly awful at being romantic.  In other words, I…am probably kind of a crappy wife.  Or possibly a poorly-functioning robot.

You may wonder if I have a point.  For once, I actually do.  You see, my husband’s birthday is tomorrow and I felt like maybe a grand display of my love and affection was in order.  Or at the very least, a public THANK YOU for putting up with me.

He hates “crap like this”.  Why do women do this, he asks.  Male bloggers generally don’t feel the need to post gushy declarations of love and rampant sentimentality on family and friends’ birthdays. 

So I’ll keep it short and sweet. 

Babe, I love you for all that you do for me, and all that you are for our family.  I know I don’t make it easy on you a lot of times.  Or ever.  But you take it all in stride, and keep moving along.  I love that after 12 years, you can still make me laugh.  You know what I am thinking and how I am feeling – sometimes even before I realize it myself.  You’re such an awesome husband and phenomenal father, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

You make it possible for me to follow my dreams, and for that I can’t thank you enough.

You also make it possible for me to go on trips without having to worry about the kids, and I know that is a luxury a lot of mothers do not have.  Even though I desperately wish you could come with me to Qatar, I know I can travel with total peace of mind that they’re being cared for – in many ways better than I can do myself.

(Aside to the 3ish non-husband readers of this blog: did I mention that I’m going to Qatar in two weeks?)

(I totally am.)

(More on that later.)

Anyway, to sum up: N, I love you, you’re the perfect husband for me, and I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you.  Sorry for the schmaltz. 

The end.