Kids!? No! Don’t have kids! The rule is no kids until you’re at least 45. Don’t you EVER read my blog? It’s gotten a lot better. -Barney, How I Met Your Mother

Last night Match and I had Couple Family (had to change it with baby #2 on the way!) over for a belated birthday dinner for Couple Wife. She just turned 25 on Sunday. It’s funny how often I forget that she’s younger than me. I think it’s because she’s already a mom and has baby #2 on the way, plus has a job she loves and they own a house. Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m still 18 by comparison!

I haven’t made dinner for guests in a long time so I decided to bust out the comfort food recipe. I made Spaghetti Pie which is chock full of carbs and fat but oh so tasty. While I was at work I also designed a fancy menu to make the dinner seem more elegant than it actually was. Here’s the menu, you’ve gotta click on it to actually read anything:

And here’s how it looked on the table. Note that I got to use our brand new appetizer platters from my bridal shower. Yay! PS that olive tapenade totally looks like poop but I swear it was delicious.

After dinner I also got to use my new cupcake tree. Don’t cupcakes just look more delicious on a tree?

We ate ourselves into food comas but somehow managed to have the energy to visit. CW told us about their 5 year plan (I love that they have a 5 year plan!) and how they eventually want to move further north to a smaller town that’s more family friendly. I’m sad because I know when we move for Match’s academy we’ll be even further away from them. But Match’s and Couple Wife’s parents live in the same area, so we’ll still get to see each other.

It was so nice visiting with Couple Family and getting to see Couple Baby. He’s grown so much! I can’t believe he’s almost a year and a half already. I love watching Match play with him too, it melts my heart.

I’m so happy I married a man who doesn’t have this old fashioned idea of being a dad. He doesn’t picture himself passing out the arturo fuente cigars in the waiting room and then being handed a baby to show off. He is definitely a hand’s on guy who will be an amazing father. It’s nice having Couple Hubby around as a great example too. CH is awesome with Couple Baby. He’ll jump up and play with him when he gets fussy, or just because. You can really see the love he has for his son. It’s too precious.

Couple Wife is getting closer and closer to her due date. Did I mention she’s having a little girl to complete their family? I hope we follow in those footsteps. I want a boy first and a girl second, as long as we’re dreaming.

CW asked the question that has been asked of us ever since we got engagd, “So when are you two planning on having kids?” We both sort of laughed and just shrugged and said something vague about waiting for Match to have his career established. The goal is before 30, but we’re not in a huge rush. I want to enjoy some newlywed time with my future husband. As much as I adore Couple Baby, he wore us out during that brief 2 hour visit. I don’t think I’m ready for full time parenthood just yet. Towards the end of the night I picked him up and he started babbling, “mommy mommy mommy” because he calls all girls that.  Even though I’m not ready to be one, I can’t say it didn’t give me a warm little flutter in my tummy.

Cristina: Stop pouting.

George: I’m not pouting.

Cristina: Oh please, I don’t even have to look at you, I can feel you pouting. -Grey’s Anatomy

I’m trying to get all my Christmas shopping done early, but getting something for Match is going to be a challenge. I can’t just get him some generic sports gifts or things like that. It’s gotta be special, something big for our first Christmas together. Also, after Sunday night I’m more than a little gift shy.

See, it all started with Match and I going to see his parents, who just got back from Europe. I was excited because I really missed them-we get together about once a week for dinner, and we have a great time. The only problem is whenever we go over there, Match reverts to a little kid. He whines, he sasses, and in general, he’s a 10 year old. It’s usually not that bad, and I do understand it. No one can turn us into children quite like our parents. Still, I keep thinking that the more we go over there, the better it will get. This was not such an occasion.

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Phoebe: Listen! You have to help me pick a dress ’cause I’m meeting Mike’s parents tonight!
Monica: Wow, the boyfriend’s parents! That’s a big step.
Phoebe: (Sarcastically) Really? That hadn’t occurred to me.
Monica: They’re gonna love you, just be yourself.
-Friends

Yesterday I met Match’s parents. I have met my share of boyfriends’ parents in my day, and it is always a nerve racking experience. I normally do pretty well with parents but it always takes awhile to get comfortable. With Match’s parents though, it was different. Just like with Match Guy, it was just easy. The minute we met it was comfortable and relaxed.

His parents are as full of energy and enthusiasm as he is. It was adorable-his dad came rushing into the room with glasses of champagne and said he’d been saving the bottle for a special occasion. He raised his glass and said, “And you my dear, are a special occasion.” I was beaming.

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