Just Picture It: Marriage Thus Far

This morning, I woke up to my 6am alarm clock, bright-eyed and bushy-haired, ready to take on the day. I was sprawled across the entire bed, luxuriating in a way that felt just downright ridiculous (as if I was auditioning for a mattress ad or something), and I realized that I had the entire place to myself. Our one bathroom, our one sink, our one mirror, all mine. Similarly, last night I had free reign of the covers, of all 4 pillows, and was able to control the apartment temperature--I felt like a queen.

Why, you ask? What could possibly make me feel this way? 

The old hubsters has flown the coop. He has  gone out of town on his own for the first time since we got hitched in October, and I'm playing solo girl in the city for a few days. I know I'll start missing him any moment now, but I'm definitely going to enjoy this feeling of freedom while it lasts. 

So, since Ben has jetted out out of town for a long weekend in Cape Cod, I think now's as good a time as any to discuss my thoughts on marriage thus far...

Here's what I've observed/how I've noticed things have changed (or not changed) in the past *almost* 8 months that we've been married (8 months already?!? Whaaaaattt???):

• Marriage really is different than living together. It just feels different. It feels like we're a team, like we're a unit and we're in this together for the long haul. You would think that I would have felt that way after 7 years of dating and 3 years of living together, and I did, but getting married took it to a whole different level. It's a really nice feeling.

• Just because I'm married now does not mean that I will suddenly start wearing sexy pajamas. I thought I could turn over a new leaf after the wedding, I really did, but I just can't. Can you throw me my sweats?

• Ben still calls me his "GF" on at least a weekly basis. Often, I have to remind him that "No, I'm not your girlfriend anymore, I'm your wife." To which he often replies, "Oh yeah, cool!!!" Old habits die hard, I guess. 

• It's really fun to introduce people to your "husband." All of the sudden, I feel like a legit adult. Weird how marriage does that to you.

• When you're married and you see your "husband" hold a little kid or snuggle up to a puppy, you see him in a completely different way than you used to. Or at least I do. Now, the idea of him being a father is real, and that's really strange. Does this mean that I actually have maternal instincts, and that they're actually kicking in? Oh-em-gee...

• Just because we're married now does not mean that Ben will learn how to be the handyman around the house. That's still my job.

• Having combined bank accounts is fabulous. I spent the first 3/4 of my twenties on my own, supporting myself, stressed about money, and now I can finally relax a little bit because I'm no longer alone when it comes to finances. Now if only someone would start picking up my Lululemon tabs, we'd be rich! ;)

• Making decisions together has taken on a whole different meaning. Before, we hardly ever made decisions on our own, simply because we wanted each other's feedback and input on things. But now, we not only want each other's input, but feel that it's necessary. Like I said before, we're a team, and we need to function as a strong unit. It's us against the world! (At least that's what we say when one of us if having a bad week ;)

• We need a bigger bed, bigger cabinets, and two bathrooms. Then there will be nothing else to quarrel about. Oh, and maybe a personal dishwasher/loader/unloader? We go through WAY more dishes than any other household of two does, I promise. [Ben eats a LOT...and so do I.]

Does that sound about right to you, fellow married readers? 

Bottom line: Marriage = way awesomer than I'd ever thought it could be. Why did I shy away from it for so long, again?