Accidentally In Love

I have been asked a million times how Ryan and I met, and given out the short version a million and one times, but I've never actually written it down. It will be very cool to have documented someday. So here it goes, our love story...

<DISCLAIMER: for all parents, family, and future children reading this, disregard any of the sleeping over and alcohol business, none of that ever happened :]>

Well, let's see... I was 21 and in my last year of college, working as a co-director of the childcare program at Fit One in Chico. Still pretty fresh out of a 6 year long relationship, I was definitely enjoying going out to the bars, having fun, and dating. Thank you Chico, for being there when I most needed you. You definitely got me through some rough times.

Ryan was 22 and a college student by day and Fit One front desk man by night (ha). We had met a few times here and there when I came to work out late at night (usually with my ex... whoops!). We worked at the same place but didn't really know each other. We would always flirt a bit but never turned into anything more than a few words.

December 17, 2005
Probably the most significant day of my life. We worked with such a fun group of people at Fit One, and  Holiday parties were always pretty amazing. This one was definitely the best. Ryan didn't actually come to the party but clearly I was enjoying myself... exhibit A:

After we left the party a group of us went out to the bars, and in walked Ryan with some of MY good friends (what?). Turns out several of his friends, and even roommates were some of my friends as well. How we never ran into eachother before is beyond me. My always smooth Ryan offered to buy my friends and me shots and drinks for most of the night and by the end of the night we were dancing together. Not sure how it happened but we ended up kissing at Joe's bar in front of everyone we work with. Yep we were those people. Who does that?

As the bars started closing everyone started going their separate ways... I am never one to just go home so when a couple friends invited me to their house to go listen to Ryan spin I was there. (He's a DJ too? Bonus points!) I ended up back at Ryan's house with a few people, well a few of my guy friends and Ryan. Somehow all my girlfriends had ended up different places. (Still sorry about forgetting about you Liz, I remember nothing of that conversation!) We hung out for a while and once everyone started getting tired I debated what to do... call for a ride? Sleep on the couch? Of course Ry's roomies were more than welcoming to let me sleep in their beds (boys will be boys). Ryan was the only one not offering me pajamas and asking me to stay in his room... I climbed in his big comfy bed and told him "I'm sleeping in your room, I trust you. You can sleep in here with me, but if you try anything I'm leaving." I told him I was enjoying being single and did not want to get into any relationship and he said he felt the same way. We ended up staying up talking all night long. No awkwardness, no weird silences, just laughter and deep conversation. If I could relive any night of my life, this would be it.

He drove me to my car bright and early the next morning when I woke him up and asked him to (what a gentleman). Our shifts at work overlapped a little for the next couple weeks and we would flirt a little back and forth. Then came New Year's Eve. Since we had a lot of the same friends we all planned to go out together. By the time some of my girlfriends and I got to Ryan's house at 8:00 he had been drinking for hours. After dragging him to the Bear (literally) and celebrating the New Year we walked back to his house. We stayed up talking again for hours and at one point he stopped me and said, "I love you. I mean, I don't LOVE you but like, I love you!" LOL I will never forget that moment. This boy who had played it so cool over the last few weeks spilled it all out after some drinks.

New Year's 2005-2006

We dated and spent more and more time together over the next few months and repeatedly reminded each other that "this was not a relationship." But the more I was around him, the more I wanted to be around him. At one point he "tested" me by telling me he was over being around me...  I was shocked how much it hurt. I swallowed my pride, said "ok, fine" and walked away. About ten steps away I got angry, turned back around and stormed back to him. I yelled at him and told him he was a liar, and that I knew he was happy around me. He laughed and told me he just wanted to make sure it was for real (meany). After that we started spending more and more time together.

March 18, 2006.
It was Ryan's birthday and although everyone was extremely hung over from St. Patty's the day before we dragged ourselves out to Riley's to celebrate. On our long walk home Ryan stopped me and kissed me. He told me he was head over heels in love with me and that he DID want a relationship with me. He asked me if I would officially be his girlfriend, and if I would come with him to meet his mama the next day. (hehe, so cute.) That spot on Ivy street will always have a huge chunk of my heart.

Our "it's not a relationship" turned into amazing, head over heels love. Real love, sappy love, love that I never ever imagined I would have. Have you heard that song "Accidentally In Love" by the Counting Crows? Yep, the Shrek one... I'm pretty sure that song was written about us. We moved to Rocklin together a year and a half later and in February 2009 we found out I was pregnant. I of course found out first and was beyond terrified to tell Ryan. Once I finally got the nerve to tell him (and after a LONG period of silence) he told me he was excited. To this day he still surprises me. I tend to expect the worst and he always does the best.

 

We decided to get married 2 months later. I never got the "dream proposal" that you plan out when you are a little girl but I wouldn't have it any other way. Our wedding was perfect- small, cozy, and beautiful. I guess things didn't really happen the way they are "supposed to," but if I could do it all over I wouldn't change a thing. I loved our wedding, and I love the fact that even though I wasn't showing yet, Mikenna Faith was with us on our wedding day.

Fast forward to today... we have a house, an amazing baby girl, and a beautiful family. I love our little family. We aren't perfect, we fight and we have our ups and our downs. We do the wrong things sometimes but I know that we are able to get through anything. I never would have imagined 5 1/2 years ago that a boy who kissed me in a Chico bar would turn into my prince charming, and the Daddy I have always hoped for for my children.

Life works in funny ways sometimes and I'm so glad it does.