Dear Batman

Dear Batman,

We have just spent an incredible weekend together, all of us, and I am once again reminded of all the reasons I love you. I can’t bring myself to say those words to you yet, even though that means I bite my tongue repeatedly, holding back the urge to shout it for everyone to hear, I love you. I wish I could say what you’re not ready to hear, and I wish you would say what I’m dying to hear.

So I’ll tell you here instead.

I love you. I love the way you give 100% of yourself to those you love and care about. I love that you step up and do what needs to be done. I love that you give until there is nothing left to give and you find more.

I love that you get me. I love that you now recognize when I’m in a funk and you ask me about it. I love that you call me a liar when I tell you I’m fine, when I’m really not. I love that you let me know it’s ok to talk about it but you don’t push me to do that until I’m ready.

I love that you want me. I love that you want us. I love that our time with the kids is just as important and precious to you as our time alone. I love that you make sure there is an equal balance of both.

I love that when we are all together we can function as a family. I love that when we met people on the lake this weekend, and they assumed we were ‘a family’ you didn’t correct them, because in fact, we are a family. I love that when people assume I’m your wife, you don’t correct them.

I love that when I lost my Christmas ring in the lake this weekend and I cried and cried because it mattered and it was gone. You turned to boat over to Scooter, sat beside me, hugged me and told me “It can be replaced and this time it will be bigger and better. Dad has replaced 5 rings for mom.” When I asked you “Are you really going to buy me 4 more?” you answered “If you’re a good girl”.

I love that my heart aches with the weight of all I feel for you, the overwhelming rush of love and pride that I feel when I watch you. I love watching how competent you are at so many things. I love that you take care of those you care about, and I love that we are a part of that group of people.

I love that it is important to you that we spend time together, important enough for you to go to bat for me with your mom. You have had to work very hard to get me back into that house over night, and allowing me and the kids to sleep there last night was the most wonderful thing you could have done.

I love that when I sleep next to you, you curl into me and snuggle close when I wrap my arms around you. I love that when I move in the night, you reach for me and make sure I’m ok.

I love that when we took your kids shopping the other night, you put Princess in the cart, asked Scooter to push her, and then reached for my hand and held it as we finished shopping. I love that you know the simple act of buying ice cream for me is the simplest and yet most touching thing you can do for me. I love that every day we function more and more as a family.

I love that when I’m watching television with your father, you will come over to the couch and lay your head on my lap. I love that you’re not afraid to express that intimacy in front of your parents.

I love that I know that I am loved beyond measure by you, even when your head won’t allow your mouth to put into words all that your heart tells my heart.