[caption id="attachment_671" align="aligncenter" width="267" caption="Thank you to Meg of Rodeo & Co. for capturing my own wedding for me!"] [/caption]

If you had asked me five years ago if someday I would join the wedding "industry", I likely would have told you it would be fun, but likely not. Five years ago yesterday, I was the one walking down the aisle to marry the *cue sappy music* man of my dreams. We were both recent college graduates and I had been teaching classic black & white darkroom photography for over a year. I loved photography, but my subjects were flowers and mountains. Things that didn't move. But, like many of my brides have said, when the wedding planning is over, you are stuck asking "Now what?" Fortunately, one thing led to another (read my story here if you haven't already) and here I am.

Now, why am I bringing all this up when the title to this post is what it is?

Simply because if it weren't for my insanely supportive husband, my life would not be a fraction as amazing as it is today. He has stood by me during our first couple years of marriage when I was a crazy, out of my mind new teacher. Then, when I was just starting up Suzanne Simmons Photography, he had the most amazing faith in me and encouraged me to keep pushing myself (and told me to buy an even better camera than I had planned to since he knew I had the skills). He listened to me when I was going crazy trying to complete my Master's degree, in less than two years, while shooting over twenty weddings a year and teaching full time. He has been my rock. I think I would be in the nut house by now if it weren't for him.

For those that know us and how crazy we tend to be, it would likely not surprise you that we celebrated our five year anniversary yesterday at 12:05AM. Next to us was our sleeping baby girl, who is almost three months old. On the other side was our first "baby", Digby, who we adopted four years ago this month. We were both exhausted. I likely still had bits of baby spit up in my hair (gross, I know). And yet it could not have been a more perfect way for us to celebrate how far we have come together. We reminisced about what it was like for us five years ago. The nerves, the tears, the laughter, the smiles.... it feels like yesterday.

We spent the day away from each other. Alan had to work and I was off to Danielle & Joe's incredible wedding (YAY anniversary buddies!!). Remembering how far we've come together in just the first five years, I'm excited to see what we are blessed with as we approach the next big anniversary. I dare say it has a tough fight to beat this first five which was filled with the wedding, building our house, adopting our first "baby", earning degrees, starting our careers.... it has absolutely flown by. But I dare say, with watching Bri for just the first three months, it is going to be filled with tons more milestones for us all.

Happy 5th anniversary, Alan! My love for you grows by the second. Thank you for being my rock and voice of reason. xoxo, Wifey

[caption id="attachment_670" align="aligncenter" width="266" caption="Alan's gift to me was this ring with an emerald, which is Bri's birth stone."] [/caption]