Dating as a Married Couple

I cannot believe that I'm doing this, but here goes my blogging debut.

This past Monday, Nov. 3, Matt and I hit 6 months of marriage. We were both a bit amazed by how fast it's gone by, but then again, it's hard to believe that we've been together for 7 1/2 years already! In reminiscing over the months and years, we remembered the weekend visits with each other - driving hours to be in the same state, and then cramming in a bunch of dates and activities thought up and planned during the intervening weeks while we were apart. We remembered the transformation that took place once I moved down to North Carolina in August 2006 - suddenly, the drives were merely minutes instead of hours to see one another. Without the distance, we found a new freedom in how we spent our time together. Things that once felt like a waste of time during our few, precious weekend visits were now wonderful, brand new ways to incorporate each other into our daily lives. When it used to be a phone conversation after dinner, or a quick email between classes, it could now be a conversation over coffee at Caribou or going for a walk (or lately, a run) together after work. Those first months of living in the same state was an amazing time for us - both as individuals, and as a couple.



[You all know the rest of the story! Reader's Digest version: we were engaged on December 30, 2006, bought our house on March 30, 2007, adopted Rockie and Rena on September 7, 2007, and were married on May 3, 2008!]



We realize though that while we love our relationship's transition into living together and being married, we've kinda forgotten to keep dating (each other, i mean). So we planned this past Wednesday as a date night. A date just like we used to all the time. We wanted to try someplace new. Well, I thought I was ahead of the game when I compiled my little list of a few places near us. I thought I would surprise him on Wednesday, let him pick whatever genre of food he wanted. Little did I know, he had it taken care of already! He messages me at work:

Matt: are you free for dinner tomorrow night at 7?

i hope so

don't make plans
me: you are so cute!
i'll have to check my calendar though

So it turns out I was free that night. Upon hearing rave reviews from Jason and Amber about this French restaurant near us, Matt had made reservations.

Savoy was amazing. We ended up doing the Chef's tasting menu which was a seven course dinner complete with wine pairings. (I could go on and on about the food, but I'm feeling a little self-conscious about the length of this post. I feel it is teetering towards a novela...)

This was really a special treat for us. For one thing, we have never spent so much on a meal together. Ever. (For those of you, *cough* Mike :o) *cough,* who know a little about our budget/financial goals, I should also note that we were also celebrating our early payoff my new Mazda3). Most importantly though, this was a wonderful return to dating. To remember and appreciate the way our relationship started, and grew, over our seven and a half years together. And even though we've been on more dates than I could count, dates with Matt can still make my pulse quicken.