In Laws

Like most new girlfriends I was ridiculously nervous to meet my husbands parents when we first started seeing each other.

I think it took us a couple of years of dating before I actually did, and the initial meeting was brief and informal. It was more like me waving to Matt's mom from the car while she stood on the porch after he stopped by to borrow something from their house. I don't even remember the first time I met his dad.

When you marry someone, no matter how crazy or screwed up their family is, you're stuck with them for the rest of your life (or at least as long as you're married to that person for). It's pretty much a gamble, a crap shoot, with what you're going to get as far as in laws go.

I mean, you assume since your spouse is so awesome and accepting that the people who raised them have got to be equally as cool but that definitely isn't always the case.

I can say without any ass kissing or sugar coating that my in laws are incredible people and I love them very much.

It took some time to get comfortable around them, sure. Once I realized they weren't judging me on my occupation, or cooking skills, or background, or education I loosened up. I realized quickly that they accepted me the way I was, flaws and all, just for making their son happy.

We all grew closer and closer from life events: Matt needing major surgery from a collapsed lung, us getting engaged, me getting pregnant and then finally the birth of their first grandchild.

It might seem strange or awkward to some people, but Matt and I live two blocks away from his parents. That's just the way it worked out when he bought the house we lived in before him and I ever met and I think it's absolutely perfect.

Since Matt's mom works from home, and his dad is a landlord who pretty much makes his own schedule  I often walk down to their house in the middle of the day, just to say hi and spend some time over there. Natalie loves them so much and their house is a big playground to her. She gets spoiled with affection and sweets too, of course.

They are such good grandparents. So loving, so attentive, so patient, so kind. I couldn't have asked for a better family for her or myself.

They help Matt and I out when we need it most too. Financially they have more than chipped in for expenses like our wedding and home projects, but more importantly they have been an emotional  backbone for us.

My mother in law has hugged me through tears, reassured me when I felt like a shitty mother. She's come over to my house when Natalie was sick because I had no clue what to do. She made my veil for our wedding, the bedding for the nursery. She is always there when I need advice and I feel like I can talk to her about anything.

My father in law, he adores Natalie more than I ever imagined possible and she has him wrapped around her tiny little finger. In the summer time, almost every single day he would call me and say, "What's Natalie doing?" meaning, is Natalie free to go on a bike ride? He would strap her to his chest in a baby carrier and take her around the neighborhood on his bicycle.

He's who Matt and I come to when we need something like a leaky pipe or car part fixed. He built our back deck, helped baby proof the house by bolting large furniture to the ground. He's the kind of guy who'll slip me a $20 dollar bill when I ask him if he'll babysit while I go get my hair cut, and then smile and say, "Have lunch on me!"

I can't say enough nice things about my in laws. Everything I mentioned in here is just the tip of the iceberg, you have no idea what a tremendous help they have been in our lives. Of course I would love them all the same without all the help. They truly are such kind people and I am so glad Natalie has them as grandparents. I am so glad I have them as in laws and Matt is so thankful to have them as parents.

We are beyond blessed.

Natalie's first Christmas, three weeks old. 

About two months old. We couldn't find scratch mittens so we used Redskins socks instead. 

Bike ride, at six months. 

Getting tickled, at ten months. 

Second Christmas, at twelve months.