To My Stephen on his Birthday

Look at that Stud. 

Hot.

Stephen is 26 today,

which means, 

yes,

I am with a younger man.

Winky face.

Sometimes I'll catch myself just staring at him,

all swoony,

getting those familiar butterflies that I thought disappeared after 6 months of dating.

Stephen is the type of person that really listens when you talk...

you can tell that he cares about what you have to say.

I always knew this and loved this about him,

but then in the USA my mom and her friends started telling me the same thing.

They felt heard,

like they mattered,

and I realized he doesn't just listen to me,

but to everyone.

His heart is that big that everyone can fit into it,

(if you are lucky, because he is also very selective about the company he keeps).

I love listening to his stories,

even when he tells the same ones over and over again

(which happens a lot)

he goes into so much detail and gets so excited to share his tale.

His accent gets broader,

his eyes light up,

and he often cracks himself up.

I love how he calls me Pet,
cares about cards and letters,
and how he fits in so effortlessly with my family.
My grandmother even sent him a birthday card and gift.
She has never done that for anyone I have been with before,
it said "Grandson" on it,
and I just about melted.

We love spending every moment together,

we enjoy being around each other.

We are our happiest when it is just him and I,

watching Survivor,

late night snacking in bed,

and talking.

The way I feel about him is just too hard to describe,
like trying to fit the ocean into a plastic cup.

I am just so lucky...
so very very lucky.

Happy Birthday my love.