5 Things I did as a Newlywed that I Should Keep Doing

5 things I did as a newlywed that would benefit my marriage now!

I haven’t been married long. In fact, some might say I’m still a ‘newlywed’.

My husband and I got married Memorial Day weekend, almost two years ago. Sure, we haven’t been married for very long at all, but sometimes I feel like we have checked so many things off the ‘married life’ list that we could have been married much longer!

Since our engagement two years ago, we have:

• Purchased our first home
• Adopted a puppy
• Switched jobs (a couple times)
• Had a baby
• Experienced the death of a parent
• Adopted our second dog (one of my mom’s)
• Moved again and rented out our first home (we moved in with my father)
• Purchased our second home (and hopefully the last one for a while)

The last two years have been a whirlwind of emotional and financial ups and downs. I feel like as a couple we have not struggled terribly in the face of these trials. I owe most of the credit to my insanely level headed husband. When I’m a wreck, he always knows the perfect thing to say to calm me down. There are moments when stress (or hormone) levels are high and feelings get hurt or small arguments are had but we always seem to circle back around to a really good place.

This is just a short list of things that I did when we first got married (and before the baby came) that I would like to encourage myself to pick back up. I may not be the best wife but I strive to be someone that my husband is happy to come home to in the evenings!

     1. Cook fun and interesting things for him after work

I used to make all sorts of cool dishes when we first moved in together. I loved getting on Pinterest and just diving into a new recipe. Complete with lemonade and sometimes even dessert! I have let my son become my excuse for not spending as much time in the kitchen. I can no longer make excuses because my son can now help with the food preparation!

2.   Make his lunches

I used to be really good about making my husband lunch for work every day. Lately I have fallen off the wagon and he is coming home more to eat. I love it when he does but it’s a 20 minute drive so not only would making his lunches be a thoughtful way to show I love him, it would save gas!

3.     Write little love notes to put with his lunch

This might seem silly to some people but I used to write little notes to slip into his lunch every day. Just to wish him a good day, tell him I love him, apologize for saying something stupid, or to thank him for everything he does. I know this meant a lot to him because to this day he has stashed all the notes I’ve ever written to him in his desk drawer!

4.     Go on more dates

Having a toddler and minimal family around doesn’t make it easy to get out of the house together. Pair that with having two homes and always feeling like there isn’t quite enough money to get through the month. We really don’t do enough just the two of us. I want to take back date night and just get out of the house. Even if it’s just to go for a walk or have a picnic somewhere!

5.   Hold hands in the car

This is another simple thing that is an easy fix if you are intentional about it. We used to hold hands all the time, and especially in the car. Over time we have become too distracted with our phones or our busy toddler to even think about hand holding.

I love my husband so much and I want him to be sure of that. Not just from my words but my actions. How are you intentional in your marriage on a day to day basis?