Today Matt and I are celebrating being married for 100 days. Like anyone, our lives can get pretty mundane, crazy, hard, you name it, so we like to find things to celebrate. Marriage is wonderful, but it also brings challenges! Today I’m sharing some of the things I’ve learned in the past 100 days!

1. It’s a lot more normal than I imagined

I think I pictured marriage as a continuation of dating. I knew it would be hard sometimes, but I thought for the most part it would be constant butterflies in your tummy when you’re together. Yes, there are still butterflies, but for the most part marriage is pretty…normal. We go to work, do chores, watch Netflix, eat together, snuggle, etc. I guess I thought I would suddenly change into a new married version of myself, but no, we’re still the same, and life is pretty normal.

2. My selfishness runs deeper than I knew

Everyone says that being married shows you how selfish you are, so I felt prepared to deal with my selfishness. But what I didn’t realize is just how deep seeded my selfishness was. I mean, it’s constant. I can’t hide from it, and I can’t hide it from Matt. There’s nowhere to hide in marriage.

3. There’s a lot of stuff I never thanked Mom for because I didn’t know she did it

“What do you mean I have to clean the knobs on my stovetop?” “Why does this get so dirty?!” “How do I get rid of fireants?!” “WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SPIDERS?!” And did you know that there’s a little nob in the dishwasher that you have to fill with vinegar or some kind of cleaning solution every now and then? I never even noticed it was there! Oh yeah, and don’t even get me started on laundry. Being responsible for my own household makes me in awe of my mother day after day.

4. Dates are still (if not more) important

We still have to plan dates and having fun together. The normalcy of marriage can go on and on, and getting out and enjoying being together is so important to keep your marriage healthy! I think I thought dating would be easier after marriage, but it’s actually harder! It’s easier to stay home and do our own thing while still being in the same room. It’s easier to let the daily grind of life take its toll. Date night is so important and I love that my husband knows when I need one and goes out of his way to make it special!

5. I can have a full belly laugh at 2AM

I did not know my husband was so funny! His sense of humor attracted me early on, but I think he gets funnier every day! And it’s nonstop! Night and day, he’s constantly making me laugh, and I love it!

6. I like to cook

This one might just be the biggest shock to me! Before being married and moving out of my parents house, I only cooked one complete meal from start to finish by myself. I just never tried it! I thought I was going to be terrible at cooking or hate it. But I actually really enjoy it! I’ve found that I don’t rely on recipes as much as I thought I would, and my food actually isn’t terrible! I just hope this trend continues!

7. Waking up each morning with the love of your life beside you never gets old

It’s true. I am so grateful for our mornings together. It’s one of my favorite things about being married. I love that we don’t have to part ways at the end of the night. I love waking up with him by my side.

Marriage is the most wonderful, most beautiful, and hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I am so thankful that I get to spend my life with such a sweet man and learn how to love him better every day. Here’s to the next 100 days!