Well the day is here. One full year with what feels like a lifetime full of the sweetest memories. I always thought relationships with this much love only existed in the romantic comedies that you always make fun of me for watching. But here we are, a year later, you proved that wrong (even though you claim that those rom-coms give me, and the rest of the female population, false hope — so guess you proved yourself wrong too).

I’ve never felt more at home with someone mentally, physically, emotionally…you are my shelter when I need you. You’ve given me so much in the past year, but what I appreciate most about your love is that sense of comfort and dependence. You are my best friend and I know you will be there through anything, never letting me face it alone.

But you’ve also taught me how to be independent. This is something I truly treasure. Before you came along I longed for the attention of others and hated the thought of ever being alone. But in the past year, you’ve taught me how to make myself happy and prioritize my own needs because I know at the end of the day, with you, I will never be alone.

There is so much I could thank you for, but I’m sure there’s a character limit that will eventually stall my typing. So I will thank you for these things: thank you for being one of the most honest and caring men I know (you rank honorably up there with my dad and poppop); thank you for always encouraging me to eat healthy but allowing me to binge out when junk food is readily available; thank you for sharing your loving family with me and giving me more people to open my heart to — they will always hold a huge place in my heart; thank you for taking me on countless dates; thank you becoming a part of my family and assuring them that their baby girl is always taken care of; thank you for knowing all of my favorite things and always remembering to get me sour patch kids and/or rice pudding; thank you for having manners and reassuring me that chivalry does still exist;  and last but not least, thank you for loving me unconditionally through it all.

You love me when I’m hyper and bouncing off the walls. You love me when I’m hangry and willing to bite your head off at any second. You even love me when I don’t feel like I can love myself.

I’m just completely overwhelmed with awe and joy knowing that I have spent one whole year with an amazing man like you. I look forward to spending many more years with you, making incredible long-lasting memories.

I love you.