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Sunday, May 1

one year anniversary

Do you remember how I used to blog like crazy over my every month-a-versary with Niklaas? I have a secret. I've been holding out on you and refraining from being excited about them every single month in preparation for today when I could get excited. Really excited. Today is ONE YEAR. Niklaas and I have officially dated for a whole year! Wa-oh!

One Year:
It's weird. Thinking of us then, me then, and him then. Us then was nothing. Me then was insecure and unhappy and desperate to get out of Moscow. Him then was the most adorable boy I'd ever met. Us then were just best friends. Me then had the biggest crush ever on a boy I didn't think knew I existed. Him then played Rock Band for hours with me in my basement, texted me every single second of every day, endured exchange students with me for six weeks, and all together filled the void of something I didn't even know was missing. Me then didn't believe in relationships. Him then was in one. After a year, I can say with certainty, I believe in them.
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The past year has been funny. While I had high hopes, I had almost no expectations. If it makes any sense, I think it's crazy that it has been a year but it's not crazy that we are have reached this point. From day one, Niklaas has been the boy I didn't have a choice but to want to change my relationship status on facebook with. The boy who was the single exception. I had a crush on him before I even liked him. I had a crush on him when I liked someone else. I have a crush on him today. He's been my true best friend. We are first and foremost best friends. That's what came first. And then came his other relationship. And then the ending of it. And then came me. And then came summer and the best summer ever. Taking pictures every day, watching countless movies, spending way too much money on gas driving every where, me getting my wisdom teeth out, my graduation... it was the summer of us just being "together together" as a real couple every day as opposed to being together as best friends every day. It was carefree and easy and fun.

Then I left for Missoula. Which, in retrospect is kind of mind boggling that we even tried long distance after his previous experience. I mean, really. Two long distance relationships in a row? But, in a way, it was when we really got to know each other in the way that we know each other now. Being in a long distance relationship...you kind of have to be really close to be able to stick it out. It can't be because you are too scared to end what's great before it gets worse. It can't be because you feel obligated to the other person to stick it out.It has to be because you just want to. It's really that simple. You have to want to go weeks without seeing each other. You have to want to get by on text messages. You have to want to not know what they're doing all the time and letting that go. It took me months to figure it out. It took being a baby and whining and crying and moaning about the fact that we couldn't have the previous summer. I don't know when that changed, but it did. I put on my big girl panties and finally got it. If I learned anything about long distance over the past year, I realized that being apart doesn't mean not being together, it means being together but not living in the same place. Sounds simple, but I agonized about it. Not having the same friends, not knowing what was going on all the time. I have this theory that somewhere down the line, we just fell together on the same page. Probably during spring semester, after winter break. We weren't all over the place, missing each other at different times and being grumpy at different times. It just became understood that being together was the luxury, and it wasn't necessarily a necessity. It was an inconvenience and while it was hard and I missed him terribly... I could get by seeing him once a month, at most. And I wanted it.

I think my favorite part of all of it is the fact that in a way, we've grown up together. And while it would have been perfectly normal and even understandable to grow apart as we grew up in the past year, we didn't. We grew individually but together and that, I think, is so beautiful. I went into this being as realistic as possible and open to the idea that it could just not work out. I went into it expecting failure. I went into it saying that if we had to end it, I'd be alright with it and we'd be able to move on as friends. But we actually made it. I would not have believed you one year ago today that we'd survive a year in possibly the most life-transitioning time of our lives, but I'm happy we did. No matter what happens in the future as we grow up even more (there's still a lot left to do), I have loved these twelve months. 

I take it back. My favorite part isn't all of that. Nope. My favorite part about us and this year is that even if we aren't "destined" to be together and even if we aren't soul mates, I have genuinely adored being his girlfriend and I have loved having a true best friend in every sense of the word for a year. It's been fun. It's been a dream come true. It's proved to me that waiting for something great to come along is worth it and being yourself is actually the best dating tactic you have.  And I have no idea what's in store for us later, but this is all something I can't and will never forget.

i've had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
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nik y yo
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swimming
beach
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(look where Niklaas' hands are. Naughty.)
country maggie nik 019
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this has been a hard year.
but it's easily been the most rewarding year of my life.
he's my boy with the bread.
my ron.
my ross.
my walle.


i <3 being his.

39 comments:

Maggie Shirley said...

Congratulations! I wish you both many more years! :) All of these pictures were precious. The last one is my favorite.

JazmineKariss said...

Gorgeous story and photos!
Congrats on your one year, you two look great together :)
-Jaz
http://www.fluffyfashioncents.blogspot.com

thegirlhassparke said...

Congrats, you guys are gorgeous!!

Kuleigh said...

Congrats! I love everything you said about long distance. My boyfriend and I dated long distance for two school years and are about to have to resort to it again! Best wishes for the next year!

Charlotte Cantillon (Crowley) said...

this is so inspiring maggie.
my boyfriend and i have been dating for 3 months and in a couple of weeks I have to go back to England. I'm dreading it because I am completely crazy about him and know need to work through this.
I only have one year of uni left and plan on moving out here as soon as I graduate but it's hard and it's scary. We're going to be apart for a year, across the ocean, and if we do see each other it'll be once every 5 months.
Right now I'm trying to enjoy every minute I have with him, but it's hard. But I know so many couples who have managed it, I really hope we can.
You two are adorable. I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world.

Charlotte xxx

Lisa (hello, suburbia) said...

Congrats! I wish you two the best and an infinity and beyond! All these pictures are sooo cute! Niklaas' t-rex face in the majority of the pictures crack me up!

Unknown said...

EEEEEEPPPP You two are absolutely adorable!!!! Wish you both more awesome years together!!!

Louise said...

I love what you said about how even if you don't end up together for the rest of your lives, you'll always be grateful for the relationship. That is so true! It already is a successful relationship, and that's a great gift. I also applaud your friendship-- my husband and I started out as best buddies (I was actually in love with someone else at the time!) and we have depended on our friendship when times get tough. Congratulations, dear Maggie!

Amber Schmidt said...

I love everything you've said in this, and it's amazing for a virtual-stranger to be able to look in on a relationship that I don't really know anything about and say 'whoa, that's real'. Because it is.

Love (and I'm not even qualified to say anything on the matter) is having the strength to be apart, especially when you long to be together, to withstand insecurities, jealousy, and just.. I applaud you two. You are best friends, and like you said, even if you aren't soul mates, you've had amazing memories and your heart is better for it.

xoxoxoxoxo

Happy Anniversary Lovers. <3

kate maggie said...

Oh my goodness!! I am so excited for you two. Congratulations! I love making it to the 'year' point - so so special. You two are so cute and adorable together. Heres to many years to come! My cup to you! xoxo

Unknown said...

awwww happy one year anniversary! doesnt it feel great to be with your best friend and have them to lean on for anything?

<3 steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons

Unknown said...

Aw congrats!
My boyfriend and I celebrated our one year last month so I know how exciting it is to have made it this far!
I hope you both have a special day together!

:)
xx

Jazzy E (Hivenn) said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ! x hivenn

Natalie said...

Oh man, so many congratulations are in order! It sounds like your past year together has been absolutely fantastic, and I wish you two the best of luck for your future together. :) All of the pictures had me squeeing in delight at your general adorableness.

Unknown said...

Oh goodness, you two are too cute! This is the sweetest thing I've read all week! I'm so happy that you're so happy :)

Hailey Nichelle said...

AWE! CONGRATULATIONS! I remember when I had my one year anniv. in feb. Its so exciting! P.S. i LOVE your blog :)


xoxo
-H.

www.hailoblog.blogspot.com

gee said...

you two are so cute!
so happy for you..
Happy 1 year Anniversary!
xoox

Trou, .ma petite cherie said...

Congratulations! You two make such a cute couple. ^__^

Alex said...

Oh Maggie, you two are so utterly adorable. I think it says an awful lot about how strong you both are that you've got to this stage. Long distance is never easy, but especially when you think of all the added upheaval with you away at college.

Here's wishing you two a lifetime of happiness together.

Alex said...

argh, why is this so insanely beautiful? I just kept reading over and over and over and I couldn't help but smile all the time! I love what you have and I am happy that you have him in your life. Especially now, even though most people say you shouldn't start college while being in a relationship. I think that's totally false and you can prove all those skeptic people wrong :)! What you guys have is so beautiful and so unique, you should enjoy every single moment of it, whether you're meant to be together forever or not. It's just is what it is. Love. Congratulations :)!

Love,
Alex

Roma is Love said...

I'm so happy for you maggey!!!! :) i could tell from your pictures that you really do adore one another!!! Cherish each moment!! :)

Roma is Love said...

I'm so happy for you maggey!!!! :) i could tell from your pictures that you really do adore one another!!! Cherish each moment!! :)

Emma said...

naww happy anniversary, you look so happy and i wish you lots of more happy times in the future xo

kylee said...

this was all sorts of adorable.

Casey Lewis said...

this might be the cutest post i've ever seen. EVER.

Jen Hsieh said...

I just about died when I got to that last picture. You two are adorable. Congratulations on the one year!

dear winsome said...

woohoo! i love these photos..you guys are adorable together and he is so cute! the best part is growing up together..luke and i met when i was 20 and i can't believe we've been together almost 5 years!


Krystle
http://dearwinsome.blogspot.com/

Sick by Trend said...

congrats!!! :D very very beautiful pictures!! :D

xx

www.sickbytrend.com

Jenny said...

CONGRATULATIONS! One year is quite a long time. And from what you shared, it looks like it has been quite a fun and fulfilling year with him. Here's to another year! xx

Catherine said...

Congrats!

I'm still anti-relationships after being with the same guy for over a year... though we've hit bumps and whatnot. This was so cute, but not in an obnoxious way whatsoever. You two are adorable together.

xox

Becky said...

Aww yayyy! I am beyond happy for you guys! It is always so exciting to have that one best friend in your life that you can share absolutely everything with. :)

P.S. I tagged you in a little blog activity in case you would like to participate! Check it out here http://sunflowercitygirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/10-things-i-like.html
:)

Margaret said...

Seeing you so happy with Niklaas makes me smile. You seem to be a very strong couple. It makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy :D

noone said...

congrats and such sweet pictures! may you have many many more years to come :)

Unknown said...

<3 congrats my dear! you two are adorable.

xoxo

Two Happy Hearts said...

congratulations! you two are adorable together. you really look like best friends who just LOVE being around each other.

happy one year! hip hip HOORAY!
xoxo

Heather said...

Eep! Congrats on the one year, you two are absolutely adorable! These pictures are the cutest :)

Julie Iliana said...

oh maggeygrace! I've missed your blog! and to come see such a cute post (well, they all are but this one is cuter because it's got tons of pictures with you and your boy ♥) happy one year dear! you guys take the most amazing pictures together :) I need to learn that from you, to let go and have fun. the last picture is beautiful!

congrats again dear! and I can't wait to see the cute posts you'll have when you guys make 2, 10, 30+ years ;)

X

Ebony Arwen said...

:) This makes me unbelievably happy Mags. You guys are perfect together. I love your attitude with enjoying here and now and not thinking too far ahead. I really hope your love lasts forever.

Leah said...

You're so damn cute both of you ! Love your smile.

http://hapiness-love-music.blogspot.com