Randy and I met in November 2001 via a mutual friend while commuting to Chicago on the South Shore for work. I worked at The Field Museum and Randy worked at CDW. We had our first official date on December 21, 2001 and got married on February 14, 2009.

During our time together, I've learned Randy is one of the most thoughtful and generous people around. He knows what I like and has really good taste when it comes to buying gifts ... and not just for me, but everybody.

Before Randy proposed, he spent 15 hours trying to pick out the perfect engagement ring for me ... and it was perfect. I've heard stories where guys buy "temporary" engagement rings so their girlfriends can pick something out later or they just tell their girlfriends to go pick out something before they propose. What surprise is there in that? I like having something that Randy picked out from the heart. In fact, he has tried to get me to upgrade my ring, but I refuse because I like it just the way it is.

When I was pregnant, Randy would automatically stock the refrigerator with foods that I craved. When he noticed I was running low on my Bio Oil for stretch marks, he would pick me up some. He also bought me a pregnancy outfit that brought me a lot of compliments as well as a Vera Bradley hospital overnight bag and warm socks.

And who could forget the beautiful nursery he put together for Lydia. I offered no input and I've had some women tell me they couldn't even get their husbands to pick up a paint brush. Randy also did all the research when it came to buying major baby items such as the stroller and car seat. In fact, he got a red car seat because it is my favorite color and matches my car. He also went on Mommy blogs to chat up the ladies on current baby trends. Furthermore, after Lydia was born, he gave me a nice Tag Heuer watch as "push" gift ... a type of present I never heard of ... to one day pass down to her.

I just find all of this amazing because he has no problem going out in public wearing a shirt with holes in it. Plus, people are sometimes intimidated by Randy because of his size but to those he loves, he is one big softy. You should hear him talking to Lydia. It is so cute when he says, "Hey good lookin', where have you been all my life?" or "When mommy goes to work, I'm going to buy you diamonds."

But Lydia and I are not the only lucky ladies. Another great example of Randy's thoughtfulness is what he recently did for our niece Izzy. For Valentine's Day, we bought Izzy one of those dancing Cupigs from Hallmark. It worked when we gave it to her, but then after a few dances it stopped. We changed the batteries and it still did not work. Poor Izzy was really bothered by this.

The very next day we were at the Hallmark store looking for a new one. As I sat in the truck waiting for Randy, he walked out with a three-foot version of the pig. I laughed hysterically at him. He got the big version because the little one was sold out at every Hallmark store in the area. Izzy loved the pig that was just as tall as her, but she wanted it to dance (only the little one danced). So she asked Uncle Randy to do surgery on the little one. When Randy could not fix it, he scoured the Internet looking for one and got lucky ... but it came at an extremely marked up price.

So when you consider the big pig and the pig bought off the Internet, Izzy's original $15.95 Valentine's Day present ended up costing almost $200. But that did not matter to Randy because Izzy is one of "his girls" and he wasn't about to let her be disappointed. We gave her the new pig today and she was so excited. In fact, as I am writing this blog, Jody texted Randy to say Izzy is dancing with her pig.

I am lucky to have such a great man for a husband, and Lydia is lucky to have such a wonderful Dad. And it is not just about the gifts he buys, Randy keeps me grounded. He is the calm to my sometimes over reactive personality and much more. Plus, he has been amazing with Lydia. While some guys are hands off with their kids, he has been all in. He is basically putty in Lydia's hands. Furthermore, he does everything to make sure I get some good sleep. I hope he knows how much I appreciate and love him.