belated valentine

The husband, too often, is trumped by sons and daughters. Conversation is reduced to tokens of business such as

Hello. We got another power bill and did you remember to pick up more milk and I forgot to take out the recycling again and that cheese isn’t supposed to be blue and watch out, that’s a poopy sock. Goodnight.

Bleary-eyed we stagger through parenthood, aware of each other only peripherally. In front of the camera he exists as child-carrier, slide-catcher and armpit-tickler, captured in bits and pieces alongside headlining cereal-splattered cheeks and tricycle prowess.

I’m still in a state of shock that, with a baby and a toddler in the house, a marriage with this man takes effort—effort in the way of just remembering to just be with each other and laugh, and talk, and look at each other straight in the eyes, the way we used to.

This photo is who Justin was, before. May I be so bold? RAWR.

And after? There is none yet. Not of this classic magnitude. But there will be. Post-Valentine, I’m determined: a portrait of him as himself, rather than as child-prop.

Want to join me?

Peel your camera away from the kids. Introduce us to yours, and tell us about him (or her)—the before, or the after—just your partner, no one else. Share a picture of what made (and makes) you love: a stance, a grin. Or the way he wraps his hand around the paddle of a canoe, an extension of his arm, as natural as if he were born to this place.

Comments

[heidi]

Wow. It's amazing to see so many different people through the eyes (or lenses, as the case may be) of those who adores them. Such beautiful submissions so far!

For my part, here's a shot of my wonderful husband taken during a vacation in Germany last year. The best part of this photo is that I was (unfortunately but admittedly) behaving like a brat the entire afternoon and he still looked at me like this. Just love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hstender/2057260883/

[Jacki]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23899543@N08/2276256454/

Beautiful post. This is my best friend, the one that almost got away. Thank God for second chances...

[Kate C.]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katherinec/2145198934/

My husband. This year's Valentine's Day had us celebrating our 8 year "date-a-versary". He'd tell he looks fat but I think he looks just as hot as he did on our first date.

[toyfoto]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyfoto/114267354/

at least he keeps me laughing ... when i'm not scratching my head.

[Jenna Nelson]

Here's a shot of my man. He carries our whole world on his shoulders...sometimes even one of the cats.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22555250@N05/2275528393/

[corey (giggletwig)]

This photo was taken tonight, when we got home from work. My husband doesn't especially like to have his picture taken, but he humors me. I have to act like a dork to get him to smile, though. He has the most beautiful eyes, and you can see the kindness shine through his eyes and smile.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/2275608939/

[Karen G]

We aren't married, don't have any kids yet. We don't even live together. I do have quite a lot of pictures of just him. Still I don't have many of him where he feels best. That's why I love this photo. Even though you don't see much, it says a lot about him.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2276354821/

[Beth]

We've learned that doing what makes us "ME" helps keep "US" stronger. What a FUN FUN topic!!

http://flickr.com/photos/james-town/2277210993/

[aubrey]

wow kate, i'm giving a big RAWR for your man too. he's a looker.
here's my hubby...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandofhooligans/2278340195/

[DanaB]

What a wonderful post, great idea and stellar shot :)

So many great posts that followed!


~~
http://www.ourwindowswideopen.wordpress.com

[Karen Walrond]

Was hoping to get an opportunity to take a shot of my husband this week, but it didn't happen. So instead, I'll share one that I took a couple of years ago:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chookooloonks/213610879/sizes/o/in/set-72157594228144569/

Rawr, indeed.

[becky]

I'm a little late to the game, but I'll still play.

http://flickr.com/photos/lolagoetz/60313841/

My hubby, and an awesome father to our 3-month-old boy.

[whoorl]

Oh, I just love this post.

This was before our little guy came along; in fact, it was taken a couple of weeks before finding out I was pregnant. I love this photo because it shows him doing what he does best, listening to others.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoorl/58082761/

[Lori Seaborg]

http://loriseaborg.com/2008/02/06/shots-my-tough-guy/

[kat]

here's the boyfriend: http://www.flickr.com/photos/k_a_t/390947986/in/set-72157600041970696/

this was taken after a lovely valentines day - surprise dinner and flowers by said rockstar boyfriend. love!

[erin]

kate.

i'm way late on this one. v day is long gone, but this resonated with me tonight.

so thank you.

http://cahoonclan.blogspot.com/2007/10/this-one-goes-out-to-one-i-love.html

even though i've got a lot more pics of the man that is mine, my flickr is sadly outdated and this is the earliest thing that i've got posted on this world of the internets.

again...thank you.

[Martina32Dalton]

freelance writer