Top Ten: Crush on you.

How did you know if I never told?

You found out--I've got a crush on you

No more charades

 My heart's been displayed

You found out -- I've got a crush on you!

~ from The Jets "Crush on You"

____________________________

 Here's a really awesome family fact: My maternal granddad had this sweet nickname for my grandmother that not everyone knows about. I just happen to know because once on my wedding anniversary she told me that Granddaddy used to call her this:

"Reason."

Yes. You read that right. "Reason." As in . . . his "reason for living."

:::swoon:::

Okay. I can't say that the BHE calls me "Reason" -- but he does call me when he says he will and when he's supposed to. So that's reason enough for me to dedicate today's top ten to the BHE!

Man. Is it normal to have a crush on your husband? Because I kind of do. Case in point: We went out to this super awesome outdoor lawn concert last Saturday evening and seriously? I had butterflies in my stomach just from standing next to him and smelling his clean smell. Almost like I was at the eighth grade dance.

Sigh.

So I wrote a little top ten about it. Like to hear it? Here it go!

TOP TEN REASONS WHY I HAVE A CRUSH

ON MY HUSBAND*

* that just might surprise you.

#10  -- He's super swanky.

Did you know? The BHE is a snappy dresser. I'm talking effortless style. He doesn't have a bunch of clothes either. He just believes in owning a few good classic pieces. And especially quality shoes that can be resoled and withstand many years and trends.

Shhhh. Fact: He is a much better dresser than his wife. Much. He has an eye for things and never has to try hard. He has this way of always looking put together even if he's going to CVS to pick up my Allegra-D. Yep. That's just how he rolls.

Don't believe me? Just check out this swanky scarf he's wearing in this photo. How confident in your look do you have to be to pull that off? Seriously? Seriously.

Without fail it goes like this in our house:

Him: "Babe. Check this out. I got this today when I was in the mall getting my shoes shined."


Sidebar: Yes. He gets his shoes shined, which is a whole separate thing.


Me:  "Is that a . . .plaid linen scarf? What are you going to do with that?"


Him: "Wear it around my neck."


Me:  0_0


Him:  "You're tripping. This is hot to death."


Me:  "I'd say you're about to BE hot to death. In that scarf."


Him:  "I got it for the outdoor concert. You really don't like it, babe?"


Me:  "I more don't understand it." 


Him: "You'll see."

And once again, he was right. I saw and yes, was very glad to be his wife that night. Because that questionable scarf looked almost as HOT as he did. And from the scores of sisters that I saw rubbernecking in his direction, I know I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

P.S.  Did I mention that he dresses me QUITE often when we're going out? Uuuhhh, yeah.

#9 --  He's a man of few words.

But the ones he has are sweet ones.

By the way, the BHE is in my phone under "EMERGENCY CONTACT."  That's why you see that at the top. And for the record, he's also in there under "BHE", "Harry," and "I.C.E. -- in case of emergency."

Overkill, I know.

#8  -- He takes his sons to get a haircut at the barber--every single week.

Sure, every week sounds like a lot. But I will give you this quick cultural competency nugget: A whole lot of adult African-American men get their hair cut on a weekly basis. Not unusual at all. At all.

So here's the thing: The BHE feels strongly about boys learning to care about grooming themselves early. He thinks this should be ingrained in them as little boys so that they'll never be sloppy-looking as men. The BHE is meticulous about their pants being all the way up and their clothes and hair being neat -- at least at the beginning of the day. Perhaps some of this is his military background, but honestly? I think this preceded all that. Anywho. I'm not against it AT ALL because I get some free-to-be-you-and-me time every single week while they go to do this. Hellooooo mani-pedi!

Whoops, I mean. It's sooooo important that my sons are learning how to be responsible men from their dad. Yeah, that. Ah hem.

Letting their mama get a sweet power nap on a week day? Bonus.

#7  -- He is a master IRONER.

Yes. The dude believes in knocking back some wrinkles. Sure does. And before you ask--yes. He irons the boys' clothes every single day. Even on the weekends. One exception: Nylon soccer uniforms.

Oh, and one of our earliest new parent arguments? When we were going to a cookout with then three month old Isaiah. And he wanted to iron the one piece jumper before I STRAPPED HIM INTO THE INFANT CARRIER. Uuuuhh, okay.

Perhaps this is also military. But it could be Cleveland. I'm not sure.


#6  --  He always smells like soap. Always.

Soap at Lake Lanier

Soap at trick or treat

Soap on the ocean

Soap. Clean. Always. Wish these pictures were scratch 'n' sniffs.

Look. I don't know how he does it. But he always does. He always smells like soap. It's the most bizarre thing. Even his dirty laundry smells like Lever 2000 plus a hint of outdoors. But that musty armpit smell? Never.

Not. Even. Kidding.

Do you know how much pressure it is to do laundry for someone whose laundry you can't even smell to check for funkiness? Here is my solution:  If it smells like fabric softener, it's clean. If it smells like soap, it's not.

(The other solution I sometimes employ is just not doing the laundry. Heh.)

#5  --   He buys shoes for me without me being there. And they ALWAYS fit perfectly.

Not. Even. Kidding.

Here are the latest ones. I told him one day that I wanted a "super feminine peep toe in black patent leather. Because peep toes make me happy--especially if they have the perfect amount of peep." Then I explained to him what constitutes peep toe nirvana. He listened to me and. . . .

Voila! 

These perfect peep toes with perfect amount of peepage. Which reminds me. Too much peep makes your toes slide out. Which hurts like the dickens. But these? Perfect peep distribution.

5 points for Gryffindor for real.

(Please note the ironing board in the background.)

#4  --  He's cool, but not too cool for school.

Ever.

#3 -- He tells me I look "hot." Often.

But manages to find different adjectives for other women and for my friends. Even if they look hot, too.

#2  --  Even though he always smells like soap, he's always down for getting himself -- and the kids -- dirty.

he smells like soap here, too.

No smells from those pits. 

Can't you just smell the soap from here?

I wish I had pictures of them at the rodeo last week. They were filthy!

The boys smelled like wild animals. But the BHE smelled like . . .soap.

#1  --  He always roots for me instead of competing with me.

So I never have to shrink in his presence. Or water down who I am. Ever.

And that? That I appreciate that the most. I get to do me and he gets to do him. Full strength. And that's the best. Because being anything other than your authentic self is totally exhausting. Damn, it is.

So there you have it. Ten reasons I'm crushing on Brother Manning aka The BHE. He smells like soap, he's a great dad, he buys me shoes AND tells me I'm hot. It doesn't get any better than that!

*yawn*

That's all I got for tonight, y'all. Night night.

***
Happy Wednesday.

Now playing on my mental iPod. . .and regrettably on yours for the rest of the day. The Jets singing "Crush on You" in full 80's splendor!