Birthday Perfection

My birthday isn't until Sunday, but my amazing boyfriend decided to surprise me early with his present. While watching Ellen on the couch yesterday, I got a phone call from Wheat telling me he was coming home early and to put on the dress I had been saving for a special night. Naturally, I was excited.

Twenty minutes later, he walked in the door with a dozen roses and I melted onto the floor.

I didn't have much time to enjoy the roses, though, because he rushed me out the door and into the car to make our dinner reservation on time. We drove downtown and, much to my surprise, our dinner reservation was at St. Elmo Steakhouse, easily the most famous and probably most expensive restaurant in Indianapolis.

The dinner surpassed my expectations. I had the filet mignon and garlic mashed potatoes. Wheat had the New York strip steak and french fries. Because it was my birthday, they gave me free dessert and I chose the white chocolate bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. We also tried the famous cocktail sauce, which has a pretty strong horseradish kick to it. All of the delicious food was topped off with big band and crooner music constantly being piped through the restaurant speakers. In other words, it was perfect.

Originally, we had planned to see a movie that night, so I was under the impression we would head straight to the theater after dinner. But sometime between the steak and the bread pudding, Wheat told me he didn't feel like seeing the movie. Dismayed, I asked why. He responded, "Because I think I'd rather do this" as he pulled tickets to Wicked out of his jacket pocket.

Again, I melted...if 'melted' is code for 'crying in public.'

After I embarrassed us both with my flash photography, we left dinner and headed straight to the Murat for the play. Our seats were great and, like last time I saw it, the show was absolutely amazing. I may or may not have cried during "Defying Gravity." Spoiler alert: I did.

As we ran walked to the car in the snow, I truly felt like a princess. Not because Wheat planned this wonderful, elaborate surprise or because he spent way more than he should have on me. I felt like a princess because this is how he makes me feel every single day. Between random texts telling me he believes in me, holding my hand on the couch while we watch TV, or how intently he listens to me when I need to talk, Wheat always makes me feel so loved, valued, and supported.

Although last night was perfect, it was just one night in a year of perfect nights I've spent with him...and the best gift of all is that he'll make me feel just as special tonight, tomorrow night, and every other night this year.

I love you, Wheat.