The key to managing a house of children as a team is having a healthy, strong and even fun pre-baby relationship. For us, we had nine years together before taking on the responsibility of parenthood. In that time, we did what other young couples do: clubbing, movies, parties, doing stupid things. These memories give us something to smile about when the weight of a stressful day- or week or month or year- drags on our spirits. More than that, these memories remind us that we had our time. The new chapter on our relationship starts with Joshua and on the next page we introduce Elliot. Over the next 18 years or so we'll be writing the next chapter in our relationship. And as we do, we won't forget the original nine years. To make sure of it, we listed the top 50 pre-baby moments. No, I won't list it all here. But here is a sample I don't mind sharing:

1. The scavenger hunt that sent Rusty looking through huge water fountains in downtown Dallas
2. Sitting through the scariest damn movie ever played at the Magnolia Theater from the AFFD
3. Taking kung fu classes together
4. Seeing The Cardigans in concert with Matt Musselman
   
5. Seeing Meat Beat Manifesto in concert, then hearing how people got diarrhea from the bass
6. Seeing The Polyphonic Spree at the last Fry Street Fair held on Fry Street
   
7. Our trip to San Francisco
8. Skydiving- twice
9. Shaving Matt Peck's head drunk
   
10. Upon entering our honeymoon suite: “Where’s the bed?”

I'm not sure what we'll do with our complete list. Print it and scrapbook it some day, keep it on the server as a file, add a printed copy to our wedding album. Having our list is a start. And an end in some ways.