Thanks Tiffanie,
After I read your post, I thought, she's right who is really going to care, and it shouldn't bother me if they do. You inspired me, I took a nice hot bath and finished the job from the shorts line down. Thanks, it does feel great.
Thanks for responding Beth,
On my "choosing name list", the name was actually Elisabeth until the last minute when I shortened it just to try to be different, so I do love the name Elisabeth as well. One of the original contestants on the show "Survivor" had the name Elisabeth and I liked it ever since.
Thanks Terri and Joanne for your responses as well, my boys are 4 and 6 so still kind of young to understand. I totally understand my wife's reservations. I have only asked that she give me some time once in a while. Take the kids out for a day and let me have some time to dress and just hang out comfortably as a woman, and not worry about anyone walking in. She agreed, but it hasn't happened yet. I don't want to rush her, I think if we just take it slow for now, patience will pay off and she will give me some quality time "down the road". There was about a 10 year period before we were married that I lived alone and was able to come home at night and put a little make-up on and slip into something comfortable for lounging and it was wonderful. My life was empty though without a partner. When I met my wife, I told her when we first started dating about my preferences, and she understood, and even helped me out a little with some advice and tips on how to be a little more conservative with make-up application. I used to overdo it a bit. When we had children, I kept my female things boxed up in the basement, and after not using them for some time, they developed a mildew odor, and I threw most of it away. Seven years later, the urges have resurfaced, and now are stronger than ever. One thing I can say is I am not afraid to shop, and I encourage anyone out there who is to just do it. Sure your heart pounds but that's part of the excitement, at least for me. I usually do say I am buying a present for my "large' wife. She is actually not large at all, but it seems to work. Sometimes we have even gone back to those same stores together, like Victoria's Secret, and I hope nobody notices she is half the size that I made her out to be. I even had the guts to go into a wig store and sit in the chair to get fitted for two wigs. I could have gone online, but I really wanted some professional advice, as to face shape and appropriate wig styles rather than hit or miss on the internet. I am so glad I did because I have two beautiful wigs, or I should say my wife does. She wore the one that is in my picture here for halloween when she dressed as a witch. It hurt a little seeing her in my hair, because it was almost like she was making light of an important part of me, but I figured maybe it is one more step for her to become more comfortable with the whole thing. Speaking of my picture, I threw some make-up on one night and held the camera out in front of me and snapped the picture. It is the only one I have. I am still a little shy about the whole matter, so I wore feminine sunglasses so I could maintain a little bit of mystery. Sometimes I feel that I need every feminine "cue" possible to pull off the female look. I've even thought of wearing a pink baseball hat. Just one more visual cue to throw people off. The look in the picture is actually a bit more serious than I usually am. I am a lot more fun loving than I appear here. Well that's a little more about my history. I really don't mean to ramble on. Thanks again!
Talk to you soon.
Lisabeth