2014 Thankful Day 8

Today I am thankful for a nice day with my little family. Adam and I enjoyed our sweet girl (even when she was overly tired), had some fun time outside since it was actually nice, got a few things done around the house, watched a movie, and relaxed with the furry children. Pretty uneventful, but just lovely in my book.

2014 Thankful Day 7

Today I am thankful for OxiClean. It is amazing stuff. It gets all manner of baby stains out of all manner of things. It has saved clothes, towels, changing pads, socks, blankets and so much more. Thank you OxiClean for ensuring I didn't have to throw cute clothes away (especially that time it was the first time she wore the outfit).

2014 Thankful Day 6

Today I'm thankful for snuggles on the couch on this cold, wet night. Baby snuggles and animal snuggles, I am truly lucky. I'm surrounded by love and warmth. 

2014 Thankful Day 5

Today I am thankful for my support groups and the women I have met through them. They have provided such comfort and helped me through difficult times. They have also been there to celebrate happy times. During my pregnancy with Alice, talking to other women who had experienced losses and were now pregnant made me feel less crazy, anxious and helped me get through the next month. They are an amazing group of women and while I wish we hadn't met the way we did, I am so very glad and thankful we did.

2014 Thankful Day 4

Today I'm thankful for two things.  The first is that I have the right to vote and was able to exercise that right today.  Even though sometimes it feels like choosing the lesser of two evils, nothing changes if you stay at home and don't let your voice be heard.  As Alice and I were on our way I couldn't help but sing "Sufferin' 'till Suffrage."  Yes, from School House Rock.  It has a special place in my heart.  I'm teaching her the importance of her civic duty early.

Alice went with me to vote!

The second thing I'm thankful for today is a lovely lunch with two dear friends.  Who would have thought that when we ended up living together and next to each other our freshman year of college, 13 years later (yikes!) we'd still be friends and mothers?  I'm thankful to have them with me on this journey of motherhood.  They are amazing women and have always been supportive and caring.  I'm thankful they are in my life and Alice's life.

Spring 2014

2014 Thankful Day 3

Today I'm thankful for bath time. Alice loves baths (the real kind, not sponge baths . . . those are the Devil). She is always smiley and happy. She loves the water and has started to realize she can splash (I may not think that's fun in a couple months, but it is right now). If she's fussy or fighting sleep, bath time always makes her happy (as it did tonight). It's part of our winding down routine at night and I think it's starting to cement itself as a cue for bed time for her. It's a time that we both enjoy (and Daddy too on the weekends!) and I look forward to it (not to mention it means a guaranteed happy baby. If she's not happy in the bath she's not feeling well).

I love this stuff! It's so calming and relaxing. We use the lotion afterwards too.

Baby towels with hoods are the cutest (not to mention the sweet girl bundled up in it). This one came with matching slippers.

2014 Thankful Day 2

Today I'm thankful for my husband.  We have been through a lot in our seven years of marriage, but I'm glad we were together through it all.  We have our good times and bad times, but we always talk and come out the other side and are stronger for it.  Loosing Madeline was harder than anything I have experienced (and I hope ever will), and I know I would not have gotten through without him.  We both had good days and bad days, but in the end we were honest and talked and were there for each other.  And that is still true of both.  Now that we have Alice I love him even more.  I saw a quote the other day that said, "I thought I loved you, and then I saw you hold our child."  It's been very true for me.  Seeing Adam so happy when she was born made me happier than I can say.  And watching him with her, taking care of her, loving her and interacting with her always makes my heart swell a bit.  I'm thankful that he wants to be so involved and helps me.  I'm thankful he loves Alice.  I'm thankful he loves me.  I'm thankful for how hard he works for our family.  I'm thankful for his service to our country.  I'm thankful for his integrity and loyalty.  I'm thankful he is my partner in our marriage, as parents and in life.  I'm thankful I get to spend the rest of my life with him.  

With Alice in the hospital

He loves her so

She loves him too

Play time before he has to go to work

I love him too!

I love and am thankful for the family we have created

2014 Thankful Day 1

It's November again and I'm going to do my best to do daily "thankful" posts.  They may not all be deep or long, but hopefully I'll be able to get something up.  The past couple years this has really helped me stay positive and focus on all the blessings I have.  Even though this year I'm in a much better place than I have been at this time the past two years, I still think it's a good idea.  So here goes.

Since it's November 1st and that means Alice is 3 months old today, I'm going to start with her.  I am so very thankful for my sweet girl.  Life isn't always rainbows but she is worth all of it (and we really are lucky . . . she's overall a really good baby).  She has brought so much joy and love to our lives. We've been through a lot to get here and I will never be able to truly articulate how lucky I feel to have Alice.  Her smile brightens my day (even if it's 2am and I would really rather be asleep). Watching her discover things is entertaining and fun. I love being her Mommy and I sometimes still can't quite believe this is all real and I'm this lucky. I have a happy, healthy, growing baby and I couldn't be more thankful.  These first three months have been an adventure, a challenge, a blessing, full of joy, sleepless nights, snuggles, diaper changes, smiles, tears, and so much love. I'm thankful for all of it and am looking forward to so much more.

Alice and I the day she was born

One month old pic

Alice and I in September

Two month pic

Alice and I in October

Three month pic