Thankfulness

As I sit here waiting for the sun to wake up with this sleeping baby (who has been up) in my arms, I'm reminded I have a lot to be thankful for. Really and truly I could sit here and type a list of my thanks for days. I'm thankful. I just don't always remember it. I sometimes lose sight of all things precious in my life and dwell on insignificant troubles.

I'm thankful for my little family and our big family. I'm thankful that we still come together, enjoy one another, and love on each other. I'm thankful for my husband who really tries to be a better husband and father every day - and who in turn makes me better, too. I'm thankful for the home we share and the amazing place in which we live. I'm thankful for our beautiful daughter and to be able to raise her with her daddy.  I'm thankful for her smiles (they are truly precious). I'm thankful for the memories we have and the ones we have yet to create. I'm thankful for the warm snuggles from our pets.  I'm thankful for our health.  I'm thankful for our freedom.  I'm thankful for the lessons of the rough storms and for those friends who have guided me through them. 

I'm thankful for my life and that God chose me to live it. Sometimes I need the reminder to be thankful and to soak it up- every last drop and every little snuggle. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

6 Months New

6 months.  Does that mean I have to start saying you're old and not new?  Mama's not ready for that.  You still smell new.  And every day you are doing new things; and Lord knows, we are both learning new things.  You're still new.  6 months new. 

I swear this month has flown by.  I mean, really, where did October go?  It high tailed it and jammed- leaving November in its dust.  This month you have been busy.  We spent weekends in Chapin, spent time with family, celebrated Halloween, and kicked off the fall season.

You had your first sucker with your Papa, against my wishes. But you loved it (secretly, I loved watching you), and you were stinkin' cute. Now I imagine you'll be under his spell just like your cousin, The Bobcat. 

One of the weekends in Chapin, we woke up early and went to the Walk for Leo. Leo is, by far, the bravest little friend of yours. He is battling a really ugly disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA); but he is ferocious, like a lion, and he has the biggest smile all of the time. He and his sweet family have been very inspirational to all of our family. The walk was such a fun way to start our morning. We were all there- complete with our lion whiskers for Leo's Pride. 

At 6 months, you are loving apples, pears, prunes, and sweet potatoes. (We continue to work on the avocado.) You're favorite trick is to take your paci out and hold it. (We are still working on putting it back in.) You still gurgle and drool like it's your job. You smile a lot, and you are starting to play more with toys.  Panda is still your best pal.

This past week, you rolled over for the first time all on your own; and you were so incredibly proud of yourself. But then you rolled back, and haven't made it back over since.  You get to your side and then it's like "SIKE! Just kidding! I'm gonna just lie on my back." You wiggle all around your rug in your room.

You love your daddy and turn every time you hear his voice.  You smile every time you see him. Sometimes, it really grinds my gears after you've been hollering at me or stone faced, and then your daddy walks in and you are all smiles and giggles.  But I get it.  I still love my daddy like that, too. 

You make me late almost every morning, but these extra morning snuggles are worth it.  I know there will come a day when they will be no more.  There will be a day when you are "too big" for me.  Oh, how I dread that miserable day.  So for now, I will be late.

  (Sometimes, even Cricket joins in on the snug fest.)

There are still so many moments I can't believe that you are mine. My beautifully made daughter. A perfect little bundle of 12 pounds and 8 ounces. You are the sweetest part of my day, and I'm so proud to be your mama. From our favorite book, How Do I Love You- "I love all that you will be and everything you are."  Happy 6 months, my sweet.

 

Halloween

As a kid, Halloween was for dressing up and candy. I loved it. That feeling of coming home after a long chilly night of running from house to house, and dumping out my pumpkin head full of candy in the middle of my bedroom floor. I'd spend time separating them into groups- fruity candy, chocolate, Milk Duds (yes, they get their own category), and then candy I'd give to Dad (i.e. those dreaded Whoppers...barf). I'd marvel in my earnings, and more than likely, do a candy angel or two in the pile of diabetes. Yes, I loved Halloween. 

In college, Halloween was for dressing up and drinking. I was really successful at Halloween in college. I spent Halloweens dressed up as a crayon, a penguin, a hunter/skeet shooter- just to name a few. The night was full of remaining in character and making each of those characters a true fan of whiskey. I was probably guilty of a few candy angels then too, but they were probably done in a front yard without any candy. Yep, I loved Halloween then too. 

But this year Halloween was more than just dressing up for me. In fact, I didn't dress up at all. This year it was about making your costume, going to the pumpkin patch, you wearing your adorable pumpkin hat and your pumpkin pjs as much as possible, carving our pumpkin, and getting pics with our family.

Dressing you up as Sophia Petrillo was hilarious. There is no other word for it. Thank you for wearing that wig and not starting to try to eat it until it was late. 

It was one of the all time best Halloweens!