Everyday Blessings

I am so very thankful...

: : that Sophia is outgrowing her allergies!!! She no longer reacts to anything from my milk, so I don't have to be on the Sophia diet anymore. What she eats is a different story, but I think it's significant that she's not as sensitive as she once was.

: : for my husband. Seriously. He is awesome....really, really awesome.

: : that Levi has the potty thing 100% figured out. When he decided to start using the potty he really didn't have many accidents, but I can't even remember a single one in quite some time. He also just walks on in and does his business with no reminders. I think that might be one of the perks of waiting until he was truly ready.

: : for Saturday's girls night out with my mama and Sophia. So much fun.

: : for Sophia's very earnest attempt at 'singing' along to the songs in church yesterday. 

: : for the crunch of leaves underfoot.

: : for a decently tidy and newly organized sewing room/office. 

: : for the feeling of relief and calm that I get when I give away excess stuff. It's a very good feeling. I'm realizing that less really may be more.

So, what's on your gratitude list today?

Everyday Blessings

We've been at my parents' house all weekend. I can't download any of my pictures from this weekend until later tonight, so you get a random phone pic. :) Onto the blessings:

I am grateful for....

: : A weekend at my parents'! Of course! We had planned on just spending Saturday night, but ended up staying Sunday as well. It's been fun and a much needed change of scenery during Stephan's loooooong work week.

: : A successful shopping trip. I have such a hard time finding jeans that I like. I was down to a single pair, so my mom, the kids and I went shopping. I've never found pants so easily. They were on super sale, too!

: : Finishing the kids' Halloween outfits on time without any major rush or last minute panic. I wish I'd taken a phone pic of them all dressed up for Fall Festival Saturday night, so I could post it from here. Sniff, sniff. I have lots of pictures though. Promise I'll show them when I get back to my own computer. Sophia's owl costume was way more time consuming than I thought it would be, but it turned out awesome. And, Levi makes one heck of a cute dragon. We'll be trick or treating tonight, so they get to wear them again.

: : Time to knit. I haven't had much knitting time in weeks. Cry me a river, right? Anyway, I've gotten to knit some on Levi's sweater this weekend. I feel like a better person when I knit...not because of what I make but because the act of knitting calms my soul. That probably says something about how weird I am, but we won't go there, m'kay? ;)

: : Cozy sweater weather. Need I say more? I will though. I heart a cool, crisp breeze.

So, what where you blessed by this past week?

Everyday Blessings....on Tuesday

We've been busy in a good way, and it doesn't seem destined to stop anytime soon. I guess it's the gorgeous fall weather keeping us out and about more than usual. So, better late than never, here are a few things I'm grateful for...

: : A husband who gets me.

: : Pumpkin picking with the family...Stephan, my parents and my sister included! One day maybe I'll get to sit down at this computer long enough to sift through the pictures and post a few.

: : New Bolga baskets. I buy one every year at the pumpkin patch. This year I splurged and bought two.

: : A trip to the fair with Stephan and the kids. Have I mentioned that I love having Stephan home more. Yeah? Maybe once or twice, huh? ;)

: : Planning a vacation! Gasp! A first for us.

: : Two sweet munchkins curled up asleep. They look like angels.

What are you grateful for today?

Everyday Blessings

A few blessings...

: : We've been enjoying Stephan's time off. I might just be able to get used to his week on week off schedule now that he's not working a part time job in between. 

: : The other day we ran out of pull ups. Here's the conversation that followed:

"Levi, we need to run to the store."

"I don't want to."

"But, you're wearing your last pull up."

"I want to stay home."

"If we don't go get more pull ups, you'll have to start using the potty."

"Okay."

Silence as I try to figure out what to say.

"Um. Did you understand? You'll have to use the potty....you know actually sit on it and everything."

"Okay."

"Well, alrighty then."

He's been using it ever since with only a few small accidents. I've been waiting a long time for this. It's so nice. We were truly beginning to think that Sophia was going to have to teach him.

: : We're heading out to (hopefully) pick out counter tops today. Fingers crossed. I'm grateful that my house will be looking a little less like a renovation zone soon.

: : I'm knitting the Gramps Cardigan for Levi. It's a fun knit. And, yes, knitting totally counts as something to be thankful for!

: : I'm also grateful for these....

Spider lilies....naked ladies....whatever you want to call them. For me they are the bringers in of Fall.

What are you grateful for today?

Everyday Blessings

It's Monday...already. This week has flown by. Ready for a little blessing count?

: : My mother in law has been here since Thursday. I know the thought makes some of you cringe, but I lucked up in the MIL department. We've all enjoyed having her around.

: : Last year at this point I was very pregnant and so miserably hot that no amount of air conditioning was cool enough. This year I'm not pregnant thus capable of staying reasonably comfortable. It's a good feeling. I should try timing the next pregnancy around August. 

: : Sophia will be an entire year old this week. Wow. I'm so excited about this next year with her. She still isn't really officially walking, but she takes steps every day. By pumpkin picking time I think she'll be running. I can't wait!

: : Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is? Because he is, and that's something I'm very grateful for. 

: : Stephan was able to come to church with us this morning. He works lots of weekends, so it's always such a treat to be able to go as a whole family.

What blessings are you counting today?

Everyday Blessings

A few things I'm grateful for....

: : Our air conditioner was fixed for free which I think is worth this second mention!

: : Levi was trying to help me last week, and he dragged my favorite purse (the one that was big enough to carry diapers for two and my knitting) on gravel. There are holes in it, but I'm grateful that I kept my cool and didn't make him feel like things are more important than he is.

: : I've gotten a crazy amount of crafting done lately. I'm not sure where all of the time is coming from. It has to be God because I am certainly not the queen of time management. On top of what I blogged about, I also sewed a knitting needle holder, crocheted a baby hat, and got 1/3 of the way through a knitted cardigan for Sophia.

: : We're celebrating Sophia's birthday this weekend! I haven't even cried over it....yet. I'm actually just really excited. 

: : Stephan's mom is coming up to celebrate with us, and Stephan will be off for a week. So, not only do we get to have fun with Mimi and daddy, but I get a break from being outnumbered by children.

: : My mom is coming over today. She makes for excellent company, and my house improves every time she steps in it. What's not to be grateful for about that?

What are you grateful for today?

Back To Those Blessings

I think I'll make gratitude a weekly thing around here. Monday certainly seems like a fitting day for it, so here we go....

: : That weird photo is Sophia nursing upside down. She is my 24/7 on the go girl. Nursing doesn't throw a kink in her plans for constant motion. What I'm grateful for, though, is that I can still nurse her. Because of her allergies I have to stay on a pretty strict (not fun) diet, but I feel especially blessed that I can give her something that is so good for her.

: : Shortly before we got married, Stephan took on a second job so that we could meet a few financial goals. Not having him around much stinks, but the end is finally in sight. Yippeee. It will still be a few more months before he is a single job fella, but I'm already getting excited.

: : Organized closets....need I say more?

: : Levi was at his dad's this weekend. His return was met with peals of laughter from Sophia. She couldn't stop giggling. I love how much they love each other.

: : I scored some adorable fabric on sale this weekend. It makes me grin.

: : The death of our refrigerator seemed more like a lose/lose situation, but we were able to find a really good deal on a new one. And, there's something about opening a clean and orderly refrigerator that makes me happy. Now if I could just keep it that way.

: : Yesterday I baked bread and ginger cookies and made soup and quinoa salad and sauteed green beans. It was one of those rare, prolific cooking days. The smells....oh so good.

So, what are you grateful for today?

Counting Blessings

It's Monday, and I think I might be in need of a little gratitude. How about you? ;)

I am grateful...

~For those two lovely faces above.

~For a husband who, in the middle of his work week, after a 12 hour shift, stopped and got surprises for all of us.

~For a wonderful but tiring week and a very rest filled Sunday.

~For a house that keeps the rain off our heads (We'll just ignore it's current disaster zone status thanks to the two angelic looking "tornadoes" up there).

~For the extra snuggles that a downpour elicits from my little ones.

~For Stephan's upcoming week off....none of us can wait!

~And for good books and knitting....my saving graces every evening this past week.

Your turn. What's got you smiling?

A List Of Thanks

I finished yet another pair of soakers for Sophia. I swear I'm going to knit something other than soakers...someday. Fi doesn't ever sit still for long, so excuse the blurry instagram photo. They're cute. Trust me. :)

Onto the real post....
The kids have both had colds this week which translates to Mama hasn't gotten much sleep. I've found myself getting very grumpy (and dare I say....whiny). Of course, that fixes everything....ha. So, what better way to alter ones mood than to express a little gratitude, right? Here we go:

= Our backyard has closely resembled a jungle since we moved in...ahem...over a year ago, but my mom, sister, and my cousin's two boys are coming over today to help Stephan do yard work! If that's not something to be grateful for I don't know what is.

= An attachment parenting group was started recently in my town, and I've met so many awesome mamas over the past few months because of it.

= Levi has made a friend...as in one he wants to see regularly. Until now he would befriend kids, but he really didn't care if we saw them again. They even hold hands sometimes. It makes my heart go all puddlish.

= I have the world's sweetest husband. Seriously. He does the dishes nearly every day. And, when I haven't had any sleep and the kids are attached to me 24/7 and the house becomes a disaster zone he tries really hard to help me put it back together....even when he's working (12 hour shifts). Yep. He's a keeper.

= (I probably shouldn't admit to being thankful for this one.) Since Sophia has been sick, I've been getting extra cuddles. Squeal. I love baby cuddles. She's always on the go, so I'll take any snuggles I can get.

= Levi told me that when he's four he wants to learn to read. That made me smile. He's pretty into letters right now...so who knows? Maybe he'll get his wish. He also told me that he wants to learn about trains and monsters. :)

So, tell me what's on your list of thanks today?

A Little Facelift

I've been doing some updating around here.  Maybe it's the change in seasons, but the place seemed to need some dusting off.  There are still a few things that need to be tweaked, but mostly it's done.  

Check out the new links on my left sidebar.  I've started two tumblr blogs.  I can't believe I haven't done that before.  They're such fun...and just a little bit addictive. One is for filing away inspiration, and the other is for reminding myself of all that I have to be grateful for.  Since writing about my need for an attitude adjustment, I've thought long and hard about contentment and happiness.  I'm most content when I take the time for gratitude, so I'm doing just that.

Hope y'all are having a wonderful week.  Is it really halfway over already?  And, THANKSGIVING!!!  It's around the corner...literally.  Oh. my.   

An Attitude Adjustment

Sometimes this whole mommy business is hard...oh...wait...I should rephrase that.  Sometimes this whole life business is hard.  Unfortunately, there's no gettin' around it.  The past few weeks have been less than ideal...mostly due to me.  Funny how so much of the ick in our lives can be traced back to our own attitudes. I've definitely been off kilter lately.  I could blame it on postpartum crud, living in a never ending renovation zone, a grumpy almost 3 year old, and a husband whose work schedule is CRAZY....but, really, it's me.  I've felt a little too sorry for myself and let myself get a little too grumpy and out of sorts.  Earlier in the week, Leigh posted this film trailer on her blog.  The optimism made me cringe...in a good way...because my life is good.  Incredibly good.  Why do I forget that??? 

Once upon a time, I made it a daily practice to think about the things I was grateful for.  I'm not sure when I dropped that, but I'm taking it back.  Gratitude is a powerful thing.

Today, I'm grateful for a patient, kind, and loving husband.
...for his new and improved, less crazy job schedule (even though it won't start until December)!
...for a bathroom that is so close to finally being finished
...for a little boy who wants to be just like his "Daddy Stephan"

...for a little girl who purses her lips ALL the time (just like her mama used to do)

...for a beautiful autumn day
...for parents who brought over dinner (Thank you!)
...for the grin on Levi's face when he opened a piece of mail just for him (a birthday card)
...for moments that make me laugh

...and, for love.

What are you grateful for?

This Morning, Today, and Some Gratitude

Ahem...today, I might have gotten off to a bad start.  I might have been grumpy and snappy.  I might have banged a few dishes around while making breakfast, and I just maybe was slightly ill tempered.  But, my husband was still nice to me, and Levi was actually in a good mood, and things started to look brighter.  So, I've been thinking about what I'm grateful for today, and my mood has improved.  I like that thoughts can change a day from cruddy to good.

Thoughts like these:

~I married a really sweet fella who still hugs me and tells me he loves me even when I turn into a grumpy, overly emotional pregnant lady who cries at random (and dumb) moments.

~Levi has been kind of grumpy for a couple of days now, but today he's been in a good mood!

~Even better than that second one: Levi is currently napping!!  Naps have become a tad trying lately, and the past two days...oh. my.  Lets just say, Levi without a nap = grumpopotamus.

~The sun is all shiny and beautiful today.  We spent the morning kicking a ball in the yard.  Levi calls it the neighborhood ball.  I'm not sure where he got this, but it's cute.  And, true.  The ball mysteriously appeared...probably from one of the three neighboring yards.

~We have an incredible array of bird life in our backyard.  I'm surprised every time I walk out there.  How is it possible to have more birds in a neighborhood than when we lived out in the country.  I think I need a bird book.  Any suggestions?

~Levi actually took a walk today!  As in on his own two legs without insisting on being in the stroller or being carried.  It was oh so very nice.  He's been scared of walking around our neighborhood since we moved in.  The dogs barking scared him (not sure why since my parents have dogs).  The cars on the road outside of our neighborhood scared him....just the sound of them.  We almost never actually see cars moving inside of our neighborhood.  Everything was new to him, and he's hitting that time where fears are setting in.  But, today he conquered those fears...or at least ignored them.  Today he was fascinated by the street.  The spots on it, rocks on it, green patches of grass and moss on it...the whole thing was mesmerizing to him.  He chased butterflies (and a wasp).  He smelled flowers, and even picked a clover just for me. :)  I think we might attempt another walk after nap time.  It was nice to see those little legs moving.

~I'm getting a car!!!  My parents have been planning to lend us their spare car, but it's been in the shop for months now.  My mom called me this morning to tell me that it was FINALLY out, and they are bringing it to me this weekend.  Thank you!!!  Stephan works 12 hour days for 7 days straight, and he never has more than 3 days off in a row...usually not even that much.  So, spending entire weeks housebound is pretty much enough to drive me and Levi crazy.  Especially since it's Spring, and parks and duck ponds and trips to Nana and Baw-Baw's house are calling us!  Now we'll be able to answer.

Life is good.  Sometimes I just need to remind myself of that.  Especially on days when the pregnancy hormones take over and turn me into the grumpopotamus.

Thanksgiving Recap

We are slowly but surely coming out of our food induced comas.

Yum.

It was a very happy Thanksgiving.
We ate.......a lot.

However, Levi was thoroughly unimpressed with the food...
The food we spent ALL day cooking.
He didn't even want dessert!
He was way more into playing...

Besides being grateful for all that yummy food, we were extra thankful to be surrounded by family.

Can you tell we're sisters?

Levi was crazy about his Great-uncle Larry...

Especially since Uncle Larry kept him entertained with photos of fish.In between cooking and eating we played Mexican Train Dominoes...my new favorite game.
Seriously, I'm hooked. I could play this one for hours on end.

Do y'all like playing board games and such? What's your favorite?

Full of Thanks

Thanksgiving celebrations will be in full swing tomorrow, so I thought I'd take a moment to share a few things that I'm especially thankful for this year...

:: My sweet munchkin, of course. He lights up my little corner of this beautiful world. I'm sure y'all saw that one coming. ;)

:: My incredible family. They are a true blessing.

:: The smell of burning leaves and the crisp crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.

:: The joy Levi gets out of playing in those same leaves.

:: My sister being home for the rest of the week!!

:: Jeans that fit...Can you tell I had a successful shopping trip?

:: Autumn sunlight.

:: An abundance of love.

:: Whispers.

:: Fresh goat cheese from the farmer's market...did you think I could possibly have a gratitude list without some mention of food?

:: Humor me for a second, m'kay? Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, satsumas, rosemary, and all the rest of the yumminess that comes along with the season. Okay, I promise. I'm done with the food.

:: All of you...for reading and humoring me and being so generous with your time and your words.

:: Pansies. Because they grow right now. And, they look so darn happy.

:: Cool air. It feels so nice.

:: The list could go on for miles, but I'll end on the best...the good Lord who gave it all to me.

I hope y'all have a very happy Thanksgiving! I'll be back when the food induced coma wears off.

Simple Joy Sunday--Sort Of

I nearly forgot to do this one, and then I decided I didn't have time for it. So, why am I here? Because I'm in need of a dose of gratitude. What better way to get it than to list a few simple joys. To be honest, I've been bordering on ridiculously UNgrateful this week. I've spent the vast majority of my time tired and frustrated and really not focused on all the blessings around me. Despite feeling the need to get back into my pajamas right after church, having a voice that fades in and out, developing an icky cough, and spending two whole hours trying to get Levi to bed, today was really a good day.
The weather was beautiful and the flowers are blooming like crazy:Levi even picked one for me (it's the tiny mutilated speck between his fingers):
I actually had the leisure time to get back in my not so attractive pjs:
And, even if there was nothing else to smile about there's always this cute little face:
If you feel the need to spread the joy of simple, sweet moments head on over to Cool Zebras. Hope y'all have a super fabulous week!

Kitchen Love

For a while there I thought Levi would never let me cook again. His anxiety level raised a few notches every time I tried to cook. But, we have finally found the solution...a stool. Turns out the little fella' likes to be a part of the action.
Despite not actually breaking the skin on these oranges, Levi still said, "mmmm" and "ahhh" after every "bite". You would have thought orange peels actually tasted good.
He's actually holding a measuring spoon in this pic. The blur makes it look a tad knife-like at first glance. Not that I'm opposed to little ones honing their knife wielding skills. I just wouldn't be multitasking with the camera and the mixer while he was chopping away. In case you're the very observant type and currently scratching your head, this isn't my kitchen. My mom has a gas stove/oven, so I use her kitchen more often than my own.

Hope y'all have a lovely and scrumptious weekend!

"Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder"

... and my eye beholds more beauty with each passing day. I am amazed at this little life that has been entrusted to my care. I try to savor every precious moment...drink it all in, slurp it up, stare endlessly, and fall hopelessly in love all over again every time those little arms wrap around me.
The truth of the matter is that my husband left when I was 3 months pregnant, and this may be the only baby I ever have. Maybe it's the fear of never getting to experience this again that makes me that much more aware of the swift movement of time and the transience of each moment, but I have a sneaking suspicion that many mothers, whatever their circumstances, feel this way.
I want to be thoroughly present even in the moments that are woefully unglamorous. There are times when I fail miserably at this; times when I let the uncertainties of life get in the way of enjoying what is happening before my very eyes. And, then I snap back to my senses, and get back to the business of savoring the moment. When I've read the same cardboard book 14 times in a row, or gently scolded Levi for poking me in the eye for the 500th time, or just had to clean all manner of baby ickiness off of the bathroom floor, or done the 10th load of laundry for the day, I have to remind myself that someday I will miss this. Someday, I will wish for this again.
Can you tell I'm getting sentimental over my baby becoming a toddler? Where did the time go? I've been determined to relish every single second of every single day since I got pregnant, and for the most part I've succeeded. But, my, oh, my has it gone by quickly. I can't count the number of times I've prayed that God would just let me stay in this or that moment just a little bit longer. The countless breathtakingly beautiful moments by far outweigh all of life's pains. And, if you ask me, that is a true blessing.

Gratitude and Miscellany

First, I want to thank everyone who left such sweet and encouraging comments on my last blog post. Thank you, thank you! I am truly touched by all of your kind words. What a wonderful way to kick off a new adventure in this little life of mine!!!
Now for miscellaneous Levi updates. Today was in the 70's--warm 70's. As in t-shirt kind of weather.
Yes, this is a pic of Levi outside, comfortably dressed in summer attire on a January evening. Hmmm. Tomorrow it's going to be below freezing. What kind of crazy weather is that?

The new rage around here? Stacking, of course. The little fella' has put two and two together and learned to stack 'em high. However, he became terrifically camera shy today, so all I got was this lousy picture of him about to put one block on top of another. Oh, well. Levi's highest tower thus far was 8 blocks high! The coolest thing about being a mom is that you actually get excited about a stack of blocks. I mean, really, when else in life do you get the privilege of getting giddy over 8 blocks?
Have I mentioned Levi's tool obsession? He goes through my tool box nearly every day, and genuinely tries to figure out the uses for all of those crazy objects. He's had some pretty good guesses thus far. I'm thinking with his new found building skills and love for tools, I might just have to put the little guy to work around the house soon. ;)

Lovin' Those Sweet Hugs

My heart hurts a bit every time my little fella' grows out of an outfit or becomes a little more independent. I am grateful beyond words for these things as well, but what mother doesn't want to hold onto her baby just a little longer. The first moment I laid eyes on him is forever etched into my memory. Like most moms, I thought he was the most beautiful and perfect little critter I'd ever seen. I can't believe how much he's grown since then.
All that being said, there are perks to this growing up thing. There's nothing in the world like hugging your newborn baby but when he starts to hug you back...well, now, there's something to write home about.

Solving Reflux

When Levi was a little over 4 months old I got the scare of my life. It was late in the evening. I remember almost going home earlier but deciding to stay at my parents' instead. It must have been God telling me to stay because I sure didn't have any other reason. I'm so glad I listened.
Levi had been a tad fussy, but nothing out of the ordinary. We tried a few things, and he seemed happiest in his bouncy seat. I was on the couch across from him, and my dad was in a chair next to him when Levi began violently throwing up--far worse than anything I'd ever seen. I dashed over to him, sat him upright, and began unbuckling him. As I was unbuckling him, he stopped throwing up and started turning blue. My dad grabbed Levi, put him over his knees and popped him on the back until he started crying. Levi's birth was the only other time I can say that I've been so grateful to hear him cry.
He was still gray and lethargic afterwards, so we took him to the emergency room to make sure his lungs were clear. After an x-ray and a few tests, Levi was cleared to go home. The doctor said that Levi probably had a reflux problem and gave us some tips on preventing future occurrences. One of those tips was to ditch the bouncy seat for something that would keep Levi completely upright. He also said to feed him more frequently but for shorter lengths of time. I followed all the advice--new infant seat (for the rare occasion that he actually sat in one), different nursing schedule--and started wearing him more frequently as well. I was already very into babywearing, but I became more convinced of it's benefits at this point. He still spit up with frequency, but nothing so alarming as almost dying.
Until...fast forward to 6 months old. I started him on food. I even made the food myself--nothing boxed or jarred for my babe. I should have guessed that he wasn't ready. He just didn't seem interested. I never forced him to eat, but I kept offering. Finally he would open his mouth and take a few bites. Nana even commented once that he didn't eat like we did when we were babies. She said she couldn't shovel it in fast enough to make us happy. I still kept trying. Finally he got up to eating a tablespoon or two in a sitting. Yay!--I thought. But when he finally got up to that tablespoon or two he started violently throwing up again--no turning blue thank the heavens. Still terrifying though. Once you've seen your kid turn blue, anything that reminds you of it will make your heart clench in fear.
I'd read that food would help a babies reflux, not so in my sweet angel's case. It just irritated the heck out of his poor little tummy. So, thanks to some advice from my mom and the Marvelous Kiddo's Grandma mixed in with some internet research, I decided no more food. Don't worry, it's just for a while. I'm not starving my baby. I had some vague feeling that maybe 6 months was just some arbitrary number and not a set in stone by God kind of rule. And what do you know, babies can still flourish on strictly breast milk after 6 months.
Levi will be a very chunky, healthy 9 month old soon, and he's usually reflux free. He has occasional bouts, but nothing like the volcanic puking that food brought on. For those of you, who are like me and had no idea it was possible not to introduce food at six month, it is. Babies can go a full year without introducing food (provided of course that you're willing and able to breastfeed frequently). I don't know what I thought mothers did in countries where babyfood isn't readily available. My out of the box thinking skills aren't always plugged in.
I do know that Levi and I have a very special situation that enables us to do this. I am terribly grateful to my momma for being willing to put her own life on hold to be Levi's travelling babysitter. She knows this is what's best for Levi, and she has enabled me to do this for him. A special and heartfelt thank you to her.