Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving Week Everyone!

I hope this post finds all of you doing well and excited to spend some down time with loved ones on Thursday. If you can't be with loved ones then I hope you get some great food instead. A small consolation prize but a nice distraction anyway.

We are all doing well here in PA and basically getting last minute preparations completed before the newest arrival decides to make her entrance. As of this morning she has calmed down a whole lot, movements are small and cramped and I personally feel like I could hibernate all winter and still want more sleep.

How's big brother to be doing? I am proud to report that he is doing well with the IDEA of a baby sister (the real thing will of course be another story but that's besides the point).
Grayson has taken a liking to "checking on the baby" in the nursery which at first unnerved me (as there is no baby but just blankets and a weird little stuffed animal bug thing in the crib where he "checks") but now I find it extremely charming and sweet. He has also taken to patting my monster belly several times a day and "hugging" the baby sister. This morning was the sweetest. While I sat Indian-style on the rug folding laundry, Grayson decided the baby in Mommy's belly was bored and needed entertainment. He sat w/me patting my stomach for about 2 minutes before declaring, "Be right back Mommy." I could then hear him shuffling about in the bathroom until he surfaced 5 minutes later with his bathtub xylephone to play "the drums" for his baby sister. It was a short concert and one that ended with keys being flung toward Sadie but the sentiment was out there.

In light of the holiday we are about to celebrate, and before signing off today I wanted to list a few things that I am personally thankful for this year. These are in no particular order and certainly in no order of importance whatsoever.

I Give Thanks For

Grayson's small hands in my hair
Andy's aftershave in the morning
Sadie's sweet face and wagging bum
My parents and grandparents-every single last one of them living and already gone
My siblings who I never get to see often enough
This belly I'm toting that is holding inside of it the most precious girl I've never met
Swiffers (had to break the depth somehow)
Naptime
Our military
Old friends who are dear to my heart
ALL friends who I think about more often than I contact
Coloring books and crayons
Sarah McLachlan & Pink's Duet
My girl time at 8pm twice a week w/MarniHAY!
Clementine oranges that are so easy to peel
Dishwashers
Liberty Thrift
Contractions (means the end is near)
God
Therapy (self, professional, whatever works)
Snow
Christmas music in the stores
McD's vanilla iced coffee
Grayson's doctor who is so patient with both of us
Love
Good advice
Peppermint patties
Hair clips
Target and WaWa
The last few flowers to remain after frost
Silver jewelry
My debit card (can't ever keep cash in my wallet)
Humility, growth, and curiosity
a year filled with more than I could've asked for!