A Year of Gratitude: Day 183

Today I am grateful that I found some pictures I hadn't seen in a while (and some of them maybe never) while trying to upload yesterday's video to our computer.  The pictures were taken on our video camera and were of the few days leading up to, the day of, and the few days after Baylor's birth.  It's amazing how big he's gotten and how far we've come since then.  Take a look!

I don't remember Jeannine and Allan, Baylor's great-grandma and great-grandpa, coming to the hospital, but if they were there on his actual birthday it was because I was terribly drugged up.  If they came in one of the days following, it was likely because I was completely overwhelmed and/or starting to develop post-partum depression.  

The next ones are from right before we left the hospital.  I forgot how many freckles I had that summer; must have been from all that time I spent swimming in the pool trying to get a little exercise in with my enormous belly.

He was just so perfect and precious ... and huge!

And at this moment I was thinking, "Holy crap!  They're gonna let us take him home?!  How do they know we're ready?  Are we ready?!  Ahhhh!" and "This really isn't comfortable, holding a car seat on your lap.  Can't I just hold him and put him in it when we get to the car?" and "This is the last of the 'pampering' here at the hospital.  My last little comfortable ride.  Oh boy ..."

But we got home and got through some of the rough first few days.  And though they were rough, they were still great.  I mean, come on, just look at that face!

So very glad I found these (and more)!

Have a wonderful day!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 182

Today I am grateful for this ...



Yup, that's right.  Baylor "graduated" from preschool.  (He's the last one who walked in and the one all the way to the left as they've lined up.)  This is a big deal for him, for the progress he's made since that first time we tried taking him into a classroom and he broke down in tears.  No, he didn't come down the aisle alone or sing along or do the motions to the silly song, but he showed up, he smiled some of the time, and he walked over and got his "diploma" himself (in the cutest way possible, by the way).

I'm proud of him for the progress he's made and for the amazing kiddo he is.

Happy preschool graduation, Baylor!  Here's to many more happy school years ahead!

Love you, love you, love you!

And to the rest of you, have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 181

Today I am grateful for so many little things ...

... for hearing Mollie sing along to more Beatles' songs.

... for Baylor being silly right off the bat this morning and trying to surprise me.

... for the little bit of time the kids and I had outside today reading all the Miss Dig flags.

... for finally getting the last three months' receipts cleaned up.  *sheesh*

... for being able to pull a healthy meal together at the last minute after having thought the whole afternoon that we might be going out to eat.

... for all that and more, each breath, each hug, each little thing accomplished.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 180 (a day late)

Today I am grateful that the pizza crust I struggled with making yesterday evening ended up working out.  It's a low sodium recipe I've made once or twice before, but for some reason the water-to-flour ratio was off and it took me quite a few additions of water (and then flour) to correct it.  The dough ball finally came together and rolled around the bread machine like it should, and the pizza ended up being delicious.

Nothing like a little culinary payoff at the end of the day.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 179 (Happy birthday, Mom!)

Today I am grateful for my mom, Lori.  Yesterday we celebrated her birthday (which was actually today), and the kids got a lot of Oma loving in.  

That's the thing with my mom; with her it's all about the love.

I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for her.  I got lucky the day I got her as my mom.

So happy birthday, Mom!  I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing day.  You certainly deserve it.

Love you!

And have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 178

Today I am grateful that I got to hear Mollie singing "Love Me Do" in the backseat of the car on the way home from Oma's house tonight.  At first I didn't hear her, then all of a sudden I realized she was singing along, hitting each word just after Lennon and McCartney.  It was absolutely adorable, and so very sweet.

I can't wait to hear her again!

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 177

Today I am grateful that a new restaurant outing with the kiddos went well.  I feel like it's really important that these first new experiences go well because then down the line I can refer back to them, and show the kids that trying new things and having new experiences is a good thing.

Ironically enough, I was probably even more opposed to going to the restaurant than the kids were.  I've driven by it a thousand times, never once feeling remotely compelled to go in and give it a try.  It might be the name ... Fat Boy's.  

Once we got inside, though, I was pleasantly surprised.  It was remarkably clean, as far as greasy spoons go, and it was nice and quiet.  We placed our order then found a seat at a booth near the bar.

An even bigger treat for the kids was likely getting shakes to have with lunch.  I will admit, I am a bit of a stickler about healthy foods (as much as I can be when we go out anyway), so this was a big deal for them.  It probably helped that Grandpa E came along.

Baylor enjoyed his shake thoroughly and drank every last drop.  He even sported a little pink mustache!

Grandpa E got Baylor to try a French fry dipped in strawberry shake, but Baylor's only response was a dubious, "Weird."  He tried it again, but after that I have a feeling he just thought that was a waste of a shake. The dude loves desserts.

Mollie gave Fat Boy's a mediocre review, likely because she thought everything in the women's bathroom was broken and she chose some rather boring chicken tenders.  Baylor gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up, due in no small part to the shake.

As for me ...

I hate to say it but the food was awesome.  That burger was greasy, but not so much that it destroyed the bun, and flavorful and tender without being the slightest bit pink in the middle.  So yeah, it was horribly unhealthy but very delicious, as most horribly unhealthy things are.  I'm sure we'll be back, but I'm going to fight to make it a rare occasion.  We'll see how I do.

Have a wonderful day!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 176

Today I am grateful for the very brief feeling I had today like I was doing something right.  It happened when Baylor's PLAY therapist was here; I mentioned a way I had helped Baylor calm down and she looked at me with approving eyes.  It was an awesome feeling.  There isn't a manual for this job, no rule book, no check list to work through on the way to an end goal.  Parenthood is an endless job, and so often I feel like I'm flying blind, not knowing which way is up or what road is best.

So to feel like I had done something right ... it felt so very good.

Have a wonderful night!

Happy Anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa!

I know it's late, but I wanted to wish my grandparents a very happy 64th anniversary!  They've been with me my whole life ...

watching my family grow ...

... and then indulging that family in a little rocket ride into outer space.

You guys are amazing!  I am so lucky to have you as my grandparents!  Here's to many more years of happiness for you both!

I love you!  Hope your day was wonderful!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 175

Today I am grateful that our major tree removal project went so well.  I was a bit worried when I saw them hauling the tree OVER the house with a giant crane, but nothing damaged the house and the trees are down. Woo hoo!

I mean, seriously, look how huge one of the trees was!

Have a wonderful night!