Thankful November- day 8

Catching up after being sick with a cold and the internet connection being spotty. Today I'm thankful for fun family adventures with just my little family of 3. We were able to have a getaway to the coast last month, spending time at Kalaloch (thank goodness it was only 1 night, accomodations were gross!) and Seabrook (LOOOOOOOVED this place!). It was so fun to plan this trip and enjoy time with just Mark and Brynn, not having to share them with anyone. =) Sure, I love my extended family, but sometimes it's nice to just relax with the people I live with. I am also grateful to be able to travel in the off-season since I'm not teaching this year- less people and better rates!

Thankful November- day 7

Today I'm thankful for our neighbor, T (I want to respect his privacy since I didn't tell him I was going to be writing this). Not only is he a great neighbor and friend, but he could probably fill his portfolio with all the projects he's done around our house in the 3 years we've lived here. I know Mark would echo me in saying that we are SO grateful for T's help with all the remodeling we've done. Finding a good, honest, reliable, reasonable contractor these days is a difficult task; there are so many horror stories out there! So far, there hasn't been a job that T hasn't been able to take on, and yet, when there is something he's not sure about, he's honest and says it's not his area of work, which we appreciate! He takes such pride in his work and our house is gorgeous because of it.

T's list of credits in our house include: installing new sub-floor/hardwood flooring in the main area of our house (which was NOT an easy feat since our house was built in 1943 and like many old houses, has "weird" stuff to work with!), changing the layout of some of the cabinetry in our kitchen, knocking out a wall between the kitchen/dining room, doing trim work throughout the house, closing up a door that used to be in an upstairs bedroom, several other little things, and he's currently working on a pergola/covered porch out back that is replacing an old rotting deck that, you guessed it, he demoed. Basically, he's become a vital part of any and all of our home projects and will continue to be, no matter where we live!

Thankful November- day 6

This should have been posted yesterday, but alas, I woke up with Brynn's cold yesterday and I took a nap instead of blogging. =)

I'm thankful today for Brynn's daily routine. I know it will change a bit as she grows, but it helps our days run so much more smoothly because her days are somewhat predictable. When she was about 3-4 months old, I started trying to get her on somewhat of a schedule. Before then it wouldn't have worked since she slept so much of the time. I'm definitely someone that appreciates a predicted routine (probably the teacher in me). I have friends who's kids take naps at different times every day, go to bed at different times each night and snack throughout the day instead of having meals- they are happy and healthy and it works just fine for them. For me, I need to know what time every day I can expect a break to get housework done, and also what time I'm "off-duty" in the evenings. Mark has commented to me many times how much he loves our evenings together. It's almost like "date-night" every night since Brynn goes to bed at 7. We then have time to eat dinner together and watch a show or two, or just talk. Now, of course, there are one or two nights every week when Brynn doesn't go down as easily as usual, or wakes up several times before we even go to bed. But generally, she does great.

I love being able to plan my day around Brynn's naps and when we'll need to be home, rather than hoping she'll nap in the car while we're out and about. We've been on several little vacations since Brynn was born and though she always did great with shorter naps at different times and later bedtimes, she was so happy to get home and back into her schedule. Since she can't talk yet, it helps when she's fussy to be able to at least intelligently guess what she needs based on what time it is.

It helps Mark and anyone else who takes care of Brynn to know what her day usually entails. I typed up a schedule (per Mark's request) and put it on the fridge. It's become very handy when I leave her with someone because I don't have to write out a little note every time someone else watches Brynn. For our family, a routine helps us run smoothly and for that, I am thankful!

Thankful November- day 4 and 5

I skipped posting on day 4...Brynn has a really bad cold and I've been up all night the last several nights with her since she won't go to sleep unless I'm holding her and then it took about 3 tries of putting her down, her waking back up immediately, and me repeating the holding and trying to put down before she would actually stay asleep...and even then it would only be for about 45 minutes before she would wake up and we'd have to repeat the whole process again.

I feel so bad for her because this is her first sickness and just by looking at her you can tell she's thinking, "What is happening to me?! Why can't I breathe?! What is this nasty stuff constantly oozing out of my nose?!"

So, to combine days (again), today I'm doubly grateful for the fact that I am able to be at home with Brynn full-time. I know that for some mamas, this is not an option, and for other mamas, they are better moms because they choose to work outside the home. I LOVE teaching, and I'm happy that I was able to begin my career before Brynn joined out family, and I anticipate re-joining the work force once Brynn (and hopefully other babes) are in school. I remember feeling a bit weird on my last day of work, but now that my days are full of baby smooches, poop, sleep/eat schedules, snot, spit-up, laundry, dishes, meal-planning, scrubbing toilets, and putting forth effort daily into making our house a home, I feel I'm right where the Lord wants me. It's a job like any other in that I can do a good job and stay on top of things, or I can do a crappy job and have a disorganized, flustered life. Maybe some can operate that way, not me. =) The added element is that there is this little person who needs me 24 hours a day, though I'd love that she DIDN'T need me between the hours of 7pm-7am...the girl had YET to sleep through the night! I underestimated how emotionally taxing this job would be...there is so much that is on my mind and heart surrounding Brynn, our families, friends, our marriage...and yet I know that that is part of how God designed parenthood- all these things bubble to the surface that cause me to really think about who I am and who I want to be.



Especially these last few days, as Brynn has been sick and needing me so much more than usual, I'm SO thankful that amid these sleepless nights and busy days taking care of a sick baby, I haven't also had to deal with writing sub plans and worrying about how my class is doing and feeling guilty that I'm not at school and feeling guilty that I can't be at home all the time.

We made some serious changes over the last few years to prepare for a responsible life on one-income, and that means many sacrifices. I'm so glad to be in the position where we have to think about the money we spend, because I think it builds character and makes us ever-so-grateful for the blessings we don't deserve that we've been given anyway, as well as setting the background for some pretty good conversations down the road when Brynn is older. Being at home also means I'm more accountable for how I spend my free time when Brynn is napping. Sure, I get in my fair share of Gilmore Girls when I just need a break, but I have taken on new responsibilities around our home and when I use my time well, I feel as accomplished as after a long day at school. I'm thankful for the work I have here at home. Work is good for me and I love sitting down with a pencil and paper and planning the next cleaning/organizing/homemaking project I'm going to tackle during naptime.



There's NO right way to do this mothering thing, and I give serious props to all the moms, including my own, who work full-time both in and outside their homes. What works for one family doesn't work for everyone, but today I am beyond grateful that my job right now is to take care of my daughter and our home.

Thankful November- day 3

Today I'm thankful for really GOOD decaf coffee. I know that unless you're in a coffeehouse or fabulous restaurant, this is a bit of an oxymoron, but I've searched high and low over the last year and a half to find a great decaf coffee to enjoy at home. When I found out I was pregnant, I stopped drinking regular coffee and have never started again since I'm still nursing. Like many first-time moms, a bit of paranoia set in about drinking regular coffee and having a baby that was strung out on caffeine and would never sleep. =) I know there are many mamas who drink regular coffee and their babes sleep just fine, but like I said...paranoia. =)

Anyway, after trying many watery, bitter, and mostly flavorless decaf blends, my favorite has become the "Green Mountain/ Newman's Own Organics" brand. It is robust, super flavorful, so much so that I can even drink it black. Yeah. It's that good.

I love waking up to the smell of coffee brewing, and just the taste of coffee perks me up, (no pun intended), so no caffeine needed. Another great thing is that sometimes I don't have time for coffee before running out the door in the morning and I don't miss those "I NEED coffee" headaches at all!

So this morning, as my coffeemaker filled my home with the aroma of freshly ground beans, I thought about how much I love love love GOOD decaf coffee.

Thankful November... (day 1 and 2)

This month, I'm joining some of my friends by blogging each day about something I'm thankful for. Our society has become so focused on the wrong things, and especially this time of year- consumerism abounds, does it not? This is a chance to take a moment each day and pay attention to all the blessings that I have in my life, and there are MANY! Join me, if you like. Find a journal you have around, or just use some sticky notes (good idea, Bree!) and record your blessings. How amazing will you feel at the end of the month when you have all these "grateful-for" notes staring back at you? What wonderful reminders to focus outward, not inward, as people. Of course, I've started a day late because of a very busy Monday, but I think the subject of this post is worth 2 days of thankfulness. =)

Today I'm thankful for Mark. Of course I'm thankful for him every day, but last night I experienced a moment with him that made me fall in love with him all over again. Brynn was having a hard time settling down to sleep...okay, she was screaming. We're not a "cry-it-out" family, but I do give Brynn 5-10 minutes to try and calm herself down before I intervene. I'm usually the one to put Brynn down for the night and go in if she needs to be soothed. Mark just hasn't had too much luck being able to settle her down and honestly, it has always been easier and faster if I just go in and give her a quick snuggle to help her calm down. I know this has always been kinda tough for Mark, feeling like he doesn't quite know how to help Brynn in this way. Anyway, last night, I put her down, she cried, and since I had started making dinner, Mark offered to go help Brynn. It hadn't been 10 minutes yet, but Mark felt like he wanted to go to her. Pretty soon, I heard her stop crying. He was upstairs for a while and when he came down, he walked into the kitchen and had tears in his eyes and said, "I did it". He had snuggled with her for a long time and she fell asleep. For me, it was incredible to witness this moment he was experiencing as a daddy and how it was impacting him. He felt like he helped, like he was capable, like he had something to offer, like he knew what Brynn needed. Since I am the one taking care of Brynn all day, I have experienced many of these "I did it" moments, but to watch Mark experience this brought me so much joy and I've been smiling inside all day today as I remember last night.


Mark and Brynn snuggling while out for a walk, September 2010

Mark and I have been married 7.5 years. When we met, we fell for each other quickly. He is the only man I've ever loved and I would never change that. He has come to know me well, the good and the bad. He challenges me, encourages me, tells me several times a day how beautiful I am and how much he loves me. I remember before we got married, my dad told me that we wouldn't truly know what "love" is for a while. He was right. On my wedding day I was "in love" with Mark, but through the years, I have grown to absolutely "love" Mark. And then there are moments like last night when, after watching Mark comfort our baby, I fall "in love" with him all over again. Mark is committed to me and our family, he loves the Lord and works to seek after him daily. He's funny AND thinks I'm funny and we laugh together a lot. He is smart and loves to research things. If he has a question about something, it's pretty much a guarantee that he'll be found on the computer at some point "Googling" for the answer. He loves our family and friends and would be content to have our house full of people all the time. He helps me with home tasks even when I don't ask and surprises me with things like flowers or chocolates often.



Mark dipping Brynn's feet into the Pacific Ocean for the 1st time, October 2010


I would lay my life down for this man, and I am so grateful that the Lord introduced us so early in life, that we have already shared 7.5 years of marriage, that we have been gifted a precious baby girl to raise together, and that we have many years ahead of us to grow as people and a couple.

Moms n' Tots

Our church has a fantastic program called "Moms n' Tots" that meets every other Tuesday. The moms have fellowship time with a delicious spread of food (what church event would be complete without grub, right?), listen to a speaker, and then break into discussion groups to reflect on what the theme of the day is. The kids have their own program and the volunteers who work with them are wonderful.

I was really nervous about leaving Brynn in the nursery since she' such a mama's girl and Moms n' Tots is during her am nap time, so I signed up to help in the nursery on my "off" week- we went last week and she did great, but I was still nervous to leave her for the first time today. I put her down for a nap and walked out of the doors of the nursery, shedding a few tears and listening to the nursery volunteers cheer me on. The time with the other moms was amazing- the woman who spoke was a seasoned mother and truly blessed us all with her words.

I always think it's crazy how the Lord works in our lives- last week I was at a baby shower for a former co-worker and one of the ladies I used to teach with asked if I knew a woman at our church that she used to have as a student- guess who is my discussion group leader for MnT? THAT woman. Also, there's a young mom in our church who has been battling a brain tumor. I've never met her, but I've been praying for her and her family since our local newspaper wrote an article about her. Guess who is is my discussion group? THAT woman. Some people may see these little things as coincidences, but I know better. The Lord is going to be working in me this year and somehow these women will be involved. I can't wait to see what He's planning!

When I returned to the nursery, Brynn was flapping her arms and legs in excitement to see me. She slept for an hour and a half there and the report was that she did great and had fun playing the rest of the time.

I find that with each new step I take in motherhood, I cringe with a bit of anxiety because I wonder how Brynn and I will cope. I feel more confident with each milestone that we pass together and it's never as bad as I anticipate. I know the Lord has much in store for me in this adventure of being a mama and I know some of it will feel easy and some of it will stretch me in ways I didn't know were possible.

Loving this adventure SO much.