Day 30

I can't believe it is the last day of November! I am so grateful for my life and many blessings. I am thankful for the places we got to travel to this year, the time we had together as a couple with no kids, for this new stage of life with Isabella, for my experience with the midwives, for benign results on my thyroid, Tuesday night visits from my mom, for Oklahoma sunsets, for friends to share my greatest joys and deepest fears and heartaches, and so much more. In our culture of more and never enough it has been good for me to reflect on how much I do have and how much God has done in my life!

I read this quote today: "Contentment isn’t a matter with being content with your situation in life and never trying to improve it. It’s a matter of being content with what you have. Finding contentment with the stuff you have and with a simpler life can lead to buying less, to buying things we need instead of want, and to only spending what we can afford. I know this first-hand, as uncontrolled spending led to debt for me, and contentedness led to me getting out of debt."
Something to think about, especially entering a season that is marketed to getting more

Anyway, November has been a good month and I have been having fun dressing up my little girl.

Love her sweet smile!

Day 29

Today I am thankful that Michael's job typically allows him to have a flexible schedule. We had Isabella's 2 month appointment today and I was really glad to have him with us. We had to wait 40 minutes and Izzy's 2 month shots were not fun. She slept all day except for two 30 minute periods and ran a fever.
Sometimes he has to work some in the evening or on a weekend, but that usually means some time off in the week. His boss values family and Michael spending time with us and that is a great blessing.

Day 28

Today I am thankful for getting to hear my dad preach this morning, seeing friends and family at my parents church, and introducing Isabella to people who are excited to meet her for the first time.

Day 27

Today I am thankful for sweet, quiet, cuddly moments with my baby. Also for pajama Saturdays!

Day 26

Today I was originally thankful for no line at Starbucks this morning. While there were long lines everywhere, I pulled right into the drive-thru with no wait. I decided to have my first caramel brulée latte of the season following a long session of screaming and fussing that left me with shot nerves. I had prepared myself to have to wait in a long line and was happily surprised to find no wait. Lame I know...

But the day turned around with time with family for our second Thanksgiving with my dad's extended family, a sleepy baby, and decorating our house for Christmas. So today I am thankful that my husband was willing to pull out all of the decorations out for me, set up our tree, help me decorate it, and pick up pizza for us.



Our family of three.
I have been so excited about getting Isabella's stocking monogrammed ever since I was pregnant.
Merry Christmas!

Photo shoot

Day 25

Thanksgiving 2010

What I am most thankful for this year is my daughter Isabella. I am thankful for my pregnancy that was not always easy, but produced a healthy baby. I am so thankful that Isabella was born healthy, strong, and perfect in my eyes! Last year at Thanksgiving I was hoping to be thankful for a baby this year at Thanksgiving and I feel so blessed and grateful to have her!


Isabella knows what you do after lunch on Thanksgiving!

Day 24

Today I am thankful for cooking time with my mom, a sleepy baby, 50% off coupons to borders, and peppermint foot lotion at the end of the day! Excited for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in the morning!

Day 23

Today I am thankful for an abundance of food, safety, shelter, and family. I was listening to K-LOVE today and they were taking donations for a place in Africa where they are having a drought and a plague at the same time. One boy who is 8 who has become the "man" of his household after his father and many other family members had died. His job was to find food for the family. He was very happy one day when he found- I'm not sure if I can even type this- a nest of rats. This was apparently a great find and provided food for the family.

Even when our grocery budget gets low at the end of some months, that scenario is absolutely unfathomable to me. We just get creative with what is in our pantry or freezer and that is not a bad thing. As I think about all of the food that will be consumed in our country this Thanksgiving we are so blessed.

So much to be thankful for...

TWO MONTHS!!

2 Months and I'll cry if I want to!


There's a smiley face!

Isabella is 2 months old today! She is smiling and "talking" more. She is happiest in the mornings. She is doing a little better with riding in her car seat. She still likes bath time. We are excited to have our first holidays with her!

Day 22

Today I am thankful for our grandparents. Mine have all passed away now, but I am deeply grateful for the legacy of faith and family they passed on to me. We had dinner with Michael's grandparents this evening. It was a good visit and I was glad for Isabella to get to spend time with her great grandparents!

Days 18, 19, 20, & 21

Day 18- Thankful for a sleeping baby that slept 3 1/2 hours all the way to Grand Lake!! And for uninterrupted time for conversation with my man.
Day 19- Thankful for quiet, water, sunsets, and sonic happy hour.


Day 20- Thankful for more quiet, reading, holding my baby girl, and family.


Day 21- Thankful for time away with family, s'mores, hot tubs, laughing, falling leaves, sleeping in, and a husband that cooks!


We left Thursday night after Michael got off work and headed to his Aunt's lake house at Grand Lake for the weekend. David and Heather joined us Friday night. Isabella did great on her first long car ride. I had been praying she would do alright, because there are long stretches where there is no where to stop. She slept the entire way there and most of the way home! We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend and are ready for this holiday week!

Day 17

Today I am thankful for cousins and for growing up with lots of cousins my age. I had a lovely visit and lunch with one of my cousins today!

Day 16

Today I am thankful for my high school boyfriend. Not the psycho one...but the one I ended up marrying, who later became my baby daddy. Today- 11/16/10 is our 12 year dating anniversary. Who know back in high school that we would still be together 12 years later and have started our family? I am thankful to be married to the same guy from high school who is kind, tender with me, and still has (as my mother calls it) his "child-like wonder".

Day 15

I am thankful for my sister who kept Isabella tonight. Michael had to work and I had a client to see. I don't like leaving her, but it feels better knowing she is in good hands. Heather is really sweet with her when she is fussy- which is just how she is at night sometimes these days. Luckily she slept most of the time so they got to have sweet cuddles.
Not only did my sister keep her tonight, but she also came bearing a gift for Isabella AND made dinner for me. I have the best sister and what an awesome aunt for Isabella!

Day 14

Today I am thankful for an easy morning. I had to finish up a cake for the church potluck and get both of us ready this morning. Isabella slept longer than usual and woke up just as I finished getting ready. As I got her ready she was happy and cooing the whole time. Compared to some Sunday mornings this was a great one!

All ready for church


Wearing her new pearl bracelet from her Mimi

Day 13

I am thankful for books. I have enjoyed reading since being out of graduate school and enjoy being in my book club. Books can take you to another place, open you up to new ideas and experiences, and just be a lot of fun.
Isabella has been given a lot of books, which I am happy about because I want us to be more of a reading family than a TV watching family. She had a visit from her great aunt today who brought this new book: You are my I love you. I had never read it before, but it is such a sweet book and our new favorite.


Some of my other favorites for her are: My name is not Isabella, You are special, and her board books.

I am currently reading, The girlfriend's guide to surviving the first year of motherhood (which is hil-arious!), Model home for book club, On being a therapist, and I am hoping to start the third Harry Potter book soon.

Day 12

I am thankful for the rain that fell today. It washed off the masses of bird poo that rained down on my car the other night in a parking lot full of birds- the day after I got a car wash. It also made for a great day to snuggle with my baby girl and drink hot chocolate with a friend.

Candy cane lane

I picked up some of this tea at the grocery store a few weeks ago. I love it! This is the description of the flavor: "This delectable holiday blend starts with naturally decaffeinated green tea and adds unmistakable seasonal flavors like cool peppermint, creamy vanilla and a dash of cinnamon."


MMmm! I love a quiet cup of tea in the morning or before bed.

Day 11

Today I am thankful for good news. I had told God I would praise him regardless of the outcome of the results and asked for peace in accepting what he had for me.
The Dr. called this morning, much sooner than I was anticipating, and said the results had come back benign. I will have to have ultrasounds done every 6 months to monitor the nodules and make sure they are not growing, but otherwise she said everything was normal. I am so grateful! What a blessing!

Day 10

I am thankful for this time I have had at home with Isabella. I love staying home with her and I'm so grateful to be able to.

Day 9

Today I am thankful for having my biopsy over with, the support and love of my family and friends, time with family today, and cookies from McLaren's pantry!

My "bee stings"

I HATE needles...It is more of a psychological thing because it is rarely as bad as I fear. But today the Dr. started with- "Now this will 'just' feel like a bee sting". Really? Is that comforting?
As my friend put it so well, and who doesn't love a good bee sting?

I had prepared myself for one draw from the nodule they were concerned about and possibly another. But it was 5 draws on the right side and 4 on the left, plus two shots at the beginning of the procedure. And they wouldn't let Michael come back with me! I tried to think about contractions and child birth to ease some of the discomfort. Oh well, I survived, and should have results in 3-5 days.

Here is our sweet girl in her thanksgiving outfit...



Love that turkey bum! :)

Day 8

Today I am thankful for beautiful weather. We had a quiet day at home and enjoyed a walk in the neighborhood. It was nice to soak up the sun on what may be one of our last days in the mid 70's. Isabella talked and cooed to me and then screamed until she fell asleep. :)

Day 7

Today I am thankful for Michael's time. He had a really busy week up through today with school, homework, work meetings, homecoming, the call out, teaching bible class- just to name a few of his commitments.

In spite of being really tired today he: took a load of stuff to good will for me, took Izzy and me to a Christmas open house, vacuumed and swiffered the floors, went grocery shopping with me, and got Isabella ready for church so I could shower.

I'm sure most of these activities were not high on his list of things he wanted to get done today, but really meant a lot to me!

Now for the pictures. Isabella had her first pictures with Santa at the open house. We will have to get some more, because these did not go so well...

Who is this weirdo? When she started to fuss, Santa handed her off to Mrs. Claus...


Who attempted to calm her with no avail...


This was the best we could do! :)

Day 6

I am thankful for my dad. I am thinking about him after rereading the sweet card he sent to Isabella for Halloween. I am sure it is the first of many cards she will receive from him.

Throughout junior high, high school, OC, and even graduate school at OSU, I would receive cards or other random clippings in the mail from my dad. Then when I had a full time job I still got cards occasionally, or he would drop off flowers that he had just clipped from his garden. Other than his acts of kindness, he has frequently encouraged me with his words and praise. Through his words, actions, and love I know he is my biggest fan. A father's love is so important to girls and I will always be grateful for my dad and how actively he works to show his love.

For those who are more interested in pictures...

Miss Isabella and me after church last Sunday


We went shopping today at Target with Heather and Ava. Izzy slept in the front of the cart.


Ava slept in the cart in her seat. I thought they were so sweet!


We went to the homecoming banquet at OC tonight. Isabella fell asleep on Michael's chest while he walked her around to meet people. She looked so sweet and content with him. I have memories of being a little girl and falling asleep on my dad's shoulder in a loud room of people talking- such a safe place to be snuggled up!

Day 5

Today I am thankful for my "girl-friend-ships". I have been blessed with a special relationship with my mom, a sister who is also my friend, cousins that are friends, close girlfriends, a mentor, and many other special relationships. The women in my life are very important to me and I don't know what I would do without them to share in the difficult things and celebrate the joys in life.

Day 4

Today I am thankful for pumpkin spice lattes from 7-11 and a quiet trip out. Michael was home for a few hours in the middle of the day today and I snuck out for a bit. Usually by this time of year I would have consumed many pumpkin spice lattes from 7-11 following their reappearance on Oct 1. But this was my first of the season. I followed the trip to 7-11 with other wild activities of going to the library and Michael's for some crafting stuff. Sometimes it is just the little things in life! :)

Day 3

Today I am thankful for encouraging words. I am thankful for people who give encouraging words, and passages in the bible that strengthen me.

At 11:05, the end of the day today, I am exhausted. I had a conversation with someone this week about this passage in Matthew 11:

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

We contemplated how it is possible to find the rest that this passage is talking about during times when you feel overwhelmed, weary, burdened, or emotionally or physically exhausted. How do you actively choose peace? It was a timely conversation for me.

This passage is my encouraging word today. I need to feel that kind of inner rest and peace...for HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden is light. So thankful for that!

Day 2

We experience so many blessings living in this country. All day on facebook I noticed people talking about voting. I saw several posts by those related to people serving in the military stating their loved one serves so that we have the freedom to vote.

Then I had a conversation at dinner with some friends about choosing to immunize or not immunize our children.

How do these things fit together? Today I am thankful for freedom of choice and the blessing that is. I feel thankful that we can have some say about the leaders in our country and that we can make choices based on what we believe is best for our family.

30 Days of Thanksgiving- Year Two- Day 1

We decided to blog 30 days of thanksgiving again this year. For those of you who were wondering if the 30th day last year would be a birth announcement- let me assure you- there will again be no such announcement this year! :)

Today I am thankful for all of the people who have taken care of us these past several weeks. We had some great nurses in the hospital who took great care of us. We have had countless meals from friends and family members, so many gifts and gift cards, a friend who mowed our grass, a friend helped me move out of my office at work, people who have encouraged us, and many other acts of kindness.

People have been so generous with their time, talents, and gifts. I am so grateful to them!