Blessings...count them one by one.

I LOVE Thanksgiving.  I mean, I love it.  I love the fried turkey, all the sides, and pie.  I love the chaos that fills the house when my family gathers together.  I love the drama that sometimes it causes.  :)  I love getting off of work for the holiday (when I do).  I love lounging with a full tummy and snoozing off to football games in the background.  I love looking through the ads to see what deals there are, even though I rarely need to buy anything.  I love that Dickens on Main starts that weekend in the darling town of Boerne, the place that will always be home to me, no matter where we live.  And, I love the tradition of craft market shopping with the ladies of the family the day after  Thanksgiving.

This year, my cute family has listed our blessings day by day.  It's not the cutest sign in the world.  Maybe one day we'll have a gratitude tree or a cute chalkboard.  But, it's not about being cute.  It's about being thankful.  I wanted to snap a picture of it, so I never forget what was on our minds this year.  Meg & Mom even added to it on their little visit.

And, now that Eli is in pre-school (one day a week), I love that my refrigerator is covered in his art.  I'm shopping now for a fridge for the new house, and I just keep thinking about how nice these stainless refrigerators look, but how I will have to find another place to hang up Eli's things.  Somehow, I feel like a real mom with this stuff hanging up.

I can't wait for this next week.  Especially since I am working my last shift now, before I have the entire week off.  

Friend to friend

Yesterday, I took Eli to get a donut as a treat after his doctor's appointment.  It turns out that he didn't need shots at his appointment like I thought he would.  And, Ben went in late to work just so he could give me emotional support through the vaccines.  But, nevertheless, donuts to celebrate a good appointment!  I love that as we pulled into the parking space in front of the donut shop, Eli shouted, "Yay!" from the backseat.  He shortly abandoned me and the pink-frosted donut he picked out to go to the mirror to have a conversation with himself.  I didn't understand everything he was saying, but judging by the laughter, it must have been pretty funny.

We then went to playgroup, where I was thrilled that he didn't hit, push, or shove another kid.  (That was a pretty big accomplishment considering the week we've had.)  And, he had a great nap, with bed-head to prove it.

Then, we played at the park, even though the slide and swings were sopping wet from the earlier rain shower.  This face is one of the main reasons that I love being a mother.  Eli is happy, and he knows it!  And, come to think of it, I am too.

Cookies for Santa

...and a tantrum for Eli.

I had the bright idea to take Eli to one of those paint-your-own-pottery places.  I thought it would be so fun to make a cute plate for cookies for Santa and maybe and ornament or two.  What started out as a fun little mama-son play date, quickly turned into a total melt down.  It ended with me prying him off of the concrete sidewalk in front of the store 45 minutes later and calling my husband to come help for reinforcements.  By the end of it all, I was pretty sure I might throw a tantrum also.

This was a reminder that Eli is simply not into crafts.  He much prefers running in the outdoors, kicking balls, punching balloons, and anything else that doesn't involve sitting still.

But, when all was said and done.  I will say that our plate turned out cuter than I imagined.  I hope one day Eli loves it.  Ben said not to get too attached to it, because there is a good chance that some day, with an active little guy like Eli, that fantastic plate just might accidentally break.  Well, at least I have a picture to prove that it is simply adorable.  Thanks, Eli, for giving me a day to remember.

Happy, happy birthday Eli, dear!

It happened.  My baby turned 2.  My world has been changed over these past 2 years in the best way possible.  And, this kid is perfect for me.  I love him like crazy!

Mimi, Aunt Meg, Sadie & Cinco all came in the night before to surprise him (and me) for his birthday.  We were bummed that Grandma & Grandpa couldn't make it from Austin, but we had a spectacular day.

A day full of play time...

Cupcakes & singing...

And, new toys.  He couldn't get enough of his new tool play set from Mimi & Gramps.

It was a lot for a new 2 year old to take in.  And, at the end of the day, I am pretty sure he was delirious.  In fact, he said "night night" to everyone...and everything (including his tool set, his Mickey balloon, and his birthday cards).

What a day!  And, what a boy!  Eli, you are simply the best kid a mama could ask for.   

A sentence

Tomorrow, my baby turns 2.  And, today, he said his first 3-word sentence..."mama no work."  He has said a lot of 2-word sentences, like "it hurt", "I kick", etc.  But, tonight, it was "mama no work".  Whoah.  It wasn't my imagination.  Ben was there also.  And, by about the 5th or 6th time that he said it, "mama no work", it sounded like he was pleading with me.

I sang him the usual bedtime songs with a crack in my voice and tears rolling down my face.  I have been feeling like I am so lucky that I get to spend so much time with him, compared to my past job.  But, when I work, which is about twice a week, I work a 24 hour shift.  So, that means I don't get to tuck him in at night or greet him when he wakes up.  And, I realized that what he was asking for was just that...for me to sing, rock, and read stories to him at each bedtime.  Although my 24 hour shifts usually feel like an eternity without seeing him, I guess I seemed to think that he was just fine without me.  And, I know he is.  But, now, I also know that he misses me.

I have already thought about how hard it will be to go to the hospital to work on Christmas Eve, and be without my little family.  I have thought about how difficult it will be to walk out the door leaving our new baby girl for the first time.  But, I was more focused on how hard it will be for me, and now I see how hard it will be on Ben & the children.

I somehow feel that I am cheating Eli by being away at times.  Maybe I am, I don't know.  But, for now, I will lay in bed, grateful that I tucked him in tonight...and, even more grateful that I get to greet him first thing in the morning, with the helium filled balloons I got him after he went to bed (he has been asking for balloons that float all day).

Darling Eli, mama loves you.   I hope you know that.  Even when I am away.

Halloween, and then some.

Just got through with a great few days.  Halloween was last Thursday, and I was a little worried about whether Eli would cooperate or not.  He looked so cute last year, and the silly mom in me wanted him to be just as cute this year!
Last year...

This year, I got him a little doctor outfit, to be just like me.  And, on the trial runs, I tried to put it on him twice, and he HATED it.  He just said, "No, no, no" in the sweetest voice until I took it off.
Well, he put it on, but wouldn't keep the hat, stethoscope, or name tag on, but I was still very proud of him.

Trick-or-treating with a bunch of toddlers was a total blast.  We loved it.

Then, the next day the ladies all had a 2-day outing at Time Out for Women, which was so great.  It was so great to be with Mom and sisters/sis-in-laws.  And, it was so uplifting to hear encouraging words for 2 days.  We left feeling higher and ready to take on the world!

One of my favorite things said was in a song by Mercy River,
"I may not be the best at many things.  But, I believe I love you perfectly."
That pretty much sums up me as a mother and a wife.  I sometimes feel overwhelmed and inadequate, but I know that I am doing my best and Heavenly Father is helping me to take care of my wonderful family, because He loves them more than I do.

Here I am, back at work.  This was the first moment I have gotten to sit down, in 5 hours.  But, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I was able to help a colleague with an emergency hysterectomy and then deliver a darling baby boy!  What a wonderful morning!