Thankful

I have SO much to be thankful for that it would take me days to make mention of it all.  I have been blessed beyond measure and I live a wonderful life!  Lately, though, I've been EXTRA thankful for something in particular.  Being a stay-at-home-mom.  I never want to take this for granted, as I know that it's a privilege that not everyone gets to enjoy. 

 

All my life all I've ever wanted was to be a wife and Mother and stay home and take care of my family.  In college, my dental professors and my classmates joked that dental hygiene school was just my back up plan, IN CASE I had to work!  Truly, I feel like I was born to do this.  I can't even imagine being a working Mom and being away from my child(ren) each day.  I have complete and total respect for these moms, including my own, who never had the opportunity to stay home with me and my sister. 

 

With that being said, today was a great reminder of this great gift that I've been given.  It was the little things throughout the day that reminded me of how blessed I am to be living my dream.

 

It started when I woke up to this sweet face, who had a SERIOUS case of bed head this morning!!

 

 

I've never seen such a mess!  I asked her if rats had been sleeping in her hair and she said "uh huh".  I believe it!  Nonetheless, I was thankful that I started my day this way.

 

Then, I looked up to realize that sometime during the night, Kyndall had neatly placed three of her Minnies on the headboard of her crib.  Another reason to smile.

 

And then, I was able to talk about the day ahead over breakfast with this little cutie

 

 

Although it seems more like a pain than a privilege, I was able to run some errands and mark things off my to-do list---Something that I often take for granted.  I don't know how I'd get it all done if I only had the evenings and weekends for such things.  Hats off to the working Moms, again!

 

After being in the car for over an hour, I rewarded my patient little passenger with a trip to the park.  Another priviledge that I can't imagine not being able to do.

 

 

Thankful that I can find teachable moments throughout our day together---Such as counting to 10 and learning colors (both of which she can now do!)

 

Watching her play is such a JOY!

 

Thankful to see this smile for myself, rather than hearing about it from someone else at the end of a long work day

 

Thankful that even when I'm tired and just want to sit, I have the privilege of pushing my daughter on the swings and hearing her giggle with delight

 

 

Thankful to be able to see the progress she's made in walking, climbing and running all over the place.  Remember, she didn't even walk until she was 19 months old!  And look at her now......

 

Thankful to be able to watch her be a "rina" (ballerina) and do "lay" (ballet)

 

 

Thankful that even when I'm ready to leave and have a million and one things still to do, we can take just ONE more turn on the swings before going about the rest of our day

 

What's NOT to be thankful for?  I have all I've ever wanted and more!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!