Thankful

Dear Adeleigh,

Your second Thanksgiving is just four days away, and there is much to be grateful for. In addition to the more identifiable things - like family, friends and good health - there are so many day-to-day blessings worth appreciating, whether it be a moment, a routine or just a feeling. So, if there's something I want you to always remember, not just around the Holidays, it's to count your blessings, no matter how small. Because they are plentiful.

• I'm thankful for the other Mommas in my life, including my own, who understand the daily joys and struggles of parenthood.
• I'm thankful for the women in my life who will be Mommas, for bringing some much needed love, beauty and innocence into this crazy world.
• I'm thankful for your Daddy, and for mine, for teaching (and most importantly showing) us ladies respect, appreciation and love.
• I'm thankful that when I'm stressed, you furrow your brow and say, "Dop it." Thanks for reminding me that life is only as difficult as I make it.
• I'm thankful that you love me no matter my faults.
• I'm thankful that when I sing or hum, you smile at me, then join in.
• I'm thankful to Julie and Chris for the Diaper Genie 2 Elite. Who knew there was something more supreme than the Diaper Genie 1?!
• I'm thankful for Netflix, for distracting you while I clip your nails.
• I'm thankful for the little reminders I get of you while I'm at work - like the half-eaten cookie buried crumbling in the bottom of my purse, your toy cell phone resting next to mine, or the lone sock I've found in my sweater pocket during a meeting.
• I'm thankful to have someone to trust you with when I can't be there.
• I'm thankful that you run to greet me when I walk in the front door. You always know just what I need.
• I'm thankful for the mornings to enjoy banana pancakes and Elmo with you.
• I'm thankful when you lay your head on my chest, even if it is just to suck on my zipper.
• I'm thankful for your perfect raspberry-blowing belly. And for your adorable raspberry-blowing-inflicted belly laugh.
• I'm thankful for the mornings where I wake up to you giggling and jumping on your bed. I don't need coffee those days :)
• I'm thankful that you rub your little feet against me while relaxing on my lap.
• I'm thankful for your purity.
• When I leave the room, I'm thankful that you follow me, even if it takes you twice as long to get there.
• I'm thankful that when you're playing on the opposite side of the room, you drag your toys over, plop on the floor next to me and continue playing.
• I'm thankful that you need me, because I need you too.

The last 15 months of my life has been the most defining, gratifying time of my 27 years so far. I have you to thank for that. And in that time, you've taught me just as much, if not more than I've taught you. Thank you, Adeleigh for choosing your Daddy and me to bless. You know we couldn't have it any other way.

Photo by Jessica Loucks 

Trick-and-Treat

I've often heard Phaeton talk about the interesting tradition surrounding Halloween - dress up in a costume, go door to door, say 3 little words which threaten to impose mischief or harm to people's property, and get rewarded with sugar. I've always found it interesting that to some, Halloween is viewed as a day to wear as little clothing as possible on one of the coldest nights of the season. But that's not what this post is about.
For Adeleigh's 1st walking Halloween, we took her to the city "Where the geese fly, and the bulls cry" (also known as the little town about 15 miles east, Severance). We wanted Adeleigh to go trick-or-treating with her 3-year-old cousin, Ashton (also known as Superman). We dressed her up in her Duck sweatsuit, grabbed her pink pumpkin bucket and headed out the door. She loved knocking on each house's door and loved greeting the neighbors. We'd tell her to say "Trick-or-Treat" which came out as "Ahh-doo" with a smile, and always elicited candy in her pumpkin. But to Adeleigh, the concept of collecting as many sweets as possible hadn't fully registered. After a few pieces were collected, and we were greeted at the door by someone new, Adeleigh pulled her gifted candy out of the bucket and offered it to the next neighbor. This always generated a giggle or two and the response of "You can keep your candy, and I'll give you a few more!" This happened a few times before she (and we!) began reveling in the abundance of chocolate. And then we realized, that our giving little girl, on her very first night of Trick-or-Treating, had mastered the art of tricking the neighbors into giving her extra treats! Atta girl!