This November I have been seeing many posts on Facebook where a person posts a status each day in November detailing something for which they are thankful. I didn't start at the beginning of November, wouldn't remember to write a post everyday, and don't want to overload other peoples newsfeed with posts (since I already do with pictures of Audrey) but all the things I have to be thankful for have been weighing on my mind lately so I decided to chronicle some of the many in this blog post. They will not be in any particular order so don't get your panties in a wad if something seems out of place because for this new mommy it is hard enough to just get them composed into a post!
1. For my beautiful and healthy baby girl, Audrey Jane. Mommy loves you more than she ever thought possible.
2. For my compassionate, helpful, hard working, and loving husband Stuart. He is such a great provider and does so much to make our house a better home both structurally and emotionally.
3. For our home. We have more space than we need and I love all the changes we have made. It is going to be a great place for Audrey to grow up.
4. For our neighborhood and neighbors. We bought our house for the great deal and got a neighborhood! More young couples and families are continuing to move in, making it even better for us. I am thankful to live in a place where I know my neighbors well enough to have a conversation and that we watch out for each other.
5. That Daddy's job only requires a few trips out of town a year and that he does not have to leave us at home often even if he just went to Pittsburgh and is headed to Houston soon
6. For Aunt Rach and all she has done for us since Audrey has arrived. I can't put in the words how much she did for us those first few weeks and she continues to babysit for Audrey regularly and stay with us when Stuart has to be out of town.
7. That Aunt Rach found out today that she passed the first section of her CPA despite dedicating so much of her time to us!
8. For my Thursday afternoon Bible Study Group at St Johns. Joining this group more than a year ago has been one of my best decisions since our move to Prospect. My walk with Christ has grown so much thanks to this group of ladies and I cherish my time with them and know they keep my prayer requests close to their hearts during the week.
9. For the groups I am now a part of as a Mom, especially MOPS at church and the new Moms group at Mamas Hip.
10. For being able to provide healthy food options for my family thru the amazing coupons at Earthfare and everyday prices at Trader Joes. Recently we have started trying to cut as many preservatives, artificial coloring/flavorings, and chemicals from our diet and daily lives as possible and our proximity to these stores make this possible.
11. For leftovers and the technology to store and rewarm food. Enough said.
12. That despite begging for medication I was able to have a natural unmedicated birth and fantastic experience at Clark Memorial. Thanks especially to Stuart and our doula Jacqueline for helping me achieve this amazing and empowering experience.
13. For my amazing relationship with my in-laws. So many women have strained miserable relationships with their mother-in-laws and I am so thankful to not be one of them. Ellen is an amazing loving caring grandparent, parent, and friend who would do anything for me or Audrey. We see eye to eye on so many things and I am lucky to be a part of her family. Joe has been instrumental in our home remodel and is a caring Papa Joe to Audrey!
14. I cherish my breastfeeding relationship with Audrey. I am so glad to have the ability and desire to provide her with what I believe is the best form of nutrition especially with cold and flu season approaching!
15. For my Mom now referred to more often as Granny. She does so much for my siblings and I. I love how much more often we get to see her now that her first grandchild has arrived. My mom is so supportive of breastfeeding, baby led weaning, me mostly staying at home with Audrey, cloth diapering, and many other parts of my attachment parenting relationship with Audrey and I know how rare it is to have that support.
16.For Pappy (my Dad) who took vacation to help after Audrey was born. For his almost daily lunch time phone calls to check in on us and his many trips to Louisville in the last few months.
17. Now that Audrey is almost 11 weeks old I am so thankful that I made the decision to leave a job I loved in Indy and that our financial situation allowed me to do this. I know now how misguided I was in thinking that I would be emotionally able to leave her from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. Physically it would have been possible but it would have been a huge determent my emotional state, our breastfeeding relationship, and Stuart's career. I am glad that changes on CMCC lead me to seek this change during the summer so that I was able to enjoy my pregnancy on the weekends and work less hours in the final weeks of my pregnancy.
18. For my new job with Norton Clinical Agency. I get the benefit of working at a great organization and am able to keep my critical care skills in nursing while basically being a stay at home Mom. This job provides me with amazing flexibility and a great hourly wage. I work when I want to work and have the ability to take up to 89 days between 8 hour shifts if it ever becomes necessary. Super thankful for the hours I have already worked and am contracted to work for 6 weeks starting after Thanksgiving in the ICU at Norton Brownsboro. This hospital is less than 10 minutes from my house and so far I have basically gotten the perk of working one place while getting agency pay!
19. For Tom Keenan introducing me to hot yoga and for his "new" business Brick Oven Yoga. If Tom hadn't started a hot yoga program at yogaeast a few years back I may have never met Nicole. Nicole has now become a great friend and resource. Oh, and her knowledge of Yamuna Body Rolling was so helpful during pregnancy and now as I try to work my body back into shape.
20. For my on again off again on again Ashtanga yoga practice. Dating all the way walk to 2004 I am thankful at how portable this series of yoga truly is. I love that I can practice is at home in my living room floor when I can't make it to the studio and that I can stop and move Audrey to another source of entertainment between poses when necessary!
21.For technology. Especially the internet and my cell phone which allow me to feel connected to the outside world on days that I don't leave my house. Things we take for granted now like free long distance calling and picture messaging make it so much easier to keep in contact with long distance family and friends. Also for the internet on my phone that kept me awake while breastfeeding in bed at night during those early weeks!
22. I am thankful for cousins for Audrey. I can't wait to watch her grow up with Connor and Cole. It is already so much fun to see them interact with her.
23. For other family members especially Uncle Jake and Aunt Britt. We may not get to see them as often as we would like but we cherish our time with them.
24.For the health of our family and extended family
25.For college friends especially Anna and Kelsey but many others too. It is so nice to have Anna as a resource for mommy questions and it is going to be so much fun for our daughters to grow up together. (Oh and the hand me downs are a big plus!) It is hard to believe that she and I meet over 10 years ago now at GSP. Although we don't get to spend as much time with Kels now that she lives farther away and is married women she is still a treasured friend in my life.
26. For all my baby gear. Audry loves bouncing on the exercise ball and being carried in my numerous carriers and she tolerates her swing as long as she's happy or slightly sleepy!
27. For my budding friendships with others as my life evolves. Especially with Lacey and for her healthy pregnancy. Awaiting the arrival of Lucy, another friend for Audrey in December!
28. For the sanity of Kristina and the health of her new twins Parker and Penny.
29. Other friends who mean so much to me and our family. There are so many who are there when I need them despite long distances or short distances and infrequent contact due to busy schedules. I really appreciate all the new mommy advice I have received and continue to receive when I need it!
30. For the FUTURE and whatever it holds
So this is my list. WOW turned out more like a novel. I apologize for the many grammatical and punctuation errors that it probably includes as Audrey needs my attention and if I don't post it now I probably won't remember to come back! I'm sure there are many things I have left out but with limited planning this is what I came up off the top of my head. I have so much for which to be Thankful.
