Category Archives: think happy thoughts

Nov13

Catch-up

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Catch-up

Okay, so I didn’t post daily, but I am still grateful for several things. But posting daily with a persnickety four month old just isn’t a realistic expectation. So here are some highlights of things from the past week or so that I have been so grateful for!

#1– I am so grateful for my “nerdy” husband. He’s seriously the best with technology. He helped me set up my blog, he takes care of all the techie things around the house. And he and one of our couple friends were able to get “Downton Abbey” Season 3 for us. And then the other wife (my friend Christy) and I got to have a Downton marathon while the husbands got to play with more technology. Life is good.

# 2– I am grateful every single day for the miracle of life. This time last year my daughter was just a little lentil-bean, and now she’s a healthy four month old baby who is completely where she should be in growth.

#3– This might go along with #2, but I am grateful for all those times my daughter doesn’t want to nap because she is so fascinated by the world around her. I am constantly amazed by how bright and intelligent Evie is. It constantly fascinates me whenever she smiles, laughs, or does anything new. I LOVE that little girl!

#4– I love our two dogs. they are adorable, and I love them so incredibly much! They are so fun and cuddly.

#5– (Last one for today!) I am grateful for the wonderful people who have donated to the “Evelyn Clothing Fund”.  We do not have to buy ANYTHING for Evelyn until she’s at least a year old, and even then we still have a good array of clothing for her. In fact, we have so many clothes from the 3 mo range that she’s not going to be able to wear everything more than once! It also makes me grateful that we don’t have to freak out with dramatic weather changes like this week- I just look through the clothes for the long sleeved outfits and we’re set! It’s incredible how much we have.

All right, I think I should stop for now (especially since who knows how much time I have left with Evie’s nap!) So I’ll leave you with another cute picture:

(And we didn’t buy a single item of clothing here. All were given/bought by others and given to us! So blessed!)

Nov2

Grateful for…

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Grateful for…

I love Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday that is more and more looked over by everyone in the rush for Christmas, but I think it’s important to be grateful. Should we be grateful every day? Of course. But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we forget a lot.  So having a holiday set aside to remind us how lucky we really are is a good thing, in my opinion. In honor of this, I am going to try and post each day something I am grateful for.

(A lot of people are posting their “Grateful for” daily on FB. I think that’s cool and all, but I’ll save it for my blog.)

November 1: I am grateful for fall. I always loved the leaves changing and the cooler air. I miss the actual change you see in the seasons that you get in the mountains or the North East, but here, I am just grateful for the change from 90-100 degree temps to the high of the day only being 82! (Seriously. It’s a relief to open the door and NOT feel like you are walking out into an oven.)

November 2: I am grateful for Evie smiles.

There is nothing in the world that brings me more joy now than this little girl when she gives me a big, happy grin like this. And on days like today where she’s been grumpy and refuses to take more than 20-30 minute naps all day long, when she flashes me with one of her amazing smiles, it’s all forgotten, and the world is good again.

I really am a lucky girl!

Oct20

Positive endings

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Positive endings

Well, the week has gotten better- thank goodness!

Yesterday, Evie and I got to go on a play date. One of my neighbors is super sweet and has two young kids of her own, and has invited me to a few things with her friends. One of her friends has a little boy a month or two older than Evelyn, so we got together with another girl who had a baby just a week younger than Evelyn, and hung out for a few hours. It was wonderful to get out of the house and talk to other adults.

Then Jared came home “early” at 8:00 PM Friday night. (Yeah, we really know how to party here, right?) Just spending time with him this weekend has been a welcome change. With him working so much, I really miss my best friend. Especially when Evelyn and/or the dogs decide to have a bad day.

Then, today was wonderful because we took it easy. We just spent time with each other for much of the morning. We did get some things done, but we didn’t push too hard. Later, we were able to go to a party with another friend of mine from my teaching days. It was great to catch up with her and see her home and pets… and it was a lot of fun because a lot of the couples there have kids now, too, so it wasn’t too weird if Evie got a little fussy. And even better, I got to try some great homemade German food!

I’m exhausted, but it was a good end to a fairly difficult week. I do not regret the choices I’ve made to stay home with my daughter, but it’s not always easy. It’s been a major shift of direction on my lifestyle and how I think, and it’s just different. There are days where I miss teaching in the classroom more fiercely than I thought I could ever miss it. I miss the social interaction with students and peers. I miss achievable, obvious goals being made and met.

But no matter how hard things have gotten so far, I wouldn’t trade this time I’ve had with Evie for all the world.

Jun11

Things I found while browsing around…

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Things I found while browsing around…

I know there’s things I should be doing that are more productive around the house.

Napping, even, but it’s hard when it’s nearly 100 degrees, you’re in your ninth month of pregnancy, and you have two hot little doggies (one that’s a big ole pathetic sicko) that want to sleep RIGHTTHERE with you. Under a blanket, no less.

So, I’m watching the DIY (Do IT Yourself) channel and browsing the web. Here are some of the awesome things I have found today.

Big Bang Theory Inspired Soft Kitty Mug

Etsy.com is such a great time waster. I’d never actually buy most of these items, but it gives you great inspiration. What’s better than Soft Kitty when you aren’t feeling well?

Not a fan of Big Bang Theory (though everyone should be, really)? Maybe these garden gnomes are more your style:

Zombie Garden Gnome, "Walking Dead" (5-6 WEEKS Before delivery)

Please don’t take this as a sign that I actually would want one of these in my own yard… Please. And thank you.

Maybe I just find this funny because my life is about to be ruled by an infant soon. You should probably just admire this whole Etsy store because it’s that great:

Accio Milk Harry Potter Bodysuit (Black) Nintendo onesie Daddy's Little Princess

And this is just a unique twist on your usual dice (or die since they are selling them individually?):

Dice (1 Die) - 3D printed, Steampunk Style, Bronze Finish

 

And have you ever wondered at the zoo if that animal was really determined, could s/he break the glass? Here’s a determined polar bear to answer that question!

Polar Bear

I guess I like it because of the polar bear’s awesome strength and determination, not necessarily because the glass actually breaks. Just clarifying, in case you thought I was crazy.

(Well, of course you know I’m crazy, but I digress.)

Anything that you find that you like out there? Feel free to attach in comments. Maybe next time I do a post like this, yours will be on there, too! 🙂

**Update/Edit 6-12-2012**

I just came across this today, and thought it was pretty neat (but not deserving of its own blog post).

I’m not normally a lobster fan, unless I’m eating them, but I would totally keep this one as a pet!

A catch straight out of the deep blue sea