A Season of Gratitude

I love this time of year because it helps me to reflect on my life and how much I have been blessed. This Thanksgiving holiday, I am trying to be more specific about the things that I am grateful for:

Bridger always wakes up cheerful and happy. He is also very excited when Carter wakes up too. This helps me to be in a good mood as well, no matter how early it is.

Somedays I feel like I married MacGyver. Ben is so creative and innovative. In every situation with Ben, I know he will think of a way to fix it, mend it, move it, build it, cook it, heal it, clean it, grow it, improve it or prevent it. I feel very lucky to have married such a smart guy.

Every week my mother-in-law calls one to five times. This makes us feel loved and missed.

I am thankful that our neighbors are our friends. This means a lot to us not having family close by.

Right now we have the best health insurance we have ever had and probably ever will.

I am pleased that Ben has a job that helps him feel fulfilled. He is great at taking care of sick children.

I am thankful that I get to teach expectant parents as my job. It allows me to reminisce the fun and life changing things that a new baby brings.

I am thankful that we have a savings account and it actually has money in it.

I am glad that we have enough space in our home to entertain our energetic boys.

I love that Carter sleeps 8-10 hours each night before waking up to eat.

I have a lot of friends who don't have dishwashers. This is a luxury I enjoy everyday.

I am thankful that we have close friends to have Sunday dinner with.

I am thankful that I know that there is a Prophet on the earth today that speaks for God who warns us and gives us guidance. This helps me feel peace in such a chaotic world.

I love being goofy and childish with my children. I love being the person who makes them laugh and smile. Who could ask for a better reward?

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone! I know we all have a lot to be thankful for.

"You're My Little Choochy Face...

.....My choochy whoochy, oochy, little choochy face!" To all my sisters... I know that you are singing the rest of the song in your head, and potentially it will STAY in your head the rest on the day. Sorry!! For those of you who didn't grow up watching and singing along to the movie "Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang " You can borrow the movie from me and you will know what I am talking about. Anyway, one of Bridger's dominant features as a baby was his cheeks. So for his nickname, we started calling him "Choochy Face." Because it fits, I can't help calling Carter the same thing.

Halloween

I made this post a while ago, but I guess did not post it. We had a fun Halloween and enjoyed trick-or treating.` As soon as Bridger recognized that he got candy when he held up his bucket, he was on board. He was scared at some costumes, loved looking at the jack-o-lanterns and asks for his "bucket? candy?" everyday. Carter is a fantastic second child and "came for the ride" like always. Yes, I know Carter is a girl M&M, and Bridger's outfit is way too big.... but that's what you get when you take both boys with you shopping.... grab and leave!

Da Bottom Lip

SO, Carter refuses a pacifier. I have heard parents complain of this dilemma with other babies and thought, "How does a baby 'not take a pacifier' ...just shove it in!"(because Bridger loved a pacifier and obviously, if MY baby does it, shouldn't everyother baby do it?) Yes , I am now being cursed for judging other parents. Now I know that you can "shove it in" all you want and unless the baby is willing to suck on it, it does not matter how many times or how many types of pacifiers you try, if he doesn't want it, he doesn't want it. End of story. Luckily for me last week Carter found something he will suck on and for the present time loves to...his bottom lip. It cracks me up and he looks a little goofy doing it... But, hey, whatever works.