Thankful Thursday #1

I'm writing on borrowed time -- the baby is napping, the toddler is watching Frozen (more like reciting it word-for-word), and the big bro is doing his math.  Let's do this!

1. I'm thankful for photos.

I'm such a picture freak (if we're friends on Facebook, you know this to be true).  I am constantly snapping photos of my children.  Bubby is now getting old enough to where he doesn't want his picture taken very often, but every once in a while I'm able to sneak him into a shot or two..

In fact, just because I want to and I can (because this is my blog, so ha!) I'm going to post a photo of my children under each thing that I'm thankful for. So there.

Sissy, swinging on the new playground that Santa brought for her.

2. I'm thankful for pamper days.

Technically, I only started having a pamper day for myself last week.  I had not pampered myself in a looooooong time since before then.  I was too busy spitting out children, I guess.  But the hubs insisted I take a day for myself last week.  I got my hair and nails done, professionally.  I didn't realize how much I needed that alone time until the day it happened.  Now that it has come and gone, I've committed to giving myself a pamper day at least once a month.  I'm blessed to have a husband who is supportive of it, emotionally and financially (I never spend money on myself -- I always feel guilty doing so, since my family is my priority. My hubby has to encourage me to buy myself new clothes, shoes, and anything else that I would consider a luxury).

My favorite photo from the set that I took for our Christmas cards, which never got mailed out because... well, I was busy giving birth to their little brother the day after I took these pictures.

3. I'm thankful for my husband.

It only seemed fitting to give thanks for him after listing #2.  My hubby is truly the best.  He works around the clock.  No, seriously.  Seven days a week.  He has only had one day off from work since Christmas, and that was when I had my pamper day.  In other words, his one day off in weeks was voluntarily spent at home alone with our crazy children, while I spent a day spoiling myself. Can you say, "awwwwww"??

Our handsome Little Nugget, only a few hours old!

4. I'm thankful my husband has tomorrow off.

Yep, his second day off since Christmas is tomorrow.... unless, of course, someone calls and books a charter with him.  I'm realllllly praying they don't.  He needs to give himself a break, and we need a family day. Badly.

Since I wrote this post, a charter was booked for tomorrow.  So no more full day off; just the morning, unless that gets booked too.  We're trying to save up for our trip to Ireland over the summer, so I guess I understand but I'm revoking this part of my thankful list.

Be still, my heart.

5. I'm thankful for the movie Frozen.

This is something I never thought I'd hear myself say.  However, it is the only thing on the TV screen that captivates my daughter's attention.  I wasn't a believer in using TV to pacify our children, and truthfully, I still am not.  But sometimes momma just needs a break--from Sis, especially.  I love that girl, she has her mamma's energy (I wish she'd give it back!) and her mamma's spunk, and then some! But I can't keep up with that girl.  She, alone, is a FT job for me anyone.  I could never get anything done if it weren't for Olaf, Anna, and Elsa.  Admittedly, ever since we bought her the movie for Christmas I have found myself singing and dancing around the house to the songs.  My favorite is First Time In Forever.

This is how I found Little Nugget while his sister was prancing around our house in her princess dress, singing Let It Go into her microphone as loudly as she could. I do not believe it was a coincidence.

6. I'm thankful for my kitchen.

It isn't the largest kitchen.  In fact, it's pretty small.  I love the set up of our house but I wish they would have increased the square footage in our kitchen just a tad bit more.  BUT! Even though it is only about 2 feet larger than the kitchen I had in my apartment, it is my kitchen.  And I love it.  I spend most of my day in that kitchen and, aside from my computer and blog, the kitchen is my office.  I love having the opportunity to cook for my family.  I don't always get the chance to make my favorite meals as often as I'd like to, but when I do I love trying new recipes (hint: send me your favorite family recipes so I can try them)!

Handsome Bubby, after the first hair cut I ever attempted giving him on my own.

7. I'm thankful for green smoothies.

I have always tried to drink my smoothies every day, but when I got pregnant with Mr. Nugget the taste of them suddenly became yucky.  I never had that problem before, but thankfully my taste buds have returned to normal and I'm back to drinking them daily. Talk about a natural, healthy way to spike your energy for the day. Some days I make them for breakfast, and those days I will skip the coffee.  Other days, I don't get around to making my smoothie until lunch time.  On those days I will usually have to drink at least one good cup of Joe to get my day stimulated.  My goal is to eventually cut out the coffee, altogether.  Ha.ha.ha.

Keep your eyes peeled for my personal favorite smoothie recipe!!!

The children's first sibling photo. Bubby insisted he wear a matching hat with his baby brother -- I did not force him to wear it. (:

8. I'm thankful that Sissy is potty trained!

As soon as I found out I was pregnant with Little Nuggerton I knew I did NOT want to be changing two sets of diapers every day.  I set out on a mission to potty train my then 1-year-old daughter.  She picked up on it very quickly and did very well.  We still wear pull-ups when we leave the house and she isn't perfect at remembering to tell me she has to go potty in public places, but at home she is 100% potty trained.  I will take it!

My beautiful little model, with lipstick that she applied to her face all on her own!

9. I'm thankful that my little nugget has started sleeping through the night!

He developed a routine last week.  Yay! He is great for me throughout the day, and becoming so much more alert (I love the cross-eyed looks.  I am going to miss this phase in another month or two).  However, almost every evening, starting around 6pm (i.e. dinner time for the rest of the family) he goes through about 3-4 hours of being colicky.  All he wants to do is eat, burp, spit up, and cry.  It is a bit challenging to prepare dinner and take care of him like that, but we've all learned to form a system together, and both my Stud and Bubby have been wonderful to chip in and help.  A lot of times I'll prep dinner ahead of time so that even if I can't do all of the cooking on my own, the hubs and Bubby can cook.  Crock pot recipes are a life-saver.  I'll try and post some recipes for all of you other busy mamma's soon.

Finally, around 10pm Little Nugget will settle down after one last feeding, and sleep until 6:30 am-ish.  It's amazing.  I either go straight to bed with him and my hubby, or I catch up on some writing, laundry, reading, showering, etc.  It's usually the latter.  Very rarely am I able to go to bed at 10:00, as much as I try to push myself to keep that schedule.  I'm just happy to have a couple of hours at night to myself.  It's quiet, peaceful, and I can get stuff done without being interrupted (like going potty!).

My cheap attempt at the bible verse, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14  -- This photo is what made me realize I need a professional camera so that I can stop using my phone to take pictures for my blog.

10. I'm thankful that I already lost 30 lbs!!!!!!

Yep, since the night I went into labor, 6 weeks ago, I lost 30 pounds. Okay, so some of it was from having the baby and all of that other junk in my body, which added up to about 10-12 lbs.  But that's still about 20 lbs of my own weight which I lost.  I'll admit, I was already gaining weight before I got pregnant.  Last year was such a busy and crazy year for us, and because of the stress I didn't make eating healthy one of my top priorities (as I usually try to do).  Needless to say, as I was pregnant I continued to follow my cravings and gain weight on top of the natural baby weight gain.  I am 10 pounds away from my starting pregnancy weight, and 40 lbs from where I want to be, but I lost 30 lbs. Within a month and a half. That's what matters, people. Let me enjoy my moment.

Sissy's first time holding her baby brother, in the hospital.

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There you have my 10 Things of Thankful for this week.  By the time we reach Thursday in our week, amidst all of the stress sometimes it's good to remind ourselves that there are still things in life to be thankful for. I would love to hear from you! What are some things you're thankful for?