Thankful - Day 2

Today I am thankful for new life. My dear friend Jen had her first baby a month ago and it is so awesome to watch someone I love so much come into their own as a mama. No one would argue that newborns aren't tricky- learning their different cries and feeding and sleeping schedule- but some women just fall into the swing of it with ease. That is Jen.  Maybe it comes from her naturally loving personality, or the the fact that this baby has been wanted and hoped for for so many years, but whatever it is- I am so thankful to be able to witness it unfold.

. . . I wanted you more than you’ll ever know,

so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . . .

 

Halloween 2013

Halloween this year was soooo much fun! I volunteered at Eva's school party and then we went on a trick-or-treating hayride through Sadie's neighborhood with a big group of kids. She was a mermaid for her school party and we just threw together a ballerina tutu type outfit so that she could wear a warm jacket at night. She got more candy than anyone ever needs so we'll be selling it back to the dentist soon :) 

 

 

 

Thankful - Day 1

I have more photos of Eva's Halloween festivities from yesterday to post (and I will get to them, I promise!) but seeing as it is now November I want to start my Thankful blog post series off on the right foot.

Each day in November I will post something that I am thankful for and I encourage everyone reading to think about what you have to be thankful for in your own lives. Are you healthy? Do you have a spouse that loves you? Do you enjoy your job? Have an awesome boss? Just discover a delicious new recipe? Sometimes we get so caught up in the act of keeping up with everyone else, that we fail to see the amazing things already in our lives.

So, today, I am thankful for Eva's hearing. We had her 6 month post op check-up last week and her hearing is perfect. We are still working through a few lingering learning hurdles left over from the time when she was hardly hearing anything at all, but the road ahead looks bright and I am so thankful for her team of doctors.

 

Halloween Tea

Sundays are usually fun in our house. Whether it's church and swimming or brunch and the park, we try to make each Sunday special; yesterday was one to remember! We went to the St. Paul Hotel for their annual Halloween high tea event with Baba, Eva's best friend Sadie, Sadie's mom and Sadie's grandma. Three generations of girls + costumes + yummy, fun food + the best tea I've ever tasted + a magician... it was lovely!

Eva went as Dorothy, Baba was the wicked witch and I was Glinda. Baba really pulled out all the stops for Eva's costume, painting her shoes red by hand and driving to 4 different locations to get the dress. So naturally, Eva was the cutest Dorothy ever. We were leaving the hotel as the Chicago Blackhawks NHL team was checking in for their game tonight against the Wild and 3 different big, burly professional hockey players stopped and commented.  When a man who probably has no real teeth of his own left and gets paid to punch people on the ice stops and says, "oh man, she's darling" it makes this a smile :)

We all had a blast; hopefully this becomes an annual tradition!

Jax the Cat

This is where I have found him the last 3 mornings in a row. So cute!

 

Bedhead Eva loves her Jaxie-Boy

 

First Real Sleepover

Eva has her first legitimate sleepover 2 weeks ago. Meaning no mommy staying the night with her and just sleeping in another room like before :-)

She spent the night at her best friend Sadie's house and other than 2 smaller girlie meltdowns, Sadie's mom said the girls had a blast.  Pillow fights, movies, popcorn, Barbies, brand new matching PJs- it was a 5 year old girls paradise! The next day I took the girls for the day and we had lunch and went swimming. I cannot put into words how happy I am that Eva has found a best friend who is so kind and smart and has parents that I am so comfortable with. I know best friends come and go (although don't tell them that, Eva is already talking about rooming with Sadie in college lol) but I'm hoping Eva always has such quality girls in her life.

 

My Baby Boys

So it's no secret that Jason and I are done having kids. What might be a secret to many of you is how bad I wanted Eva to be a boy. I was convinced I was having a boy during the early part of my pregnancy, so much so that when the ultrasound showed she was a girl (after Jason made the nurse check twice just to be sure there was no hope it was a boy) I cried. I cried a lot. I called my mom, sobbing, and she assured me that having a girl is the greatest joy a mom can have... but I was still unconvinced. I came to accept that I was having a girl, getting excited when we picked out names and started painting her room pink. Even so, when Eva was born, in my drug induced stupor, the first few moments after she was born I still lifted her little leg to see if she truly was a girl.

Fast forward: I have come to know that having a daughter is the most utterly amazing blessing I could have ever hoped for. I don't know why I ever doubted my mom, wise as she is, that having a little mini me would be anything short of perfection.

There is a part of me that always wonders what it would have been like to have a son but thankfully two of my best friends both had boys, and I am able to love them up often enough to hold my son-wanting urges at bay :)  We got all 3 bebes together for the first time every today. 5 1/2 years, 11 months and 3 weeks and they all just make my heart smile!