Happy Monday and Earth Day! I hope it was a pleasant one for all. In honor of Earth Day, today I am thankful for this Earth we live on. I have been blessed with both living and visiting some beautiful places and it's in this beauty that I have truly learned to appreciate just what our beautiful world can offer us. Growing up on the Mississippi I have witnessed power, grace and serenity. Some of my best memories have been sitting on the bluffs of my hometown just watching the river amble by. I have also witnessed the great power the river holds by seeing what happens when the Winter snow melts and the Spring rains begin. We can build dams and try to divert the waters but in the end, the river is going to go where the river wants to go.
Then there are the beautiful Catskills, which I have been blessed to call home for the past 7 years. I have seen more creatures; bears, deer, coyote, fox, porccupine, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, etc in my time spent here then I think I've witnessed anywhere. Admittedly I have enjoyed my close encounters with some of these creatures much more than others but the array of creatures that inhabit this Earth never ceases to amaze me. It's easy to get caught up in the hussle and bustle of civilization but to truly stop and appreciate what our Earth has provided for us; beautiful art that could never be replicated by any man, amazing creatures who help control things we aren't even aware of, food to sustain us and the list goes on.
So on this Earth Day and every day, try to stop for just a moment and truly appreciate the beauty that is around us and the important part you and everyone plays in ensuring that our Earth remains safe.
Good night all, sleep tight.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
FIVE
I hope that everyone had a good weekend. :-) In honor of the "Lazy Sunday" today I am thankful for QUIET. Addie did not sleep very well last night, as is generally the pattern, so my brain is a bit drained after a long week and sleepless nights. So, as Addie is FINALLY taking a descent nap I'm enjoying the ever elusive quiet. As I quickly discovered as a new mommy these rare moments of quiet are usually first met with a dilemma; do I finally clean the house, catch up on some laundry, eat my lunch that I made 3 hours ago? Or do I sit and drink a much needed cup of coffee, better yet, do I sit and read an adult book, take a shower, nap myself or do I just sit and enjoy the silence. OR, might it be possible to squeeze in a little bit of all of that? Ha! I've gotten pretty good at multi-tasking but I have yet to make that miracle happen. Finally it's, please oh please let her sleep long enough for me to get at least one of those done. But occasionally a wonderful thing happens, I lay Addie down for a nap and I'm able to just sit and enjoy the silence. In those moments I remember what it feels like to have down time and I can feel my brain resetting. I have come to cherish these rare moments. I love Addie and I love being a mommy more than anything but sometimes it's nice to just have a moment of quiet.
As I finish this post Addie has already woken and is "helping" me type this, but it was nice while it lasted. Maybe I'll go to the grocery store by myself this week, that'll be a treat. ;-)
Happy Sunday!
As I finish this post Addie has already woken and is "helping" me type this, but it was nice while it lasted. Maybe I'll go to the grocery store by myself this week, that'll be a treat. ;-)
Happy Sunday!
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| My lifeline :-) |
Saturday, April 20, 2013
FOUR
Good Morning! I hope that everyone is doing good on this early Saturday morning. My Saturday started out very nicely. I received a text from my best friend telling me something I already knew but love that others recognize. Today I am thankful for what a wonderful man and father Matt is.
Matt left early this morning to go work with his friend, who is married to my best friend. I received a text from her this morning saying, "You know what I like about your husband? He always helps me with my kids when he sees I'm trying to do something." One of the things I love the most about Matt is his kind heart. He is always willing to lend a hand, whether it's to our friends and family or a random stranger. And he has a way with children that makes me melt every time. We can't go anywhere around here without having at least one of the students he has taught yelling with excitement when they see him. It's comical to hear, "It's Mr. Cook!" and having kids of all ages running up to him just to say hi and tell him about their day or what they're doing.
I knew from the beginning that Matt was going to be an amazing father and not only because he's a big kid himself. ;-) He's kind, patient, loving and playful. It's easy to complain about what your spouse did that annoyed you that day but it's so important to remember all of the wonderful things that they do. I couldn't be luckier to have Matt as my partner and the father of my child and I love that others love and appreciate him just as much as I do. And when other's tell me the sweet or kind thing he did for them or that they witnessed him doing my heart swells with pride because he's mine.
I love you handsome, oodles and oodles and monsters and more! ;-)
Matt left early this morning to go work with his friend, who is married to my best friend. I received a text from her this morning saying, "You know what I like about your husband? He always helps me with my kids when he sees I'm trying to do something." One of the things I love the most about Matt is his kind heart. He is always willing to lend a hand, whether it's to our friends and family or a random stranger. And he has a way with children that makes me melt every time. We can't go anywhere around here without having at least one of the students he has taught yelling with excitement when they see him. It's comical to hear, "It's Mr. Cook!" and having kids of all ages running up to him just to say hi and tell him about their day or what they're doing.
I knew from the beginning that Matt was going to be an amazing father and not only because he's a big kid himself. ;-) He's kind, patient, loving and playful. It's easy to complain about what your spouse did that annoyed you that day but it's so important to remember all of the wonderful things that they do. I couldn't be luckier to have Matt as my partner and the father of my child and I love that others love and appreciate him just as much as I do. And when other's tell me the sweet or kind thing he did for them or that they witnessed him doing my heart swells with pride because he's mine.
I love you handsome, oodles and oodles and monsters and more! ;-)
I Missed One Already! :-O
Well at 4 am this morning I woke up with a start because I realized I had forgotten to post Friday's, "What I'm Thankful For"! I guess I was just anxious for my date with my bed. :) So, here is my day three, "What I'm Thankful For". Better late than never. ;-)
THREE: Today I'm thankful for kindness. Given recent events and the constant bombardment of all the bad that is in the world I thought it was important to remember that though there is a lot of bad out there kindness still exists. The link below highlights photos of random acts of kindness. With the exception of one that is a bit comical, these photos do a good job of highlighting how kindness wins out over the bad. It's easy to always focus on the negative but in the darkness remember the random stranger who holds the door open for you when your hands are full, or the young person who helps an elderly lady pump her gas because she isn't sure how to get the pump to work, or the guy who peaks his head in your office with a big smile and a "have a great day!". True kindness, the kind that needs no thank you or recognition is out there every day. So, when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the bad remember the kindness, or even better, perform a random act of kindness yourself. Having faith in the good in the world makes it that much easier to make it through the bad. Even more important is making sure our children know what true kindness is, and not only that they recognize it but that they give it as well.
XO
http://now.msn.com/photos-to-reaffirm-your-faith-in-humanity
THREE: Today I'm thankful for kindness. Given recent events and the constant bombardment of all the bad that is in the world I thought it was important to remember that though there is a lot of bad out there kindness still exists. The link below highlights photos of random acts of kindness. With the exception of one that is a bit comical, these photos do a good job of highlighting how kindness wins out over the bad. It's easy to always focus on the negative but in the darkness remember the random stranger who holds the door open for you when your hands are full, or the young person who helps an elderly lady pump her gas because she isn't sure how to get the pump to work, or the guy who peaks his head in your office with a big smile and a "have a great day!". True kindness, the kind that needs no thank you or recognition is out there every day. So, when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the bad remember the kindness, or even better, perform a random act of kindness yourself. Having faith in the good in the world makes it that much easier to make it through the bad. Even more important is making sure our children know what true kindness is, and not only that they recognize it but that they give it as well.
XO
http://now.msn.com/photos-to-reaffirm-your-faith-in-humanity
Thursday, April 18, 2013
TWO
Lately I find myself just thinking about getting a hug from her and I'm grinning from ear to ear. Whether it was the good-bye hug I got before leaving for work or the hello hug I'm about to get when I walk in the door after a workday, it amazes me how the littlest thing can instantly change my entire mood and demeanor. My Addie hugs remind me to appreciate the little things in life, because those are what really matter.
Until tomorrow, goodnight all. :)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
365 Days of Thanks
Hello All! I've finally returned. My return was prompted by my ever increasing tendency to see the glass as "half empty" rather than "half full". I decided this needed to change. As a result of this decision I have resolved to spend the next year reminding myself of what I have to be thankful for. So, every day for the next year I will write about it on here. By doing so it is my hope that it will keep me accountable and therefore not lose sight of my goal, which is to always remember what I do have, no matter what comes along. Too often we allow ourselves to be brought down by the bad and lose sight of all of the wonderful things we still have. On that note, here begins my 365 days of Thanks.
ONE. Today I am thankful for the sunshine and warmth. As the days of Winter come to an end they are finally replaced with the gleeful music of the birds, the sprouting buds of Spring flowers, the melting away of the snow and the blissful first days of the shining sun.
As I drove home from work today with my car windows down, taking in the sweet smell that only those first couple weeks of Spring can produce, and basking in the warmth of the sun I felt renewed. I could feel the blah of Winter melting off and a renewed sense of energy and purpose was returning. It truly is amazing to watch the transformation that takes place around us as Winter takes it's slumber and Spring begins to wake everything again. It reminds me that no matter how endless all the blah or bad seems, underneath all of that is the warmth and sunshine.
Goodnight All
XO
ONE. Today I am thankful for the sunshine and warmth. As the days of Winter come to an end they are finally replaced with the gleeful music of the birds, the sprouting buds of Spring flowers, the melting away of the snow and the blissful first days of the shining sun.
As I drove home from work today with my car windows down, taking in the sweet smell that only those first couple weeks of Spring can produce, and basking in the warmth of the sun I felt renewed. I could feel the blah of Winter melting off and a renewed sense of energy and purpose was returning. It truly is amazing to watch the transformation that takes place around us as Winter takes it's slumber and Spring begins to wake everything again. It reminds me that no matter how endless all the blah or bad seems, underneath all of that is the warmth and sunshine.Goodnight All
XO
Saturday, August 18, 2012
I Have Returned!
Good Morning Everyone! After months of absence I have finally returned. These past few months have been full of changes. Between my return to work, events to attend, and Addie's many reached milestones there certainly has not been a dull moment.
So what exactly have we been up to these past few months? Well, at the end of May I returned to work. This was definitely not an easy transition for me. I will say though, leaving Addie was made a little easier because I was able to leave her with my mother and father-in-law. I am so grateful that Addie has been lucky enough to spend her days with her Mema and Poppy. It makes me very happy to see Addie's face light up when she sees the wreath that hangs on my in-laws door. To make it even better, Matt has been spending the Summer working with his father, so Matt has also been with her all Summer. Returning to work is probably one of the toughest decisions I have made but I have been truly blessed that I did not have to leave Addie with someone I didn't really know. We will probably be making the transition to a daycare soon (my in-laws deserve to relax during their retirement ;-) ), which still stresses me out but for the time being she is happily spending her days with two of her favorite people.
Watching all of the joy that Addie has brought,not just to Matt and my life, but to our friends and family has been amazing. Matt's uncles and aunts, and his cousins have fallen in love with our little girl. They have all been extremely generous and love coming for visits. Addie has not disappointed, showering everyone with smiles and giggles. The two people who have really enjoyed Addie have been Sue and Erwin. To Addie they are Mema and Poppy. As soon as she see's them she greets them with a huge smile and babbles. Mema showers her with hugs, kisses and love. Poppy wears cool shirts, runs to her when she fusses (because he can't stand to hear Addie upset), and helps her develop her new skills. Watching Addie and Erwin interact has been amazing because with Addie Erwin becomes a big mush. Addie has definitely got Erwin wrapped around her fingers and he is loving it.
Watching Matt's family with Addie makes me excited for Addie to get to spend more time with my family. It makes me sad that she is unable to spend as much time with my family, or Aly, because they are in Iowa. But Matt and I do all we can to make sure Addie knows these people as well. We show her pictures and when we talk on the phone we turn the speaker on so Addie can hear their voices. When my mom and dad ( Nana and Grandpa to Addie) came for a visit in March, my mom got Addie a flower ornament. This has become Addie's favorite object in her room. Each morning, after she gets changed, I have to take her over to the ornament so she can play with it. The way the light makes it sparkle amuses her. I love watching how excited she gets when she sees it.
Over the past few months we have attended many events, including the event we held, Addie's Baptism. We were so happy to share this special moment with family and friends. Matt and I thank God all the time for the blessing he has given us by bringing Addie into our lives and we want Addie to know the same love and blessings. We had a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends. We were also lucky enough to share in this same special day with our friends, John and Colleen, when they're little man, Mason was baptized. We also enjoyed introducing Addie to Erwin's side of the family for Matt's cousin, Liz's wedding. Addie did so good with the large crowd and made everyone smile at her constant babbling and smiling.
We were also lucky to have Addie's great grandmother, Hermine join us for a couple of weeks. While Addie was with Mema and Poppy during the day she also got to hang out with her Grandma Hermine. Hermine loved seeing her every morning and Addie always greeted her with a big smile, which delighted her.
Addie has also grown by leaps and bounds in the past few months. She can sit up and is working on getting up on her hands and knees. Becoming mobile is her number one priority it seems. She has Luke, Kit and Reeses to chase after all, much to their annoyance. lol Addie has also cut her first tooth and with almost no indication, other than some drooling, chewing and the obvious sharp white edge of her tooth. That was a pleasant surprise, along with the fact that our little angel has slept through the night for the past couple of months. That is a very welcome development for me. :-) Addie has us completely spoiled. Addie has also started on solid foods. Her favorites right now are bananas and sweet potatoes. She turns into a sticky mess whenever she has a meal but it is so much fun to watch how excited she gets about each new food.
Now that I have gone on and on about Addie, I suppose I should talk a little bit about what else has been going on in our lives. For me, work has been a bit hectic. The month before I had Addie, our credit union was liquidated and once I returned the process to completely convert over to the new credit union had begun. That has meant many hectic hours at work. To add to it I have also been covering a co-workers maternity leave. Needless to say, I have been quite busy at work. But, everyone welcomed me back with open arms and the members have been wonderful. Though it was not easy to return everyone has made it as easy as possible. Accompanied with my return to work has been my choice to continue exclusively breastfeed Addie. Pumping at work has been an adjustment but the benefits for Addie far out-weigh the annoyances. Plus, it provides wonderful bonding time for Addie and I, which I love since I do have to spend so much time away from her now.
Matt has been keeping busy this Summer working with his dad to help him get their house remodeled. He has also been helping his friend occassionally. Matt has even had the opportunity to stay home with Addie a few times. The first time he got that opportunity was for a week, and Addie was still rather young. He did great though and he and Addie got some wonderful bonding time.
Well, I think that about catches things up! Matt and I are going to take Addie to her first Little World's Fair today. That is a local fair that is put on every year in Matt's hometown. Addie will get to see lots of wonderful sites and Matt and I will get to eat some wonderfully bad for you fair food. It's no Iowa State Fair ;-) but it is an ok substitute. After the fair visit we are going to Matt's 10 year high school reunion. It is going to be a busy busy day. I hope you're all enjoying the last few weekends of the Summer. Can you believe it's almost time for Fall to arrive?!
So what exactly have we been up to these past few months? Well, at the end of May I returned to work. This was definitely not an easy transition for me. I will say though, leaving Addie was made a little easier because I was able to leave her with my mother and father-in-law. I am so grateful that Addie has been lucky enough to spend her days with her Mema and Poppy. It makes me very happy to see Addie's face light up when she sees the wreath that hangs on my in-laws door. To make it even better, Matt has been spending the Summer working with his father, so Matt has also been with her all Summer. Returning to work is probably one of the toughest decisions I have made but I have been truly blessed that I did not have to leave Addie with someone I didn't really know. We will probably be making the transition to a daycare soon (my in-laws deserve to relax during their retirement ;-) ), which still stresses me out but for the time being she is happily spending her days with two of her favorite people.
Watching all of the joy that Addie has brought,not just to Matt and my life, but to our friends and family has been amazing. Matt's uncles and aunts, and his cousins have fallen in love with our little girl. They have all been extremely generous and love coming for visits. Addie has not disappointed, showering everyone with smiles and giggles. The two people who have really enjoyed Addie have been Sue and Erwin. To Addie they are Mema and Poppy. As soon as she see's them she greets them with a huge smile and babbles. Mema showers her with hugs, kisses and love. Poppy wears cool shirts, runs to her when she fusses (because he can't stand to hear Addie upset), and helps her develop her new skills. Watching Addie and Erwin interact has been amazing because with Addie Erwin becomes a big mush. Addie has definitely got Erwin wrapped around her fingers and he is loving it.
Watching Matt's family with Addie makes me excited for Addie to get to spend more time with my family. It makes me sad that she is unable to spend as much time with my family, or Aly, because they are in Iowa. But Matt and I do all we can to make sure Addie knows these people as well. We show her pictures and when we talk on the phone we turn the speaker on so Addie can hear their voices. When my mom and dad ( Nana and Grandpa to Addie) came for a visit in March, my mom got Addie a flower ornament. This has become Addie's favorite object in her room. Each morning, after she gets changed, I have to take her over to the ornament so she can play with it. The way the light makes it sparkle amuses her. I love watching how excited she gets when she sees it.
Over the past few months we have attended many events, including the event we held, Addie's Baptism. We were so happy to share this special moment with family and friends. Matt and I thank God all the time for the blessing he has given us by bringing Addie into our lives and we want Addie to know the same love and blessings. We had a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends. We were also lucky enough to share in this same special day with our friends, John and Colleen, when they're little man, Mason was baptized. We also enjoyed introducing Addie to Erwin's side of the family for Matt's cousin, Liz's wedding. Addie did so good with the large crowd and made everyone smile at her constant babbling and smiling.
We were also lucky to have Addie's great grandmother, Hermine join us for a couple of weeks. While Addie was with Mema and Poppy during the day she also got to hang out with her Grandma Hermine. Hermine loved seeing her every morning and Addie always greeted her with a big smile, which delighted her.
Addie has also grown by leaps and bounds in the past few months. She can sit up and is working on getting up on her hands and knees. Becoming mobile is her number one priority it seems. She has Luke, Kit and Reeses to chase after all, much to their annoyance. lol Addie has also cut her first tooth and with almost no indication, other than some drooling, chewing and the obvious sharp white edge of her tooth. That was a pleasant surprise, along with the fact that our little angel has slept through the night for the past couple of months. That is a very welcome development for me. :-) Addie has us completely spoiled. Addie has also started on solid foods. Her favorites right now are bananas and sweet potatoes. She turns into a sticky mess whenever she has a meal but it is so much fun to watch how excited she gets about each new food.
Now that I have gone on and on about Addie, I suppose I should talk a little bit about what else has been going on in our lives. For me, work has been a bit hectic. The month before I had Addie, our credit union was liquidated and once I returned the process to completely convert over to the new credit union had begun. That has meant many hectic hours at work. To add to it I have also been covering a co-workers maternity leave. Needless to say, I have been quite busy at work. But, everyone welcomed me back with open arms and the members have been wonderful. Though it was not easy to return everyone has made it as easy as possible. Accompanied with my return to work has been my choice to continue exclusively breastfeed Addie. Pumping at work has been an adjustment but the benefits for Addie far out-weigh the annoyances. Plus, it provides wonderful bonding time for Addie and I, which I love since I do have to spend so much time away from her now.
Matt has been keeping busy this Summer working with his dad to help him get their house remodeled. He has also been helping his friend occassionally. Matt has even had the opportunity to stay home with Addie a few times. The first time he got that opportunity was for a week, and Addie was still rather young. He did great though and he and Addie got some wonderful bonding time.
Well, I think that about catches things up! Matt and I are going to take Addie to her first Little World's Fair today. That is a local fair that is put on every year in Matt's hometown. Addie will get to see lots of wonderful sites and Matt and I will get to eat some wonderfully bad for you fair food. It's no Iowa State Fair ;-) but it is an ok substitute. After the fair visit we are going to Matt's 10 year high school reunion. It is going to be a busy busy day. I hope you're all enjoying the last few weekends of the Summer. Can you believe it's almost time for Fall to arrive?!
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