The Crib

She's getting close to moving up to a toddler bed, it's true...  But for now, we're still using the crib, and I'm grateful for it. 

I'm grateful because it keeps her safely in bed while she still tosses and turns from top to bottom every night. 

And I'm grateful because I can still use it as her time-out spot (yes, we do time out -- and it works!), since she can't get out of it without us removing the side.

And I'm grateful because she can't get out of it, so when I lay her in the crib and cover her up at night, she knows it's bed-time and goes to sleep. 

And I'm grateful because, now, it's full of memories for me.  It is where I first laid my baby girl the first night we moved her into her own room at 3 1/2 months when she'd learned how to sleep through the night and put herself to sleep. 

It's the place I have picked her up from many a middle-of-the night during her growth spurts and need for midnight feedings. 

It's the place I go in and find her laughing and smiling after a nap, or first thing in the morning. 

I think often of how it isn't so long ago that she couldn't roll around and move in her crib.  Or how it isn't so long ago that she started being able to move -- and would shove herself up into the head of the crib and get stuck, so she'd cry to be moved down (we learned to go in and move her down when we were going to bed each night, just to get a few extra hours of sleep ;)). 

It is crazy to think that, one day, we will part ways with this crib.  We will be done having babies.  The concept seems so foreign to me right now.  I guess I form sentimental attachments to objects...  And, I'm realizing as I write this, that I'm more attached to the crib than I realized! 

What are you grateful for today?

Toddler Shoes for Chubby Feet

So my little munchkin has the chubbiest baby feet. They are so stinkin' cute.  But they are not so fun to find shoes for! 

So today we went to the mall to find some shoes that were adjustable all around.  My sister-in-law Gwen had recommended the Smart Fit type.  And, yay!!  We found some cute ones :).  And they slide on so much easier than the shoes we have been using. 

Anyway, I am grateful we have some nice shoes for her.  And hopeful that her feet will thin out over time ;)...  Because I want her to have a little more selection -- like the cute sparkly princess shoes!!!

What are you grateful for today?

Family Time

After the hustle and bustle of yesterday, I decided today would be a pajama day.  So Munchkin and I stayed home and worked on organizing some stuff. 

And I don't know why, but this evening, as we sat around -- our family of 3 -- and spent time together...  It was just the best time.  We all played.  Peek-a-boo.  Scream when we lift mommy's shirt (okay, the toddler plays this game -- and we probably shouldn't have taught it to her.  haha).  Bunny (and Beaver) catapult.  Throw the blanket.  Put Bunny to sleep and snuggle Bunny.  Just a lot of random stuff -- all of which my little girl laughed hilariously about.  She had so much fun.  And so did we.  Because it's such a joy to watch her as she grows and learns and laughs and plays.

I know that these are the moments that matter most.  The times when we make time for each other.  So that we let each other know they are the most important. 

And it is an opportunity for me to see the personality traits of my little girl emerge.  I can see her zest for life.  Her nurturing side as she hugs the bunny.  Her playful side as she throws the beaver back onto the blanket catapult so Daddy will catapult it again. 

These are moments that are precious.  And moments for me to treasure.  The kind I need to try to make more of, quite frankly. 

What are you grateful for today?

A Day Full of Awesome Friends and Delicious Food!

For me, there are few things finer in life than great friends and great food.  Today was packed full with both.

Munchkin and I started out the day by meeting up with Lea and Chuck for some breakfast at Denny's and a whole lot of fun conversation.  My munchkin loves hanging with (Auntie) Lea and (Uncle) Chuck, because she knows they think she's so stinkin' cute (but, hey, who doesn't ;)?).  And what can't be great about some blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns with orange juice?  Absolutely nothing.

Then we met up with the awesome Megan and her cutie Jack.  We started out our play date by going to a Reading Up program where someone read our two cuties The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and then they each got to pick a book to take home -- for free!  We got Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?  Because we needed to rectify the fact that we didn't previously have any Dr. Seuss books in our library...  After that, we went to their house and enjoyed lunch and play-time!  Let's just say that someone else's toys are always cooler than your own.  And let's just say that Megan is amazing.  Her house is always gorgeous, she is always beautiful, and she is super sweet and inviting -- always.  And she makes really great food.  Today it was ham and cheese pockets and Asian Chicken Salad.  Play dates are awesome.  Both for kiddos and for mommies.

Then this evening, I enjoyed a Girls' Night Out, thanks to the wonderful Mariah.  Mariah is always so generous with opening her lovely home to a bunch of crazy ladies to come hang out.  And she always provides yummy (and in tonight's case, healthy) food!  Tonight we had a red lentil chili and a really yummy salad (because she takes the time to slice up a ton of yummy veggies to put on it) along with some grapes and a creamy (which I love) pasta dish.  And pineapple upside down cake (sort of -- my cake didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped due to baker error) for dessert.  It's nice to sit and chat with other ladies.  Share stories of whatever...  Maybe climb up on a soapbox...  And never get around to actually playing the games that were brought, because -- hey -- visiting is just more fun!

And my sweetheart took care of getting Munchkin to bed so I could go enjoy some grown-up mommy time solo :). 

So today was just an awesome day.  The best kind, if you're a Nilla ;).

What are you grateful for today?

New Tires

The time had come in which we needed to purchase new tires for the van. 

That van should feel special this year....  It's had some serious money spent on it in 2014.  Which means we'll be keeping it around for a long time ;).

Anyway, an added bonus is that Costco had some tires on special.  So we saved $70 on our tires.  I'm always happy to take discounts where I can get them :).

So yeah, new tires aren't the most exciting purchase of my life....  But they are necessary.  And I'm grateful we are able to get what we need to keep the van running and working well for us.

What are you grateful for today?

Library Summer Reading Program

As most people are well aware, I am a lover of libraries.  They are awesome.  And today I added another reason to the list of why:  the summer reading program.

True, before this year, I was always on the other end of the library SRP.  And sometimes it wasn't as awesome from that side of things ;).  But this year, I got to be the parent of a child signing up.  Yes, even my toddler participated!!!  Because my reading to her counted. 

And sure, it took us, literally, all summer long to read her 10 hours (she's a toddler, after all...  I'm lucky to get 15 minutes of her attention each day for reading -- and that's rarely all in one sitting).  She loves books and "stories" and will drag her library bag over to me whenever I ask if she wants to read stories...  But she doesn't sit still for long, and I wanted to count her attentive time.  So, yeah...  All summer.

But it was awesome.  And we made it!  We colored in a flask for every 15 minutes we read.  And then today, we got to get a free book! 

There were a lot of other cool programs over the summer for the kids, too.  But most of it is "too old" for my munchkin.  So we just did the reading.  But next year...  It's full-on SRP! 

What are you grateful for today?

Pillow Talk

Because our schedules are often wonky enough that we often do not go to bed at the same time, my sweetie and I don't always get a chance to lay in bed and discuss the future -- or other silliness that comes to mind ;).  Unless, of course, we make the time. 

Tonight we did.  And we discussed our goals -- where we want to live, what steps we are taking to move forward...  How annoyed we are with our apartment complex, because the front steps have been unusable for 3+ weeks now...

You know, the good stuff...

It's a small thing, but I think small things are really the big things.

What are you grateful for today?