Giving Thanks #4: Second Chances

I grew up with one idea of what life was going to be. My eyes were consistently set on that "prize". Well, while I was busy working towards one thing, life had other plans. 2010 brought the best and the worst into my life. Heartache & lots of life lessons followed. I was determined that this would also be "the end". I truly did not believe I would find happiness. Thankfully, my friend Julie has great friends. Eric was a surprise when I least expected it. A second chance on a family was a surprise to me and I got more than I bargained for. I'm a lucky woman.

Carter's Mountain - September 2012

Giving Thanks #3: The Internet

Seriously though...

Have you ever wondered what your life would be without the internet today? I looked at my mom shortly after Katelyn was born and said, "How did you have babies without the internet?" I was dead serious with my question. The "What to Expect" books contained an overwhelming amount of information and made me question the most horrible things. I decided to only look things up that I was concerned about rather than knowing all of the terrible possible outcomes.

In the past 18 months it has really hit me hard with Jessyca's diagnosis with Celiac and Katelyn's Deafness. I would have extreme difficulty learning information about Gluten Free cooking, American Sign Language, or hearing aids without the internet. Reading books on each individual topic is possible, but would require an extreme amount of patience to feel competent to care for a child based on the newly acquired knowledge.

So here's to you Google... I LOVE being able to "Google" it. This technology is certainly worth being thankful for.

Giving Thanks #2: The ability to be a SAHM

I worked full time for about 2 years of Katelyn's life. After giving birth with her I was fortunate enough to stay home for just over two months with her and then again this past March, I was able to begin being a full time stay at home mom (SAHM). It's great knowing that we don't have to get up every morning and rush out the door. We can have pajama days a couple of times a week and it doesn't make a difference. Play dough, coloring, dancing, and playing house are on our daily agenda. Teaching Katelyn to speak and sign is something else I have the luxury of being patient with while we're at home together. Each day Katelyn amazes me with the things she has learned just watching me do chores around the house. I truly believe this is making her a happier girl. The confusion of being Deaf at day care was too much for her. No one is at fault for it, but it was an environment that became overwhelming as she grew older. Every day I feel lucky that life took a turn and now we are able to be home together. 

With that being said, I wanted to share this video that I captured this AM. PJ + tutu sing alongs are a reason that I am grateful we can be home together. Moments like this are the best! (PS: after the video she had to clean up the gate and was not allowed to keep playing with it. It's not a toy in our house, she was just testing my limits with her)

Giving Thanks #1: Big Girl Bed

Thankful Post #1: Katelyn's easy transition into a toddler bed.

Bed now replacing the crib and gave her a gallery wall & book holder. Kate loves the space!

After more than two and a half years, Kate made the great escape from the crib. In an effort to keep her from hurting herself, I set up her toddler bed. This bed uses the same mattress as the crib, so the only difference to her is the FREEDOM!

In August, we set up her "Big Girl Room". I looked online and asked other moms the best way to transition Katelyn into her new bed. Overall, feedback continued to tell me it would be hard. Lots of waking up with even more "go back to bed"s.

I am thankful that Katelyn's transition has been smooth. Nap time doesn't always go well, but the one that counts is night time. Night time is just fine. The only drawback is that she is waking up a bit earlier. I am just thankful she made it two and a half years years sleeping 12 hours at night. Sleeping only 11 hours now won't kill me.

She loves her big girl room. The second part of this post that I am thankful for is the ability to give her a bedroom. With Eric's girls we have 4 children in our 4 bedroom home. Luckily, Jessyca and Sydney wanted to share a room and were already sharing when we moved into this house. Katelyn got her own room. Most children who are fourth in line don't have the same fortune.

She's certainly starting to look like a little girl and losing her baby look. Mixed emotions! Couldn't be happier about how much she loves her room now. Thankful is an understatement!

First Night in the "Big Girl Bed" couldn't be happier!

Giving Thanks

Many of my Facebook friends are writing something they are thankful for each day this month. I am not one to remember about posting something each day. However, I would like to share experiences, memories, and triumphs we have overcome in the last few months during this month.

I am thankful that I have been able to have these experiences and memories with my family. We have been through ups and downs but in the end we are able to get through life together. This past year has been a great one. So many things to be thankful for that I could never list them all in a blog post.

I look forward to sharing the past few months with you!