Thankful Thursday!

Hey! Guess what?! I JUST remembered that thing I used to do, Thankful Thursday, remember? I can't really remember the last time I did it... pre Jax maybe? Ah, here it is. I guess my little brain just couldn't hold onto Thankful Thursday's when Jax was about to come. And after, forget-about-it.

Well, my brain is clearing and I have a new-to-me Lappy. (Thank YOU!) Life is good!

Today I am Thankful for:
1. Zack having a job. If you have read this little blog a while you understand.

2. New-to-me Lappy. Dino is unhappy and old and groany. This makes life easier. Again, THANK YOU!

3. That Jax is adjusting to his cast and can now crawl (army) and get back up when he falls over and even pull himself up on the ottoman. The pediatrician says he is fine to do whatever he is able while he is casted.

4. Our new pediatrician. We were forced into "looking" for a new ped when our beloved ped retired. One of the boys needed to see someone for something and I said we would just see whoever was available, we met Dr. V and LOVE her. She is through and kind and friendly. Oh and she likes the kids too. :) She called us personally today, TWICE to answer questions I had about J's cast/break.

5. Having my mom here. I never thought I would say it. She came over today to help me out and play with the boys so I could get some cleaning done. Jax has been quite the cling on since his break. She tidied up while she and Grayson played and Jax took an extra long nap. It was great not to have a trashed house for a few minutes.

7 days left {39 weeks!} Thankful Thursday!

Today I am 39 weeks!! I can't believe this little boy could come anytime.

I feel pretty good about the progress have been making on the cloth diapers I started LAST week! I have been a bit of a procrastinator in this pregnancy, partially because I usually hate sewing when I'm pregnant and partially because I'm a lazy slug!

Last week I made 3 all in ones ( AIO's) and 6 covers. (This is an AIO but the covers look the same just no absorbent stuffing)
Tonight I finished making 35 cloth wipes made out of flannel and sherpa. I am in love! They are so soft and snugglie. Sadly, they have been sitting around for over a year! I had been scared (to death really) of my serger and since I have been doing these diapers I have gotten over that fear.
And I haven't even lost a finger yet! :P

I also finished 7 of the 12 inserts I cut out for Hotdog. Tomorrow I will post those and describe how they work.

Also since today is Thankful Thursday...
Today I am Thankful for:

1. being 39 weeks pregnant. Yay. Almost done!

2. Having fun friends to sew with. Jenny came over tonight to sew with me. It was her house last Fri night. She is about to explode too- due two days after me.
3. Being healthy. I have not gotten any of the crud floating around and neither have the boys.
4. That my little boy will be 3 years old on Wednesday.
5. That Hotdog's diaper drawer(s) is filling up and I don't have to throw away money every week with disposables.

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am Thankful for:
1. Being 37 weeks pregnant.

2.
For a lovely holiday season.
And a fabulous Christmas morning with my son, who hopefully will remember this one for a while.

3.
For the many people who helped make this Christmas special.
You know who you are, even if I don't and we are thankful.
thank you.

4.
For Christmas lights.
We went tonight to tour our town and had a lovely time showing G the fun snow globes (marbles), blow-up Ho Ho's and lights.

5.
Pickles.
It's the little things in life.

Thank you!

Dear "Santa's Helper",
Thank you for the money you sent.
It was a very sweet surprise and we are thankful and always in awe of the kindness of "strangers" and loved ones a like.


(I blog this because I have a feeling its someone who reads.
And without a signature or return address I cannot properly thank them.)

(Also, if you were the person who sent the chocolate covered strawberries after we returned home from having Jonathan I am still thankful for that kind gesture and it still bothers me that I cannot properly thank you.)

If either one of you would like to come out of the wood work so I can thank you properly, that would be lovely! ~J

Thanful Thursday- Saturday edition. :)

Sorry this is a bit delayed. Thursday was my LOOOONG day this week. I worked my nanny job from 11-430 then ran G home to Zack and went to Target from 515-midnight. Very long day indeed. I had no chance or will to blog. Yesterday I worked my nanny job* then ran home and finished Sophie's skirt. {more on that tomorrow}

So without further delay! Today I am Thankful for:
1. Being in my 37th week of pregnancy. I officially have 26 days left (but whose counting!?) until my EDD. I have still only gained about 5 lbs. My midwife assures us he is growing fine. Have I told you lately I am DONE. I am so ready for him to get out! :)

2. My very generous father and Zack's very generous mother. Between the two and their very helpful monetary gifts for Christmas I am not feeling as weighed down to work so hard (40-60 hours lately.) Nor am I am worried about going immediately back to work at T was soon as baby is born. I was planning only a 2 week "maternity leave", now it will be more like a month to 6 weeks, unless Zack gets a job. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We really appreciate it.

3. T and their team member relief fund. I always knew that T was generous in the community and I asked our HR if there was any help for team members. Turns out there is a one time gift of up to $500. We applied and received $400. That also helps a ton.

4.* My nanny family. I worked late on Thursday and then got a text message the next morning that I wasn't needed until 11, instead of 730. And they came to our house. We made "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers. I later found out when their mom, Lesley, picked them up that she partly had me start late because I had worked so late. So thank you.

5. On the same note. Thank you Lesley and Sam for the generous gift of an extra week of paid maternity leave. I now have a full month off.

So I guess there are really angels watching out for us right now. I am feeling the holiday spirit more than ever this holiday season. Thank you to everyone who has helped a little or a lot. We really appreciate it and know that this bump in our road is mearly that. We will get through this and we better for it. And for that I am Thankful.

Thankful Thursday! 35 weeks.

Today I am Thankful for:

1. Being 35 weeks pregnant. He seems to be growing well, he feels HUGE to me... but then again when your middle third has a life of its own it tends to feel HUGE so I am not a good judge I guess. Hard to believe that I could have this baby in the next few weeks and by the end of January he will be here for sure. Ready or not!

2. My friend Di, who helped me paint the base coat on Hotdog's room. I hope to get the mural done before he is here, but *ahem* is all up to Geneva's schedule (no pressure! :P really!) Pics to follow when its finished.

3. My hubby is doing such a nice job of keeping the house tidy and clean. I could not do that on top of working 50 (average) hours a week. It looks gorgeous when I come home and it makes me very happy. I feel so much more stress when my house is in chaos.

4. My hubby and son for doing the Christmas decorating (most of it) while I was working. (Makes me a little sad but I just don't have time for everything I would like to do.) They did a great job and its lovely!

5. That no matter what happens in the next few weeks I know we will be ok. Things might get worse before they get better but we always float back up. I guess it just makes that saying true... Hope floats. :)

Thankful Thursday! 34 weeks.

Now that is a big belly!

Today I am Thankful for
1. being 34 weeks pregnant... and hopefully only having 6 weeks or less to go. It feels like I have been pregnant for-EVER!
Probably because of how it went with Jonathan. At the end of the day we had empty arms. This almost feels like a continuation of that. I am glad we can see the end in sight.

2. for the kindness of strangers. You know who you are. Thank you.

3. The holiday season. I love it. Even working retail. Even being pregnant working retail. :)

4. My friend Corie for lending me her ornaments for my big tree this year (and the last 2) Our tree would be very naked (actually we just wouldn't have one) if it were not for her and her generosity.

5. Our tree source who sells us an 18' tree (or whatever we end up picking- this weekend post to come) for $20. It truly is a blessing.

Pregnancy Stats:
weight gain~ 6 lbs
new stretch marks~ 0
vericose veins~ 0
sciatic nerve~ Alive and well and rearing its ugly head mostly on the left now that he is head down.
hip displacement~a little calmer since I have been seeing a massage therapist.


Now if someone would tell my child that he is in a small cramped short stay motel room rather than the roomy presidential suite that would be great. :P

Thanksgiving- Thankful Thursday!

Now that is a gorgeous bird.

This afternoon we went to my friend Bonnie's parents house for Thanksgiving dinner. They live in Vancouver Wa and it was a lovely time. They are closest thing to family I have locally and its nice to spend time with them.

Today started out a little rough though. I worked at T yesterday from 3pm until 235 am. Yes, you read that right. It was a very long day/night. We were setting up for Black Friday. A day I will be avoiding except to go to work. I woke up and started cooking. To be honest something I planned on doing but that I hoped would already be done or started. I was a little grumpy. I made fresh cranberry orange sauce, sweet potato and pecan casserole, as well as a pickle and olive platter. Nothing super hard or tedious.

I guess I was just mostly feeling sorry for myself. On the worst day of all days to be doing that. Throughout the day I thought of things that I am thankful for. There are the obvious things: my son, my husband, our health, a healthy tummy baby, my home.

But to go beyond the obvious is a little harder right now. And then I read my aunt Trish's blog. It got me thinking about the smaller things. The things that have mattered to me in my life. While mine isn't filled with siblings (I wish) its all things that sometimes go untold of their importance.

I am thankful for the relationship I have with my dad. We were not always close. In fact if he had to recall my teen years he might (still) blame me for his gray hairs. But in the last few years we have both tried to establish more of a friendship and now I enjoy talking to him. I enjoy it when he visits, when we go down to his house in San Diego. I love watching him with Grayson and how he is with my babies. That is something that has always struck me. No matter how rough he seemed, how angry he could become, if there was a baby around he was pure mush (don't tell him I told you ;) and babies love him. When Grayson was tiny and he visited right after his birth he would hold him for hours. Or just want him to sleep on the couch next to him.

My friend, Diana, in a chance meeting right before she moved out of her apartment and we were just relocating into ours we became friends. That was 7 years and much history ago. She is the friend I can call in the middle of the night, the one who comes to the hospital day or night to sneak me cookies and rub my back while I attempt to deliver a baby, the one who rescues me when I need rescuing and don't even know it.

I am thankful for the area we live in. Many people gasp when they find out we moved from San Diego to Portland and CHOSE to do so. San Diego is gorgeous but not if you know it as well I we do. There are many down sides, the amount of people moving there for the sun is merely one of them. We moved to Portland in October 2002 with no jobs and no prospects. We're crazy like that. And we have never looked back. There are times I wish family was closer, like today but mostly I love where we live. The friends we have made. When I drive over any one of the bridges in Portland and look at the many others I feel at home. I know this is where we are supposed to be and that is a good feeling.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't try to remind myself how good I have it. Yes, things have happened lately and in the last two years that have sucked. Yes, some are horrible. But you know what? Everyone has a story. It isn't just me or us. There is not a thing in this life that is going to take me down without a fight. I have always been a fighter. For good or for bad, that's who I am. And for that I am thankful...

And if I had to put a song to my life right now I would pick this one.
Sounds like life to me too.

Oh, and I am 33 weeks pregnant today!

Thankful Thursday- 32 weeks

Sorry I have been MIA again. I have had a cold this week. So on top of working 40 hours I am just pooped. I am starting to feel better now so hopefully I will be keeping up better.

Today I am Thankful for:
1. The Dansko shoes my friend gave me. I wore them on Tuesday all day at home. I woke of Wednesday pain free! I have not had a pain free day in months! If I had known exactly how comfy and helpful they were I would have invested in the beginning!

2. Having 56 days to go before I am due for hotdog to join our family! (Doula Ruth if you are reading this please call me 809-9922!)

3. My family. Especially the little monkey who loves nothing more than to be a "magic man" right now. We recently saw a magician and he was mesmerized. It makes me happy to hear him say abrah kadabrah!

4. That Christmas is right a right around the corner. I can't wait to decorate! Christmas is my favorite holiday.

5. Having jobs. This time last year neither of us was employed. Its very stressful to be unemployed!

Thursday Thankful-31 weeks

I can't believe I am 31 weeks! It's crazy. Partly because I didn't get this far with Jonathan, partly because it seems like yesterday I was finding out I was pregnant. I guess it also feels like I've been pregnant for an eternity. :)

Today I am Thankful for:
1. My healthy child, my Angel baby and my "hotdog" on the way. My boys amaze me. I love them more than they will ever know.

2. Dear friends, both online and in real life, new and old. They all have been amazing in my life and I am SO thankful for their friendship.

3. Being able to read. Isn't that something we all take for granted? I am an avid reader, always have been and I can't imagine not being able to read and write and increase my knowledge just because I can and want to.

4. My freedom. This should go at the top but since there is no particular order I'll leave it. We are free to live as we choose (and blog!) because men and woman and their families of this great country sacrifice for us every day. It's a shame how easily we forget this luxury and privilege and basic human right that all should have.

5. My darling husband. He works so hard for our family and I am always so proud of him.

Thankful Thurday- 30 weeks pregnant!

See the far left corner of the building? Ya, take that line and wrap it around that and bring it back to about the same point one the other side and that is the line I stood in Tuesday night for the h1n1 vaccination. Luckily, I was somewhere in the middle of what it ended up being, otherwise I would have waited over 3 hours for nothing.

I got into the building to hear someone say that they were running low on the shot version. If you can take the nasal spray please do. Pregnant woman can't I am told because it is the live virus and more likely to make you sick, being pregnant your defenses are down anyway. I had already chosen the nasal for Grayson but seeing the line weaving in front of me I wasn't feeling all that comforted.

I normally don't really worry about vaccinations. In fact I would prefer not to vax for most things but my husband refuses to allow this as an option (and I also believe herd immunity has gotten us where we are today with many fatal diseases being mostly wiped out) so G is vax'ed and our future children will be as well.

This flu originally had me laughing, haha, pandemic whatever! But I have a good friend whose husband is the Infectious Disease Expert for Oregon. I said when he was worried I would be too. He got worried. He passed along that I should get the shot. After reading that 27% of pregnant woman who enter the hospital with h1n1 (they have not really seen the seasonal flu so if you have the flu it's more than likely h1n1) don't come back out... I was convinced. Couple that with being a cashier at Target who has had a HUGE portion of people come through my line with some form of cough and cold medicine... you can see how I would end up in that line.

I tried to get it from my Dr. they ran out the day before I came in for an apt. Costco was kind enough to supply my seasonal vax (another 2 hour line- with 2 boys that day! KILL ME NOW)
Anyway, I ended up getting the vax last night but only because I had a guardian Angel on my shoulder. I sat down to talk to the "counselor" to make sure I/ G could get it etc and I mentioned I was totally going to cry if I didn't get it tonight. The announcer came around just then to announce again that they were almost out. When I walked away to get in YET ANOTHER LINE, the counselor walked over to a coordinator who talked to another coordinator, they all pointed at me.

Uh oh.

The second coordinator walked over to me, said they were going to get me the shot but via the round about way and be nonchallant about it please. (What you don't want me screaming from the rafters?! :) She then took me around the back of the line. Grayson and I both got what we needed. Right then and there.

SO long story longer!
Today for Thankful Thursday I am Thankful for:
1. Whatever Guardian Angel/ good luck was with me that night to help us.

2. Being 30 weeks pregnant! Only 70 days left and my fingers are crossed that it will be a few less! ps. I would know by now if it was twins right?! RIGHT?! This baby always seems to have WAY more limbs than I can count and pokes in more directions than seems possible...

3. For great friends who are all seeming to have babies! Welcome to the world Lilah- another Halloween baby. I am so excited for you Belle and David! Parenthood rocks!

4. My house. I know this is probably getting old but I don't want to take a single moment for granted. I am happy we are still here and its ours.

5. Cook books. I planned some more meals to freeze today (it was another thing on hold until we knew what was going on with the house) and I love my cook books. A few of my absolute faves?
Don't Panic dinners in the freezer, Sandra Lee crock pots 1, 2. All very good for Freezer meals!





photo borrowed from KATU.com

Thankful Thursday! 29 weeks

Today I am Thankful for:
1. Being 29 weeks pregnant. Today. Hotdog will be here before I know it.

To date my stats are:
weight gain~ 6 lbs (he is growing just fine I am assured)
new stretch marks~ 0
vericose veins~ 0 still yeah!
sciatic nerve~ Alive and well and rearing its ugly head on the Right as well as Left now.
hip displacement~ active on the left. :(

2. That we get to keep the house! I feel we are very blessed in this fact. I know there are many, many people who have lost theirs in this economic mess.

3. That my husband works so hard to make our life great, even when everything is up in the air.

4. Email and Iphone. I know this is silly. But when I found out about Jonathan I lost my ability to use the phone except when necessary. Text, email and facebook are so much easier for me now. And in the beginning I was not too sure if I liked my Iphone and now... well lets just say the AA people might want to consider a IPhone Addict Annomous group.

5. Tiny little clothes. I have been going through the leftovers from when Grayson was born and small. I have the room in the furniture configuration I want it in, and all the clothes washed and folded or hung up. The cloth diapers are washed and sized to smalls and in the changing table. Basically we are ready. I still have the bulk of the nursery decor to do but its "designed" and planned just needs to be exicuted. I will take before and afters but no pics until its ready.

Thankful Thursday! 21 weeks

Ugh. I know this is Thankful Thursday but my dogs are barkin'! I just got off work at Target, a 5 hour shift turned in an 8 hour shift, and my feet are killing me! So on that note!

Tonight I am thankful for:
1. having a job! Even though the hours are ALL over the board and my body feels like its gonna fall apart at the end of the day, its a job and jobs are to be appreciated. Amen. :)

2. being 21 weeks pregnant! That means only 133 days left (+/-)

3. for having the sweetest smartest little boy I know. He was awake but in bed when I got home. As soon as the door closed he was calling for me. Asking me why daddy picked him up instead of me from daycare? and being so excited to see me! I love that. I could seriously cuddle that little boy and kiss his face off all day!

4. the auction for the house being canceled *for now*. We applied for a modification on our mortgage and they are processing our paperwork and while they do the sale is canceled. fingers crossed that it all goes through and we get to keep our house. It is really coming down to the wire but like they say, its not over till the fat lady sings (such a rude sentiment isn't it?)

5. getting my (Aunt Janna's) serger fixed. I tried to make G some "aunerwares" with it and it refused to sew for more than a few stitches and then makes a clanging noise. Not good. grrr. I called my machine guy who said try the tension and change the needles. Check. And a no go. grrr. So another few months go by cause its $$$ to fix and so I bite the bullet and call to see how much it will be to have it looked at. He says so nicely, "we look at it for free but service starts at $109" Yikes! (Aunt Janna- you aren't getting it back any time soon! :P ) I took it in on Tuesday and said TAKE YOUR TIME, hint hint I have no money to pick it up! (oh and what was wrong with it was the alignment was off on the cutter and looper... he said it was probably out of whack when I got it but continued use made it worse, but that it was an "easy"- for him- fix.)

6. my loving amazing husband... Today the fix it guy called and said he was done with my serger! uh oh right!? Nope! Since we had to cancel camping this weekend, due to rain Zack decided to work on Friday anyway, and said I can get "my" serger out of "jail". Yeah! More aunerwares in our future thise weekend. Now if I could just get my son to wear them consistantly! :)

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Thursday Thankful- 14 weeks!

Today I am thankful for:

1. My girlfriends! I have some great girlfriends who are there for me in a pinch or just to chat! I love hanging out with them and am glad they are in my life!

2. Sun. today was 95 and while that is TOO hot for me to sit in the sun, I do love it when its bright and sunny out!

3. Books. I have rediscovered reading! I have not read more than a magazine article in 2 years and 6 months (Grayson's life!) partly because I was busy sewing or scrapbooking or whatever and partly because I never had time after those things and being a parent. My friend Lesley introduced me to Jodi Picoult, who wrote My sisters' Keeper that just came out in theaters. I have read 4 books in as many weeks! Yeah me!

4. Indoor plumbing. Its the little things in life we always take for granted and as I sit on the potty typing this (I know Dad, I have no dignity! ) I realize just how much I love that we don't walk out to an outhouse or worse throw our waste out a window. blah.

5. My son. I just hope he forgives and forgets how lazy/boring his mommy is during pregnancy!

Thursday Thankful, 13 weeks!

Today I am thankful for:

1. still being pregnant! Yeah! I am 13 weeks today and as far as I know all is going smoothly. Since I had the Ultra sound last week I am feeling a little bit better, though I don't think I will feel better until s/he is in my arms.

2. not barfing on Wednesday or Today, though I did barf for the first time on Monday morning (at work no less!- luckily I made it to the bathroom!) But I have felt fine since... so maybe things are finally moving into second trimester bliss. One can hope anyway!

3. still being employed. There was a big debacle at work over the line my drivers license number was placed on one of the forms I filled out months ago at Target. After it not getting fixed properly and timely corporate took me out of the system while it was fixed, in essence firing me. :( boo by the way! It took almost 2 weeks to get it figured out and then another few days to get the pay I was owed worked out since they kept having me work even though we found out later I wasn't really supposed to be. Oi!

4. making friends. I work with a lot of really great people. Not that I am surprised but after my first few weeks I wasn't so sure. Wednesday someone actually went to bat for me by bringing up that I keep trying to cross train, in front of a higher up and it may have actually worked. I heard later that she asked about me and having me help her out for more hours!! So Thank you M!! I really appreciate it! I would write you a great team card, but I probably couldn't phrase it right to not have it come out weird to D.

5. Local berries! I picked blueberries at Charles Starr farms and then Raspberries and Tayberries (cross between a rasp and black) at Smith Berry Barn. Then today I made two batches of jam. I love jam!

Thursday Thankful

Today I am thankful for:

1.) my hubby who takes up the slack when I can't do anything (all the time lately- I am utterly useless!) He cooks, he cleans, he does laundry and he is working at a car dealership attempting to make some money.

2.) mostly only throwing up on Wednesdays, its not ideal but I can set my watch to it however weird it is.

3.) Tuesday and Saturday farmers market, we try to go to both every week. Its fun to see all our old neighborhood friends (its in downtown Hillsboro where we used to live) and to enjoy the band and hang out. I miss it when we can't go.

4.) fresh fruit. Hillsboro and the Portland area is a very rich agricultural area and there is never really a lack of farm fresh produce this time of year. I picked Strawberries on Tuesday and am making jam this weekend. It was $15 for 15lbs of delish Oregon berries!

5.) an easy going child who will usually contentedly play while I feel like crap and ignore him. I know this too shall pass but can it come any faster PLEASE!!

Thursday Thankful

I am thankful for:

1) not throwing up right this second! It seems that when I blog that things seem to be looking up, it comes back to bite me in the a$$. I posted the other day and I spent the next two day barfing, I could not even keep down water! Zack thinks it might have been a touch of the stomach flu but I felt sick only in a nauseous vomity way, no aches or pains or whatever. It was horrible. So I am thankful for every second I DON'T spend vomiting!

2) frozen yogurt! Could it be any more yummy? I am in love. I just wish there was a per oz, self serve place close by that had 10 flavors like the place I love in Los Angeles, which is sadly probably gone since I can't seem to find it anywhere online! :( The only place *close* sells it in s,m,l cups and you get SO jipped! She actually weighs it to make sure she didn't give you too much in the tiny cup! but I can't help myself. I just need it! Anyone have a personal frozen yogurt maker that serves it soft serve style they can review for me? (I just got my Bed bath and Beyond coupon!)

3) my hubby, he has been so great! When I fall asleep on the couch at 530 (last night) he lets me sleep and just whisks Grayson away until bed or I wake up. He has been helping with the house and everything else, he's been great! Thanks honey. :)

4) Getting to 8 weeks (today!) with my pregnancy! I am remaining hopefully optimistic and until I know otherwise I am SURE that everything with this little bean is fine. There just is no other way to be. I have learned along the way that it benefits noone to worry. And it doesn't help me control it and since I can't, I won't.

5) what little bit of brain I have left. I feel it dwindle daily so I am feeling like begging it to stay! Please, little brain, stay around just a little bit longer! :)

Thursday Thankful.

Its funny. I was just reading my friends Erin's blog, about all that she is thankful for this week when it dawned on me its THURSDAY! Duh! I have a blog to write!

This week I am Thankful for:

1.) my extended family. Growing up in San Diego when they were mostly up in Oregon I always felt a bit like the odd man out. Then I would come up for summers and its was like I belonged here. It was always a goal in my life to have a tree on my license plate when I grew up.
So now that I am all grown up and moved up here I feel closer to my extended family than ever before. Mostly to my aunts because they are always so kind and loving and I know I can count on them when I need anything. Whether its a listening ear or a serger. They are there and I am thankful!

2.) My hubby! He never fails to amaze me. I have been really tired, sluggish and nauseous lately and have not been up to most of "my" chores. He has been totally taking up the slack, making dinner, cleaning the house, doing laundry. Right now he is putting our sweet cherub to bed so I don't have to lay down with him (I get more vomit-y, kinda like the spins when you are wayyy too intoxicated, just minus the spins)

3.) The ability to sew. I learned partially from my mom, my grandmothers and aunts. But when Zack and I first got married I bought a table runner/ wall hanging
from his step-mom for a ridiculous amount of money and realized as I handed her a check that I could so make that!!! So I called all the quilt shops in my area and ended up taking a class at a great little shop in Fallbrook, CA. I still have that runner though my tastes have changed drastically in the last 8 years! Tons of quilts, cloth diapers, baby outfits, gifts and blankets later and I have never looked back. I love that I can take a pile of fabric and turn it into something special. Its a talent that has lent itself well to me. thank you to all who let me watch, learn and took the time to teach. :)

4.) My sewing machine! It is probably the one thing, that through all of this, if I had to sell it I would fall into a sad long lasting depression. I love it. It sews like a dream, its easy to use and it does everything I could possibly want it to. Its amazing how much it has saved on birthday, baby and christmas gifts! I have made EVERYTHING since I bought it! I have tried to mostly use fabric I had and have turned out some cute stuff! (if I do say so myself!)
5.) maternity pants. That seems sad and silly to say since I am only 6 weeks pregnant. But even though I have not really expanded all that much I am at the lovely phase where I just don't want anything touching my belly. So my normal pants are for the most part very uncomfortable. I also have really cute maternity clothes, while my normal wordrobe is a bit sad and lacking because I still have 15-20 lbs to get back to pre-GRAYSON! (sad) and I didn't want to spend money on a body I hate. Rude of me or it, I'm not sure, but after this baby.... ITS ON! Anyway, today I dug out a pair of elastic (shudder but ahhh) waist capri pants and oh boy are they comfy! Yay elastic!

Thursday Thankful.

Today I decided to change things up. I want to be more optimistic. (Yes, I am watching the Michael J. Fox special) So I am going to start writing what I am thankful for on at least a weekly basis.

I have always tried to be optimistic anyway and while it is my nature to find the best, I have my moments were I forget to find them and I get sucked into a deep hole. I always find my way back but sometimes its very hard. I had a very hard day yesterday. If you caught my post before I pulled it then you already know that. I pride myself on being candid and an open book. I felt very raw.

Basically I got a job and hours later got a call that it had been taken back away because my training was not as good as they had thought and it wasn't enough. So I went from having some of our "thoughts, prayers, hopes" answered to seemingly back at square one.

Well as I do I went to bed and when I woke up I felt new again.

So today I am thankful for:
1.) My hubby. It is nice to know that we have been through the worst things possible in our marriage and we are still together. And mostly happy. :)

2.) Target. I DO have that job. I had orientation today and while it was painful and 5.5 hours long it was fairly fun hanging out with a gal also from San Diego.

3.) Sun. I have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and have struggled with depression for many years. Which is to say that in the winter my mood suffers. I am a slug and grouchy. Not always but more so than with spring and summer. So I am happy the sun is coming out again, finally.

4.) My friend Di. I know that no matter how busy she is if I call and need to talk or am having a bad day she is there to listen and give me a hug, even if its over the phone. We don't always have time to get together but she shows me she cares in so many other ways. Thank you.
(we got to get together on Monday and it was very refreshing for me)

5.) my blog readers. I know you are out there. Some of you reading faithfully every day. I see you. I feel your love and your compassion reaching out to me even if you don't leave comments.

Please leave comments. They get me through the days. I know I suck at writing back to them, but honestly that's just me. I have tried to remember to do that and get so behind...

On that note. goodnight.