Thankful Thursday Year End 2011 Edition

Nobody told me that having two children would be significantly harder than one, so Thankful Thursday had taken a backseat thanks to lack of time.  I did want to do a final Thankful Thursday of 2011 and it will encompass what in 2011 I was most thankful for.

1.  Leo.  After a very long and very uncomfortable/miserable pregnancy I gave birth to a 7 lb 10 oz baby boy.   There are so many things about him and the experience that brought/bring me so much joy:

• I never have to be pregnant again
• I got to truly enjoy my labor.  I never thought that could happen, but watching my mother's face as she watched her grandson be born was priceless.  Watching Mike hold his son for the first time brings tears to my eyes.  I got to look around and take the whole experience in.   I can close my eyes and see those images as vividly as it happened.
• Being able to tell my father that he has a grandson and seeing his face for the first time as he met his grandson (when Leo was only a few hours old) was one of the best things I will ever experience.  My dad deserved a boy as much as my husband did.
• Seeing Gwen beam as she met Leo for the first time.  Someone told me that their first picture would be my favorite and I can't argue with that.  Even now I love watching them interact and it is my favorite thing about having two kids.  Leo's face lights up and he talks to her the moment he knows she is around.  She is always hugging and kissing him and just loves her "baby bruder". 
• That feeling of being complete.  I feel like Mike and I now flow as a complete unit.  We have the perfect family and I am so ready to experience the future with everyone.  I just hope they don't grow too fast!
• Re-visiting those "firsts".  I never thought I would get as excited as I did to see Leo roll over, eat solids...etc, but I do. 
• His smile.  I forgot how amazing it is when you enter a room and see the biggest, most beautiful smile looking at you.  His smile is contagious and even after the worst day, it makes life perfect.

2.  Michael.  I could never had made it through my pregnancy without him.  I could not be the mother I want to be to my children, without him.   I could have never breastfed as long as I am, without him.  He is the most amazing father and husband any woman could ask for.  I am not a religious person, but I thank God for him everyday.  He grocery shops and does laundry.  He takes care of Gwen while I am busy taking care of Leo.  He works hard and gives back to his family.  He cooks dinner most nights.  No matter how horrible and bitchy I am, he loves me unconditionally.  If I had one wish for my children it would be that Leo turns out like him and Gwen finds someone just like him.  The world would be a better place with more people like him in it.  For him, I am so thankful.

3.  The things Gwen says.  She is so funny and witty without even knowing it.  It is straight from her pure innocence.  The other day we were talking about how we don't eat flowers.  She says "we eat cauliflower".  She talks very matter of fact and keeps us laughing all the time.  Our new way of punishing her is by taking away toys and putting them in the "naughty jar".  She tries to negotiate what will go in there when she is bad.  She is WAY too smart for her own good.   She absorbs and remembers EVERYTHING.  99% she is a joy to be around and keeps life very light hearted.

4.  New friends/new life.  This year we finally met some great people in our neighborhood.  We spent so much time outside with them this summer (until all hours) and even had them over for Christmas Eve.  Gwen loves to play with Aiden and we really enjoy the company of the parents.  It feels like when we were kids and we would go knock on the neighbor's door to play.  We do that now...........sometimes through texting though..........it is almost 2012.

5. My maternity leave.  I was able to spend 12+ weeks off of work.  I got to take Gwen swimming and to music class.  We went to the aquarium and the zoo.  We "played played played" as Gwen would say.  I got to spend the quiet days by the pool with Leo.  He would sleep and I would read.  I got to really figure out what is important in life and I realized that I need to not spend my life in front of the computer.  Mike and I are on this 2 year goal of me going part time.  I even joined the ranks of Stella & Dot to help supplement income so we can save more to get us to reach that goal.  I want to be able to be there for Gwen before and after school.  I want it to be me that she talks to at the end of the day.  Hopefully when I write this in 2014, I can say that our goal has come true.

Happy New Year Everyone!  I hope you can look back at your 2011 and be as thankful for it as I was of my 2011.