December 31, 2015

Gratitudes:  So today Charles played pretend with the girls for two hours. They built a castle and made balloon monsters and defeated them and protected stuff and wore tutus and crowns. It was amazing. For that. 

December 29, 2015

Gratitudes:  Today was a rough day. So, For a do-over tomorrow. For Auggie, who makes my heart leap even when he's not feeling so good. For reminders that Kit is my sweet baby (2 is hard). For knowing Dottie is a beautiful person inside and out (4 is also hard). 

December 27, 2015

Gratitudes:  For sleeping bags, Legos and magnatiles. For Roxanne's help with holding the baby. For Kit wearing her rainsuit to play in the mud. For a nice conversation with my dad...or maybe that was yesterday. 

#GratitudeProject

December 26, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a fun day with the Barkley/Harrod/Vance (and more) clan. For all the cousins together. For Maddie helping Dottie Bea come out of her shell. For great food. For mom for planning, hosting and orchestrating. For my wild girls playing in the mud. For all the gifts given to our kids. For introverts doing their part. For Rudy. 

#GratitudeProject

December 35, 2015

Gratitudes: For a great, peaceful Christmas Day (well as peaceful as a day can be with three kids (that's not really that peaceful, btw)).  Speaking of, three really happy, grateful kids. For not overdoing the gifts. For making the breakfast casserole 2 days ago so all I had to do was pop it in the oven. For the kids sleeping so late, Charles asked me if I drugged them. For Charles and Roxanne coming over. For an epic lunch cooked by (not me) Papaw. For Auggie working so hard to scooch around. For a bath by myself. 

#GratitudeProject

December 24, 2015

Gratitudes: For a warm day outside. For being able to afford groceries. For getting to spend time with Robert. For fast homemade candy. For sneaking gifts downstairs while the kids watch Rudolph.  For full stockings. For a dry house after all the storms.  

December 22, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a warm day outside in December. For playgrounds and (what passes for) teeter totters (nowadays). For Charles' family and how much fun they have playing with the kiddos. For splashing in puddles. For the giant Christmas tree downtown. For another decent night of sleep.

December 21, 2015

Gratitudes:  For the shortest day and the return of the light! For a day in Bardstown with Brian, Charles and Auggie. For Brian helping to get all our gifts wrapped. For tall friends who replace lights at the top of the stairwell. For delicious lunch at Cafe Primo Homemade gifts. 

#GratitudeProject

December 20, 2015

Gratitudes: For a birthday lunch for my Mom and Lucas. For the cuteness that is Auggie and Breck together. For steak. For seeing the new Star Wars movie with Charles, Rob, Brian, and Mel. For clay and Laura giving me a bottle for August so I could go. For the Kentucky Theater. For such a full day we all fell asleep together, mommy, daddy, Dottie, Kitty, and Auggie. 

December 19, 2015

Gratitudes:  For Auggie, who's sweet demeanor keeps me sane. For a nap alone with him. For Bernie Sanders getting his info back from the DNC. For Uncle Rob and Aunt Mel. 

#GratitudeProject

December 18, 2015

Gratitudes: For my old big brother. For a nice day out in Lexington while the girls hung out at papaw's. For getting almost all of our stocking stuffers. For a gorgeous little crown of thorns plant from Michler's. For Dottie brushing her own teeth. 

December 17, 2015

Gratitudes:  For Auggie's third tooth. For children's ibuprofen. For Charles giving the girls a bath and cleaning their room. For painting and gluing and sand. For baby naps. For a baby boy who thinks I'm wonderful. For wild Catherine's sweet gentle moments when she holds my face and tells me how much she loves me. For the excitement on Dottie's face when she makes something amazing like her painting today of our green house. 

#GratitudeProject

December 16, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a day much better than yesterday. For having my third and last cavity filled. For a walk to the park with daddy pulling the girls in the wagon. For my beautiful kids. 

December 14, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a visit from Cora, Porter, Oliver and their moms. For hanging out with Anne and her family the day before. For adult conversation. For Charles brushing the girls hair so patiently. For mountains of laundry because it means we have clothes and a means to keep them clean. For knowing that teething ends, human beings sleep through the night, and learn to use the toilet....alone. 

#GratitudeProject

December 13, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a great day (despite the rough start). For a visit to see Anne, Joseph, and their kiddos. For a gorgeous day. For a romp in the creek for Dotyie and Daddy. For salads and smoothies. For a slap happy baby. For cuddles from Kit. For the baby asleep on my lap, Auggie froggie. 

#GratitudeProject

December 12, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a beautiful warm day. For papaw and Mamaw hanging with the girls this morning. For yummy stuff from the butcher. For the girls spending most of the day outside. For the horse and buggy that pass our house on their regular route. 

#GratitudeProject

December 11, 2015

Gratitudes: For the girls helping with dishes. For Charles sleeping with Kit so I didn't have to. For Kit napping in my lap. For a drizzly day walk. For Star Trek:TNG.

#GratitudeProject

 

December 9, 2015

Gratitudes:  For my sweet sick Dottie Bea who forgives me when I don't hold it together and I yell too much. For a trip to the grocery with Kit and Aug. for my Ergo carrier. For dinner out so I don't have to cook. For Netflix in days like these. 

#GratutudeProject

December 8, 2015

Gratitudes:  For brownies. For help from Roxanne. For homemade brownies that taste like they're from a box. For chicken noodle soup, tea, and oranges for Dottie who has a cold. For hot baths for the girls. For getting to spend time with all my kids...even though it is sometimes hard and frustrating. For the sweetest giggles from Auggie as I kiss his little fingers. I hope I can remember that sound. He is so very joyful. 

#GratitudeProject

December 7, 2015

LGratitudes:  For how much my kids love each other (it's more than they fight, and they fight a lot). For wonderful doctors looking after Kit's heart. For her life. For Kit's bravery at the doctor's office. For a lunch date with my babe. For new jeans!!!! For a baby boy who missed me so. For his sweet warmth lying next to me. For Dottie behaving so well for Mamaw. For Mamaw taking care of Dot and Aug so I can take care of Kit. For Charles taking care of us all. 

#GratitudeProject

December 6, 2015

Gratitudes: For toast with honey and cinnamon. For Dutch processed cocoa. For Roxanne coming to help so I can take Kit to the cardiologist tomorrow. For a super fun trip to Walmart (no, I can't fucking believe I said that either). For two sweet girls with wicked fashion sense. For a family that has so many meals together. For supplies for homemade Christmas gifts. For pink ice cream cones. For new socks. For ice packs for when your kid runs full-bore into a corner.  For mamoo (that's breastmilk for those of you that aren't my kids). 

#GratitudeProject 

December 5, 2015

Gratitudes:  For my mama who turns 69 today.  For an AMAZING. Day at Bernheim with Charles, Roxanne, and Anne and her littles. For fried chicken. For clean drinking water. For our new picnic basket. For Katy's new baby. 

#GratitudeProject

December 4, 2015

Gratitudes: For a horde of kids at my house yesterday. For starting to find my tribe. For helpful mamas. For August's checkup this morning. For infant ibuprofen for a baby who got three shots and is working on getting three more teeth. Ouch. For laughing at my ridiculous children. For putting this sweet face to sleep. 

#GratitudeProject

December 2, 2015

Gratitudes:  For phone calls to mom when you're overwhelmed. For August's new high chair and his attempt at bananas...he just mushed them. For baby led weaning! For those sandwich cutters that make your sandwiches into silly shapes. For bath time. For Charles and the girls going to the grocery so I could get Auggie to sleep and clean super fast. For showers. For cardboard boxes!

#GratitudeProject

December 1, 2015

Gratitudes:  For mornings when Charles gets to stay home. For water colors. For epic hand-me-downs (thanks Emily). For some level of organization to the millions of pieces of small people clothing in my home. For coming up with a way to limit screen time (for the kids, not me...I'm a total addict). For knowing that teething ends...my poor poor baby. 

#GratitudeProject

November 30, 2015

Gratitudes: For how much Dottie loves Aug. For TV on a pretty dreary day. For the girls playing so well together today. For only one broken ornament. For their blossoming imaginations. Today they built something to keep back the floods then rowed their boats around with paddles (spatulas). It was pretty great. For the girls spontaneously cleaning up the toy room before bed. It's spotless(ish). 

#GratitudeProject

November 29, 2015

Gratitudes: For a lovely day at home with nothing to do (besides cooking, dishes, and laundry because we would be buried in filth otherwise). For hanging the stockings made by the kid's Grandma Roxanne. For having local mamas to call when your friend needs help. For the safety of everyone around me as others face huge trials. For a day of fussy baby to remind you how easy he is most of the time. 

#GratitudeProject

November 28, 2015

Gratitudes: For clean laundry. For grandparents. For Christmas trees. For little hands expressing joy and so perfectly placing ornaments. For baking cookies. For Auggie's breathtaking grin. For Christmas lights and tinsel. For pre-lit trees. For Charles. For days like this. 

#GratitudeProject

November 27, 2015

Gratitudes: For a lovely Thanksgiving with my family. For all the cousins getting to hang out. For my brothers and my mom and their significant others. For Margaret's amazing cake. For leftovers. For a trip to the park this morning. For Auggie's first time on the swing. For new shoes for the kids all around. For car naps. For hand-me-downs. 

#GratitudeProject

November 25, 2015

Gratitudes:  For today being epically better than yesterday. For not really remembering why yesterday was so bad. For funny funny children. For a bathtub big enough to fit me and all three of my kids....for an hour or so. For clean water. For my family. For  a washer and dryer 'cause I've got mountains of laundry. For birthday gifts in the mail. For left handed scissors for Dottie. For my exceptionally beautiful children. For hair bows on my boy. He'd better get used to it.  For getting to see my family tomorrow. 

Edit: For the worst case of musical beds last night. Even though I got no sleep, at least we have somewhere to lay our heads and blankets to keep us warm. 

#GratitudeProject

November 23, 2015

Gratitudes: For decorating cakes with the girls. For naps. For an afternoon walk. For playing at the park. For Kit practicing on the "balance beam."  For running around the baseball field. For daddy playing monster. For warm clothes out of the dryer. 

#GratitudeProject

November 22, 2015

Gratitudes: For getting through the day. For perfect fried eggs. For recipes on the Internet. For my ergo baby carrier. For tomorrow. 

#GratitudeProject

November 21, 2015

Yesterday's Gratitudes: For sleeping in (until 7:00). For a day with only one kid around. For vegging out in front of the television. For pumpkin frosting! 

#GratitudeProject

November 20, 2015

Gratitudes: For turning an excruciatingly early morning into fun. For (some) clean laundry. For daddy taking the girls outside to see the frost. For sweet girls with wonderful fashion sense. For all the help Mamaw has been over the last two weeks. For Mellow Mushroom. For Papaw and Mamaw taking the girls for the weekend. For cake and ice cream. For a warm bed. 

#GratitudeProject

November 19, 2015

Gratitudes: For the library. For letting our butterflies go. For chocolate cake. For Charles working so very hard. For Kit taking me literally (I told her to walk slowly around her brother who was lying on the floor, so as she was passing him she walked in two circles around him...very slowly...then went in her merry way). I laughed so hard. For a bath with the littlest. 

#GratitudeProject

November 18, 2015

Gratitudes: For our giant bathtub (it's seriously like a toddler pool). For a visit from friends, Anne, Oliver, and Louisa. For Mamaw hanging out with my kids so I got a little break. For homemade ice cream. For warm rain. For cuddly babies. 

#GratitudeProject

November 17, 2015

Gratitudes: For this jumpsuit that lets my kids play in the cold rain. For Charles putting the girls to bed every night. For Dottie showing her butterflies pictures of other butterflies. For the best jambalaya ever. For the ability to raise my kids in a home they love. 

#GratitudeProject

November 16, 2015

Gratitudes:  For an OK day, because as a friend said, sometimes OK days are something to be grateful for. For a nap with the 2 littlest. For someone to look after the oldest so I could take said nap. For baby balloon parties. For leftover cake. 

#GratitudeProject

November 15, 2015

Gratitudes: For being so tired after Dottie's birthday party I forgot to do my Gratitudes and now have 2 days worth. For D's gorgeous rainbow party. For all her friends. For my shy girl being willing to open up. For family. For Charles. For breakfast out. For easy good dinner recipes. Indian food. Yum. For such beautiful weather, we ate lunch outside. For balloons on strings. For Auggie learning to scream the loooooongest sustained screams....in public. Hilarious. For new shoes from my mama! My old ones were 19 years old. I know. Gross. 

#GratitudeProject

November 13, 2015

Gratitudes:  For a really nice day. For hanging lights. For butterflies coming out of their chrysalises. For rainbow decorations. For Charles wrapping presents. For Dottie wanting to sleep with me. For a rather clean house. For Kit singing. For Mamaw blowing up a gajillion balloons. For the sweet warm baby lying next to me. For potlucks (cuz I'm not that kinda hostess). For anticipating Dottie's birthday party. She's so beautiful, smart, and sweet.for Kit's angry face (let me never disrespect her by busting out laughing at the cuteness). For being safe (oh my god, Paris). 

#GratitudeProject

November 12, 2015

Gratitudes: For our handyman fixing our kitchen cabinet so we can now put our dishes away. For Mamaw visiting. For having time to hold my sweet sweet belly aching Auggie and For Mamaw to hold him when I couldn't. For rainbow buttercream frosting. For toothpaste (because of all that buttercream frosting). For all the birthday cake excitement....and it's not even done. 

#GratitudeProject

November 11, 2015

Gratitudes: For ice cream. For the opportunity to cuddle with my oldest. For a brave girl at her yearly checkup. For health. For glitter. 

#GratitudeProject

November 10, 2015

Gratitudes: For social safety nets. For insurance to get my cavities filled. For 30 years of no cavities, yup none until I was 30. For a funny dentist. For Tata taking care of the babes so I could take care of myself. For heat and a nice place to live. 

#GratitudeProject

November 9, 2015

Gratitudes:  For Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes. For dinner out with my family. For chocolate. For little girls with big attitudes. 

#GratitudeProject

November 8, 2015

Gratitudes: For Dottie making me a mommy four years ago this night. For 4 years of nursing. For a clean house and a clean family. (All 5 of us clean on the same day. It's a miracle.)  For laughing. For Dottie sitting with Auggie while Charles took their picture and her leaning over and saying to A about their father, "Don't listen to anything he says."  I think we have a smart ass on our hands. For sweet kisses from Kit. For a mobile August. For birthday cake baking.

#GratitudeProject