Thankful//Blessed

Parenting is a plate full. Sometimes I wonder how I am going to manage this "rhythm" with a third babe in the mix. Then I take a deep breath and remind myself, the wild, wild world around me is beautiful.

The squeals, shrieks, thumping, bumping, hollering, middle of the night poopy messes, stubbed toes, and other injuries only my kiss can fix, aren't going to be around forever. Eventually they will be independent individuals who can entertain themselves, wipe their own butts, soothe their own hurts, read their own stories, feed themselves, sleep alone, and so on and so on.

When this realization hit me, it slapped me in the face and I actually got a bit pissed at myself for getting so agitated at the hustle and bustle Mara and Porter had been swirling around me. Instead of being agitated and overwhelmed, I should be starving to get every last drop that I can out of these moments in their life. Before they are gone, because this too shall pass. Good or bad, this too shall pass and every second I get with them is pure, unique, and genuine.

It was a hellish week before I had my realization, but once I put myself in check, it was a beautiful week. The now is so sacred. With that being said...

I am thankful for:
the leftover beets in the fridge that allowed us to make bright, bright beet paint and paint beautiful pictures...and hands and cheeks.
the consistent milk supply my body makes for Porter.
blankets to cuddle up in.
a yard to watch them run and romp and play and scream in.
Mara's eagerness and patience to let me give her "princess hair".
all of the Beranstein Bears books we've been able to thrift so I can read to them everyday.
impromptu Saturday afternoon naps.

I am blessed: with the luxury of having the internet. to have extra food in the pantry to make cookies when the craving strikes. with a strong husband who can deliver an incredible back rub. and
to be their momma.

Thankful//Blessed

Typically around the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, posts entitled "Grateful" or "Thankful" circulate. Inside them are lists of things the author is thankful for, then the holidays die off and we don't feel the need to share what we are thankful for until next season when it's the seasons theme once again.

I however feel like it's extremely important that we remind ourselves what we have, not what we want, or don't have. Sometimes reading blogs can fuel a flame of discontent, for me at least, with material things, home aesthetic, etc. I try my best to avoid fashion blogs, or too heavily saturated blogs with sponsored products, simply because I more then likely will want it, and with a spending fast and trying to separate my attachments from material things, and in our family, those blogs tend to make me want more then what I need and not appreciate what I have enough.
Chuck Palahniuk says it pretty well: "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need."

I am thankful for:
impromptu hide and seek games with Mara.

the hugs from Portie when I scoop him up after he wakes up from nap and buries his head in my shoulder.

a husband willing to wake up at three in the morning to go work lifting heavy, heavy stuff all day long.

                                                             Source: all-things-bright-and-beyootiful.tumblr.com via Sunflower on Pinterest

I am blessed to have:

gas in our minivan to get Dan to and from work, and to treat me to an after work ride to get out of the house.
a comfy futon to relax on when the babes finally go to sleep.

four pillows all to myself in our king size bed.

a king size bed that allows us to co-sleep comfortably.

I thought it would be really positive to blog regularly year round about what I am thankful for or blessed with. If you want to share what you are thankful for, please do so. I would love to read!