Grateful Monday

Five things I'm grateful for today:

• Our sweet boy turns one this week.  I can hardly believe it!  He is such a blessing.
• My summer break is not ending.  If I were still in my old job, I would be returning to work today.  I am so incredibly grateful that I don't have to face that.  Such a relief!
• Liam and I had a wonderful, relaxing visit with my parents last week.  Going home is such a treat.  I love seeing Liam with my parents.
• Clean sheets.  I just love clean sheet day.
• My husband's summer semester is nearly over, which means we'll have a few weeks where we get to spend more quality time together.  I will treasure those weeks.

Grateful Monday

Five things I'm grateful for today:

• We had some dear friends in town for the weekend.  It was so nice to see them and catch up...there was lots of hanging out, along with some seriously healthy belly laughing.
• Music.  There's nothing like going and seeing a live performance that simply knocks your socks off and makes you want to shake your bones.
• Liam learning to walk.  It's mighty amazing watching him do it...his little arms waving, his body swaying as he tries to balance.  Bipedalism is some serious stuff.
• The return of my two favorite TV shows.  We are about half way through True Blood and the final season of Weeds.  It's such good timing that these shows fall during the summer!
• Running.  I'm starting to get back into it and slowly building my endurance.  It feels so good.

Happy

Do you ever have those moments when you feel like your heart might burst from happiness?


Yesterday afternoon, it dawned on me that I'm happy.  Really really happy.


Nothing special had happened.  It was a normal, summer afternoon for us.  Liam had taken a long afternoon nap.  Some of my favorite music was playing softly in the background.  We were reading books and playing with blocks.  Liam was busy babbling and trying to make words.  


As I sat there and watched him, I felt an incredible sense of lightness.  


It dawned on me that I'm no longer overwhelmed. Gone are the anxiety and hurt that I felt when I had to leave him every morning for work.  Gone are the days of feeling like I can't catch up.  Gone are the laundry piles and the sleep deprivation.  


These days, we awake gently with no alarm clock.  I get to sip coffee while we play.  Sometimes we run errands.  Sometimes we go to the park.  Sometimes we meet Andrew for lunch.  Sometimes we go to the pool.  Sometimes we just stay in our pajamas all day.


Our days are leisurely and fun.  We spend hours simply playing and exploring.  


Starting in mid-August, I'll be back in school.  I'll start working two days a week, and I'll have classes and research to focus on.  I realize that beginning a dissertation will bring new challenges, but I hope to preserve this sense of balance.


Until then....I'm just going to soak up these lazy summer days and treasure every. single. moment with this precious little guy.

Watching him discover the world around him...learning to walk....learning to talk.  It's perhaps the coolest thing ever.

Life is good.  Truly truly good.


(By the way, right after I took this picture, he ate his first piece of bark....ummm...not so good.  But my husband assured me that we don't have a poisonous tree.  So I'm just thinking of it as extra fiber...)

Grateful Monday

Here we are to another Monday!  How did that happen?  These weeks of summer are flying by.

To start my week off in the right spirit, here are five things I'm grateful for:

• Andrew and I were both home yesterday when Liam took his first steps.  It was such a precious moment.  
• We had a lovely Saturday afternoon, listening to one of our favorite bands.  We took Liam and he loved it!  It was a fabulous day.
• I got to spend time with my husband's cousin yesterday.  I'm so inspired by this woman and her amazing courage and strength.
• My job details for the fall have been sorted out and I will only be working two days a week. What an awesome schedule!
• Ice cream.  Seriously.  The best treat on a summer evening.

Grateful Monday

Five things I'm grateful for today:

• The heat has broken.  Finally.  Hard to believe that 90 degrees feels cool...but I'll take it over 105 degrees any day!
• Rain.  After many weeks without any precipitation, it finally poured last night and gave the earth a much needed drink.  
• My family.  I spent a few days at my parents' with my brother and his family last week.  It was such a joy seeing Liam play with his cousins.  Having children around definitely makes our visits extra fun!
• A slow month ahead.  Aside from a few concerts, we don't have much on the calendar this month, which means we can truly enjoy these lazy summer days.
• Liam is slowly learning to put himself to sleep.  While bedtime is still a challenge, nap time is getting easier.  I'm feeling a small victory over here.

Another Lovely Wedding

In early June we had the joy of attending my cousin's lovely wedding. 

It was such a sweet and sentimental ceremony.  The bride even sang a song during her vows.  I doubt there was a dry eye in the place.  It was another one of those ceremonies that was so personal, intimate, and individualized.  


Those are my favorite kind.  I just love it when the couple makes it truly for them and about them.


Beyond the ceremony, I seriously LOVED all of their vintage decorations.  From the tablecloths to the china to the burlap drapes...every time I looked around I would notice another tiny, lovely detail.  All of it was just amazing and perfectly done.  

It's so obvious that a lot of heart was put into this celebration.

This table for the couple was the cutest idea.

Liam was given lots of love.  Here he is flirting with the gorgeous bride (isn't she adorable?!)

While there we enjoyed catching up with some of my extended family.

Liam also got in some quality grandparent time.  I just love seeing him with my parents!  This picture of him and my mom warms my heart.  Since the day he was born, they've had a special connection.  I love how his face lights up every time he sees her.

It was such a wonderful evening spent with family, celebrating the love of two very special people.

Congrats Riann and Jeremy!  You are such a beautiful couple, and we wish you all the best.

Grateful Monday

Five things I'm grateful for today:

• We spent the weekend with friends at a bluegrass music festival.  We had a wonderful time despite record high temps.  It was so nice to catch up and listen to some good tunes!
• To be back home with my little boy.  I've only spent two weekends away from him, and it's really hard for me.  I know it's healthy for all of us, but I miss him so much when we are away overnight.
• That I didn't have to get up and go to work this morning.  Summers off are amazing.
• Liam is 11 months-old today.  I'm so grateful for this little person more and more each day.
• My husband.  When we go on these trips, we are such a good team, always taking care of each other.  We have it down!