A Month of Thanks: Abinadi's Job

November 16th, 2009: I'm thankful for Abinadi's job.

I'm so grateful that Abinadi has a job... obviously.. but my gratitude goes deeper than that. I'm grateful that he has a job that allows me to stay home with the kids. I'm grateful that his job brings him home (most nights) by 5:15. I'm grateful that we can go and eat lunch with him whenever we want. I love that I know that he has enough personal time stored up that if anything happens at home, most days he can come home. I'm grateful that he can come with me to most of my big doctor appointments, and that his work allows him to come. I'm grateful that he enjoys work for the most part and that he likes the people he works with. When I was pregnant and in the hospital with the boys, he was able to take so much time off, and he had even started a new position the week the boys were born. We really got lucky with this job.. in more ways than one.

A Month of Thanks: Oranges

November 15, 2009: I'm thankful for Oranges

I love oranges. I'm thankful that they are a real fruit and that I can eat them. I'm grateful that they give me something to do while I'm watching TV... (until I learn to crochet). I'm grateful that they are in season around Christmas. I'm grateful that most of them are easy to peel. I could do without all the bitter white stuff, but I still love them. When I peel an orange, I take each slice and peel the white skin off the actual pulp slice. That being said, I DISLIKE (we don't say hate) pulp in orange juice. I'm grateful for pulp-free OJ.

A Month of Thanks: Washers and Dryers

November 14th, 2009: I'm thankful for Washers and Dryers

Oh man.. what in the world would I do without my machines. I do an average of 10 loads of laundry a week. Can you imagine what we would do without them? I don't even want to think about it. Spoiled? Yes.. Thankful... HECK yes.

A Month of Thanks: Stink Bugs

November 13th, 2009: I'm thankful for Stink Bugs

Ok, so I'm not exactly thankful for stink bugs themselves, but I'm thankful for the laugh they gave me today. Logan found a bug and being a bug lover she of course, picked it up. Unfortunately, it dumped it's payload on her finger. She was so mad! We were getting into the car and Logan was complaining about the smell. Abinadi got in and Logan says to him, "Daddy, smell my finger!". All good conversations start with that phrase.

A Month of Thanks: Cheese Balls

November 12th, 2009: I'm thankful for Cheese Balls

I love 'em. My kids love 'em. We eat 'em and then we are sick of 'em. Even Ben licks 'em.

A Month of Thanks: Our Troops

November 11th, 2009: I'm thankful for our Troops

I can't imagine what it's like to put myself in harm's way for my country. I would like to think that I COULD do it... but I'm not very brave.. unlike the men and women in the armed forces. I'm thankful that they are willing to risk their lives for my freedom. I'm grateful that they are willing to go to these awful places and try to help the people. I'm proud that my Grandfather served in WWII. I'm grateful that I live in this glorious, wonderful, and FREE country.

A Month of Thanks: Doctors

November 10th, 2009: I'm grateful for Doctors

I'm so blessed that I have found some of the greatest doctors in their fields. My pediatrician, Dr. Murnane, has been an invaluable asset these past few years. When we adopted Logan so suddenly and quickly she was willing to take her on as a new patient even though at the time she really wasn't accepting new patients. She was patient with me as I learned exactly what it was like to be a new parent and deal with all the unknowns that new parenthood brings. She was a lifeline when the boys were born, and she was the one that picked up on my postpartum depression. It's not everyday that you meet a doctor that calls you on a Friday night just to see if you are doing ok.. never mind the children. :) She also called me when the rumors started to fly that I was expecting again... I'm thankful for her even though she says we can't really be friends until my youngest is 18. I'm also grateful that I found an OB practice that would take the time to figure out our fertility issues (you would think that all would want to do that.. but that's not exactly true in our experience). I'm grateful that I know each one of those doctors and they know me and my background. I'm grateful that they don't roll their eyes at me when I call with silly questions about my pregnancy... granted, they might be doing that on the other line, but they don't act like they think my questions are silly. I'm also extremely thankful to the many doctors that worked on and with the boys after they were born, and who didn't give up even after working on Ben for 4 hours trying to get him stabilized after birth. I'm grateful that a wonderful hospital like WakeMed is just down the road and that it employs some of the greatest doctors (and nurses) I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'm also thankful that I'll not be needing most of those people this go round... ;)

A Month of Thanks: Fires

November 9th, 2009: I'm grateful for Fires and Fireplaces

Abinadi recently started a fire in our fireplace for the first time ever. The kids LOVED it. The saw him blowing on the fire and so now occasionally, they will walk up to the fireplace and blow at it. I love just looking at the flames. My family would rarely have fires in our fireplace, but we always did it on Christmas morning. We would burn the Christmas wrapping paper and watch all the pretty colors. I'm sure none of it was carcinogenic. I'm grateful that even though he always tells me it's not efficient to have a fire in the fireplace, Abinadi will make one for me anyway. Let's just hope none of our kids become the pyromaniac they act like now.

A Month of Thanks: The Gospel

November 8th, 2009: I'm thankful for the Gospel.

I'm not sure where I would be if it weren't for the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful that I was lucky enough to be raised in the church, but still a convert in my heart. I'm grateful that I can raise our children with the knowledge and peace that the Plan of Happiness brings. I've prayed for myself and I know that what the Church teaches is true. I am grateful for the Restoration of the True Church... and all the wonderful blessings that come with it.

A Month of Thanks: My Inlaws

November 7th, 2009: I'm grateful for my Mother and Father In Law

I'm already written about how I'm thankful for my husband, but I wouldn't have a husband if it weren't for Donna and Dale. I'm grateful that Donna instilled so many good attributes in Abinadi. She taught him how to be unselfish, how to care for children, how to cook several yummy dishes, and most importantly, how to honor your wife. Dale is the reason that Abinadi has such a strong work ethic. Dale supported their HUGE family by working hard and never giving up. Dale had Abinadi working alongside him from a young age, and taught Abinadi how to do EVERYTHING. He was obviously a great teacher because Abinadi knows how to do pretty much everything. What he doesn't know, he finds out from his Dad. I'm truly thankful that it was Dale and Donna that raised my husband.

A Month of Thanks: The Internet

November 6th, 2009: I'm grateful for the internet

Where else can you find that you may have a life threatening disease and that the only cure is to eat bacon bits all day? Just kidding, I don't think that's true.. but, hey, since I wrote it, it's now part of the World Wide Web.. which, I don't think they call it that anymore. Anyway, I'm grateful that I'm able to use the internet for all kinds of things: having a video conversation with my Mom, wasting time on Facebook, blogging, obsessing about pregnancy symptoms, finding the perfect recipe, downloading tv shows, babysitting my kids, spying on others, finding old boyfriends, staying up to date on breaking news, checking the weather, and myriad other things.

A Month of Thanks: Facebook

November 5th, 2009: I'm thankful for Facebook

Does this even need an explanation? I'm so happy that I've been able to reconnect with so many old friends and a lot of unknown relatives. It's truly amazing who you can find on there. I love that you can pretty much say whatever you want to, and only get occasionally ridiculed for what you say (unless it's political.. then it's all the time). I'm thankful that Abinadi only kind of gives me a hard time for spending so much time on that site.

A Month of Thanks: Big Bellies

November 4th, 2009: I'm thankful for BIG Bellies

I LOVE being pregnant. I've never been a "small girl" and I've always been a bit self conscious about my "dunlap". (You know, my belly dunlapped over my pants). I love that when you are pregnant, it so doesn't matter. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to have a big belly!

The other night

Abinadi and I were laying in bed, going to sleep and he was saying goodnight to the baby. He put his hand on my belly and then immediately retracted his hand and said, "whoa, what is that?". "It's a head, or a butt", I told him. Seriously, you would think that man had never had a pregnant wife before.

A Month of Thanks: Maternity Clothes

November 3rd, 2009: I'm thankful for maternity clothes

I never really got much in the way of preggo clothes when I was pregnant with the boys. I think I had one pair of crops and three shirts. Then, I ended up in the hospital so early that I really didn't have time to strut my stuff big ol' belly. I was only about 10 weeks pregnant this time when I went in and spent a few bucks at Motherhood.. I was determined to be comfortable and happy in my clothes this time around. I love the few shirts I got, and my jeans (after I finally figured out a way to keep them from falling down all the time). I'm grateful that my sister gave me all her maternity clothes, and even though a lot of them were so not me... I got a few more pairs of pants. I love comfortable clothes!

Reproducing Almond Joy's

Here is a list of items that Logan likes that we DO NOT LIKE:

-Shrimp

-Lobster

-Fish

-Celery (ok, Abinadi likes celery, but really, it's me we are taking about here)

-Almond Joy's

We have always said that we would not prejudice her against anything, and we've let her get shrimp when we were at a place that had it... and we even went to a seafood restaurant (ugh) just for her. After her trick or treating free for all, we found two Almond Joys... and we let her have one.. b/c we HATE coconut... the nasty vile thing that it is.. well, she LOVED it. LOVED IT.. I promise you should would have made out with the thing if we would have let her. I told her that she would have to be really good b/c there was only ONE more Almond Joy left in her bag...

Today, I pulled out the candy stash for her to have her after lunch piece and lo and behold.. TWO more Almond Joys were sitting there. I have no idea where they came from. I wasn't too happy about it, because she wanted to sit next to me and eat her candy... she was reeking of coconut for 10 minutes... (it takes her that long to eat one little bar).

Nasty.

A Month of Thanks: My mom

November 2nd, 2009: I'm grateful for my Mom

I'm thankful that my mom chose to be a stay at home Mom. I'm thankful that circumstances allowed her to do just that. I remember coming home from school every day and calling out to her. The routine was the same... Come home, yell for Mom, hear her answer, grab a bite to eat, and then go and talk to Mom. There was only once or twice I can remember my mom NOT being there, and I remember the panic that would start... I love that my Mom loves her grand kids. I love that she talks to them in that semi-annoying high pitched voice. I love that they love it, and they know who is she even though she lives a million miles away (seems like it some days). I am grateful that my children know and have a relationship with her. I love that she still sounds SO HAPPY to hear my voice when I call... even though I call an awful lot. I'm grateful that she's still around, albeit it far away. I love you Mom.. Thanks for being mine. :)

A month of Thanks: My husband

I'm a little behind on this, but that's ok, right?

November 1st, 2009: I'm grateful for my husband.

I really don't know what I would do without Abinadi. Truly, I can't think of a better match for me. He is the only one I know that will put up with all my crazy, and even match me in it sometimes. I know that if I need Abinadi, he will literally drop whatever he's doing and come to me. He knows that I'm a mess most of the time, and he still loves me. He's never surprised when there isn't dinner on the table right when he comes home, and he never gives me a hard time about the state of the house... especially when it's been "one of those days". He knows when to just let me rant and when to butt in and stop me. I love that we can make a fun date out of Harris Teeter triple coupons... he loves a good deal perhaps even a little more than me. I love that he helps me with the children.. every night. I love that he only gives me a little grief when I ask him to change the current poopy diaper. I love that he laughs at the same little things that I do. I love that the boys look almost like he's their triplet. I love that he has more patience with Logan than I do (most of the time). I can't imagine my life without him! I'm truly thankful that he chose me to be his wife.

Happy Halloween!

Tomorrow's the day

I remember the day before the boy's ultrasound.. I was all worked up. I could hardly sleep I was so excited and nervous for how the ultrasound was going to go. Little did I know that that particular ultrasound would be the beginning of an emotional roller coaster that would keep my eyes moist and my heart aching for some months.

Tomorrow we go in for this baby's ultrasound. I'm pretty excited. I don't have any of the nerves that I did with the boys... but it's not like I haven't done my fair share of worrying. I had a dream the other night that the baby had no appendages. Seriously, I wish the crazy dreams would stop already.

We aren't finding out the sex of this baby, so it's actually going to be a bit anti-climactic. Is that bad to say? Don't get me wrong.. I'm totally stoked to see this baby. I haven't seen it since it was a fuzzy gray blob. We are taking Logan, but leaving the boys at a sitter's house. I asked Logan if she was excited to see the baby and she said, "Oh, that's going to be disgusting!". I'm not sure she totally gets it.

I'll let everyone know how it goes. :)