Thankful Thursday

This week we are thankful for...

1. November is thankful for the birth of friends' new baby boy. November and her husband were honored to be able to help this young couple out by watching their 18 month daughter for the birth, and for the night, allowing the parents to get some much needed rest. November was also very thankful to discover that her husband is quite capable of watching a two year old, and 18 month old, for several hours and clean the house at the same time. It really helped her to realize that they will be able to handle having another baby, and to just be grateful for her husband.

2. November is thankful for reaching a more stoic point in parenthood, letting go of L's tantrums, and remaining calm despite the craziness of a two year old (I'm bigger and older dang it! L can not break me down!).

3. November is thankful for her husband's interviews this week, and that they went so well.

4. November is thankful for the crock pot! A total lifesaver this week.

5. January is especially thankful for Husband. It's been amazing to spend more time together and reconnect!

6. January is thankful for Mary (yes, as in the Mother of God), the crucifix, and all those other peculiarly Catholic things. She's learned a lot this week about how members of other faiths view these parts of her religion, and it makes her really thankful that she has them in her life.

7. January is thankful for Christmas cookies. Her mother and sister recently visited and spent the weekend baking complicated cookies from recipes handed down from grandmothers and grandfathers. Coming from a family that rarely bakes cookies any other time of year, she is thankful for all of the love and family history that comes from these following these recipes.

Thankful Thursday

With apologies that we're joining our first Thankful Thursday on a Friday, this week we are thankful for:

1. Getting to see each other! While we used to work together and live in the same city, now we live several hours apart. January became a suburban mouse, and November became a way-out-in-the-country mouse. But this week, we met back up in our old city for a couple of hours and got to share a good long walk and talk (November seconds this one).

2. Soon-to-be-born baby J is no longer breech! January is taking full credit for this one, because when we got together on Tuesday, she leaned in and gave baby J a pep talk to get him to turn around. There may or may not have been some stern words, too. The next day, November had an ultrasound that revealed that baby J is now facing the right way. January would now like to be called "the baby whisperer."

3. November has gotten another job! Yes, she will now be working two part-time jobs at eight months pregnant, but this is good because it will seriously ease her financial stresses. November will be continuing this new job, as a grader for a homeschool group after Baby J is born too.

4. January is thankful for her mother-in-law. That's right, gentle reader, January's mother-in-law provided some excellent advice on her medical questions AND on helping her and Husband's relationship. Which leads to #5...

5. January got to spend some much-needed time talking with Husband this week. On weeknights! Oh, and there was delicious potato leek soup, which certainly facilitated the conversation.

6. November is thankful for her very understanding husband who is always willing to listen even when he doesn't understand and November's hormones are going nuts.

7. November's brother and sister are visiting on the way home for Christmas break!

8. And finally, thanks for the lengthy, tremendously helpful comments that I must have prayed for patience, Rebecca, Matching Moonheads, and All in His Perfect Timing have left on her ranting post. Thank you so, so much. Jan will definitely be getting in touch with more follow-up (and less rant-like) questions.