So much to be thankful for

This past week has been relaxing and busy all at once, and as I think about recapping the week, all I can think is how much I have to be thankful for.  Many people make a list (I have seen countless Facebook updates doing just this), but I am afraid that if I make a list I will forget something truly important as I tend to forget things lately.  Like today when I was standing in the garage knowing there was a reason I went out there but not having any clues as to why I was there.  I hear it comes with the pregnancy territory, but I think it also has to do with the fact that I haven't used my brain productively since Tuesday (thankful for time off of work!).  As sad as it may sound, I'm actually excited to get back to work tomorrow as I have been incredibly lazy the past two days and although I've needed the break, I also need to be reminded that I'm not 100% lazy and that I am a smart and productive individual.  I've let myself get pretty slack around the house, but that's because I have the false sense of security that I'm ready for the baby, ready for Christmas, ready for some relaxation time...

Aside from being thankful for the short work week, we were also blessed to be surrounded by family this past week.  Rick's parents arrived on Tuesday evening (they actually beat me home from work) and left out on Saturday morning, so we had a nice visit with them.  They helped us prep for Christmas around the house from putting up the lights on the house to putting up the Christmas tree to decorating around the house.  My grandmother hosted Thanksgiving at her house; not only were my grandparents there, but also my parents, my in-laws, my aunt, and my cousin.  I am thankful that our families get along so well and that my grandmother opened her home to Rick's family.  I always knew that I had a special and loving family, but it is still nice to know that they are happy to welcome others that mean so much to us.  Typically we spend Thanksgiving in Texas, but the 12 hour drive at 9 months pregnant wasn't really much of an option, so it was nice to spend it with both families.  I would be lying if I didn't say it was also really nice that all I had to worry about in meal prep was a pumpkin pie.

We had some more family time at the Iowa State football game on Friday.  Despite the cold weather, it was a good game.  Too bad we couldn't squeeze out a win.  Also a negative on the week was Rick's health; I think he was battling a bit of a stomach bug at the beginning of the week; on Tuesday's doctor visit it was a sinus infection.  He slept little and looked terrible Tuesday-Friday, but he was a trooper getting all of the Christmas duties around the house done while being social with his folks and my family at Thanksgiving dinner and the game.  I think these past few days of doing nothing but resting and recuperating have helped him greatly.  We'll see how the work week treats him when he can't nap and has to be coherent all day.

I am thankful that my in-laws understood that I needed to take some of my time off on Wednesday to run some errands.  The Johnston police station installed my car seat, I shipped off a package to Japan, went to the doctor, visited a friend, and made some returns.  There were more errands when they left including another trip to the store for my weekend crafting and a much-needed haircut (well, trim).  I think I have most of my errands run, though there is a nursing shirt I just realized was the wrong size as I was packing my hospital bag.  Guess I'll have to take that back soon.  The frustrating thing was that I had already returned an ill-fitting nursing bra to that store from the same day's purchase as this top.  Would have been nice to make one return trip instead of two.  Also, how do I buy two shirts in two different sizes?  There's that absent-mindedness again.

I am also thankful for boring doctor visits.  I am now at 37 weeks and began weekly doctor visits this past week.  There's no news to share, but that's a good thing when you're pregnant.  As of today, we have our hospital bags packed in case the baby comes early, but my doctor didn't make it seem like anything would happen anytime soon during my last visit.  Now begins baby watch: my friend Jane's due date is on the 27th, my sister's is the 10th, and mine is the 17th.  I actually am pretty surprised at how good I still feel and how ambulatory I still am.  A week or so ago I would have told you I was feeling more uncomfortable each day, but the past few days I haven't really felt pregnant at all.  Granted, I've just been lounging around the house, but have been feeling great.  And luckily I've avoided catching what Rick had/has.

 I thought I would throw in a few pictures of the house decorated.  Here is our 10 foot Christmas tree!  Note the presents wrapped under there.  Yep, almost finished.  Just need to pick up one or two more things.  Baby prepping extended to holiday shopping.

 My great grandmother's tin snowflakes hanging from our archway.  I need to make some paper snowflakes as well, but have I mentioned I was lazy this weekend after our guests left?  I have attempted (and completed) some crafty Christmas presents this weekend, some with more success than others.  I may retry my failure soon, though it may have to wait until the weekend.

My grandma asked us to go around the table on Thanksgiving day and say what we were thankful for.  Most everyone said something about the babies on their way, but I said family and friends.  Granted, the babies are covered in the family, but recently I have been thinking a lot about how blessed Rick and I are to have such close and loving families.  My best friend unexpectedly lost her father a few weeks ago which was devastating in itself, but she had unexpectedly lost her mother a year and a half ago.  To top it off, she was 38 weeks pregnant, and living in Japan, was unable to make the trip home to be with her family in this difficult time.  The family amazes me; I spoke with both sisters at length within a few days of his death and although they were obviously upset, they were both also very thankful.  Thankful for their time together, thankful for their memories, and thankful for all the things they had to look forward to (one with her baby and the other newly engaged).  They reminded me that their family had so many good times and so much to celebrate about their father, and it really made me stop and think, much like it did last year when their mother passed.  I am so thankful for the time I have with my family, thankful for my past, and excited for my future.  I am so glad I get to see my family on a fairly regular basis and that we have such a familiarity and good time when we are together.  I am so happy that Rick gets along with my family and vice versa.  I am happy that this baby will grow up with such a loving family.  And I am thankful for those close friends that become family, and glad that I could be there when she needed me, even though we're half a world away.  I'm thankful for those families that take us in even when we're not related; it's odd that at the funeral the only people I really knew were the family, but it hurt me to watch them hurt because I love them as if they were my family.  They always treated me as another daughter, and I loved them.  You will be missed Kevin; please say hi to Debbie for us.

I am so thankful for those who have touched my life.  Thank you all for your love.