Day 34 (February 13, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for feeling well.  I'm really starting to feel a lot better, and am super thankful for that.  My head still feels full of gunk, but I'm not as uncomfortable as I was, and the best part is I can sleep all night long!!!!  Yeah for feeling well and sleeping well!

Day 33 (February 12, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for Bob the Builder.  I know this might sound crazy, but I'm trying to get Anna to be slightly interested in TV.  I'm still feeling sluggish, and I need a non-active activity to do with Anna. Luckily Bob the Builder caught her attention long enough for me to catch my breath.

Day 32 (February 11, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for Megan Kean.  With her help I spent the entire morning at the YMCA where Anna was very content, and I could relax a bit.  I'm still feeling pretty rough, but Anna had gym class this morning, then Megan took Anna with her to swim in the indoor pool while I sat on the sidelines and watched.  After swimming it was back in the gym for some more play time before heading home for an afternoon nap for both Anna and myself.  I don't know if Anna and I would have had a good morning at home.  It would have been quite a challenge for me to entertain her while feeling the way I did.

Day 31 (February 10, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for Anna's health and her pediatrician.  I bumped Anna's 18month appt. up to today because I was a bit concerned she wasn't feeling very good.  I think it was the fact that I felt sick that made me concerned.  Anyway, Anna was perfectly healthy.  She even weighed 21lbs!!!  I didn't think she was ever going to make it to the 20's.  Dr. Whitson was soooo nice while we were there and checked out my ears too.  Come to find out I was the one leaving that appointment with a double ear infection and thankfully a prescription for an antibiotic.  THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH DR. WHITSON!!!!!  Taking care of a toddler while you are sick is no joke, neither are double ear infections.  OUCH!!!

Day 30 (February 9, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for Valentine's Day dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Muller's house.  This is a special family meal each year to me because Valentine's Day dinner was the first Muller family dinner I attended when John and I started dating.  I was a bit nervous because John's family is a little more formal that what I was used to, but his family was soooo nice to me.  I'll always remember that first Muller family dinner.  Fun memories!!!

Day 29 (February 8, 2014)

Today I'm thankful that John is home again.  I'm not feeling well at all, and he is being a rockstar dad and husband.  He has gotten quite a few things done around the house and kept Anna entertained so I could get a little R and R on the chair.  Being sick is a bummer, but he is helping a ton!

Day 28 (February 7, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for John being home with us.  He decided to take a day off to hang out with Anna and I.  We had so much fun!  In the morning we went to South County YMCA open gym.  They have an entire gym full of gymnastics equipment for the kiddos to play on.  Anna had a blast, and we had fun watching her.  Later in the day we went to solidify our kitchen plans with Rob at Capitol Group.  Anna was a bit crabby and hard to keep up with, but I think we got everything in place.  I'm very excited about how our kitchen is going to look.

Day 27 (February 6, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for some super cute hand me downs.  One of the things I really love in the mornings is getting my cute little girly all dressed for the day.  It's just so fun to dress her up.  Anna (being almost 18 months) is starting to outgrown her 12 month clothing, especially pants with her big cloth diapers. Today Megan dropped off a big bag full of Ellie's old 18month clothing.  It's so much fun to get new clothes for Anna, and even better when they are free.  Anna was super excited too.  She wanted me to keep putting different items on her in the evening.  I think she went through 5 or 6 outfits just trying things out.  She must be ready for summer too, though because she kept trying on the cute summer outfits.

Day 26 (February 5, 2014)

This is hard to admit, but today I'm thankful for a little snow and temperatures that are manageable.  Our winter has been COLD, and I haven't really taken Anna out to play in the snow much because the temperatures have been so extreme.  Today we had some fresh snow, so we managed to sled down the front hill in the laundry basket a few times.  She got a small taste of "winter fun".  Though it isn't my favorite activity I'm glad to be a part of those experiences with Anna.

Day 25 (February 4, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for the internet.  I was able to find a new clip that Anna was in today.  It really wasn't a big deal, but still something I wanted to see.  There was a news crew after her YMCA gym class today, and Anna was "dancing" in the background.  She was actually being held by a lady dancing or standing and staring at all the other people dancing, but none the less she was adorable.  I was also able to show my Mom the clip which was fun for both of us.

Day 24 (February 3, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for finger painting fun.  I've been wanting to do this for a couple weeks now, but today was the day.  Ellie and Megan came over, and we let the girls go crazy with finger paint in the bath tub.  It was a slow start.  The girls weren't quite sure of it, but with a little coaching and instruction they got right to work.  It didn't take long before the tub and the girls themselves were quite colorful.  It's getting more difficult to keep the indoor activities new and exciting, but this was a good one.

Day 23 (February 2, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for some down time.  We've had a jam packed weekend, and after a fun surprise 60th birthday party for Mrs. Piper this afternoon, we hunkered down to watch the Super Bowl by ourselves in our home.  I like to be busy, but I LOVE to be home and relaxing.

Day 22 (February 1, 2014)

February!!!  Hopefully after this month the weather will shape up some.

Today Anna spent some time with her Grandma and Grandpa Muller.  Like my parents, John's parents are very anxious and excited to be a big part of Anna's life.  She was able to spend some time with them today while John and I celebrated our friend, Meghan's birthday.  I was so thankful that she went down for a nap at their house without being uncomfortable in a new environment, and she took an awesome nap!  It makes me so glad that she is so comfortable being with her grandparents.  She is a lucky little girl to have such fun and loving Grandparents.

Day 21 (January 31, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for simplicity.  Sometimes people can get caught up in all the things, and making more money for more things.  We had a dinner tonight with some people, and John's response to the question "where do you want to be in 10 years" was simply that he wanted to be successful in his business and that he wanted to spend as much time as her could being with and growing his family.  That was so nice to hear, because in his business I think there is sometimes pressure to be bigger, and bigger.  He just wants to keep things going, do the best job he can, and have plenty of family time on the side.  I love him for that!

Day 20 (January 30, 2014)

Today I am thankful that I met some pretty neat moms at the nursing moms group I used to go to at Kangaroo Kids.  That group was a complete lifesaver for me for a good 6-9 months when Anna was younger.  Through that group I have stayed in contact with a lot of other moms with babies close to Anna's age.  Today we had a play group at our house, and we are working on organizing a similar educational play date for the kiddos at a different persons home each week.  This will really be something to look forward to, and a great opportunity for Anna to interact with kiddos her age.

Day 19 (January 29th, 2014)

Today I was thankful to be able to take my little neighbor Alex and my Dad with us to watch our Superior Walls being put in at the new house.  It's so fun to be able to share an exciting part of my day with others that are also excited.  It was fun to see Alex get excited about the big trucks and heavy machinery, and it was of course a lot of fun to have my Dad come up to hang out with Anna and I for a little while.  This was also my first time seeing how the foundation walls go in.  John has done these for many of the homes he has built, and talks about them a lot, but it was the first time I was able to see it happening.

Day 18 (January 28th, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for my PAT visit.  Linda is the lady who has been visiting with Anna and I for awhile now, and it is nice to get the monthly reassurance that I'm doing a pretty good job at my job.  Anna is doing great, and it is nice to hear that sometimes.  I was also thankful that Anna was a little bit more herself today during Linda's visit.  She is sometimes very clingy and shy around Linda, but today she showed more of her true colors.

Day 17 (January 27th, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for a yummy lunch from my neighbor, Megan.   Ellie came over in the morning to hang out with Anna, they missed each other, while Megan dropped Alex off at school and made a quick grocery trip.  When Megan came to get Ellie she brought some chicken and wild rice soup she had made the other night for me.  Yum Yum it was delicious, and just right for a cold winter day like today.  That's right it's cold again.

Day 16 (January 26th, 2014)

Today I was sooooo thankful for a beautiful day.  This winter has been ROUGH weather wise.  Today it was nearly 60 degrees so we made sure to spend some time outside with the kiddos.  We took Anna and Stanley to our lot (our house) (our hole in the ground) not sure what to call it yet to run around.  The Hawkins', and Pandl's met us there too which was lots of fun.  Pete and Stanley got to run around and Anna and Kate were having a blast playing in the rocks at the bottom of our foundation.  The foundation hole also made a sweet oversized "playpen" for the toddlers.  Ahhh...it was so awesome to get some fresh air and not freeze our tushes off.

Day 15 (January 25, 2014)

Today I'm thankful for my Mom and Dad.  I'm thankful for them every day of my life, but today they let Anna hang out with them for awhile while John and I went to Perryville to visit with Jared, Michele, and baby Asher.  It was so nice to get to visit with them, and for John to get to meet Asher, without the chaos that comes with a toddler.  My parents are always so happy to take Anna for awhile, and she is so comfortable spending time at their house.  I love that they get along so well!