I Love...

... that when I went to get you out of the car the other day, you sang "You Are My Sunshine" to me. 

... that this morning, when you demanded to choose your own clothes for the first time ever, you promptly picked a turtle shirt. 

I Love...

... how you have taken to making up your own lyrics to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Choo Choo Train," or simply "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..."

Days of Thanks #34

On this Christmas Day 2012, I am most grateful for my children and for the gift they give me of being able to relive the magic of Christmas that I loved so much as a child.  I felt some of that magic even when Hudson was as young as a year old (the only Christmas we had with her where she was partially aware of some excitement) and I feel it already with my dear Jackson.

Merry Christmas, my sweet babies.  I love you both so much.

Christmas 2008 and 2009

Days of Thanks #33

Today I am grateful for a warm bed, a full stomach, a devoted partner, a precious child sleeping about ten feet from me, and another precious child who lives in my heart.  On this Christmas Eve, I have so much that so many others have not.  And though I'll never have the one thing my heart desires most, it is just. . . enough. 

Days of Thanks #32

Today I am grateful for gratitude.  It's been a rough holiday season, and there are days where I sit here for several minutes trying to figure out what I feel grateful for today.  There are a ridiculous number of things to be grateful for, but there are still days when it's hard to see any of them because all I can think about is the one thing I want that I can't have:  my daughter.  I have had more than the usual share of those days during this holiday season.  So I'm grateful for this daily practice of gratitude-- a conscious choice to sit and think about all the amazing good that remains in my life in spite of the horrifically bad thing that happened to me not even three years ago yet. 

I miss her.  So much.  But I am so grateful for her continuing to teach me every day. 

Days of Thanks #31

Today I am grateful for a windy, chilly night, perfect for snuggling up on the couch with my husband and a cup of mulled cider to watch "Meet Me In St. Louis."  It is moments like these that, for me, Christmas is all about. 

Days of Thanks #30

Today I am grateful for a sweet husband who brings me cupcakes from my favorite place in DC every time he has to travel up there (which is about every other week, so I'm pretty well taken care of in the cupcake department).  Love you, sweetie. 


Edited to add:
(I'm also grateful that he has a better memory than I and reminded me that I've already been grateful for this once!  Well, that's OK.  They're really good cupcakes.)