Thursday Thanks Tank #3

What I am thankful for Today:

1. Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice: I am thankful for my little girl- the one that is constantly kicking in my womb. I truly love feeling her move. It is the sweetest part of pregnancy.
2. My husband: He is working so hard to determine our future. He left today for an out of town job interview. I am thankful for his prayerful heart and for his love of our family.
3. Pregnancy: This sounds like #1 but really its not. I am thankful for a new pregnancy that I just found out about last night. I am so excited for my friend!! I am so thrilled about this pregnancy that has been prayed for and desired for some time! I cannot stop smiling about it.
4. Benedryl, Allergy Visine but no ingested peanuts: I am thankful that David recovered well after his peanut contact. I have had to work on my attitude regarding his allergy but in light of what could have happened, I am so thankful that David did not get any peanut butter in his mouth (see No More Booster Seats for David) and that we have been able to keep him safe.
5. Mentors: I have had the most wonderful mentor mom for the last 3 years in MOPS. We were able to get together last night for dinner and the dinner out was a blessing. I always feel so encouraged by her. Our MOPS relationship has ended-- she went back to work full time and I am stepping out of leadership to have a baby (or maybe move, whichever comes first)—but what I have learned from her will continue to bless me always.
6. Understanding: My boys and I had a last minute invite to a friend’s house yesterday and before we left it was clear my youngest had pink eye and my 2nd child didn’t make it to the potty and peed from the carpet to the kitchen floor. It was not the best mom moment. I was given so much grace. I felt terrible that we left such a mark- and possibly spread conjunctivitis- but my friend was so loving and understanding. That’s the understanding love of a friend!

We're excited, too!

Thank you so much for all of your excitement about our little girl on the way! I have to say that I appreciated all the comments so, so much. Seth could tell you (along with a couple other of my friends) that I was a bit obsessed with checking the blog for comments all weekend. It was fun and exciting to get notes from you.

We are excited, too! We have been planning for some time to have 4 little Owens. It was quite easy for us to imagine four little Owen boys. I didn't spend much time thinking about what it would be like to have a Owen girl. Truth is, it was only a week or so ago that I admitted to myself that I was hoping for a girl just a bit. Seth and I were absolutely in shock during the ultrasound when the Tech said, "All I see is girl parts." I really couldn't hear anything she said for several minutes after that. And, I felt a lot of emotion when I found out. I didn't set out hoping for a girl so I was surprised just how emotional and elated I was with the news. Since that time, certain aspects of having a girl are sinking in slowly. It is the silly things like looking forward to watching Cinderella (my favorite Disney movie) with my little girl for the first time or thinking tonight as I picked up the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, 'maybe I WILL just look through the girl section'.

The boys had quite funny reactions to the news that we are having a girl. (See "Ultrasound Quotes" on Seth's blog) David had never said anything about whether he wanted a girl or boy so his comment was quite adorable. Jonathan seems to think 'girl stuff is yucky' and he has had that opinion for a year or so. This little sister is probably just what he needs! And, tonight as I was trying to explain to David that I don't have a willy but I don't pee out of the same place I poop, I thought, this little baby will be a bit eye opening for the little Owen boys!!

GIRL!!!

Thursday Thanks Tank #2

What I am Thankful for Today:

1. A quiet house. My house is quiet – void of screams and arguing- and it is pure bliss. Nothing is more soothing to me that quiet calm. (I’ll confess that I allowed the 2 oldest boys to play video games during Thomas’s naptime for this peaceful retreat. Today it is so worth it!)
2. My Starbucks trip. I love getting coffee through the coffee drive-thru. What could be more enchanting that getting whistled at in the Starbucks drive-thru line? This hasn’t happened before and it was quite startling this morning. No, really, I heard the whistle, ignored it because I didn’t think it was for me. Then, my cell phone rang and my husband let me know he was right behind me in line. (That’s a great coffee trip… and not bad for being at work in the Army, either!)
3. Playdates. We had a wonderful MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) playdate this morning. I am thankful for my MOPS group. I am so thankful for the friendships there. I am also thankful for this day’s ice cream playdate! It was so fun and my boys had a blast!
4. Summer. Jonathan’s last day of school was yesterday. I am thankful for the relaxed schedule of summer. I am looking forward to summer activities and not having to plan around school. (For all my east coast friends that have been out for over a month, can you believe my summer is just starting!?)
5. Family and Faith. I am thankful for my family. I was talking to my dad this morning just for a few minutes. When I asked him what he was up to today he said he had been reading in Ecclesiastes. It was wonderful just to hear that. I am thankful for the faith of my parents.
6. Faith of children. There is nothing more refreshing, is there? This morning I was listening to my “Feels Like Home” Norah Jones CD. Jonathan was questioning the words of “Creepin’ In.” When I recited the part he couldn’t understand, “And once it has begun, Won't stop until it's done” Jonathan got real excited saying, “I know, I know!! This song is about God. My thought at that moment was, ‘this ought to be interesting.’ He went on to say that it is like when God created the world. He kept making things until he was done and when he was done he rested. It is so beautiful to see your children think of God in unrelated circumstances.
7. Nature. This morning, I looked out my bedroom window and saw 3 deer. They were across the street, walking slowly around, and ignoring the cars slowing down (either to look at them or to ensure they wouldn’t bolt out infront of their car- I am not sure which).