Gratitude Week #4

+ Since this is my birthday weekend, I decided to plan a special play date for Jonah on Friday. Instead of  hosting just a regular ol' play date, I arranged for a musician from the Old Town School of Folk Music to come to the house and perform for the kids. It was so much fun! Jonah was entranced by the guitar and loved when the man brought out bubbles.

+Alex and Gracie scored last minute reservations at Schwa for Saturday night and were kind enough to invite me and Neill to dine with them. My mind was officially blown. It was easily the best meal I have ever had. And the four of us always have so much fun together. It was just the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. I wouldn't change one thing about that night.

+ On the topic of good friends, I am so lucky to have friends that I can rely on. Since the reservations at Schwa were so last minute, it was difficult to find a babysitter for Jonah. I actually did find one, but then she cancelled Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, Matt and Lisa stepped up and watched Jonah so that Neill and I could go out for my birthday. It was so nice of them! I am just in awe of how lucky Neill and I are to have such quality people in our life.

+ On Sunday, I spent the evening with Neill, my mom, and Lee. We went out to Carnivale - a restaurant I have wanted to try for years. Since I didn't think the restaurant would be very family friendly, we asked Letty to babysit Jonah. It was so wonderful to see her and catch up. She is just the most genuine person and her love for Jonah is amazing. I truly feel lucky to have her in our lives.

+I guess birthdays have been on my mind, because I've been doing some preparation for Jonah's birthday. I am planning to make a picture display with a photo from each month of his life. So, I've been spending a lot of time going through old pictures of Jonah and reminiscing about how much he has grown. He was just so freaking cute, I can't stand it.

Welcome to the world!

sleeping with mommy

One week old

Gratitude Week #3

+ I have such a wonderful husband. I have been a little under the weather the last week with a nasty cough. So, while I was at Loyola on Tuesday Neill took time out of his day to run to Walgreens and pick me up some cough drops and NyQuil. Plus, he had dinner ready and waiting for me when I got home. He takes such wonderful care of me and is such a giving partner. I feel lucky to have him in my life.

+ A couple of weeks ago we had to say goodbye to Jonah's long term nanny, Letty. She was with our family for about a year--since Jonah was 8 months old. So, it was really sad to say goodbye. She was like family. I am so thankful that  Jonah's new nanny, JoAnn, seems to be just as loving, sweet, and fun as Letty. This was her first full week and she and Jonah have gotten along really well. What a relief!

+ Saturday night we got to go out and have a great time at a party that our close friends were having. The party was a joint 1st birthday party for their daughter turned adult saint patrick's day party. We brought Jonah along and he was such a great sport! Like the party animal that he is, he had no problem staying in good spirits the whole night. It was so fun to hang out with old friends and let loose!

Jonah did not like sharing me with Ivy. He kept saying "No baby! No!" and trying to sit on my lap.

 

Gratitude Week #2

+ Tuesday morning I woke up a bit earlier than usual. Jonah was still sleeping, so I sneaked downstairs to sip my coffee and check e-mails. Uninterrupted alone time feels like such a luxury!


+ Loyola is off for Spring Break this week, which means no teaching for me! While I actually really enjoy teaching my class, it was nice to finally have time to clean up the bedroom and lounge in bed for a while.

Someone else enjoyed lounging in bed too . . .

nap time with mommy

+ My two interviews from last week paid off! I received two practicum position offers for next year. Both of them are great sites and it feels so nice to know where I will be next year. Bonus points because the one I am accepting is only a short drive away from home.

beep beep!

+ We toured two day care facilities on Friday. One of them I really loved and they have an opening! We still have more research to do and a few more places to tour, but I'm feeling really positive about our decision to switch Jonah to daycare this summer. 

+ A wonderful dinner with friends at a new to us Indian restaurant, Paprika. My mom came over to spend some quality time with Jonah, so Neill and I took advantage and went out sans Jonah! Good food. Good wine. Good friends. Perfection. It was so relaxing to stay in a restaurant for a leisurely meal without worrying about Jonah melting down :)

Gratitude Week #1

we can stick out our tongues!

+ Two interviews for practicum positions next year, one of which I think went really well. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

+ Jonah pooped in the potty. It is still early to be thinking about potty training, but this made me hopeful that it is possible.

+ Jonah took a four hour afternoon nap on Friday. A long nap for Jonah means a long nap for mommy too. Enough said.

pre nap time shenanigans

+ Great family time on Saturday. Morning at Wake Up and Boogie Down and an Indian dinner around our table (god bless delivery). Family time definitely fills my heart up. 

bath time fun

The Gratitude Project

I've decided to resurrect the old blog and blow off the dust in order to start a new blogging project.

52 weeks of gratitude.

Bitching and moaning seems to come pretty naturally to me. But approaching life with a sense of gratitude or thankfulness - well, that is something I need to work on cultivating.

And so the 52 Weeks of Gratitude Project was born.

Which is really just a fancy way of saying the thought popped into my mind and before I could talk myself out of it I decided to do it.

My first post will go up tomorrow night!

xoxoxox
-a