The last few days...

have been a whirlwind. I can't believe that less than a week ago, I was sitting in a waiting room holding my daughter and waiting for news that my husband made it through open heart surgery. He did, and today my friends, he is home. Home. With me and baby Paighton. We are back together again.

I wish I could tell you everything that happened, every feeling, every moment, but I can't. The post would be too long.

I know it is Thanksgiving in just two days. But to me, at 30 years old, each day is one of Thanksgiving. Each day my heart grows more full. Full of the things in life that have made me who I am today. I have more "life" now than ever.

Who I can I thank for this. My Father. The one in heaven who created me and my soul. He provided me with the strength, love and courage to make each new day better than the one before. I am created in his image. And to know that he loves me, a small town nobody girl from Iowa, is a powerful thing. I'm not perfect, and he doesn't expect that from me. So Lord, today I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for my husband, my best friend, who you have given me more days with. I am thankful for my little girl who you knew would be perfect for me, and for my family and friends, who I am able to share my life with.

As each day passes, I will be thankful to you for each of these things, as well as the challenges and blessings that are to come.

With many thanks,
~S

Five Question Friday

Thanks Mandy for reminding me! :) So here are today's questions:

1. What is your favorite "eat" on Thanksgiving?
Totally going with mashed potatoes here. A big fluffy warm lump of mashed potatoes. With a well. A well large enough to hold a big pat of butter. And until recently, I wasn't a fan of topping that off with a pool of gravy. Until recently. I guess your tastebuds change a little once you have a baby!


2. What is the name your best girl friend and the best trait about her or how you met (or heck, both!!)
Mandy said it best-I am blessed with so many friends that love me. I think the best thing about my 3 best friends (Alissa, Mandy and Jill), is that they remind me of who I am and who I want to be. They help me to be a better person, and for that, I am forever grateful.


3. What would you say is one of your "weirdest" quirks?
My weirdest quirk? What do you mean? I'm not weird! (no jokes please :)). I would say my quirk is that I have to have the "center" of everything. A pan of brownies, lasagna, casseroles, etc. I hate the edges. That's why I married Ryan-he would always cut me out the middle piece.

4. What is your favorite genre of music? (Hip hop? Classical? Rock? etc.)
I really do like all music...in fact, my hubby has turned me onto some bluegrass music which is very fun. Don't worry Nelly-you're still in my playlist.

5. Are you a Night Owl...or an Early Bird?
Early Bird. The only time I was really a night owl was in college. There is NO WAY I could stay out as late as I used to. Forget it. I would rather get up early and be at peace with the sun.

So that's it! All about me in 5 questions! :)

Mom and dad are coming down on Tuesday and will be here through Thanksgiving! YEAH!!! I got some Christmas shopping done yesterday-WHOO! I really need a countdown added to my blog for this!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Love~
S

A short story

So this post won't be very long-but I promise more later! The above pictures are of one of the Maple trees in our back yard from last week. They are ABSOLUTELY beautiful. I LOVE the colors. Unfortunately they have already lost their leaves, but I am glad I got a few pictures of them. We really want to plant another Maple this year, in honor of Paighton's birth, but I am not sure if we are going to get there.

We have been busy! I have been trying to figure out my back to work schedule :(. Ryan has been watching Paighton for a few nights this week while I run errands, etc. It is weird to leave her. Not my favorite, but it has to be done.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. My list is a million miles long of things I have to be thankful for. And it keeps growing. Praise the LORD!

Things are going to get much busier here with us. But for right now, we are happy spending time together as a family. Ryan has tomorrow off, so we plan on hanging out together, just the 3 of us (ok, and a little belle dog too) :).

Last but not least, a new picture of Paighton! :) Ryan got a new recliner this past weekend (he never let me forget that I MADE him get rid of his old one-so he was deserving of an upgrade). I took Paighton's picture in it-she looks so tiny in it!

Last but not least, I would like to have a moment of silence for the passing of the Saturn. This was Ryan's very first car and we still had it, up until this afternoon. One of Ryan's co-worker's purchased it (no, we didn't give it away), so we know it is going to a good home. My husband shed a little tear...it was his "baby". (he keeps saying "why do you make me sell all of MY things...." HA!) So honey, thank you for making the sacrifice and selling your most prized possession. Paighton's college fund thanks you!


Love to you all!!!

~S

Our first Halloween

was amazing! Paighton did so good! She wore her costume-which involved a large hat, and had a great time with the neighborhood kids! She is so adorable (again, I'm biased, but we're still going to go with it! :))

It was a beautiful day here and we walked down to our neighbors house for the party. We are so blessed to have great friends and neighbors. They are amazing, funny, thoughtful, caring, etc, etc. I can't imagine living here without them! We then came back home and met up with cousin Will (Pirate Will-he looked adorable in his little outfit and sword!), Aunt Nicole and Uncle Ryan, along with Gammy and Grandpa. It was so much fun seeing all the fun costumes on the trick or treaters!

Yesterday Ryan and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. It has been 6 years filled with challenges and joys. I hope the next 6 are filled with more joys (of course :)), but I love my husband now more than I did the day we got married. I look back sometimes and think, "gosh, I was so young". I got married at 23. But our love and relationship has blossomed into more than I could ever imagined. Ryan is my best friend and loves me for who I am. We have the same thoughts, beliefs, morals and I look forward to raising our daughter to be a happy little girl. (Even if she picks up a few bad habits from daddy along the way HA!)

I am starting to get more accomplished while Paighton is napping, which is a good thing. There were many days where I just wanted to lay in bed and take a nap!

Paighton will be going to the doctor on the 5th for her TWO month appointment. Um, father time, could you please turn the clock back? About one month would be GREAT! I can't belive how fast time goes by. She is a big girl! She is sitting in her bumbo seat and moving all around. She hates to sit still...again, already? I am a little nervous about the round of shots she will be getting on Thursday, but hopefully it will go well. If anyone has any tips for surviving the "shots" appointment-let me know! :)

We love you all!

~S