Days 7,6,5 and 4

I am a little behind in writing but hopefully not in gratitude. I feel like Friday was years ago, I just can't remember what has been happening the past few days. Okay, here we go, I remembered. We took Archie for his two week appointment on Friday, and the doctor told us that he was a healthy little boy! He was back up to his birth weight plus a pound, so he is about 8 lbs. and 1 oz. He is 21 inches long, from about 19 in the hospital. His cheeks are chubbier, and so is his tummy, but his legs and arms remain long and skinny, he is definitely my husbands son. So that was a good day for us. Unfortunately Ben and I got flu shots while we were there which isn't so unfortunate in itself, but the shot made me a little sick, and my wonderful husband took such good care of Archie while I was asleep ( longer than usual). I will continue to be so thankful for all of the service and love that we get from Ben, "we" as in me and Arch. Sunday Ben stayed home with the little boy so I could go to the first block of church, then I came home and he went to the third block. I know we didn't go together, but it felt like we did. Sharing the responsibilities of taking care of Archie and taking care of each other made me feel like we are still doing things together, even if we are not physically in the same spot. Today is Monday and Grandma and Grandpa (Archie, whom Archie is named after) Brady came by to visit! I am thankful for family, for feeling loved and giving love, it is one of the simplest and most complex feelings of all, and the most rewarding.
Being a mom is getting less confusing, although I can't say that it is getting easier. I am loving it more and more, and I am getting to know my son more and more which makes taking care of him better and more full of joy. He doesn't scare me as much! He is only about 2 and 1/2 weeks old and he seems to have changed so much, I wonder what he'll look like by Christmas.

Day 8: Simple Pleasures

I was finally able to get my ring off yesterday, it had been on my finger without the possibility of coming off since about July. I love being married, and I love who I am married to, I just don't want to wear the ring for a few days. I do still have the dry red skin where the ring rested for these past 4 months, that will have to suffice as my symbol of marriage for now!
Well, with so many things to be thankful for, today I had a donut and a diet, caffeine free Dr. Pepper for breakfast...it was delicious. I also took a hot shower, took a nap while Mr. Archie was napping and read a few pages in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, a really good book I intend to finish one of these days. Simple pleasures make the world go around some days:)

Day 9, Bigger feet...

My body is de-swelling! I am oh-so-grateful, however I think my feet got wider. They are no longer full of fluid, but they seem to be bigger, I'll know for sure when I try on my heels and can't get them all the way in. I think ever since I had little Arch I have been wearing my yellow crocs, I don't have to bend down to put them on, they are the most comfortable and if my feet are swollen no one can tell. I can almost get my ring off my finger- I guess my hands have a little de-swelling yet to do. I love Archie and I love that he is here, being pregnant was a good experience... but I am glad to be getting my body back.

Day 10

Thanksgiving is only 10 days away! For you teachers out there, and students for that matter, a break is coming soon, and lots of food!:) Today is a sunshiney day, cold outside, brisk and perfect. I wish Archie and I could go for a walk-- I think he is still too little and I am still too in recovery mode-- otherwise we would be out there. I love days like this, and that is what I am thankful for today. It is sweater weather, hot chocolate weather, and watch a movie warm in a blanket weather, I love it. When sweater weather comes again in the spring Arch and I will be ready, he already has his sweater picked out.
The photo is Archie's cousin, Alexandria, she is going out for a walk in her sweater.

11 days of thanks

I came across a friends blog today and she started 30 days of thanks. I am a little late, but there are still 11 days until thanksgiving, not that my gratitude and thanks end when thanksgiving arrives, but for now I am going to focus on being thankful everyday, for something, for someone; life seems happier when you have things to be thankful for.
Just having had a new son come into the world, I am extremely grateful for him, and for his precious little squeaks, and little hands, and for him coming to our family. I don't know how, or where it comes from but Archie makes me love my husband more, he makes me love life more, and love being who I am. Today I am thankful for Archie's influence in bringing more joy and love into my life.

Archie and his Dad hanging out, just the boys... and the front and back of the quilt that I made for Arch. It is so much more fun to make things for him than myself. I made a couple of pee pee tee pees, I'll have to take a picture of them as well! We haven't tried them yet, to our dismay, our bed is getting tiny little Archie pee all over it, mostly on my side....