attitude of gratitude

So, most of you who know me know I have certain qualms about Christmas and gift giving. Not that I think gift giving is wrong but I don't think there should be an obligation to give just because at this family's gathering we get for these people (that we see maybe once a year who most of the time don't really need any gifts) because that's just what we do. Also the amount of gift giving in general has really gotten out of control in my opinion which only gets people away from the true meaning of Christmas. I'm all about giving to the less fortunate but after we meet all our obligations to give for us there is not much money left over to give to others which is sad to me and I am really at a loss about what to do about it.
This brings me to my point. At church last week our preacher talks about thanksgiving. Every year he does this for a few weeks and emphases the importance of it. He brought up the illustration of how kids get a huge stack of presents at family get togethers and rip through the packages without even knowing who they came from and then wonder if they got any more. While he was saying all that I was totally on board because I couldn't agree more and hate that. Then he  got me with comparing it to what we do with God. God blesses us in so many ways and we rip through all the blessings he gives us without thanking him and half the time even recognizing that they are blessings from God not something we have done or something we are entitled to and then we have the nerve to ask God for more or complain because we want something He hasn't given us yet. 
I don't know about you but it hit home to me. It's not that I am not  thankful and grateful person because I think I am and feel that way in my heart however I don't think I praise God for what he has done and is doing in my life like I need to however I am really quick to ask him to do things for me or others that I know that are going through something. He challenge was for us to praise more than or as much as we pray. Something I need to work on doing.
I see all the posts on Facebook where people post each day something they are thankful for. I have done it some in the past but some times it annoys me (doesn't take much these days) but now I am thinking at least they are taking time out of their day to voice something that they are thankful for rather gripe about what's going wrong in their lives. This is something I want to work on. Not just at Thanksgiving but year around to have an attitude to gratitude and to voice my thankfulness to God and others as much if not more than I voice my discontentment or need/want of things.

Halloween 2011 "the year of the apple"

 So, Halloween 2011 with Nash as Percy the train was a success.  We just decided to trick or treat around our house this year and I wasn't even sure I was up for that. So, Nash decided to take his wagon.

This is Nash at the first house we go to. They have this big basket of candy and three apples and Nash chooses...

 ..the apple...the lady was so shocked. She said "I didn't think anyone would want the apples but I thought I would try". The lady was so impressed with Nash and tried to offer him some candy but Nash was just fine with his apple and refused the candy.

 He was a very cute Percy even though constantly all night he was mistaken for Thomas. the horror. I had to explain to him that not everyone know who the trains are like us. Occasionally for Nash's sake I would correct the people and say "no Nash is Percy. Thomas' best friend". Nash was happy with that. He'd say when we left "mommy, they don't know their trains".

One funny thing is there were certain house who looked like it should have someone home but didn't. Chris said they were "stinky Petes" for not being home or looking like they were home but not being there. So Nash really took that to heart and every house that there weren't people home he would say "mommy, they are some stinky Petes".

 Checking out what all he got.

I told him he could choose one thing before bed time...and of course he chose the apple......good kid!

One funny thing that happened to me is that Nash and I went to a door and there was a very young Spiderman who looked younger than Nash. He put his hand on my pregnant belly and asked "what do you have in there?"...I was caught off guard and said "a baby". He was happy with that.

The Not So Fun Part

As of this past Monday,  I have 8 weeks or less before baby Griffin will be here. That sounds like not very long and forever at the same time. My days and weeks fly by for the most part so I know the time will fly by. At the same time I am very uncomfortable and the thought of going almost 8 more weeks is hard to imagine. I fell yesterday. I slipped in my garage because the floor was wet. I kind of caught myself with one arm but one side of my hip hit the concrete and one leg did something funny. I had my doctor's appointment anyways that afternoon and told her. They baby is fine. I am not feeling so hot. I only thought I was uncomfortable before. Now its way worse. Dr. gave me some Tylenol 3 and a muscle relaxer. I know I am in pain because normally don't want to take pills but this time I feel like I have too. So, I will be thankful when I am not in as much pain and not as uncomfortable.
Griffin is on the move a lot. It too is very uncomfortable because he keeps stretching out and it hurts. I am swollen, feel extra big and just all together uncomfortable. At the pumpkin patch yesterday someone took mine and Nash's picture and said how good it was. When I looked at it all I saw was a fat and swollen pregnant woman and of course a super cute 3 yr old. Part of me is so ready to get this baby out of me and the other part is terrified of how it is going to be when this baby comes out of me and I have two to care for. However, with how uncomfortable I am and I leaning more towards having this baby out of me. When I see pictures of myself pre-pregnancy, I long to feel normal again.
Speaking of having this baby come out of me..I had a baby shower a couple of Sunday's ago and have put everything in Griffin's room but don't have it all put away and organized. I don't know what I still need and what I don't and lately haven't had the energy to even begin so it's mainly just sitting in the floor.  I have lots of things from Nash as well and I need to figure out what I need to keep and what I don't. Also, it's like I have amnesia or just trouble getting it together. I've tried to think of what I need for the hospital and just getting organized in general and then my brain just stops because I get overwhelmed with it all. I hope one day soon I can get it together. Looks like I am going to have to start making a "to do" list and cross it off as I go.
I also know that this time I am going to need more help. Last time, I thought I was superwoman and could do it all and didn't really ask for help. I don't like to ask for help so this time I am going to try and get over that. I have a lot of supportive family and friends that would be glad to help and I am just going to have to keep reminding myself of that. I am also trying to have kind of a game plan with Nash. I don't really know what that is either. The only thing I do know if everything goes as planned (which my luck I doubt will be the case) I would like for Nash to get to see his baby brother first and after he is born I would like for Me, Chris, Nash and Griffin to have a few moments of alone time before the rest of the family comes in to meet him. Also, I don't want Nash's days to be all disrupted due to the baby. I want him to still go to school like he normally does and be home like he normally is for the most part so he can stay in a routine as much as possible. So that's all I got for now..

Nash's First Field Trip

 So Nash and his 3 yr old class had their first field trip today to the Scott Pumpkin Patch. I,as always, took a lot of pictures so here you go.

Nash was pumped about riding the bus and wondered why he didn't have to wear a seat belt. He said the bus went "fast" and was "bumpy".

 Nash and his friend Kakoa in the hay maze.

 They had an awesome petting zoo. Nash enjoyed seeing all the animals and even petted the donkey, goats, rabbits, and horses.

 They had a big play ground and a big slide. He loved it.

 We went on a hayride to get a pumpkin.

 Nash's pumpkin

 They had a bunch of cool places to take pictures. Nash wasn't big on taking pictures as he would rather be playing but here's one I got.

 Nash by the tractor

 They even had pig races which the kids really enjoyed.

 I've been to a few different pumpkin patches now and this one was the best by far.

The weather was good. It was threatening to rain the whole time but held off until we got on the bus to go home. On the way there, I showed Nash the road where it had been raining. He immediately bowed his head and prayed "Dear Jesus, thank you for today and  please let the rain stay away while we go to the pumpkin patch." I think his prayer was heard.

Griffin in 4D

Today we got to have a sneak peak into the womb to see baby Griffin. He weighs 3lbs 2oz and is measuring a week big for now. He was a bit crowded in there. His feet and hands were up by his head so it was hard to get good pictures but I think we got a few.

He has massive feet and hands. His brother was born with big hands and feet but Griffin looks even bigger of course Griffin's photos were taken almost a week later in the pregnancy than Nash's. I think we are gonna have a big baby. I mean look at that foot!

 He's grabing his foot with his hand both of which were up by his head.

Okay so here are a couple pics of  Nash in the womb. I see resemblance but I also see some differences too. Either way we are gonna have two handsome boys!

Feel free to tell me what you think. Who does Griffin look like? Do Nash and Giffin favor? I think both of them are a combination of the both of us. The main thing I see is Griffin looks bigger.

soccer continued...

Soccer has been quite the experience. Last week, Nash got it in his head that he doesn't have to share the ball so he was all about it and scored four goals and was doing awesome and was excited.

This week started off  that way.

This was Nash kicking the ball from one side of the field all the way to the other side of the field and scored a goal.

However, this other little boy (Nash's teammate who hasn't came to a game until now) showed up. He was a good soccer player and an agressive one. Even to the point of taking the ball away from his own team. Nash even though he somewhat got over his thoughts of not having to share he didn't quite understand why his own teammate would take the ball away from him. He came over to me and said "Mommy Mathew said he was going to get the ball and score and I couldn't".  He is so sensitive and gets his feelings hurt and just kind of retreats. He would just kind of run behind him as this kid scored like 5 goals.

However, he did have a  real reason to get upset. Apparently, another boy from the other team pushed Nash down for no reason and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

We are going to have to walk the line of toughening him up and keeping him sweet. I like my sweet boy but don't want him to give up when his feelings are hurt.

(by the way..if I would've saw the kid push Nash down..it would have gotten ugly)

Soccer!!!

So we started soccer! Today was Nash's first game. It was very fun and funny to watch. They basically ran around chasing the ball and each other. The funny thing is Nash knows he is supposed to share so he wasn't very aggressive taking the ball away from others and when someone tried or did take the ball away from him he DID NOT like it. He said "mommy, he's not sharing".  He also is a rule follower. He knows he is not supposed to pick up the ball and so when another kid did. He would tell them "you are not supposed to touch the ball, just kick it".

He did real well though and even made a couple of goals. Even if one of the goals was on the wrong goal. :)

When we signed up for soccer, Chris said I will be glad to go watch but I know nothing about soccer. However, his coaching instincts kicked in full gear and he was steadly talking with Nash and telling him what to do and how to do it. It was real cute.

We are very proud of him!