Gratitude Corner

I'm trying something new. Each week I'm going to set aside some time to reflect on things I am grateful for.

This week,

I am eternally grateful for my husband and the support he offers me as I make this transition to expand myself in becoming a mom. He listens to me and encourages me to talk. I'm someone who, by nature, tends to keep things to myself in an effort not to burden anyone else. In him I know I have someone who will be a shoulder for me when I need to unload.

The rest of my family also gets gratitude props. My mom has been amazing in the last month. She has made the trip down here so many times, made food, cleaned our house, done laundry, ironed shirts, listened as I've cried, held the baby, changed diapers and all with a smile on her face. She has so much to juggle in her own life that I am so grateful that she has been willing to do this in addition. All of us gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving and I am so glad to have my brother back as the person I always thought he was and for his children and the joy they bring to all of us.

For my friends and the perspective and outlet they offer me, I am grateful. Yesterday I went out to Natick to hang with Kat and the kiddos and it is so nice to just be around people I know so well and who love me so much. With Kat I can laugh, cry, celebrate and be silly. For my newer friends like Beth, I am also grateful. We are hoping to set up a once a week playdate/mom sanity time together. All of my other friends offer me unique things that I appreciate and love.

As I heal and get back on my feet from 10 months of pregnancy and then labor and delivery I am grateful to my body. It allowed me to create this amazing little girl who is healthy and strong. In that time I found strength I didn't know I had and am now on the path to rediscovering my body as a non-pregnant person. I have started to do yoga again and to walk and I can feel my body respond to those things. I want to be strong again and content with my body and I know I will be.

It is not inconsequential that I love and am grateful for our home. Our landlords are amazing, sweet, kind people who are incredibly gracious. They have been so generous in their celebration of our wedding and of Ella. We have a wonderful space in which to launch our little family.

And, I am, in closing, grateful to little Ella. She is a sweet baby, for the most part only fusses when she is hungry or tired. She is a CHAMPION sleeper - pulled a 6 hour stretch last night and is now, after a bit of fussing, asleep in her swing. I know having her is a chance for me to grow and blossom into the person I am meant to be and I am grateful to her for giving me that opportunity.

Those are the things I am grateful for this week.