Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
–Oprah Winfrey

I’m grateful for the summer food on our table.

My kids.  Their hearts are so full of life that it rubs off on us.

I’m thankful for summer shoes on clearance at Target in July.

Not pictured: prayer at church, peanut butter ice cream cones at our local ice cream parlor, kid-sized swimming pools, neighbors who can bake, family car rides in the country, a clean bedroom, sitting on the floor with the kids, tickle parties and a husband who gets it.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Arthur Ward

1.  Last year at this time, I was not pregnant but desperately wanted to be and Sarah was about 14 weeks pregnant.

TIME FLIES.

2.  Why didn’t we try this 15 minutes earlier when Eli wasn’t so unbelievably tired?

and

three.

This is the first photo shoot of many, they’re going to be together for the rest of their lives.

Sarah and I are pretty excited.  I can’t say the same about the boys just yet.

(Trey, six months old, is on the left.  Eli, nearly three months old, is on the right.)

It was fun.

Aren’t they beautiful?  (the family) (not the photos) (okay, the photos, too.)

On Tuesday, a package arrived, in it were costumes for the kids.  To say they were excited would be a total understatement.  They wore the costumes while they watched TV, played Guitar Hero, watched over their brother and ate lunch.  So the idea of wearing them to the Disney Store in Chicago nearly kept them awake the entire night before.

We honestly had no idea what to expect.  We arrived to see a very long line.  Disney was offering a limited edition Jessie doll, only 2010 were created.  Fans arrived early to purchase their dolls and have them signed by Joan Cusack, the voice of Jessie.

Fortunately, we were able to walk past the line to the media area, where we were allowed to join the media frenzy that surrounded Joan.  IT. WAS. FUN.  Anna and Noah were being interviewed by TV and radio stations.  They really did not understand what was going on, honestly, neither did I, I just felt so lucky to be there.

Needless to say, we met Joan and she was amazing.

After talking with Anna and Noah, she offered to buy them whatever they wanted from the store.  Her two sons helped the kids shop, her sons were the nicest boys.

I was wearing Eli in my sling, Joan approached me and said “I want to hold him.”  I said “NO WAY, HE’S MINE, BACK OFF.”

Okay, that’s a lie, I said “You do?!  Okay then!”  And she held him in her arms and seemed to really be loving him.  I was like “can I get my picture taken with you?”  and she said something like “uh uh, sure kid, whatever you say.”

“CHEEEEESE!”  I said.

“You’re such a cute little baby,” she said.

She was smitten.  (how could you not be?!)

You get the idea, we met Joan, she was awesome, Anna is in AWE of her, we can’t wait to see Toy Story 3 and now I have a giveaway for you!

Our friends at Disney are offering up a fun Jessie prize package -

One lucky reader will receive A Jessie Talking Doll, Jessie Backpack, Jessie Lunch tote & a Jessie Journal! ($67 value)  This is bound to make one Jessie fan very happy.  Anna picked out a Jessie doll and loves her, Jessie has been to WalMart, Target, the park and Anna wears her around in a sling.  (she also sleeps by her bed in a bed she made of tissues.  It’s all about hospitality in my house.)

What do you need to do to enter to win?  3 ways to enter:

-Leave me a comment telling me who your favorite Toy Story character is!

-Tweet about this giveaway, leave your link to your tweet in a separate comment.

-Blog or Facebook about this giveaway, leaving your link in a separate comment!

That’s it!  This giveaway will close on Friday, June 25th at 9:00 CST, winner to be announced this weekend.

Good luck!

Thanks to Disney for this great giveaway and for giving my family the opportunity to meet Joan Cusack!

I know you won’t believe this, but Brian is home from his business trip.

Already.

Yes, I said already.  The weekend flew by, it even freaks me out a little bit at how the entire five days are a total blur.  Well, maybe not all of them but 90% of it.

We did so much and that makes me pretty proud of myself.  Friday night we went to a Matilda Jane Trunk Show where I splurged on a dress for Anna, then my best friends came over and they held Eli while I drank a beer and finally relaxed.  But I went to bed at 1:30 and Eli woke up at three something, the night was short but totally worth it.

On Saturday, the kids and I went to a European Market, it was so much fun.  That’s where I bought the flowers you see at the top of this post.  We went to a park later in the day and then ordered pizza.   On Sunday, I was officially worn out, I could not keep my eyes open, it was definitely the most difficult day of them all.  LUCKILY, my parents came over and held Eli while I took a nap and then they made dinner.  It was fantastic.

After weeks and weeks of trying to pinpoint Elijah’s fussy problem, I decided to call his pediatrician yesterday morning.  When we arrived I was so happy to see that he had gained 2 pounds from his birth weight, he’s getting so big.  The doctor diagnosed him with reflux and medication has begun.

I am so hopeful.

My Mom came over and watched Anna and Noah while Eli and I headed to his appointment, when we came home I found that she had folded two loads of laundry and she didn’t just fold two loads of laundry but she folded them perfectly.  She made me realize that maybe I just don’t know how to fold laundry and maybe she should always fold my laundry or train me?  I’m sure she taught me when I was a teenager but I was probably too busy thinking about more important things like what time my boyfriend was going to pick me up in his Pinto.

Anyway, I have obsessed over her laundry folding since she left yesterday and I’m wondering if your Mom is a better folder than you?  I’m thinking I really suck at it but not as bad as Brian but not nearly as good as my Mom.  (I should take a picture but I am so lazy.)

So, I’m feeling inspired again.  Inspired to make my house pretty, inspired to declutter and reorganize and inspired to also become a better folder.  (I promise, I am not talking about folding laundry because of the name of my blog.)

In general, I’m just excited that Brian is home, safe.  I’m excited to have some time to myself.

And tomorrow, I’m joining Weight Watchers, I guess I’m excited about that, too.

What are you excited about?

I am not exaggerating.  I was just given the okay sit sit up and so I am but only for a minute because this girl is TIRED.

No matter, he is here and he is awesome.  He’s calm (so far), he has wonderful blondish brown hair and his feet are gigantic!

We can’t get enough of him.

Him, being, Elijah Harrison Fletcher.

Eli is spectacular.

My blog is going to be redesigned soon, I hope you’ll see some yellow in it.  Okay, I know you’ll see some yellow in it.

Since I’m 40 years pregnant and I wanted to relax today, I sat on the couch and window-shopped at Anthropologie.  My eye consistently was drawn to the yellows.

Happy Spring.

{and yes, Happy Spring even though it’s 30 degrees outside with a cold wind and a light sprinkle.)

But still … IT’S SPRING!

So, I’ll leave it at uncomfortable.  I’m also feeling grateful, which is nothing new, but now I’m grateful knowing that I am about to end the healthiest pregnancy I have ever had.  That, in itself, makes me want to sing to the world.  And I probably would if I wasn’t so tired.

But I am so tired.

I’m also grateful that during a dinner out with Lovelyn, Erin and Stephanie last night (BUFFALOCHICKENSANDWICHES – also the reason why I did not live-blog Idol, SORRY!) they made me feel so much better about my discomfort.  Erin, could commiserate, Lovelyn told me how she cried at night and Stephanie would continue to say “YOU’RE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY.”

{And then they’d all take a drink of their fancy, awesome margaritas and giggle because margaritas are awesome and I want one but really I want like ten.}

Anyway, it’s what I needed to hear, I hate complaining but I’m having a hard time not complaining.  I find myself apologizing to Brian for complaining and apologizing to my friends for complaining and then not liking myself very much for complaining and I realize the end is near but that doesn’t help my back RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND.

But it does help when I see each of my friends for the first time individually last night and each of them says “you look so cute.”  And I groan at them because how could I possibly look cute and then Lovelyn says “just say thank you” and I say “maybe tomorrow” and she laughs and says “okay.”

Even though I wasn’t very comfortable last night, I was very comfortable last night.  (ten margaritas would have been helpful, too, but you know how that goes.)

Anyway.

Yesterday, I was 37 weeks, 3 days and I looked like this:

When I showed the picture to Brian, I asked him if it did me justice and he replied with “NOT AT ALL.”  So, I’ll leave the rest up to your imagination.

One boy off playing, my husband just made us breakfast of french toast sticks with sprinkled powdered sugar, my daughter ate at the table, I ate on the couch, sitting with coffee and orange juice.

I wonder, now, what my daughter was thinking about while eating her breakfast because soon after she finished she retrieved many toys from upstairs and the basement and gathered them into the kitchen.  I picture her daydream being one of big plans and many shapes and colors.

She played for so long – it was interesting to me the detail and care she put into her play.  She would often break out into a Taylor Swift song, almost as if she forget her parents were nearby.

She just played.

Finally, after almost an hour, I sat on the kitchen floor with my camera.  This is no small feat as my belly is now the size of a small pickup truck.  As soon as I sat, I wondered how I would get up.

She noticed me across the way and began explaining her city to me.  The garbage trucks and the homes and the apartments.  It was interesting to me; she reminded me what it was like to be little and young and that play is so good and so vital.

I soon had Brian help me up because I actually felt like working in the house.  I wanted to clean and set up the baby’s room.  It felt right and it felt so good to be doing things.

So, I let her play.

And I began my own kind of play.  Going through baby clothes and new purchases and picturing what this boy (it’s so hard for me not to use his name) will look like in these little tiny monkey shoes, how he will smell, what his skin will feel like against mine.

I spent a lot of time daydreaming.

Probably a lot like my daughter, as she ate breakfast.

I’m sitting on the couch, looking down at my enormous baby belly.  Even though it’s enormous, I still can’t believe there is a baby in there big enough to be born in just one month.

I’m amazed that we have spent so much time during this pregnancy counting up and now suddenly…we are counting down.

We are preparing.

Yesterday?  We bought diapers.

and I opened them and marveled at the TEENY-TINY SIZE.  I showed them to the kids and to Brian and we all said “awwww” and “how cute” and one of the kids may or may not have hugged the diaper.

(For a really long time.)

And now?  To add more reality to our lives … Stephanie, my best friend, my sweet, caring, beautiful, old-lady hippy friend, who would go to the ends of the earth for anyone, an incredible Mom, wife, FRIEND … she is hosting a virtual shower for me.  For this baby…for my family.

I know she has put so much work into this.  All of the companies involved have generously donated items for me … but also for a lucky reader.   That’s right, everything I am receiving from this “good new-fashioned shower” a lucky reader will receive the same item.  (it’s like we’ll be sisters!)  (or brothers!)

It’s like a big nest of BABY and LOVE and HOPE and OHMYGOD, just pure awesomeness.

So, go here and read how the shower works and also see all of the amazing and generous companies (big & small!) who are involved. Then check back many times a day from today until March 6th to enter to win SO MANY ITEMS.  Also, almost everything that she is showing you, is what I picked out, it’s EXACTLY what I’ll be receiving.  (but much of it, you’ll get your own choice.)

Also, please feel free to add the cute little button onto your sidebar (share the love with your expecting friends and readers!), Stephanie has the codes on her site at the bottom of this post.

(That cute little button and the shower name were created by my fabulous best friend, @sarahviola.  She is pure brilliance, don’t you think?)

Thank you again to Stephanie, I never take for granted that you are in my life and thank you for loving this baby and for showing me TRUST since the moment you found out I was pregnant.  I’ve needed you so much during this time, which has really been the greatest gift of all.  (ILY,M)