Thankful Thursday

Okay after watching the news day in and day out and only hearing about how bad things are, I've decided to be thankful. I have SO much to be thankful for, and I'm reminded of that everytime I look at my sweet baby. And because of Luke, I am forced to stop and be still for at least 30 minutes 8-10 times a day. So I have lots of time to read, email, blog, pray, and be thankful!

So here goes... here are the things I'm thankful for this week!

~Luke has really started to smile this week! Huge big smiles! Before he would give us a gassy grin, but now he smiles with his whole face! We've tried to get a good picture, but he only smiles for a couple of seconds at a time so by the time we can even click the camera it's gone.

Here's the closest I've come to capturing Luke's smile on camera. But his smile is much bigger than this!

What a sweet face!

~In a time when everyone seems to be worried about their jobs, I have joyfully decided to leave mine for a new as equally demanding job as a mommy. And I am so thankful for a husband who agrees how important it is for me to stay home with Luke and is willing to work even harder and make sacrafices so I can do this.

~My blood pressure is back to what it was pre-pregnancy! I went to my OB for my post partum visit yesterday and was so happy to hear that news! On that note, I'm thankful that I had such a great OB who made all the right decisions and kept me and Luke safe and healthy! She even came to the hospital at 11pm and then back at 1am when she wasn't even on call just to check on me and then to deliver Luke.

~I am thankful for a husband who always tells my how beautiful I am whether I was nine months pregnant and a swollen mess or now when I don't feel that great about my post pregnancy body!

~I am thankful for all the babies that are going to be born in the coming months--Kristin, Melissa, Katy, Sarah, Amanda, Megan, and a few others! It seems every couple of weeks, I hear about another friend that is pregnant. I'm super excited about the news I heard this week-one of my good friends is having twins! After having Luke, I understand fully the miracle and blessing that babies are and I can't wait to meet all of these little ones!

And on a lighter note:

~I'm thankful for diapers that work! We tried out some new diapers this week (3 different brands actually) and all of them leaked! So we went back to the ever faithful Swaddlers!

~I'm thankful for a good deal! Yay for consignment stores/sales, ebay, etsy, and coupons! Check out my college friend's new blog: http://www.craftymommymadness.blogspot.com/ She has so many money saving tips!

~I am thankful for new recipes that actually taste great! We've been trying new recipes this week and had some really great meals! Thanks to Brooke for the awesome cookbook and to Paula for always posting yummy meals on her blog and inspiring me to try new things!

So all you blogging friends, what are you thankful for this week? Leave me a comment or post it on your blog--I'll be reading blogs around 1am and probably again at 4am!! I want to keep this up each week--it will be a way for me to really stop and think about all the wonderful things happening in my life!