Blessed through the mess & stress

Tonight I'm making the choice to feel blessed rather than stressed in the mess. Looking at those sweet faces, how can I feel anything other than blessed? 

Well, it is quite possible. It's easy to feel stressed lately. Life is kinda messy here. We're lacking sleep. We're lacking time - time to clean, do laundry, exercise or grocery shop. But, we're all healthy. And [mostly] clean. And happy.

So even though I feel stressed and a mess when things aren't going well... And I feel like I'm never going to be able to put the baby down or lose this postpartum body... And I feel like my threenager is making me crazy...

I'm going to choose to feel blessed. Because, I am.

And it's moments and unexpected gifts like this that make me realize it and put things back into perspective.  

 

  

Blessed no matter what, despite the stress and mess. Thank you, Curly Girl, for putting the joy back into my heart after a difficult afternoon. 

I am truly blessed. 

Thankful Thursday

I'll admit it, having three kids is no joke. It's awesome and amazing and fun and loud and often chaotic. I no longer have enough arms for all of them and trying to meet the demands of three all at once is often a challenge, but I really am loving it. 

There are so many small blessings and little accomplishments that I want to remember and be thankful for. Today, this normal Thursday, I'm thankful for:

- a baby who slept over 6 hours straight last night 

- the bunny clock which kept the big kids in their beds, allowing me to get a shower in peace before everyone was up

- only having to discipline each of my big kids once the whole day

- Ginger Boy keeping his pull-up dry all day and telling me when he had to go

- a happy baby who is content to sit and watch the morning chaos as we get ready for the day

- a successful trip to the dentist for both big kids with no crying or cavities 

- Curly girl's independence in so many situations - today asking for cups of water all by herself while I nursed baby

- Target dollar spot and the in-house Starbucks for providing cheap rewards for the successful dentist trip

- my 'nursing cape' - so that I felt perfectly comfortable nursing baby while big kids each had a cookie in the Target Starbucks, right next to the cash registers and exit

- lightweight cat litter and a 5 year old who is willing to help carry it!

- two kids who will help me carry bags to the car without complaining, but instead saying, "I have weally big muscles!"

- rest time going smoothly for big kids with no arguments or noise (actual sleep would have been nice, but alas...)

- baby taking a marathon nap in her sleeper instead of on me

- ability to make dinner in a mostly calm environment

- Chobani peanut butter dream yogurt 

- Ginger Boy's ability to play well on his own

- the one-on-one time I got to spend with Curly Girl playing our new Brain Pop game

- Ginger Boy's adorable excitement & jumping over his new toothbrushes 

- Darling Daddy getting home from work before 6:00 and giving me a little shoulder rub as I sat at the table 

- his willingness and ability to take over control of the big kids so I can have a bit of a break and focus on baby

- Curly Girl's healthy appetite and appreciation for vegetables 

- kids in bed by 8:00 and a sleepy baby headed there soon as well

- the calming pitter patter of rain outside