Just the Two of Us...: Thanksgiving

Well, as this Thanksgiving weekend comes to an end (yes, on a Monday, because I didn't work today!), I thought I should post a blog about some things that I am thankful for. Now, this is not the grand ole list I had visions of posting, but it will have to suffice. It is getting late and my eyes want to close, so you'll get what you get.

Besides the obvious "I'm thankful for family and friends," here's what I'm thinking about these days (in no particular order, except for the first one).

I am thankful for...

Nevaeh -- Not gonna lie, she's the cutest ever 3.5 month old. Who knew that I would burn so many calories just laughing with and at her? The other night in the bathtub, I blew into her face and her eyes widened with a look of surprise as she inhaled sharply, then she burst into giggles. So what did I do? I did it again. Pretty soon, we were both laughing at each other laughing. I love hearing her laugh; it's the most ridiculous thing ever. Sometimes I think she knows exactly what I'm saying. I'll practice my storytelling on her and she will laugh in the right spots. Just the other night, I caught her watching tv and there was a sitcom on (she was supposed to be bouncing in her jumperoo but managed to turn herself around so that she was pretending to be playing with the toys but her eyes were completely on the tv)... and she laughed exactly when the studio audience laughed. Anywho, she is 126% the light of my life and I struggle to remember what life was like before her. What did I do with all that free time??? I would not and could not trade her for anything (except 126 gabillion dollars). It's not easy being a single parent, but in just 4 months' time, God has blessed me with more than I've ever had.
Food on the table -- OK, well... the food may not always get to the table, but it's at least in the fridge, freezer, or cupboard, and has great potential to be cooked or gathered into what some would call a meal. I think of the nights that I awake at 3 am starving and I traipse to the kitchen for some crackers or applesauce. (Yes, really...applesauce.) It's at those times that I think I'm so hungry that I could not possibly go on living if I don't eat something. There are far too many people in this world who have that feeling on a daily basis, but don't have the means to do anything about it.
Money in my savings account -- While my teeny-bopper friends were out buying clothes and makeup 15 years ago, I was babysitting and mowing lawns like a madman, saving every penny I could find and trying to convince my parents that I needed a dollar here and there. (I really didn't NEED any money, but if you never ask, the answer's always "no," right?) Brother Joe, remember when we would go to Kenny's mini golf course in the summer and look for change in between the cement cracks under the clubhouse counter? Ahhhh, if life were only so simple still. Anywho, with all the saving I've done over the years, it allowed me to take 6 weeks of unpaid leave from work, without having to worry about a penny, even with the hospital and medical bills rolling in (I think I finally got the last bill just yesterday!).
Books -- One might successfully prove that, instead of reading, my dad and I spend more time hunting for books at thrift stores, rearranging them on our bookshelves, or updating our book spreadsheets. But without books, we would have one less way to be nerds. Nerdy accountants, at that. I have stayed up way past my bedtime many a night, finishing up that last chapter. Or more likely in recent years, I have awakened at 4 am with the lights still on and my book laying on my chest. Nonetheless, I have been reading to Nevaeh since she was 3 days old and I hope that someday we can share a love for books.
Traveling -- Thanks to my little peanut, I only made it to the sand dunes in Cali (I promise you that Nevaeh will never remember the bumps and the jumps because she was probably only the size of a walnut at the time), Boston, Scotland, Chicago, and MN a couple of times. In 2008, Nevaeh and I plan to make a noticeable dent in the travel budget!
Baseball -- From April through September, I watch about 15-20 games per week. It's a tough life, but somebody's gotta help those ratings. I look forward to '08 -- spring training is practically right around the corner.... Nevaeh, get ready, baby -- your baseball wrist rattle and Twins & Cubs outfits are sparkling with new-ness!!!
Puppies -- What can I say, puppies bring a smile to my face.
Christmas trees -- When I lived in St. Paul back in the day, my roommate and I kept the tree up for months into the new year. I want to say it was March when we finally took it down. Last year here in Phoenix was practically no different. There's just something about watching tv at night with only the Christmas lights on, curled up in my chair with a blanket. My tree has been up for 3 weeks already and what makes it even more special this year is Nevaeh's first Christmas ornament -- a pink bootie with glitter and ribbon. I plan to buy her an ornament every year until she moves out of the house so that she has something to start her own tree with someday.
Funny commercials -- Has anyone seen the new McDonalds commercial with the little kid carrying his boombox to the dinner table and dancing to the cha-cha slide? Holy buckets, I laugh so hard every time I see it. It's Super Bowl commercial worthy.