Thankful

Since it's the season to reflect on all the blessings in our lives, I thought I'd share some of the things I'm thankful for this year.  (The list below is neither exhaustive nor in any particular order of priority.) 

I am thankful for...

• 5:30 am (or earlier) wake up calls (Gavin: "Mom. Up. Go. Out;" Ryan: "Is it time to get up yet?")
• Mealtime pleadings ("how many more bites till I earn dessert?")
• Constant negotiations with Ryan ("Just one more book," "How about this," or "I have a better idea")
• Story requests during car rides ("Can you tell me a Batman story?")
• Gavin's separation anxiety
• Tattling
• Sharing squabbles
• Bath time splashing (the kind that soaks the walls, bathmats, or anything else in a 3-foot radius)
• After dinner dancing to "yelling" music
• Gavin's eating antics (e.g., treating food like shampoo)
• Birthday parties for Ryan's stuffed animal friends (i.e., Super Pig, Pumpkin Bear, Blue Puppy, Monkey, or Spot)
• Polka-dotted carpet from juice stains
• Gavin's temper tantrums when things don't go his way
• Ryan's "I'll do it myself attitude" (which is quickly followed by, "Mommy, can you help me...")
• Daddy magic

Although we're in the throes of parenting - exhausted, too often impatient, amused and frustrated by the constant correction from an all-knowing preschooler, and run ragged by an adventurous toddler - we know that all too soon we'll look back and miss all this.  I'll admit, there are days when I long for the time when Gavin won't require as much supervision and Ryan will be able to occupy himself.  But then I quickly realize that that time will come before I know it and then I'll miss the days when they wanted and needed my undivided attention.

We convince ourselves that life will be better or easier when...(we get married, have a baby, kids outgrow a difficult stage, we get a nicer car, bigger house, go on a dream vacation, retire, etc.) The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Life will always be filled with challenges. We need to embrace our current reality rather than live for the future and treasure every moment, good and bad, that we get to spend with those we love most.
A wise friend told me that as a parent, your days are long but your years are short.  Although the song, "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins brings me to tears every time I hear it, I wanted to share it because it's true for all of us, regardless of what stage in our life we're in.  (Click here to hear the song/see the music video:  http://www.cmt.com/videos/trace-adkins/217378/youre-gonna-miss-this.jhtml)  Time waits for no one, so we all should make the best of it because as the chorus promises... 

"You're going to miss this

You're going to want this back

You're going to wish these days

Hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're going to miss this"

With this in mind, I'm off to bed and eager to greet the boys before the sun rises.  The earlier they get up, the more time we have to spend together right?! ;-)  Here are pictures of my little blessings: