Counting my Blessings

Last night Everett did something wonderful.
He slept.
The whole night.
From 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM

It was the fourth night in a row that I didn't nurse him or go to him at all but it was the FIRST time he didn't even wake up "crying." Not once!

FIRST TIME IN 10 MONTHS AND 14 DAYS!!!!

I still woke up a couple of times (because I am sick or maybe just out of habit, I don't know), but to say I'm thrilled would be an understatement.

I haven't really been able to relish this momentous occasion, however, because it was a hard day for me. I got the worst sore throat last night. Then today I was achy with chills and a sore throat and headache and it was all I could do to meet our basic needs:

Potty. Food. Potty. Sleep. Potty. Milk. Repeat.

And then Justin didn't get home until much later than I had hoped, which is never a good thing, but so much worse when I am sick and counting the minutes until I have help.

Then he came home.

He came via the grocery store, and after an 11 hour day on his feet, helped me put Everett to bed, did the dishes, cleaned up the house, and vacuumed while I lay here on the couch with his laptop and nothing to worry about but how to get comfortable.

While Everett sleeps.
Through the night.

I am blessed.

Growing Boy

 I can't get over how big my little boy is! 

Here are a few pictures (from the end of October). 

Proof that my boy is growing. 

Hair, teeth, the works. 

(He has since added another single top snaggle tooth to the smile.)

Flowing locks

Too cute

Teeth

Love this face, he makes it all the time

Climber

Get in the picture

I really need to do a better job of getting in pictures with my boy. I need to capture my days and the countless hours I spend with him, taking care of him, teaching him, playing with him, loving him. Not just when I look put together either, but when I look like a mom. . . which is always. It's what I do and I want to remember it. Me WITH my children. I love what Saydi says:

I want my motherhood captured. I want to stop looking at my flaws in the pictures and start looking at the love and happiness that’s the subtext, the background for these photos.

So here's to getting in the picture. And if that means taking pictures with the FaceTime camera on my phone, so be it. 

Here are the articles (spurred on by the Huffington post article) that have inspired me to get in the picture:

• The Mom Stays in the Picture (Huffington Post) 

• Mom in the Picture (Saydi Shumway)

• Get in the Picture (Power of Moms)

• "Get in the Picture" Photo Challenge (Power of Moms)

• Get in the Picture (Clover Lane)