Gratitude: The Father...

Confession, I love sleep.  Truly.  

Rhys, for all of his cuteness (and it is a lot), has done an excellent job of taking a great deal of sleep away from me.  He's still relearning how to sleep and unfortunately, has gotten into a nasty habit of getting up two - three times a night.  

Last night, he woke up at 10:30 pm, 1:00 am and 3:30 am.  We listened to him at 10:30 pm and let him fuss himself back to sleep.  Only took 10 minutes or so and he didn't get all that stirred up.  But the other two times, he managed to get very awake and had to be fed.

Needless to say, we are tired.

Chris took a nap yesterday afternoon.  I took one this morning.

When I woke up, I walked into the living room to see all the boxes of Christmas decorations out.  Rhys was taking his morning cat nap in the swing and I could hear Pumpkin in the front of the house.

I turned the corner to head towards the dining room and caught Aubrey Kate's eye.

She spun around and started jumping up and down, "MERRY CHRISTMAS, MOMMA!!!!"

Chris and I looked at each other over the head of our precious, miracle.  And we just laughed.  It was one of those "holy moly, she is the most amazing creature God ever created" laughs.  

Oh, you know you feel the same way about your kids.

I sat down in a chair and watched as Aubrey Kate handed Chris branches to put on the Christmas tree.  For the next hour or so, we put the tree together, fluffed the branches and sang along to Christmas songs on Pandora.  

Aubrey Kate made us promise not to decorate while she was napping and of course, we agreed.

Rhys and I got to spend some alone time together this afternoon.  I absolutely adore playing with him.  He is such a happy baby.  And a very social one.  He likes to be with us and he loves your undivided attention.  

Chris makes him laugh so easily.  Seriously, I try not to be jealous but it's hard.  I want Rhys to laugh with me!  Oh, he smiles...a lot... and I cherish the way he looks at me and for me.  That boy knows his momma and no lie, he likes me.  

But that doesn't change the fact I want him to giggle with me.  And he finally did.  Forgive the dark video.  It doesn't look that dark on my phone.  Odd.  But you can still hear the sweet giggles.

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Tonight, Chris put the lights on the tree while Aubrey Kate and I decorated the banister.  She helped me fluff the garland, wrap the red "naw-naws" around the garland and hang the ornaments.  

Rhys sat in the bouncy seat and supervised.

Then, we started hanging the ornaments on the tree.  

During the years we were waiting to be parents, I took a whole lot of naps, lost a pretty fair amount of sleep to both day dreams about being a mom and nightmares of the possibility I might not be and did my best to praise my Savior for whatever the life He had planned for me would look like.

Today...that life He planned and provided is overflowing with joy.  

Today, my daughter told me that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  Today she asked when she could meet baby Jesus.  Today, she jumped up and down with the pure excitement only the innocence of childhood provides.  

Today, my son giggled with me while we played.  Today, he watched his new family having a wonderful time decorating his very first Christmas tree.  Today, Rhys laid his head down on my shoulder and sighed that blissful, sweet sound of contentment as I sang him to sleep.  

Today was just another day of living what I dreamed about for those years.  Today, I am reminded of what a miracle every day is.  Today, I know all praise and gratitude belongs to the Father.  

Thank you, Father, for this life.  For my wonderful husband.  For our precious daughter.  For our adorable son.  For every single moment we spend together.  You ordain each second.  Each excited jump.  Each sweet giggle.  Each kiss and hug.  We are in awe of You.