Why my house never seems to be totally clean

Mia decided to empty the box of Q-tips one day, just for the fun of it

She also emptied the napkin holder and then attempted to put them back where she got them

It was a valiant effort

Needless to say, my house will never be spotless, I have a child.

From the mouth of Mia

We now have a chatter box on our hands! Mia seems to be learning new words everyday and is quickly become a parrot! Here are a few of her specialties:

• counting to three
• naming animals in pictures books and saying what sound they make
• speaking in small sentences (i.e. This is mommy's phone, That's daddy, etc)
• Diego (she calls both cats Diego and she called a dog Diego today-we are still working on it)
• If we sing 'If your happy and you know shout hooray" she will throw her hands in the air and say "Hooray!"
• naming the family members from pictures on the fridge
• she talks constantly about her 2 friends at school Asher and Saschi
• can name her shoes, socks, and shirt; she can even out her own socks on!

Here is a video of her putting her socks on. I was so proud of her. We had been working on it for a few days and she just 'got it' one day and is has become her new obsession!

Here is a video of her saying sounds animals make!

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I am thankful for...day 19

I am thankful for a boss who is understanding and who bent over backwards to re-arrange the Thanksgiving week schedule so that I could head to NJ to with my mom-in-law this week! I have to work a 10 hour day on Sunday and a half a day on Monday, but it is a small sacrifice to pay!

I am thankful for...day 18

I am so thankful that my mom got the job she was interviewing for at Nationwide Children's hospital! Not only is she moving out here this month but she has already found a job! Praise the Lord!

I am thankful for...day 17

I am thankful for my small group at our church. We are a group of 5 couples that get together once a week to discuss a topic and pray for each other. What a huge blessing this group has been to me this past year! I am so grateful for them!

I am thankful for..day 16

I know I skipped a few days, but our family is going through a difficult situation at this time and my mind has been elsewhere that past week, so please forgive me. Today I am thankful for spontaneous trips to NJ for the holidays! We will be spending both Christmas and Thanksgiving with Pat's family this year and I am really excited. We always have a good time and it will be great to spend a few more precious moments with this side of the family. I am so thankful for family!

I am thankful for...day 9

I am thankful for the freedom to choose how we want to raise our family. There has been much controversy over the Duggar family announcing they are expecting their 20th child! Granted 20 children is probably not God's plan for my life but I am so grateful that by living in America I have that right to choose how many children I would like to have and how I want to raise them!

I am thankful for...day 8

I am thankful for my cozy bed, which makes it so hard to get up in the morning! I could spend a whole day (ok well maybe half a day) in bed. I love sleep and flannel sheets

I am thankful for...day 7

I am SO thankful that my mom sold her house today! After MONTHS of issues and dilemmas she finally closed on her house in NJ. Thank you to all of you who have been praying! Now just pray her job interview goes well and her move to Ohio goes smoothly! I am a little biased because this means free babysitting :)

I am thankful for...day 6

I am thankful for my church family. This past Sunday at New Life Church  was such a huge blessing to me. I often find that throughout the week God sends me little messages and signs about a particular thing and then by Sunday morning at church I feel like he is screaming it in my face so I don't miss out on what he is trying to teach me! What a blessing this body of believers has been to me and my family.

I am thankful for...day 5

I am thankful that my sewing machine started working! I have had multiple plans for Christmas gifts, craft projects and baby shower gifts in the works, but all were put on hold as my sewing machine was not cooperating. I left it alone for a few days, came back with a fresh mind, tried a few things and it worked! Praise the Lord! Now off to sew. Here is one thing I have made with my new found working sewing machine...Mia's Thanksgiving shirt

I am thankful for...day 4

I am thankful for my health. In my line of work I am reminded daily of what aging does to the body and what is in store for me down the road. This fore site causes me to be very grateful for my current level of health, independence and freedom to do the things I want without fear of pain or frustration. Thank you Jesus for my health, may I always cherish and take advantage of that.

I am thankful for...day 3

Today I am thankful for my job. In this economy having a job is being one step ahead and so I am grateful for the career path I have chosen that allows me to work at a wonderful company doing something I treasure. Even though my hearts desire is to be able to stay home and raise my family, my time for now is spent in the workplace and I am grateful that I am able to provide for my family in this way.

I am thankful for...day 2

I am thankful for my marriage. I am truly blessed by God with helpmate Patrick. We communicate really well together and work as a team with the same end goal. I love my husband and I am reminded daily of his love for me. He is such a joy to be around and always makes me laugh. He has such a gentle spirit and we compliment each other through our strengths and weaknesses and that is what makes our marriage work and flow together so well for us. It works for us and I am so grateful for him and our almost 6 years of wedded bliss! 

I am thankful for...day 1

As November starts, I am reminded to slow down and take the time be thankful. Today (well actually yesterday-I didn't get this written last night) I am thankful for my daughter. As we were sitting down eat dinner, I said "let's pray." Mia folded her hands. We did not start praying right away as there was a conversation going on between my husband and his friend Brad. Mia decided to take matters into her own hands. She started babbling then said "food, Amen". She then looked up with a huge smile on her face. It was priceless, she melted my heart. I couldn't believe that this little 18 mos old had gotten the concept of Thanking Jesus for our food!

And for Halloween she was a ladybug! We had many adventures in her costume that I hope to share this week, but here is a sneek peek: