Days 27-28

Day 27: I am very thankful for Bravo TV :)

Day 28: Thankful that I am able to do the small amount of work that I do (and for "clients" who have turned into friends). 

Days 22-26

I did it again! I really need to get my blogging act together, I've just been busy and tired lately. Le sigh.

Day 22: Thankful for yummy food and a lovely family to share it with! 

Day 23: I am thankful for grace and forgiveness.

Day 24: Grateful to have the most wonderful friends a girl could ask for. I love y'all!

Day 25: Thankful for every minute spent with Barry and Branner (Bailey and Chloe, too)!

Day 26: So petty, but I'm thankful for Cyber Monday (specifically at ASOS, Land of Nod, and Snapfish)!

Day 21

Know what I'm super thankful for today? The fact that I don't have to cook tomorrow!!!!

Days 15-20

Okay, I'm behind. Time to play catch up!

Day 15:  I am so, so thankful for our new little miracle, baby #2, coming in May! We're so excited!

Day 16:  I couldn't be more thankful for Branner. He is truly a gift from God, and I can only hope to teach him a tiny fraction of what I have already learned from him.

Day 17:  I am thankful for my home. It may be driving me crazy that it's not "done" yet, and won't be for a long while, but having a roof over my family's head is not something I take for granted.

Day 18:  Date nights. It's so nice to escape for a few hours and take the parent hats off.

Day 19:  DVR. I can barely keep my eyes open past 9 pm these days!

Day 20:  Our insurance and modern medicine. 

Days 13 & 14

Day 13: I am thankful that Branner still naps!

Day 14: ChickfilA milkshakes. Delicious. Enough said!

Day 12

Branner is sick today, but he is rarely under the weather. I am so very thankful for the good  health of my family!

Days 9, 10, 11

We've had a bit of a busy weekend as we had wedding festivities to attend Friday and Saturday nights! So, here's a mash-up of the past three days of 30 Days of Thanksgiving:

Day 9:  Monkee See, Monkee Do. Amazing. I have connected with a mom who needs a little help right here in NC, and I am so thankful we found each other!  

Day 10: Fall in North Carolina. It's gorgeous!

Day 11:  I am so very thankful for each and every United States veteran and their families. All that they have sacrificed so that we may be free is amazing and awe-inspiring.

Day 8

I am so thankful for grace and the ability to wake up and start each day with a clean slate!

Day 7

I am thankful for the ability to help others today. One of the greatest feelings in life is to positively impact the life of someone else, and I am so glad that I am capable of giving time and resources for the benefit of people in need.

Day 6

Today, I am thankful to live in the USA, for the right to vote, and the right of free speech. God Bless America! 

Day 5

I am so very thankful for Barry! His unconditional love and fathering constantly amaze me. It doesn't hurt that he's been known to help out around the house a lot. Love you, Bar!

Day 4

I am thankful Bailey and Chloe and their unconditional love, companionship, and cuddles today. Love my sweet boo boos!

Day 3

I am thankful for my senses today. Being able to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the things that surround us in this beautiful world is not something to take for granted!

Day 2

Today, I am thankful for family. 

Young and old, near and far, in good times and in bad, no matter what happens, I feel so blessed to have the family I do! I love each and every one of you dearly!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

I wanted to do this last year, but for some reason, I did not. So, I'm going to give it a shot!

November 1, 2012

Today, I am thankful for hot showers, hot tea, and a warm home.

New Traditions

My weekly Modern Parent article is up, and this week, it's all about our new holiday traditions. Click here to check it out! As always, feedback on the site is greatly appreciated!

Happy Thanksgiving (and a Mini-Christmas)!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kirbys! We packed all of Branner's necessities and hit the trail towards Gigi's house this morning. We had a quick snack and visit there before the actual Thanksgiving festivities began at Mimi's house. Little did we know that Big Papa had a surprise in store for Branner--a rocking horse! My dad was so excited about the toy, which my mom had bought as part of Branner's Christmas present, that he insisted Branner get it today. Oh, but that was not all-- a Mickey Mouse from Big Papa's trip to Orlando last month, two sets of Christmas pj's, a sweater and a special ornament later, Branner had a mini-Christmas. He is ROTTEN! All I can say is I'm glad we are celebrating Christmas day here so that I'm not responsible for carting all of his gifts around.

After snapping a couple of family pics (I think the one of him with my parents is hilarious!), we headed over to Mimi's house early to feed Branner lunch and put him down for what should have been an afternoon nap (didn't happen today, he had "quiet time" instead) before enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. Mimi really outdoes herself every year, and we stuffed ourselves to the gills. I didn't even have room for dessert, which made me sad! Branner played and entertained the crowd and we left for Charlotte late afternoon. It was a great day spent with great family! We love you all so much!

We are so thankful for our sweet, funny, amazing son! He is truly the biggest blessing in our lives! We are grateful for our wonderful families and that Branner is surrounded by so much love. We hope everyone else had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

Everyone reading this knows how much I love to make lists. After a rough week (teething baby, sick husband, feeling kind of yucky myself and a day or two where I just had a "blah" attitude--which I hate), I think a list of a few things I am truly thankful for is exactly what will pull me out of this funk. Thinking about all the positive, wonderful things in my life is just the dose of medicine I need to start off Thanksgiving week with a good attitude and grateful heart. Here goes...

I am so incredibly thankful for:

1. My own little family. Last year at this time, when Branner wasn't on the "outside," we were eagerly and nervously awaiting his arrival. He has brought so much joy and happiness into my life, there is no way to even begin to explain how truly thankful and amazed I am that God gave me such a wonderful gift. I thank Him everyday for allowing me to be Branner's mommy, even though there were times in my life that I wasn't even sure if I wanted to have kids.

2. My sweet, funny, loving husband who is patient with me even when I give him reasons not to be and whom I dearly love.

3. My family and Barry's family. We are so blessed to be surrounded by the best great-grandmother, grandparents, great aunts and uncles (many of whom we choose to call family, but are not technically related to us), uncles, aunts and cousins. Ya'll are the best!

4. Having a roof over my head and food on the table. These days, those two things alone should not be taken for granted. I try to remind myself of this often, especially when I get upset over something silly or trivial.

5. Being able to stay at home right now with sweet Branner and playing such a large part in his growth and development. Everyday is not a cakewalk, and at times I do get frustrated, but this is the most important job I have ever had.

6. My babysitter, Brittany. She is a lifesaver and helps me keep my sanity in tact! It's amazing what a couple of hours to yourself a week can do to rejuvinate you!

7. My blogs. It is so nice to have somewhere to let my creative juices flow and having an "online baby book" is a major bonus!

8. Being able to wake up each day and start over with a clean slate.

9. Bravo reality TV. I love it, it makes me happy and entertains me. Enough said!

10. My wonderful friends. I don't know what I would do without any of them! I love ya'll!

11. Bogle Zinfandel and Phantom. Sometimes mommies just need a good glass of wine (pairs perfectly with Bravo reality TV)!

12. My volunteer work with the Junior League. It makes me feel so good to do things that help others, and I love still being able to do some marketing/advertising work since I am not employed.

13. Date nights. It's nice to get out of the house, dress in something cute, wear heels and do something out of the ordinary. We have really been trying to do extra-fun and different things now that we have a newfound appreciation for our dates.

Happy Thanksgiving--Early!