J Cooper Photography

1.  I’m so thankful for my camera and the chance to express myself and memorialize this time with my children.  I love that photographs create memories for them that they might not remember otherwise.  I had the opportunity to photograph my sweet Jule for the Matilda Jane Photo Love contest.  The deadline is tomorrow…and while I’m not quite ready to share my entry…I couldn’t resist sharing a few sweet smiles that didn’t make the final cut.  It was a challenge to enter just ONE image that represents my style.  But in the end…I just entered the image that I loved best.  I have been eyeing this location for a LONG time and finally worked up the nerve to ring the doorbell and meet the owners.  I’m SO thankful they said YES!  (MUCH more to come of the contest in a day or two…please check back over the holiday….I would be SO THANKFUL for your votes!)

2.  We have Decked the Cooper Halls.  We didn’t go wild this year…just brought out our favorite ornaments and spent a lazy Saturday carefully (who am I kidding?) unwrapping and hanging.  I’m thankful for the chance to see the magic of Christmas again this year through the eyes of these little people.  The girls begged for hours for Mr. P to get out the Christmas tree…the excitement palpable….until they literally couldn’t stand it any longer and were nearly in tears.  The squealing and jumping that ensued the moment they saw us carrying the tree up the stairs was PURE JOY!!  So far this little man of mine is enjoying the tree from a distance (I know that is short lived).  He walks near it chanting “no no no” with a little scowl on his face.  So funny.  Because in his mind I know he is screaming “YES YES YES!!”

3.  I’m thankful for doctors who make the tough calls for us.  Mr. Sam will be having surgery on December 7th to have tubes placed.  He saw the ENT last week, had a full hearing test by the audiologist, and the doctor agreed that the tubes were necessary.  He seems to have some amount of fluid still trapped in his left ear which isn’t draining on its own.  Hopefully, the tubes will make him more comfortable!!  He passed his hearing screening wonderfully (so thankful for that!) but the audiologist did say that some of his garbled speech may be due to the extra fluid in his ears.  We’d be SO thankful for your prayers that day!  He is a bit under the weather again already and I am fearing that he is on the path towards yet ANOTHER infection…need to keep this boy WELL so we can get the surgery DONE!

4.  Speaking of Mr. Little.  He is starting “school” in January.  I haven’t really absorbed that last sentence.  I’m hoping I’m thankful for this opportunity for him (I think it will come).

5.  I have been thinking A LOT about how to best accommodate our newest little addition.  We worked tirelessly this weekend purging and organizing to make room for the girls to bunk together….which makes me SO thankful for sisters.  I grew up with sisters.  I’m so happy that my girls will always have a best friend!

6.  And on the topic of nurseries…Ithe hunt has begun.  I have found several bedding sets I love.  Here and Here.  I am really trying to keep the cost at a minimum though so I haven’t made any purchases yet!  I had originally planned on putting Sam in a twin bed this winter (I did that with the girls around 18 months) but have realized that would NOT be wise.  He is so different (enough said!!)  I would LOVE to not have to buy another new crib as I only need it for about a year.  If any of my fellow Kansas City folks know a source for a nice used crib to buy cheap or borrow I would be SO THANKFUL!!  My sister came to the rescue with a cute little bookshelf and dresser!!

7.  We’ll be leaving shortly for a little road trip to see family.  This is one of my BIGGEST thanksgivings.  We are so blessed to have family that supports us, encourages us, and accepts us for who we are.  My kids are thrilled about this trip and the long drive in the car.  For them there is nothing better than waking up in the middle of the night with your pjs on and hopping in the car.  We’ve got the snacks loaded and several new movies packed away.  If I can keep Little Man well through the day tomorrow we should have a fantastic trip…here we come MEMORY MAKING!

8.  I don’t always take the time to think about it…but I am SO thankful for my friends.  It is amazing how a simple gesture can change your whole day.  A loaf of pumpkin bread today did that for me.  And last night my sweet friend loaned me 2 Christmas dresses for the girls.  We are keeping the budget tight this year as we prepare for our new one…and I couldn’t find anything I liked for a price I wanted to spend.  Now the girls have beautiful shiny dresses (that they LOVE!) and I didn’t have to spend a dime.  Friends.  SO thankful!!!

9.  We are SO THANKFUL for NUMBERS that have moved us one step closer to the next little Cooper!!  I’m deaming of the day that I get to meet that little face for the first time!

10.  And thankful that I have this spot to share my thoughts.  Thanks for reading about our crazy lives and my photography antics.  I know as a stay at home (work a little from home) mom it is so nice to make connections with other moms out in the computer universe.  We all converge on the internet during naptime and hash out the details of our lives.  And I’m thankful for that.  Because in the end…I know I’m not alone!

Wishing you all a BLESSED and ABUNDANT THANKGIVING with your families!!  Gobble Gobble!