52 Weeks of Happiness Week 22

A bit late again. Whatever, at least I'm not skipping!!

This past week has been full of great things again--Mommy & Me, swim lessons, a doctor's appointment, and much more. BUT, Friday night, when my mother-in-law's brother and wife came in from California to meet my little guy for the first time, we got some adult time in.

A wonderful Memphis restaurant, Paulette's, just recently moved from it's Midtown location to Harbor Town down by the river. We went there for appetizers and I got some wonderful shots of the river and the sunset. The blue cheese chips were amazing, and so was the Savignon Blanc.

Then we went east again to go to a new restaurant called "The Elegant Farmer." All of their veggies and food are all locally grown. It was an amazing meal! I tasted every bit of the flavors in my chicken and sausage etouffee, which happened to be placed upon cheese grits instead of rice. Oh. My. God. YUM! And as we left, I had to snap their sweet bit of southern charm!

52 Weeks of Happiness Week 20

Wow! Week 20! It's been another wonderful one.

This week, 6 weeks into the summer, I finally got an afternoon for me. I had a million possibilities...pedicure, pool, movie...?? I had a movie girl night scheduled for Thursday, and Friday hubby and I were planning for Harry Potter 7.2, so three hours at the pool it was.

And it was a PERFECT pool day. I got a little pink, but it turns to tan on me pretty quickly. I took a book, dipped in the pool when it got too hot, and guzzled ice cold water.

Then I met a friend for a happy hour drink and appetizers. She was a little late, so I brought out my book and ordered my wine. I was warm from the sun, and reading and sipping Pinot Grigio, light and cold.



It was an awesome afternoon. Me time. Pool time, girl time. It was really, really wonderful, and the Margherita Pizza appetizer was DIVINE. Thank you, Carrabba's.

Attitude of Gratitude

It's no secret that having a thankful heart will bring you joy. I was watching an episode of Private Practice last night called "Blind Love." I didn't get to finish it, as hubby came in and shared his happiness -- a full first draft of his Master's Thesis! WOOHOO!

Anyway, in the episode, there was a mother who was nursing a child, and the mother was blind. It made me think how tremendously grateful I am for my senses.

I am thankful for sight, so that I may see every inch of my sweet child, see his hair color, his eye color, and see if anything does not look right so as to help him immediately.

I am thankful for smell, so I may take in that natural baby smell that will disappear with time, and smell his Dreft-yummy laundry and clean washed hair. And those heavenly baby lotions...

I am thankful for taste, so I may too taste the foods I make for my son, so that I know I am giving him something worth eating! Yesterday I made him a sweet orange salad, with a homemade lime/honey dressing for avocados, quartered grape tomatoes, and mandarin oranges. It was delicious!

I am thankful for touch, because from the first time I nursed with his face against my skin I knew we were finding new ways to bond. I sometimes simply hold his face in my hands to feel his sweet baby skin. And it never gets old. I am grateful to feel new teeth coming in!

I am thankful for hearing, so I may listen to his cries to alert me of his negative emotions. So I may hear his babbling turn into words, and so I may hear the greatest sound of all...his baby laughter.

And yes, I am thankful for the sixth sense to know when he is not safe or something is wrong. I have always had that sixth sense, but a mother's sixth sense is sharper, keener, and coated with love. It is the ultimate protection sense.

For the senses, I am truly grateful.