The end of this month will also put at us at halfway through
the pregnancy which blows my mind! Time really is flying already. I’m feeling
the pressure of getting things done, and my nesting process has already
started. As we speak, there are two guys are in the nursery working on
refinishing the beautiful wood floors. This was the first task before tackling
anything else. I have very specific themes and colors in mind so the decorating
won’t really start until after we know the gender. I think about this every day
and dream about what it will look like in the next few months. If there’s a
maximum space limit for pins on Pinterest either I’ve hit it or I’m close! I’m
having a really good time daydreaming and planning. And I’m a planner so when I
say I have a list, believe me, I do! Baby probably won’t care at all, but this
momma wants her baby to enjoy a beautiful and thoughtful room.
While I plan the decorations, my husband is brainstorming
ways to make the nursery a sleep sanctuary. He values sleep (good sleep) like
no one else I know. It makes sense given that his sleep time is not always
consistent or abundant. So his primary focus at the moment is good sleep for
daddy, mommy, and baby! Make no mistake, we realize raising babies is difficult
and sleep is not a guarantee for anyone on any given night, but we can
certainly do our best! We will do our
best and forget the rest. I’ve shared that phrase before in my blogs, but I’m
really embracing it as we prepare to enter parenthood. I am under no illusion
that parenting will be easy and it will be more than having a beautiful
nursery. There will be more messes as well as sleepless nights headed our way. And
you know what? I’m okay with that. I’m more than okay with that. I’m ready to
embrace the hard times because I know the good always outweighs the bad. We
will inherit the inevitable worry that comes with raising a child and wonder if
we’re doing it "right" at times. I work with many parents and I always remind
them that the best thing they can do is to go home and love their
children. That’s what I plan to do. I also plan to practice gratitude every
single day.
I began my gratitude practice only a short while ago. Don’t
get me wrong, I’ve always been thankful and grateful but when I learned that it
was an actual practice that would change my mindset I wanted to learn more
about how it could enrich my life. Every morning before work I spend time
writing out what I’m grateful for and why. I try to get as specific as I can so
that I can really appreciate what I’m giving thanks for. Also, at dinner time
my husband and I share with each other what we’re thankful for before we eat
dinner. It was something that he suggested, and so he leads our evening
gratitude. There’s nothing more attractive than a man who gives thanks. That
may sound weird, but I really love this about him. He has such a grateful heart
and he’s always reminding me about things to be grateful for.
All of this is to say that gratitude has profoundly changed
my life, my vision, and my mindset. Without it, I just seemed to focus on
things that weren’t going right…or my way I should say! It’s helped me to let
go of the little things and trust more. Gratitude is what will us get through the
hard times of parenthood. So as we prepare in the next 5 short months to welcome a baby,
our grateful hearts will be ready.
Today I am grateful for:
1.
Cool weather so I can air out my house
2.
Having one day this weekend to relax with my
husband (he will be working most of it)
3.
Our sweet, growing baby
4.
A career where I can help others find peace and
meaning in their lives
What are you grateful for today?
With Love, Keena
