Thankful...

At 4:33 am this morning, I was fighting to stay awake.  I had already been up at 12:30, 3:00, and 4:15 am by this point.  All I wanted was my bed and some blessed sleep.  That's usually all I want lately.  But as I was rocking in the glider, with my little lady snuggled in my arms, I realized that my interrupted sleep is something I need to remember to be thankful for.  

It's been so easy being thankful for the "big" things:

-a relatively easy birth and delivery after a somewhat complicated pregnancy

-a beautiful and healthy baby girl who is doing great

-family and friends who are so willing to help out and eager to love on Lydia

It's not even been difficult to be thankful for the "smaller" things with Lydia:

-her baby blue eyes and long lashes 

-the smiles and coos that literally melt my heart and make me fall in love all over again

-that one dimple :)

-chunky thighs (I can relate...)

-the fact that she already has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger...and he loves every minute of it 

But last night (or was it this morning?) I realized I can't just be grateful for all of the "fun" things.  We prayed so hard for our little lady and were granted the most wonderful miracle in her birth.  Here is my reminder that I need to be thankful for the things that aren't always my favorite.  So (gulp...) I'm choosing to be thankful for...

-dirty diapers.  Even the times I get the "dirt" on me...when it keeps coming halfway through changing her.  It means she's healthy! 

-the times she's crying and I can't figure out what in the world she wants.  She's got great lungs!

-lack of sleep.  Whether it's one or three times during the night, these are just extra times I get to snuggle her while she's still little.  (But don't get me wrong, we are still aiming to sleep through the night sooner or later!)

-being stuck at home because it's about -40 degrees outside.  We'll just be that much more thankful when we can be outside this spring and summer!

I know there's much, much more to be thankful for, but this is the short list for now.  And I have a feeling I'll need to remind myself of it again in a few days...or hours :)