Dear God, Thank You For.....

I just had to post about Laura Beth's newest routine. Mom, this is for you! :) Thought you get a good laugh. Well, although I am not a "routine" person my hubby and daughter are! We have our little rituals everyday. For example, when we get up in the morning Landon turns on coffee maker (set the night before), fixes Laura Beth's milk and muffins (also laid out night before), and takes her bag and my stuff to the car (yes, coffee included...gotta love him!) --in that exact order (definitely a man of routine) Because it's way to early for normal people I wait and wake Laura Beth up at the last second just to put her right in the car all snuggly in her blanket. Thanks to Nae, Nae (a.k.a. LaNae --babysitter) who dresses her etc. after more snuggly time. O.K.. onto the prayers right! Well, at night Landon does bath and I do bedtime routine. I admit our bedtime routine is a bit lengthy but I just love that special time with my baby girl. As soon as I mention it's bedtime and time to read "Biscuit," Laura Beth kisses Daddy and heads straight for her room. We read way to many Biscuit stories (thanks to Christine for the large book of oh about 10 of them), go over sight words (yes, I am crazy.. but trust me try to skip looking through her flashcards and she cries), say our prayers, and rock for a few minutes (o.k. sometimes I rock her all the way aslee--my guilty pleasure).

The prayer is my recent favorite moment! Each night she comes up with something new. With hands together, she says "Dear God, thank you for... Of course, I came up with the opening trying to think of something simple for a one year old. I laugh inside each night hearing what she is thankful for. Last week it went like this, "Dear God, thank for Mommy, thank you for Daddy, thank you for Sadie (our poodle), thank you for Tech (our lab), thank you for Jack, thank you for Parker, thank you for toys, thank you for Jack's toys, Amen." So cute.. as Jack is her little playgroup friend and we haven't been to his house in weeks but evidently she really likes his toys. :)

Tonight it went..hands together "Dear God, thank you for Laura Beth, thank you for Mommy, thank you for Daddy, thank you for Sadie (Tech was left out), thank you for Parker, thank you for Jack, thank you for buck (o.k. I had to question that one.."buck??"), yeah, thank you for deer, (she assures me) thank you for my hairbows, Amen.

I guess she has watched too many hunting shows with Daddy! And, as for the hairbows.. I assume she had her eyes open and a hairbow on the dresser caught her attention. But, I too am thankful for hairbows :) but most thankful that Mommy knows how to make them so we don't have that crazy expense! Jack and Parker somehow always make her prayers. We met Parker and Natalie and Jack and Lara when we began Gymboree classes. The kids were about 2-3 months old! We would sit and marvel over their drool, being able to lift their heads, roll over, etc. I remember sitting in the circle of new moms clapping for each other as we commented on "what did you do for yourself this week?" The applause was for things like took a hot bath alone, painted my nails, etc. Moms, you understand! The kids are now embarking on their 2nd birthdays and we hold playgroup every other week still. Jack and Parker have always held a special little piece of Laura Beth's heart. She truly loves them.

My prayer tonight... "Dear God, thank you for entrusting me with your beautiful Laura Beth. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be her mother and to raise her. I promise to do the best of my ability. Thank you for the little moments with her. Thank you for all of my many blessings. Amen!"