gratitude

This morning I am feeling grateful that:

• Ben will be home tonight. I. am. sick. of. his. work. travel. A few more nights away next week and then hopefully he will stay put for a while. I miss him most in the evenings after the kids are asleep.
• We have some wonderful people joining us this weekend for Luke's birthday and Halloween. I am really looking forward to Saturday!
• I have found a babysitter here that I really like. Bethany has been available a few evenings lately when Ben has been traveling and I've had things I needed to do (meeting at church, hair appt., etc.) Last night I returned home to find her reading in the big chair in the playroom to all three kids....a really nice scene.
• the Halloween costumes are complete and ready to go. Our little lion, ringmaster, and clown look pretty cute! Ben has decided he wants to dress up as well, so I guess technically we have another costume to put together before Saturday.
• Drew now puts himself to sleep. I've rocked or nursed him to sleep ever since he was born and I loved every minute of it, but lately he has been wanting to play with me/kiss me/peek-a-boo/sing instead of falling alseep. There were times that putting him down for a nap either meant rocking him for up to thirty minutes or putting him into the crib and hearing him cry and cry and cry. Starting about a week ago, I can now just tell him it is time to go to sleep, give him his stuffie Elmo, turn on the sound machine, and walk out of the room. He sings for a couple of minutes and falls asleep. I will admit that I miss the cuddling a little, but I know that this is much better for him in the long run.

I hope your week is going well! Happy almost- Halloween! :)