Today is National Speak In Complete Sentences Day. Language these days seems to lean toward the shorthand. It is full of text speak "lol"s and slang style abbreviations. I like the idea of this day most, however, because it is a reminder to slowdown. It is a reminder to be conscious of what we choose to say and how we choose to say it.

I am grateful. It is a simple phrase and easily tossed around but when I slow down and truly feel into what makes me feel grateful it makes all the difference. My heart fills up and I feel more joyous when I truly allow gratitude to be felt.

I am grateful for this day. I am grateful for the reminder and the opportunity to slow down. I'm grateful to feel into this gratitude not just say I feel it. I'm grateful for my heart overflowing with the abundance of blessings in my life. I'm grateful that as I slow myself down I am more able to keep up with my baby's every increasing speed. I'm grateful to laugh as I step slowly into this day that is set to be a fast-paced one.

How can you consciously slow down? What would you gain from speaking the whole sentence, having the whole interaction, and connecting fully in the moment?

​May today remind us that each day is precious. May we take the time to fully engage in the moment. Have a beautiful day!

Over the last few days I have noticed that my daughter has not been saying "mama" very often. It is not uncommon for her to talk about "dada" all day long. But when she needs something, especially milk, there is usually persistent "mama"s that let me know she is in need. 

At first I thought she was just too busy to notice she was in need. Then I thought that maybe it was because my husband and I had both been around this weekend. Or perhaps I was just wanting to hear her sweet voice call me more than usual and it was all my perception. 

Then yesterday I noticed in all her babble the word "ah-me". I have heard this over the last week or two but it caught my attention yesterday because she said it as she tugged at my leg. "Ah-me." And it occurred to me that perhaps she was trying to say "Mommy" which is what my husband and I refer to me as in front of her. 

Last night I woke in the middle of the night. The monitor was silent and yet something felt off. I brought up the video feed and there was my sweet girl sitting up silently in her bed. She sat there several minutes as I watched. Normally if she is not fussing I leave her to her down time or to fall asleep as she chooses. Last night I just felt drawn to her.

I walked into her dark room and waited for my eyes to adjust. Softly from her crib I heard, "ah-me?" It melted my heart. I went to her and reassured her I was there. I laid her back down and rested my hand on her. Holding on to my finger she went right to sleep. My heart overflowed.

I'm so grateful for this amazing child. I'm grateful for her chatty nature and the words she is learning already. I'm grateful to recognize my new name as I graduate from "mama" to "ah-me". I'm grateful for the blessing and miracle that she is to me after waiting for her for so long. And I'm so very grateful to be earning my title as "ah-me".

What are you grateful for today? What makes your heart overflow with love and joy?

May today reconnect us to the blessings in our lives. May we allow love to overflow from our hearts as we think of our blessings. Have a beautiful day!

Today is Memorial Day and so it is only fitting that a young Cardinal flutters back and forth outside my window. Cardinals represent the souls of our loved ones who have passed away and I believe this young male is that of my grandpa. 

My grandma's cardinal has visited me for years. In fact, it sat next to my shoulder on her front porch offering comfort on the morning she passed. I loved my grandma very much and her passing encouraged me to grow close to my grandpa. It was a bond I will cherish forever. 

When my grandpa passed less than a year ago it was very difficult. While I know he is happy to be back with my grandma, we all miss him and his antics. In all honesty, a part of me thought that my grandpa would come back as a bluejay instead of a cardinal. He liked to break the mold and he was ornery; what better than a bluejay to reflect this unique spirit. 

Yet as I sat in mourning a whole family of Cardinals flocked to my deck. And one, a young male began to play so that I could not ignore it. It looked me straight in the eye and I knew it was my grandpa telling me he was home with the spirits of his loved ones.

I'm grateful for the comfort of the cardinals that visit my backyard often. I'm grateful for the memories I have of my loved ones and all the time shared with my grandpa. I'm grateful to know that his spirit is happily reunited with my grandma, his soulmate. I'm grateful for this day of reflection and the love of those who still walk the earth with me. I'm grateful for my beliefs that help me find comfort in loss.

Who are you remembering today? How can you honor their memory in a positive way?

May today bring us peace and comfort. May we celebrate the lives who have impacted our own. Have a beautiful day!

There is just something refreshing about waking up to sunshine the morning after a storm. It is like all the stresses have been washed away and even though none of the circumstances have really changed, there is new energy to face them. 

I'm so grateful for the storm last night. I'm grateful for the thunder and rhythmic rain. I'm grateful that my aging dog can no longer hear the storm well enough to fear it. I'm grateful for the sleep I got last night even if it wasn't as much as I desired. I'm grateful to wake to a happy baby and playful dogs. I'm grateful to get to see my husband off to work and watch my daughter wave as he rode away. I'm grateful for this sunshine that renews and brightens my spirit.

What is your favorite thing to do on a sunny day? What helps you feel renewed?

May today renew our hearts and soul. May we find sunshine outside as well as within. Have a beautiful day!

My daughter is nine months old today. The number nine often represents and ending of a cycle. In some ways I hope that is true. 

There is no doubt that she has changed so much in the last nine months and even in the last nine days. She is on the go and into everything. She is expanding her vocabulary and working hard at feeding herself. My baby is quickly growing up.

At the same time, my daughter still does not sleep. Perhaps with the coming of nine months we will find the strategies to help all of us get better sleep.

I'm grateful for the number nine that seems so symbolic today. I'm grateful for these months watching my daughter grow. I'm grateful to say, while it may have been some of the most challenging months I've been through, it is also by far the most rewarding months. I'm grateful for the support I have received from family and friends. I'm grateful for my daughter's happy personality. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to grow into a mom and to spend so much time with her over the last nine months.

What does nine represent to you? Is there any cycles coming to a close in your life? Are there new cycles you see beginning?

May today remind us that with everything that ends there is also something new beginning. May we find closure where needed and support along the way. Have a beautiful day!

My family keeps a quote book of all the things we say that could, out of context, sound bad, hilarious, or have sexual innuendo. It is a fun part of family lunch on Sundays to be having a conversation and someone call out, "quote book!" 

I enjoy going back and reading through it when I need a laugh. As I go through it there seems to be quite a few entries for my brother, who has a knack for wording his responses as innuendo. And as today is National Brother's Day, I feel especially grateful for all his contributions to the book that makes me laugh.

I'm grateful for laughter. I'm grateful for my hilarious family. I'm grateful for the quote book. I'm grateful to start a new quote book for my daughter. And I'm grateful to have these funny references.

I'm grateful to have a great big brother that has taught me so much. I'm grateful for all the humor my brother adds to family lunch and to life in general. I'm grateful to witness his ability to go from big brother mode and pester, to personal trainer mode and motivate, to babysitting mode with my daughter and be a silly, gentle caregiver. 

What are your favorite funny quotes? What do you to as a quick pick-me-up?

May today be filled with laughter and fond memories. May we celebrate the people around us that can make us laugh. Have a beautiful day!

Another long night means a lot of time with me spent gazing at my daughter as I try to lull her to sleep. Last night I couldn't help but be repeatedly drawn to the hedgehog on her pajamas. She has had this onesie for months and wears it regularly but for some reason last night it kept catching my attention.

This morning, as I watch her play, I am again drawn to the hedgehog. The symbolism of the hedgehog was easy to find on the internet and the message seems hand picked for where I am this morning.

The hedgehog is about landing on your feet after a challenge, about the ability to find your power within, and practicing self-care. As a nocturnal animal it represents energy at night while still being a reflection of the sun in its looks. 

I'm grateful for this little hedgehog. I'm grateful for the lessons it teaches and my ability to find the message through sleep-deprived eyes. I'm grateful for Avia's animal symbolism website (What's Your Sign) that is a great source for me. I'm grateful to draw energy from this symbolism. I'm grateful for asking for my husband's help and help to be received. I'm grateful to be doing my best to keep some of my self-care practices even when exhausted.

What symbols are catching your attention? Is there a symbol that gives you strength in your current circumstances?

​May today remind us we are not alone. May we be aware of the symbols and draw from their meanings. Have a beautiful day!

There is something so renewing and healing about water. Perhaps it has to do with our bodies being primarily water or the reflection of the Earth being primarily water. Perhaps it has to do with cleansing. I do not know. All I know is there is something about water that can renew my spirit and heal my sadness.

It was an emotional weekend for me. Lots of great things happened, like having a wonderful date day with my husband to celebrate our anniversary. We got lots of family time as well. But for some reason, come Sunday evening, I was very sad.

It was just me and my baby at home because my husband was off at work. She had resisted naps all day but was in the whiney mode of over-exhaustion. I was feeling pretty exhausted myself. (Perhaps that is the basis of why I was sad.) 

I decided to draw us a bath in the big tub. It is a novelty I rarely use because of the excessive water it takes and the general limit of time we usually have in our day to truly enjoy it. Last night, however, we sat and played, nursed, and relaxed in the comforts of the warm bath for forty-five minutes. 

I'm grateful for the renewal of my spirit that last night's bath gave. I'm grateful to step outside my emotions and act in a way to help both me and my daughter. I'm grateful for her love of water. I'm grateful for the beautiful time to reconnect to her. I'm grateful to just unwind and take the evening slow. And I'm grateful for the boost of spirit that bath gave me to help get me through a long night.

How do you use water to renew? What is your favorite way to enjoy water?

May today cleanse our hearts and renew our spirits. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend marks two amazing years of being married to my soulmate. I won't say it has been without bumps but I can say I don't regret a single day. It is hard to believe all that has happened in only two years. I can only imagine what kind of adventures we will find in the next fifty.

I think one of the things that makes the relationship with my husband so amazing is the interesting dynamic we have with each other. We are continuously growing and encouraging each other's growth. We are reflective and communicative. We work hard to be on the same team and support each other. And above all we play together.

Parenthood has definitely taken its toll, mainly on our sleep. But we parent well together and it is one more adventure that we get to enjoy as a team. I can't imagine raising a child with anyone else.

I'm grateful for my husband's way of introducing knowledge to every situation. I'm grateful for all the fun facts I've learned from him, even if I don't always retain them. I'm grateful for the silly, playful side of our relationship. I'm grateful for the way we co-parent. I'm grateful to have a friend, mentor, and student all in my husband. I'm grateful to be able to say I am married to my soulmate. I'm grateful to know that even soulmates can have disagreements but I'm even more grateful to know we can talk it out. I'm grateful to be on this adventure together. I'm grateful for the last two years of marriage and for all the years to come.

Who is your soulmate? What similarities and differences are you most grateful for?

May today remind us that love is the greatest bond. May we find our soulmate and walk the adventure of life together. Have a beautiful day!

My daughter has reached that precious milestone of throwing tantrums. In the past she has been so laid back and happy that if she really cried there was something definitely wrong. And coming off of being sick, it took me a few days to figure out that there wasn't really anything wrong, she was just exercising her new ability to protest.

Two days ago it reached an all time high when she decided to protest pretty much everything. By evening I was mourning the loss of my happy-go-lucky, laid back girl. All night I pondered what to do to bring back my happy girl while not laying the groundwork for her to think tantrums get her whatever she wants. 

Yesterday as I went to strap her in her high chair for breakfast, a tantrum ensued with her bucking against the straps and screaming. In that moment I knew one of two things was happening, either she was truly not hungry for breakfast or this was the beginning of another day of tantrums. I took a deep breath and said, "ok." 

I took her back out of the high chair and put her on the floor. I put her breakfast back in the fridge and then I went back to the table and sat down to eat my breakfast alone.

She watched all this looking a bit confused. When she saw me eating, without her, she crawled over and tugged my foot. "Mama," she asked looking up at me like I had lost my mind. She crawled over between me and her high chair and looked from me to her chair and back again. 

My daughter got to sit and wait until I was done with my breakfast, all the while looking very concerned and confused. When I finished I got her breakfast out and placed the willing baby politely back in her chair and fed her. 

The same situation ensued when she did not want to lie still long enough to have her pants pulled up. She came back fairly quickly when she realized how the pants around her ankles impeded crawling. And it turns out that at nap time, if the choice is to be rocked or to have a fit alone in bed, she would rather be rocked after all.

By my saying, "ok"; the choice is hers.  It turns out she usually likes the same choice I like once she knows the other option. Plus it takes the stress off my ears and maintains both of our sense of power.

I'm grateful to "give in". I'm grateful to say "ok". I'm grateful to give my daughter the empowerment of choices even while making sure those choices still meet the needed end result. I'm grateful my daughter is expressing herself and using her voice. I'm grateful that mostly she prefers the option that I prefer and we get to spend our time together. I'm grateful that as she grows more independent I can still find comfort in our moments of smiles and snuggles. 

What have you been fighting that may just need an "ok"? How do you balance control with letting go?

May today remind us that sometimes letting go of the reins is better than holding tight. May we find creative ways to navigate the balance of power between ourselves and those we interact with throughout the day. Have a beautiful day!