[my girl.  10 weeks old.  couple camera phone favorites from this week.]

My Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle is complete and in the fridge.  My pumpkin baby has had her bath and is sleeping soundly in her bed.  I can’t help but reflect on a few things I am grateful for this holiday season. 

1. God’s grace
2. good health
3. a healthy husband (you might recall he survived an epidural hematoma earlier this year)
4. a healthy baby (who is also pretty darn cute, if I might say so myself!)
5. that baby’s hair  (all that indigestion was worth it!) 
6. the smile I receive when I get that sweet angel out of her crib in the morning
7. the big laughs she gives when I roll my r’s
8. the leaves that are finally changing to orange and yellow in my backyard
9. Chance’s “I love you” and kiss every night before bed
10. Paisley’s funny ears that are so much bigger than her head
11. Penelope’s need to protect our home (like she’s a pit bull)
12. my 5x a day phone conversations with Darby
13. Allison, Paula, and Joan and their devotion to their work and me
14. my dad, who likes to go early Christmas shopping and then tell you what he bought you
15. my mom, who likes to talk about paint colors and countertops
16. my mom, who somehow starts sentences assuming you know what her brain was thinking before she started talking.  her stories are like putting a very difficult jigsaw puzzle together.  it is funny, and she knows it.
17. my mother-in-law, who makes the best fried shrimp and fried chicken you’ve ever tasted
18. my mother-in-law, who has always made me feel welcome in her home
19. my father-in-law, who takes great interest in my garden
20. my dad, who has already planned Christmas dinner
21. my dad, who calls and says “I haven’t seen a picture of Sloane today”
22. twice a week trash pick-up (I know that’s random, but when I forget on Wednesday it is nice to know that the trash men are coming again on Saturday)
23. black capped chickadees, cardinals, and tufted titmice that are at my bird feeder every morning
24. my geraniums that are still in bloom, despite the colder temperatures
25. a coffee pot with a timer, so it’s hot and fresh at 5:30am
26. Darby calling and asking “how is my baby?” (referring to my baby)
27. my father-in-law, who loves pecans and always shares them
28. my husband, who is seriously smart and loves to build, create, and dream up all sorts of things
29. my nieces and nephews
30. my sister-in-law, who is compassionate, caring, and really fun to be around
31. my clients, who are all like family
32. Pandora and free trials of XM Radio
33. friends who are understanding when it takes me a few days to return phone calls
34. work
35. free fabric memo samples
36. pumpkin spice candles
37. grandparents who email
38. Cousin who currently lives too far away, but will soon live nearer
39. my hilarious Aunt who calls my mom ”Doctor”,  which makes no sense, but it is really funny
40. email
41. those in the military who are fighting for our freedom
42. freedom
43. snail mail and email
44. shelter and food and water
45. neighbors
46. old friends and new friends
47. Google Reader and Facebook
48. those who leave comments on this here blog
49. those who just read and don’t leave comments, too
50. YOU, if you are still reading? 

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all, a good night.