It's a girl!

Phil was right, once again. I think he has a sixth sense. He knew both times when I was pregnant, and that they were both girls, when I didn't.
We are excited. It will be fun to have two girls together. I don't have to buy anything, they can share the little kitchen, but we'll have to get this one their own doll because I don't think Ella will be so generous. I was kind of hoping it was a girl for these reasons, and the fact that we didn't have a single boy name that we liked. We did have a girl name or two, but we are kind of stuck on one in particular. It just feels right and I think she is meant to be named this name. But I'm not telling everyone yet, because what fun would that be when she is born? I'd have nothing new to tell other than the day she comes, so you will all have to wait.

Thankful...

For a lot of things this year. It was this time last year and that Phil was told he was out of a job. We are so blessed to have had that job restored. But I remember thinking last year how much I took for granted. I probably still do take them for granted, but I feel like they all mean a little more to me. So, here is what I'm thankful for, in random order.

I am thankful for a healthy, smart, and curious two year old that keeps me on my toes. Phil and I love her so much and can't imagine life without her. I love that she yells for the 'Silly goose', aka 'Mom' in the morning when she is ready to get out of bed. I am thankful for the Spirit that she brings to our home.

Phil, the love of my life, my other half, the better half, my rock, I am so thankful for you! I can't even tell you what my life would be like without you and the joy that you have brought to my life and the joy that you ARE in my life. I am thankful for his positive attitude, his hard working self, his creativeness, his ambition, and for loving my chubby, ornery self, even when I don't deserve it. I love him.

I am thankful for the Gospel. To know that there is a God that knows and loves each one of us and wants the best for us, and wants to give us everything, I'm thankful. I don't know how people without it survive this crazy world. So wonderful is the peace that I receive from the Church and the knowledge I have of why I am here.

I am thankful for beauty in simple things and the opportunity to see new things. Our summer trip to Washington was probably one of the coolest things to me. I am fascinated by the different things even in our own country, let alone the world that was created for us. I will always remember standing on the balcony of the hotel on the beach, or on the beach and listening to the ocean while we fell asleep. What a beautiful world we live in and how often I take it for granted. The beautiful colors that I can see, the sounds I can hear, the things I can touch, I am thankful for. What an awesome thing to be able to teach children to love those things.

I am thankful for family. Where would I be without them? I am fairly certain that I would have died this year without my husband that picked up the slack, my dad that gave me IVs, my mom who fed my family and canned my garden, and weeded it, my sister who came and watched Ella so I could throw up in peace, and also who weeded my garden, and my younger siblings that put up with me and Ella sleeping over when I couldn't make myself sit up long enough to drive home. Like I said, I would be dead.
There are a million more things, but I won't bore you with them. I'm sure you all have your own lists. Happy Thanksgiving.