Feeling Thankful

The holiday season is officially upon us. The streets of Amsterdam are decorated with festive lights and the people of Facebook have been counting down the days until Thanksgiving with their days of thankfulness. I will not be posting a daily blurb about what I am thankful for but I have been counting my blessings these last few months so will dedicate today's post to a few of the things that I am thankful for.

1. Top of my list today, of course, is for my little Enzo James. This week marked 7 weeks and has already brought so much happiness and love into my life. I'm thankful for the little smiles that he now gives me when I go to pick him up, for his sweet cheeks that I want to kiss every time I see them, for his 10 fingers and 10 toes that he is starting to discover on his own, and for showing me a love beyond anything I could have previously imagined.

Someone is finally starting to enjoy the after bath ritual as much as the bath.

 

This little one is growing faster than I can count. Last week he weighed 13 pounds and is growing in length too!

A close up of my little sleeper.

Those are those cheeks that I'm talking about. Love. 

Trying to capture those toes is a little more difficult. But you get the picture. This little piggy...

You looking at me? Yoga with mommy.

All this activity makes me sleepy.

2. Speaking of love, I am thankful for my husband, love of my life, and father to our son that has helped make our family feel so complete. I'm thankful for a partner that challenges me and supports me fully. I love that he is my Z to my A and that while we often see things so differently, this is what makes our lives that much fuller. I love that we still have fun together and I couldn't ask for a better travel buddy, foodie restaurant critic, and comforting shoulder to lean on. I'm thankful that we have been given the opportunity to live abroad and that he works so hard to give me the chance to devote my undivided attention to our son and being a good wife.

Latest family photo. We ran into our neighbor while walking through Vondelpark and he was kind enough to snap a quick photo.

3. We would never be able to live abroad without the support from our family. I am thankful that I have a family that has supported me in life as I have spread my wings and taken flight. While we may not get to see or talk to each other daily, there is not a day that goes by without them passing through my thoughts. I'm thankful for my nieces that are so full of surprises and make me smile every time I see them. I love going back to Nebraska to a full house of craziness. Here in the Netherlands they would say it's "gezellig". I can't wait to to go back this holiday season and introduce Enzo to the family. Between my family and Felipe's family, this boy is going to be loved like no other. It makes my heart happy. I'm also thankful that this Thanksgiving our in-laws are able to travel this way to spend the holiday with us. I look forward to spending time hanging out, drinking some good wine, and finally introducing Enzo to his Auntie Camila.

4. You are born into a family, however, I always think of my friends as the family that I have chosen. I am so very thankful for my chosen "family". I'm thankful to have so many amazing people that I have been able to keep in touch with, even as I have jumped around from place to place. I love being able to pick up the phone, make a visit, or send a string of emails and be reminded why that special person has chosen to stick with me through my bouncing around. I have such a varied group of individuals that make up my circle. I love the crazies that will dance with me into the wee hours of the night, the foodies that will geek out to different recipes and restaurants with me, the winos that have spent more hours in the Napa sun than I can count, the creatives that continue to inspire me and make me strive to be a better designer/crafter/artist, and the runners that talk me into continuing to push myself-if someone would of told me 10 years ago that I would have a few half marathons under my belt I would have laughed and now I'm trying to figure out when and where my next one will be. All of you-big hugs from Amsterdam. I love you all.

5. Because this is so very much part of my present situation, I am so very thankful for the network that I have found so quickly upon moving to Amsterdam. I have made friends that have made being away from family and "family" doable. From my museum/coffee buddy that has helped me out when Felipe was out of town to my other new moms that give me a place to exchange stories and know that what I am going through with Enzo is "normal" and much needed adult conversation while Felipe is at work. I look forward to our walks in the park, coffees, and lunches.

6. Moving on from the people that I am thankful for, I'm thankful for living in a city with such cool architecture and parks that provide loads of inspiration. I love walking through Vondelpark with all of the different cool trees and right now it is especially beautiful with the different colored leaves. I can't wait to show Enzo this cool city and also introduce him to this big beautiful world that we live in.

7. One last one (marking 7 weeks of my little one), I am so thankful that my family and I are all healthy. It is often easy to take for granted a clean bill of health but life is full of surprises and there are so many people out there that are handed an unfair hand of cards. We are lucky and I am grateful for that.