The heat's on and it's time to give thanks.

Brrrr! It's finally cold! I don't think our heat went off last night. 22 degrees...a new record! I love fall and winter. Sweaters and turning on the fireplace is the best!
I'm running on low today. Alli decided at 2:30 this morning that she just wasn't tired and was ready to play. So, it took us the next hour and a half to get her to go back to sleep. I love sleep and long for the day I get to sleep in again! By that time, the little monkey will have me trained to get up early.
We went to buy Alli some warm pants last night for these cold days. I went to put some on her this morning, and she's too big for them! I was holding Alli by the pants this morning trying to poke her little fat roles into them. Needless to say the pants won and they are going back.
Alli has finally mastered the walker. She went from going backwards one day to running forward the next...literally running. We played "keep away" the other night, and she did laps back-and-forth through the kitchen to get to a wrapper. Oh, the things that will amuse her! I took her for her flu shot last week, and she weighed...20.5lbs! Sometimes I think I can actually see her growing. It's time to get rid of the carrier. That thing will give you a hernia to pick up.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. It's so easy to take things for granted, so it's nice to take some time to think of all the things God has blessed us with. And Boy, do I have a lot to be thankful to God for this year:
~being married almost 5 years to a wonderful husband, who even gets up at night with Alli, and loves me no matter what
~a healthy and happy baby girl, who I can't remember life before (except for the sleep thing),
~loving and helpful parents and in-laws who would drop anything for Alli or us,
~great friends (although I really miss my Memphis buddies),
~a nice house (with great neighbors...the next door neighbor's drinking garage is great. it's like we're on our own episode of King of the Hill),
~freedom,
~a job (although there's no job in the world like the one I had at St. Jude),
~great care for Alli,
~cars to get around in,
~being healthy,
~food on the table,
~a closet full of clothes and shoes
the list goes on and on.
I hope that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, and takes time to think of all the little things they are thankful for.