Turkey!!!!!

You smell that, Canada? No, your nose does not deceive you... Thanksgiving has arrived and our homes are filled with the incredible aromas of turkey and all of the fixings. I love this holiday.  With a wedding and not one but two turkey dinners ahead of me, I'm going to estimate my weight gain to be approximately 7 pounds by the time that the weekend is through. That's okay. I don't go to the gym every weekday so that I can eat in moderation.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon all that we are thankful for, and believe me... my list seems to grow each year.  I'm truly so fortunate in so many aspect of my life and it's important to remind myself of the big picture when little things bother me.  So without further ado, my 2014 list of gratitude.

I'm thankful for my daughter... my crazy, goofy, beautiful child.  Every day is amazing because they are all spent with her.... which brings me to my next point.  I'm thankful for the ability to stay home with her despite maternity leave being over and done with.  I realize that this is truly a luxury and I am so incredibly fortunate that we can make this situation work, because this mommy has terrible separation anxiety.

I'm thankful for my husband for supporting this decision and accepting that he is now the sole source of income in our family... minus the occasional photo shoot that earns me a tiny percentage of my former salary.  I'm thankful for those photo shoots and the confidence that people put in my abilities.   They give me the opportunity to make a bit of extra money, snuggle adorable babies, and interact with other grown ups.  Back to my husband... I'm thankful that he's a great husband and an even better father.  He's so much fun and would do anything for Aaralee. Our baby doesn't even know how lucky she is. 

I'm thankful for my health.  2014 has been a tough year in terms of people close to me struggling with health issues.  I lost my Grandma and a former coworker to cancer in the spring, and I know many people suffering from various ailment. I wake up healthy every day and I try to appreciate that fact for those who no longer are able to do the same.

I'm thankful for all of my family... my side, Ryan's side, and my friends that are practically family.  Raising a baby is hard work and the encouragement and help over the past year has been so very appreciated.   

I'm thankful for the fact that having a baby hasn't meant sacrificing my love of travel.  Sure, I no longer travel for a living, but we've managed a few getaways and Aaralee has visited some pretty awesome places in her short life.  

I'm thankful for my fur baby for his unconditional love and hours of entertaining his the baby. Those two love each other so much and there is nothing more adorable than watching them play. 

Of course there are far too many things to be thankful for and far too little time to describe each one.  I really couldn't ask for much more than my little family, our warm, safe home and the turkey dinners that we about to enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving... and thank you for reading my blog throughout the years!!