A Month to be Thankful: Day 22

Day 22: Thankful for Rest

okay, today, i am super thankful that colton is such a great sleeper. he still gets up at 4:30 every morning to eat but 9-11 hours straight every night is amazing.

other than the first few days of motherhood, i really don't have those "exhausted" moments (i mean, i still do but very minimal) - probably because colton sleeps like a champ and still takes four naps a day over an hour a piece. what can i say, the kid loves his sleep. (it will probably be a different story once #2 comes into the picture... i know, i know)

i am so glad the lord knows our circumstances in life and provides what we need. he knows that i need sleep. he knows that i have to work. he knows that i need to clean the house. or do the laundry. or the eight million other projects going on. so he has perfectly made colton to be content when laying on his activity play mat or peacefully naps for an hour so i can answer emails or clean up the kitchen. so thankful.

so today, i am thankful for the rest i am able to get. the six-seven hours straight of sleep, or the little cat nap i sneak in during the afternoon, i am thankful.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 21

Day 21: Thankful for my Passat Wagon

we knew we would need a bigger car once the babe arrived so we bought a 08 passat wagon and i loooove it. if you know anything about my car history, you would laugh. don't get me wrong, i am so thankful i have had something to drive since i was 16, but i am extremely thankful i have a RELIABLE car now...

my brother, sister and i always laugh at our memories in our 88 corsica - this thing would leak oil, would leave us stranded, have puddles of water inside the car, the ceiling was falling down - oh boy. this thing was hilarious. or our grand prix. i gotta say - this thing was pretty fabulous except that it didn't have air conditioning and if you know anything about me, that is not good. and then it started rusting. finally, the first car i bought, a mazda millenia.... ooohhh boy. the car looked nice but that thing... ugh. let's just say i got stranded in the middle of nowhere indiana one day. drove down a week later, picked the thing up in nowhere indiana, broke down again after they "fixed" it... brings back too many terrible memories. and then to put a cherry on the top - my mother smashed into the side of the thing. i think that made us even with what i owed them from so many years. 

anywho, got rid of that piece of junk and then purchased a red grand am. not only did it smell like an ash tray, nasty - it didn't start like two days after we got the dang thing from the dealer! what, the what?!? did they even check it? it took like three weeks just to fix everything because they couldn't fix it and had to bring it to a GM dealer. oy vey. you can probably feel my frustration. the car was a champ for awhile but it was only two door. annoying. then one day i went grocery shopping and the vinegar top came off and went all over my car. ugh.

and then the passat came along. it was a long search but i am in love. the back is big enough for colton's gigantic stroller, pack-n-play and what else. plus, the thing has heated seats. who doesn't love heated seats? but seriously, this car is a gem and i am so grateful that we were able to get this car. and even after all of my car drama for 10 years, it has made me appreciate what i have more than you know.

so today, i am thankful for my vw wagon. it is fab and totes a mom car. ;)

Colton: Week 12

my dear precious boy is 12 weeks.

• has mastered tummy time. the kid is one strong boy. he loves holding his head up and looking around. 
• sleeps an average of 10 hours straight a night. 
• mornings are the best. he just smiles, laughs and is VERY talkative. 
• i love when he wakes up in the morning. he is looking around and just chattin. so precious. i'll have to take some video one day and post it. 
• officially too long for most of his 3 month clothes so we are moving on up. 
• still hates his swing. bummer.

that is about it. he turns 3 months this week so the upcoming post will be longer! :) 

A Month to be Thankful: Day 20

yeah, yeah - i skipped day 19. ;)

Day 20: Thankful for Recovery Systems

yes, i am extremely thankful today that there are people out in this world that are so technologically smart that they can pull some of your most precious memories off of a crashed hard drive. to all of you data recovery people and places, you are precious - especially brian at 300dollardatarecovery.com. you are my new best friend. 

last weekend our mac crashed - the day i was going to back everything up, ironic, eh? went into the mac store on sunday and the smart mac guy told us that our hard drive crashed. i started balling right there. probably wasn't the first and to tell you the truth, i didn't care. i really thought i just lost colton's first three months of his life plus various other precious memories of joseph and i. i was so mad at myself. 

i then had my sister's I.T. guy at her work looked at it and gave us the information to 300dollardaterecovery.com. he couldn't pull the data off but he said that this guy probably could. however, jason did update our mac and put a new hard drive in for free. for that, i am so thankful. 

after sending the hard drive all the way to the good state of california this week, i kept praying. i felt so silly praying but the Lord knows the desires of our hearts. and while there are extremely worse things i am praying for, i still felt the need to pray that we would get our photos back. and now, we are. :) i was up all last night with food poisoning, which i am not thankful for, but it was great at 3am when i looked at my phone and saw an email from brian saying he had great news. he was able to pull 99.99% of the data off my hard drive. praise the Lord, huh? 

so today, i am extremely thankful. especially for all of you smart I.T. peeps. kudos to you my friends. and especially brian and jason, you both make me one happy mama today. 

and a lesson learned: BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. ;)

A Month to be Thankful: Day 18

Day 18: Thankful for the Time with Kyle

well, if you don't know, november 18th is always a hard day. i woke up this morning and thought of that morning 18 years ago as i found out my little brother had passed away from his battle to cancer. losing a family member is never easy, but when you have the comfort and love of God, it makes it a bit more bearable. and while it is still hard today and kyle only lived three short years, i am still so thankful for the time we had with him.

kyle lived for three and a half years and about a year or so of that battled with neuroblastoma. however, those three short little years were filled with some of the greatest memories, of which i will never forget. and one thing about kyle that i will never forget... his smile.


kyle could light up a room. and his personality, smile, and fun memories of him still do today. i smiled and laughed as i read my dad's facebook status of some of his favorite memories of him. he was some kid. so, as the day comes to an end, i am thankful for the time we had with kyle. while it was too short and hard, it was also so wonderful in many ways. and thankful that i know he is with the lord - no more pain. no more suffering.

Kyle Christian Plantz 1990-1993

A Month to be Thankful: Day 17

Day 17: Thankful for BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

every thursday morning i attend BSF, Bible Study Fellowship. and i can't tell you what a blessing it has been. this is my fourth year in BSF and this year we are studying the book of Acts. i have had the privilege to study: the life of moses (exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy), the book of john, isaiah, and now acts.

i have been so engaged in this study. from the start of the christians to the early church, i feel like every week i can apply something new to my life. i am so thankful the lord has given me this opportunity again to study his word. so today, i am thankful for bsf. what a wonderful organization and a wonderful study.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 16

Day 16: Thankful for Our Neighbors

i can't tell you how blessed we are to live where we live. i always prayed about living in a neighborhood where my kids could play outside for hours with all of the neighborhood kids. or thought about how cool it would be to have neighbors who were also believers. well, guess what? we got both. and even though colton isn't old enough yet to go play outside we have a TON of little kids. and our neighbors? yup. they are believers. so cool. it is such a joy to live among people who are doing life like you. so today, i am thankful for our many neighbors especially the Franks and Carters. :)

A Month to be Thankful: Day 15

Day 15: Thankful for Entrusted with a Child's Heart

every tuesday morning i go to "entrusted with a child's heart." my good friend, jen freckman invited me and i can't tell you how much of a blessing it has been to me as both a mom and wife. and while colton is still so small, i know sooner than later he will be old enough for a chore chart, constant discipline, and daily teaching. but for now, it is so good for my heart as i learn new things in my new role, a mom.

it is great to hear from other mom's in the same stage as me or with kids older to see what they have learned and tips to take from them. it has been such a great tool and i look forward to the rest of the year. so, so, so thankful for this study.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 14

Day 14: Thankful for Music

i don't know what i would do without music in my life. i have been all about music since i could get noise out of my mouth. for those who don't know me, well you don't me if you don't know my love for singing and playing piano. ;) and i am so thankful the Lord has given me these gifts and talents to use. and while i don't use them much, i love singing to colton and seeing his face light up, or playing piano by myself and going into my zone, or rocking out at the top of my lungs in my car. wherever and whenever, music truly brings a smile to my face. so today, i am thankful for a voice to use, fingers to play, and ears to hear the wonders of music. 

A Month to be Thankful: Day 13

Day 13: Thankful for Warm Fall Weather

okay. i am not a fan of extreme heat or extreme cold. let's just say i am not a fan of most chicago weather. ;) however, i am extremely thankful for days like today. sixty, sunny, and windy - the "warm" wind makes this november 13th beautiful. i am 60 degree fan, so today i am thankful for this beautiful warm sixty degree day. taking it all in before we hit the extreme cold for the next four months. oh vey.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 12

Day 12: Thankful for my B.O.B.

you are probably like, "what?" yes, my B.O.B. my fabulous, incredible, jogging stroller. as most of you know, one of my favorite things to do is run. so when i got pregnant i knew we had to get a jogging stroller and what better than a B.O.B.  i am so thankful i am able to get out with colton during the day and go on a nice and easy (well, kind of) run.

so today, as i go out for a run, i am super thankful that we are privileged enough to have such a nice stroller to help me continue to do the one of the things i absolutely love, running.

Guess who is THREE today?

one of my favorite little guys in the whole world: ethan. 

happy birthday, superman. you are so loved.

ps. baby colton loves you, too. ;)

A Month to be Thankful: Day 11

Day 11: Thankful for Veterans

today i am extremely thankful for those who have served our country, who are currently serving, and those whose lives were lost fighting to keep the freedom we oh so take for granted.

i think i am extremely thankful because they did or are doing something i don't think i could or can. so to those who are in the army, navy, marines, air force and so on, i thank each one of you. your dedication to serving our country is not going unnoticed. the danger you are putting your lives in so that my family and i can enjoy our "freedom" is very courageous. the days, months, years, you are serving spending time away from the ones you love to keep me safe from harms way fills me with much gratitude. and for the lives lost, you are always on my heart. to you serving today, who served yesterday, and those who served to their last day, i am thankful.

Colton: 11 Weeks

colton is 11 weeks today. i am going to try to blog about him each week just so i remember the little things he does on a weekly basis and to see him "grow up" in front of my eyes every week.

i feel like as each week goes on colton gets more talkative, smiley, and laughing a ton more. he loves his play farm, especially the piggy. he likes to grab it and he is now using his hands to hit the dangling cow in the middle. it is super cute to see him "learn." colton loves his mommy - it is amazing to watch him look for me when i am in the room or when he gets the biggest smile on his face when he sees me. colton still loves the clock in the living room and laying out on the couch. he LOVES bath time still but has learned to "splash." i'll post a video of that soon! it is so funny even if we are soaking wet by the end of it. colton is a great sleeper. he is sleeping on average about nine hours straight at night and goes right to sleep when we put him in his crib. his neck is getting stronger and stronger by the day - he is getting really good at holding his head up by himself. he is almost past the head bobble stage.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 10

Day 10: Thankful for my Nephews

being an aunt is one of the greatest jobs. almost as great as being a mom, but not as quite. maybe it is the fact that it is your brother's kids and you have a special bond? don't know. but i do know that i have the privilege of being an aunt to two of the cutest boys ever, ethan and miles.

i treasure the moments when i get to be with them and spend time playing with trains, cars or running up and down grandma coco's hallways for about an hour, auntie dani is tired but ethan wants to play more. "come on dani." ;) and when ethan gets asked who he wants to come to his birthday party and he lists, "benny boo, uncle jophess." and his buddies, "coco and dani." those texts from kerry melt my heart. or feeding miles more food than i could ever image eating. my mom said i was a big baby too, so i guess we share the love for food.

and even though we are thousands of miles away and i can't see them in person everyday, i am so thankful and treasure the photos and opportunities to skype as i watch my two beautiful nephews grow up. so today, i am so thankful for them, their precious hearts and handsome faces.

Ethan and Miles

A Month to be Thankful: Day 9

Day 9: Thankful for Friends

good friends are hard to come by and well, i have quite a lot. so today, i am thankful for my friends. i have sweet friends from my childhood, close friends from high school, amazing roommates and sisters from trinity, Godly and beautiful friends from harvest, crazy and fun friends from work, and the list goes on...


i have been prayed for, loved on, cried to, cried from, laughed with, encouraged by, memories made by each one of my friends. i am thankful for friendships. and while some may go, some may change, and some may grow - each one has made significant impact on my life and i treasure each friend no matter what. so wherever you might be in my life today, know that i treasure you and am beyond thankful for your friendship.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 8

Day 8: Thankful for my Job and Coworkers

i have always dreamed about being a "stay at home mom." but, unfortunately right now, i can't. however, i am extremely thankful for a job that allows me to come back part-time and work part of that time from home. i have been back at work for about two weeks now and it has been working out very well. i work all day from the office on mondays as my parents joyfully and oh so willingly take colton for the day. so thankful i have parents who love their grandson so much that they are willing to do that for us.

and i have the best coworkers in the world. i have missed seeing them on a daily basis so it is nice to see their welcoming faces yet again. and of course, all of their drama. (hehe) they could literally make a show about our office. ;) thankful for you all!

so, here i am, as a working mama and am so thankful for this opportunity and time in my life. 

Aren't they cute? And yes, I was pregs in this pic.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 7

Day 7: Thankful for a Home

i have been blessed with a beautiful home. due to the economy, not many individuals can buy a house. but, by the faithfulness of our Lord, we were able to buy a home back in may of 2010. i can't tell you how many times i am thankful as i walk into our house and know that this place is "ours." it is amazing how many stories this home could tell and how many stories we, as a family, already made in this house. and if we ever move, this place will always have a huge place in my heart.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 6

Day 6: Thankful for the Sibs

remember those days of constant fights back and forth with your sister? or the moments when the last person you wanted to sit with AGAIN was your brother? we have all been there. but, do you also remember those moments with your siblings that bring back some of your most fondest memories? some of your hardest laughs? and some of the most treasured times? i do. everyday. and for that, i am thankful.

i am so thankful for ryan, candace and madeline. they each have played such significant roles in my life and still do today..

ryan: i am thankful for his example in many different ways, his love for others, and his uncanny humor. i could laugh for hours.

candace: i am thankful for her sensitive heart, her incredible talents, and our close bond as sisters.

madeline: i am thankful for her wit, our fun relationship, and her beautiful heart.

i would bend over backwards, run across the great wall of china, go to the moon and back, swim the ocean, practically die for these three individuals. i am so thankful that the Lord has given me incredible funny and different siblings to love.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 5

Day 5: Thankful for My Parents

when thankfulness comes to my mind, my parents are on the top of my thankful list. i am beyond lucky to have two of the most Godly, hardworking, loving, fun,and hip parents ever. they not only demonstrate God's love in their personal lives but also their love for one another.

i love when a little baby or a kid gets so excited when they see their mommy or daddy. we have these neighbors that have a two-year-old boy and it is so cute to watch him run down the sidewalk to give his daddy a huge hug as he walks toward his home from the train. so much excitement. well, sometimes, i feel like that. i get so happy to see my mom and dad. i cherish them and the time we get to spend together. they are two of my best friends and i am so thankful for all they have shown me, how they have led me, and the love they have given me.

so here are three things that i am beyond thankful for my mom and dad (i could come up with thousands:)

thankful that they show me what a Godly marriage looks like.

thankful that they have given me such a perfect example of parenting.

thankful that they have and still love and support me like no one else.

Aren't they the cutest? ;)

A Month to be Thankful: Day 4

Day 4: Thankful for Family

i am thankful for my family. and i am so lucky, that i have two. :) 

the plantz gang:

i grew up in an amazing family with amazing parents and amazing siblings. i love being with my family. now that we are all grown up and live on our own (for the most part...;)) our family time is very few and far between. but, when we are together, those are the moments i cherish the most and are so thankful for. i am thankful for the belly achy laughs. i am thankful for a family who all loves the lord. i am thankful for our insane and loud moments. i am thankful for our deep conversations. i am thankful that we are able to hold one another up in the deepest and darkest moments. i am thankful that we are so open. i am thankful that we cherish what family means. i am thankful for the bond we share that many families never experience. and especially during this month of november, i am thankful that we all know the importance of each family member, because life is so short. i am thankful for each and everyone of you.

the snare gang:

when i got married, i also gained a mother-in-law, father-in-law, and a brother-in-law. i am so thankful for each one of them and the moments we all spend together. i am thankful that i feel so loved and excepted. i am thankful for our fun moments together. i am thankful for the times we play a simple game or sit around the table for dinner. i am thankful for support during hard times. i am thankful for laughs and crazy conversations. i am thankful for their huge love for colton. i am thankful for each and everyone of you.

Check Up: 2 Months

colton had his 2 month check up a few weeks ago. which also means his first round of shots. poor guy.

anyway, a little bit about the man:

• WEIGHT: 12lbs on the dot. we are rockin' the 47%. I was hoping for a chubby baby but hey, at least it is easy on the arm muscles. 
• LENGTH: 23 1/2 inches. has grown 3 inches since birth. they said that is HUGE. kid's a grower. we are rockin' the 77% in length.
• HEAD:  well, he has to be like mommy in some aspect considering the kid looks exactly like his father. drum roll please... colton is rockin' the 99% for head circumference. yes, off the charts. definitely got that from my side.

and he took those shots like a champ. strong boy. but he was pretty miserable for the rest of the day. well, until next time.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 3

you all knew this day would be in my top three, duh. ;)

Day 3: Thankful for my beautiful son, Colton Daniel. 

colton is a blessing. when i realized i was going to be a mommy it came at the right time. God is so good.. all of the time! over the past year i have been carrying this little bundle of joy not knowing if he was a boy or girl. either way, i knew i would love my baby more than i could imagine. when colton came into the world on that thursday in august i was in awe of my little guy. he was perfect. and i am so thankful God chose me to be his mommy. to love and care for him. to hold him when he gets his shots. to smile and giggle with him. to watch him grow everyday. in all, i am so thankful for him. he is a perfect gift that was given to us at the perfect time.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 2

Day 2: Thankful for my Husband, Joseph

"you don't choose your children, you choose your spouse." i have always loved this quote and i am so thankful i chose the right guy for me.

i am thankful that he loves the lord more than me.
i am thankful that he is willing to serve me.
i am thankful that he loves me more than i can imagine.
i am thankful for his servant heart.
i am thankful that he is willing to help... anyone... at anytime... even when it is sooo inconvenient. ;)
i am thankful that he is an amazing father to our son.
i am thankful that he is a true godly leader.
i am thankful for his hardworking spirit in a job that can be so demanding.
i am thankful that he is just as workout crazy as i am. ;)
i am thankful for his courageous ways to step out even when i am not willing.
i am thankful that he puts up with my stupid ways like not always screwing on the lids al the way. ;)
i am thankful for joseph.

A Month to be Thankful: Day 1

well, i started this blog on november 1st and never got around to publish the past four days, so here are a bunch of blogs to read. Enjoy.

last year my friend, kristen macDonald (check out her blog HERE) wrote out something she is thankful for everyday for the month of november. i just LOVED this idea and wanted to do it this year. i guess i am feeling a bit more thankful this year?!? ;)

Day 1: Thankful for Jesus Christ

today i am thankful that the Lord die on the cross to save me for my sins and my ultimate penalty: death. i mean, i can't really be more thankful than that? through my faith and belief in Him, i know have the assurance of eternal life with Him! Lord, THANK YOU for saving me!