Post workout snuggles with Zain boo

 

Today is the next installment of the Motherhood series with my friends Kelly and Emily and I’m teary eyed just thinking about writing this. I really appreciate all the love and advice you all shared with me after our last post a few weeks ago! We haven’t gotten much further with our decision but you guys really opened our eyes to so many new angles we hadn’t thought about and we’re so grateful for that. 

When Kelly, Emily and I were brainstorming today’s topic we thought it would be appropriate to discuss what makes us so thankful for motherhood this year in particular. For me, Thanksgiving has become a very special and emotional time over the past 10 years. I covered a bit of it in this post but right before Thanksgiving 2010 when I had just started dating Trevor, I got very ill. When I say ill I mean I was intubated (placed in a medically induced coma) for some time, had several up’s and down’s and finally made it out on the other side. I still had a long road ahead with months of recovery that involved a less than fashionable oxygen tank. It was a long journey but I learned so much about myself, grew an even more intense and loving bond with my family and drew so close to Trevor. When the movie The Big Sick came out this year it was the most bizarre thing. I kept getting texts from friends saying it was the story of Trevor and I come to life, ha! It’s definitely not exactly how things unfolded but such a weird reflection of a crazy time in our lives. Ever since that experience, celebrating a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with loved ones has taken on such a larger meaning. I’ve learned to be so grateful for this life and really try to enjoy the moment. 

This year, so much has changed! After years of hoping, praying and trying for a baby Trevor and I are finally celebrating our first Thanksgiving with Zain. He’s everything we could have ever dreamed of and more (except yesterday when he drove me bananas, ha!) Sometimes, after he’s asleep we sit on the couch and look through our pictures and videos of him from the day (okay, we do this every night) and talk about how lucky we are to be his parents. 

We often cry, laugh and just smile at each other because this life and these moments aren’t something we ever knew we would have. After struggling with infertility for so long and coming out on the other side you sometimes forget what you experienced to get there. I’m so busy with Zain these days I can forget about the miscarriage, the endless shots and holding my breath for those lab result calls. 

I thought it would be a great time to reflect on these past almost 6 months with Zain and make a list of the things I’m most grateful for: 

 

His Health: When my water broke three weeks early, I panicked. Trevor and I were worried every second of my induction and even after he was born not getting to hold him right away seemed so tough. I am so thankful for a healthy baby. Nothing matters more in this world and every time he is a cranky fuss pot I try to take a deep breath and remember that 🙂 

 

His Smiles: Man, how we waited for that first smile. Trevor and I sometimes fight over who get’s him out of his crib in the morning because there is nothing like that giant morning smile. He often holds them back or gives just a half smile (like his father) but he really is the happiest baby. 

 

His Laughs: If you haven’t seen this video of Zain laughing, you haven’t lived life. I was afraid he was going to hold back on this too but of course his own reflection brought it out. He still isn’t the easiest baby to make giggle but when he does it’s amazing. 

 

Our Days Together: I’m so lucky to be home with him during these early days. It’s a little unconventional to try to balance working from home, taking care of him plus heading back to the dental office but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel so lucky to get to spend this time with him even though some days are definitely more challenging than others. 

 

My Mom: Man, where would we be without Zareen? She saw us through those early weeks with Zain and I am fairly certain we couldn’t have survived without her. Her advice, love and amazing cooking have made us the happiest household and she has such a special bond with Zain. 

 

Grandparents and Great Grandma Dorothy: Zain is so lucky to have all 4 of his loving grandparents around! We want him to spend as much time as he can with them and it’s so amazing to see Trevor’s grandmother Dorothy with him. When we went to her house to visit for the very first time after he was born there were already photos of Zain framed in her house. Tears! 

 

The Circle of Neglect: This is how we refer to Zain’s activity center. I was happy to finally find one that wasn’t gigantic, hideous and had amazing reviews. We’ve already adjusted the foot plate once as he’s been growing and it allows me some alone time which I will forever be indebted to Skip Hop for!

 

Gruffalo: We just got some new books in and thank the lord Zain loves the Gruffalo Books! I thought I was never going to get out of reading Pout Pout Fish fifteen times a day and we have finally found an escape. If you have any other great book recommendations please send them my way! 

 

His Glow: I genuinely asked the nurses after Zain was born if he had jaundice a million times. I couldn’t believe how brown my little babe was and it made me so happy, ha! Any of you that know Trevor know that he is a special shade of white called clear and we wondered if our baby would ever have any color to their skin tone. I was so happy he had a little brown glow! 

 

My Husband: Speaking of Trevor, how could I not be thankful for that guy? We’ve been through a lot of up’s and down’s on this journey to parenthood and we hadn’t even gotten to the tough part, raising a child! He’s such an amazing father and has never treated Zain as an afterthought of responsibility he’s annoyed with. He genuinely enjoys waking up in the middle of the night (well maybe not enjoys but does it without me asking…), getting up for the early mornings and rushing home after work to spend bath time with Zain because he honestly loves it. 

 

 

I hope you guys are all getting excited about next week and having a little time off to spend with your loved ones. I got the cutest outfit for Zain for Thanksgiving and can’t wait to watch him try sweet potatoes for the first time!