i'm thankful for ...

my family, my friends, my health and my running shoes.

Sure, there are more things that I am thankful for, but I was granted with reasons to be grateful for each of those things today (and most days, if we're being honest here). And here they are ...

1. My Family: I was told twice this week (by people who know me quite well), that if they were asked to guess 10 years ago what I would be like now, their answer would have been 100 percent wrong. They both thought I would have had some high paying career and children would not even be in the picture. But somehow, I've never had a high paying career or even a mid-range paying career and in less than 9 weeks, baby number three is due to make her appearance. And honestly, I could not be happier or more thankful for this.

Although, they were completely right (I would have answered the same way 10 years ago), I can no longer imagine being happy with that life. Sitting around the table, eating Thanksgiving dinner with my loving husband and my two adorable daughters was one of the most perfect moments I have had this year (even if we had the worst server ever!!) And I am entirely grateful for them. And knowing that we are so close to adding to our family makes me ecstatic and entirely optimistic for the future.

2. My Friends: Whether near or far, my friends kick a**. I know that regardless of what happens, they always have my back (even if having my back means telling me I'm completely nuts and need to snap back to reality). I've known some of these women over 20 years and others less than two, but I love them all and appreciate them more than I let them know. They are like my second family and I look forward to growing old with all of them.

3. My Health and My Running Shoes: OK, so these two probably need to be grouped together because without my running shoes, my health (both physical and mental) wouldn't be as good as it is. Today (with the help of several of my friends), I was able to realize that my body is an amazing machine. At 30 weeks pregnant (and 25 lbs heavier than my racing weight), I ran a very hilly 10K. And even though all of my friends finished before me, they helped me understand (finally) how impressive just finishing was. Seriously, it's not everyday that you meet someone who runs a 10K on Thanksgiving (or any day for that matter). Then, try finding someone who runs it while growing another person. It won't be easy. But I was able to thanks to all the things I'm thankful for. (The support of) my family and friends, my health and my running shoes ...

So what are you thankful for?

oh how I love BOB ...

Strollers, that is.

Can we just talk about how incredible BOB's customer service is? In the past, I have called them for this and that. Nothing major, a missing screw, a lost bolt. And they have always sent replacement pieces, no questions asked.

Well, for the last six months or so, I have had a tear in the seat of my Revolution Duallie, figuring that the warranty on the stroller would be expired, I didn't even bother trying to get them to replace it. I was fully prepared to either live with the hole or to pay to have the seat replaced. So, when A told me the other day that she just had her seat replaced by BOB for the same reason, I figured, "What the heck? It's worth a shot."

So, I called this morning and the customer rep that answered simply asked what was wrong, took my name and address, and sent me a replacement seat. How freakin' awesome is that? Oh, and they are shipping it today to make sure that it's arrival isn't delayed by the holiday.

Yet again, another thing to be thankful for ...

Thanksgiving cuteness ...

Earlier today, Dizzle's preschool held their Thanksgiving Feast, with an abundance of food provided potluck-style by the families of the co-op. I got my fill of turkey and cranberry sandwiches and two slices of pumpkin pie (one was for J, but I "forgot" he doesn't eat it). It was fantastic, and after eating it, I lost all guilt about having our non-traditional Thanksgiving at Maggiano's.

But the best moment of the celebration came when Dizzle and her classmates marched into the room and performed two Thanksgiving songs. It was beyond cute. And the second they opened their little mouths, I started tearing up. How is it that my little baby is old enough to sing her heart out on stage?

Seriously, I always used to think my mom was crazy for getting all choked up when we did what to us seemed ordinary. But, now I realize that once you're a mom, you can't fight it. It's the overwhelming sense of pride in your child that kicks your tear ducts into overdrive. It's pointless to fight it. And for that I'm thankful ...

you know you're obsessed when ...

the prospect of having a third child in less than 10 weeks is not totally freaking you out, but rather the thought of taking a break from running is keeping you up at night.

Am I completely sick in the head?

OK, don't answer that? I know I am.

You see, I've done the whole kid thing before. I know what's coming. Sure, the adjustment will be rough, but at least I'm fully aware of what to expect. But I've never (in the whole year and a half I've been running) taken more than six days off. And that was immediately after the marathon. In fact, since the marathon, there has only been one week where I didn't run at least four days..

I'm addicted, and I'm pretty sure that taking time off is going to put me into withdrawal.

And I'm not even sure which part is scarier for me. The whole taking time off and having to slowly come back or the "running itch" I'm bound to develop, which will probably lead to a too early return. I don't really like either scenario. Seriously, sometimes I just wish I was lazy. Then I wouldn't have these problems ...

what I learned by having no voice ...

and I'm not talking in the "I'm not empowered, so I have no voice" kind of way. I literally mean I HAVE NO VOICE. I can only talk in whispers and it's really more effective to just write down what I want to say. Annoying? Yes. But at least it's taught me a lesson or two ...

1. Having no voice, yet attempting to talk (even if it only comes out as a whisper) takes as much energy as yelling.

This is so true. In fact, on several occasions, I have gotten lightheaded if I tried to carry on a conversation. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant or maybe it's just that when I do try to talk, I feel like I'm getting a serious abdominal workout and screaming at the top of my lungs. I'm not quite sure, but either way it's not a lot of fun.

2. You can tell a three-year old anything and they will believe it.

I told Dizzle that I had lost my voice, so she asked where it went. "On vacation" was my immediate response and ever since then she has been asking me "When is your voice going to get back from vacation?" and "Why did it go on vacation without you?"

3. I yell (I mean raise my voice) at my children far more often that I had realized.

Sometimes it's to get their attention. Sometimes it's because I'm in the other room. Sometimes to save them from injury. Sometimes it's because they are acting like lunatics and it needs to stop immediately. But whatever the reason, I do it a lot. And it's very frustrating not to be able to do it.

4. But most importantly, I now realize that I don't need to yell at my children to discipline them.

Amazing, right? But in the last three days, I have not been able to yell once and yet, they have listened to me completely. Perhaps, because I am whispering they have to listen better. Or maybe they don't feel like I'm trying to control them. But whatever the reason, it is now my personal goal to keep the yelling to a minimum. And maybe, just maybe I will have two very cooperative children ...

4.97 miles ...

So, J and I ran in the NTelos 8K this morning. We had planned to run together, but that didn't so much happen.

This is how it really went down.

a crappy job ...

Upon returning from school today, Dizzle was in a foul mood. She cried over everything. She threw tantrum after tantrum. And just when I was about to hit my breaking point (rushing out the door to Stroller Strides), she said the funniest thing.

Dizzle had been whining and complaining about something that I asked her to do. She told me, "I'm trying to ..." and I snapped back, "Well, it's pretty crappy." To which she yelled back, "I don't do crappy jobs!!"

And I burst into laughter. Sure, the statement itself wasn't anything remarkable, but the combination of her face and a three-year old using the word "crappy" was enough to make me forget why I was so worked up in the first place.