November, A Month of Thanks...

"Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils"

~Cyril Connolly

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."
~Sir John Templeton

T hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about.
That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.
~Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

November is National Diabetes Month and Prematurity Awareness Month. This month, 1930, my grandmother Gertrude (aka Lefty Sr.) was born. This month, 1976, my brother Chris was born. This month our nation gives Thanks for all that we have been given. And yet as important as all of that is to me, nothing can compare to the greatest thing we now await to happen this month, for in just two weeks time, I will be having a c-section to deliver our son (prematurely) and God willing we'll soon be celebrating another November birthday and our greatest reason to be thankful will be born!

Carmine and I have so many hopes and dreams about our son. We both picture him from either the sonogram pictures we've been blessed to receive and just from our own visions of what he may look like and while our visions may be different I know that we both picture him as the most gorgeous thing we've ever seen. While the middle name for our son was (and still is) one of debate, we both came to love the name Gabriel. I love its meaning, "God is my might", I love the sound of it, I love both the full name, Gabriel and the nickname, Gabe. Gabriel is also the angel who let Mary know that she would give birth to her son, Jesus.

After the unexpected and painful loss of our first son, Newby Angel, we were filled with concern, worry, and anxiety this pregnancy, but it was a much different pregnancy with a much better doctor (Charles Hux, MD). I got to enjoy my son's movements (even the more painful kicks in my side), I was able to keep my diabetes in good control, and despite the fact that we were often filled with worry because of the baby's size (always a little smaller and in the lower percentile throughout the pregnancy) we have now made it to 34 weeks, our son made it to 4 lbs. and we have high hopes that we will get to bring our son home this time.

I don't know what the future holds for our son or what he will grow up to be, but I do know he will be surrounded by love, adored by many, and that Carmine and I will be the best parents we can be. Carmine will no doubt make him laugh and be an excellent role model of kindness and support and I will do my best to teach him many things. I can't wait to read to him, sing to him, dance with him, and show him all the things I love most in the world. I especially can't wait for our first trip to my favorite place, DISNEY!

Lots of Hugs and Kisses await you Gabriel! Love, Mommy