We had a lovely Thanksgiving at our house. Just a small gathering of family and friends. It was a nice break to have a low key holiday event. Ben and my mom did most of the cooking, so it seemed really low key for me. We sat around the table and sang "Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" and recited nursery rhymes...but who doesn't? Tobi was definitely liking the attention...not so big on the food this year though. She did manage to fit her entire dinner into a cup and declared it a pancake. Last year she was all about the food...but that is her thing lately, changing her food likes daily. She did manage to gobble down a piece of pumpkin pie.
On Friday we had more family over... and while we were eating lunch something most certainly went wrong. I think I may have been in the middle of talking, of what I know not, when suddenly I felt my chair giving way beneath me... I think it happened in about 3 distinct phases but in just a few moments I was sitting on the floor atop a disinigrated chair. Now in my defense, I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and the chair belonged to my great-grandfather. I only wish I could have seen it...I could feel that it was funny...the way it happened...fall, stop...sink, stop...crash! Here's Tobi's version and a little bit about potato chips (all accessorizing done by Tobi herself):
(reenactment)
Thankfully I only suffered a bruised glute...and ego...
Ben just starts laughing sometimes...and I know what he is thinking about.
The rest of the weekend was relaxing. No lazy, at-home Saturday would be complete without Swedish pancakes and lingonberries.
I find myself feeling so very thankful for my family...both that live with me and those spread all over the country and world. I'm thankful for renewed hope...especially as I think back on the sadness of this week last year, having just lost a baby among other great sadnesses. It is not that I have forgotten or that I am unmarked by loss, but I am thankful that there can be joy that rises from the depths of sadness...that there is always hope in the midst of tragedy...and that God is Good in all circumstances.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."
Psalm 30:11-12
How did it get to be the middle of November? Suddenly it seems Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us...and those are my big milestones before this baby arrives. I'm officially in my 3rd trimester as of this 28th week...so I guess we are in the home stretch. Speaking of stretching...goodbye belly button, hello stretch marks! I'm still feeling great. This baby is a mover and a kicker and for the most part I love to feel every movement...even the ones that jolt me. For now he's not powerful enough to inflict and real pain! I'm so excited to meet this little guy, but I am really trying to enjoy every moment that I have left with just my little girl. She is at such a fun age...talking and learning all the time. I love the phrases she comes up with...and how her little ears and brain translate things. For example, for a while now she has referred to her favorite lunchtime fare as...well, here, take a listen:
I can't remember a lot of what we did for the last month specifically...maybe because we were sitting around playing with Play-Doh.
I do remember we Halloween was in there somewhere. Since we don't live in a neighborhood and Tobi doesn't really know about the whole candy collection thing yet, we didn't really do any trick or treating. We did stop buy our church's Trunk or Treat festivities. Since we didn't decorate our car we hung out and Ryan and Sarah's Toy Story themed van...and we brought Bo Peep with us.
She was the Toy Story addition to Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head (who won best costume, of course).
And look..a stray kitty showed up.
And Grandma and Grandpa Potato Head got in on the fun, too.
And speaking of Grandma... we got a chance to celebrate her birthday last week, with the whole family. This cake was right up Tobi's alley...she is a big fan of mandarin oranges...and put them on a cake? We were all set.
Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you so much and are so blessed to have such a great mom and grandma in our lives!
