Thanksgiving Adventures

Thanksgiving can be such an enjoyable holiday, especially if you can escape the bad traffic. So we avoided Wednesday travel altogether. We drove really early in the morning on Thanksgiving day, which proved to be a good decision. Thankfully, there was no congestion. Isaac was in a great mood for the trip, which was only about 8.5 hours. We arrived around 1:30pm.

 

 

 

Thursday was a fabulous day! It was sunny and in the 60's. The sun rose for us at a rest station just inside Pennsylania. I forgot how much I enjoy watching the sun rise! I had to take a couple of photos. The drive was really pleasant.

 

 

 

We celebrated Christmas with Rich's family as we won't be seeing everyone again until after the holiday. Everything was decorated beautifully at Aunt Roxane's, and the food was outstanding! (I had a bit of trouble with the photos indoors -- and just didn't get good shots of everyone:(  .)

 

 

 

Isaac took advantage of all of the sweet things there were to eat. I spied him several times with sweets in his hands. It seems there are several kid photos like this of me floating around.

 

 

 

Okay, maybe they're more like this:

 

 

 

He was mildly entertained by the gift opening. Here is a cute hat made for him by Grandma A.

 

 

 

He received several books and simple, Montessori-ish learning tools, which made me really giddy inside. He seems very interested in them. He's been taking such an interest in learning lately that I want to encourage him as much as possible.

 

 

 

 

We kept saying "Aunt Rachel " and "Uncle Mark," though they really are all cousins. Everyone was great with Isaac, who received loads and loads of attention.

 

 

Rich and I were able to get out twice for mini-dates because everyone wanted to spend quality time with Isaac. It was really nice to slip out for some mom and dad time -- such a commodity these days!

Five Heads.

 

 

 

On Friday, we went to the Detroit Zoo. I hadn't been there before and heard it was pretty impressive. This was my favorite part: the seals exhibit. We watched them in a long tunnel under the water.

 

 

 

Isaac really enjoyed it. We saw them swim overhead many times.

 

  

 

Grandpa A made this psaltery for Isaac. He was pretty fascinated with it. Check out his playing:
 

 

 

 

Isaac has become much more interactive. He chatted and played with everyone, and has so much more personality than he did during our last trip to Detroit!

 

We really enjoyed our time with the family and hope you did too!

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Code 2C

If you voted early in Virginia, you know what I'm about to say. Yes, I had a special excuse to vote early -- and it wasn't that I was going to be out of town on election day. The best part about Code 2C is that it requires no supporting evidence -- just like if I were a first responder or a presidential candidate.

 

Unfortunately, the winning candidates don't care much about Code 2C -- except insofar as they can prevent it or end it (using our tax dollars and yours). It's such a shame! We've been so blessed by our first two Code 2Cs that I can't imagine why the candidates wouldn't want to promote more -- instead of fewer -- of them.

 

 

 

But regardless, we've been blessed with a pregnancy again. Each time this has happened, I've felt a little intimidated and grateful at the same time. (Obviously, becoming pregnant isn't completely in our control.) I understand more fully that God is the author of life, which makes me part of a plan that is so much greater than just Rich and I. And that is pretty amazing!

 

We are especially grateful that Isaac will have a sibling -- something we felt he needed since he was nine months old. We really love him, but can only teach him so much. A sibling will really help with sharing and patience and -- most of all -- camaraderie. We hope these two will be best buds.

 

Our new Code 2C is scheduled to mature on June 3rd. This photo is about five weeks old. (Pardon the poor image. It was an early sonogram performed by a sonographer-in-training.) We've heard the heartbeat twice. The doctor told us not to worry about miscarriage anymore. We picked out names and are talking about babies with Isaac.

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Remnants of Fall

I'm really grateful for the ability to stay at home with Isaac. He's innocent and ambitious and sooooo curious. Today we spent 15 minutes watching the landscape crew blow leaves while he pointed and "talked" to me about it. It made me stop and think: it is pretty amazing that they can blow our whole yard section in 15 minutes. Being with my boy constantly reinforces the goodness of people and restores my hope for humanity.

 

 

 

Only a few trees have leaves left. We had our first frost this morning. I actually had to take out the car window scraper!

 

 

 

But then it got up to 60 degrees, which is entirely pleasant for late November.

 

 

 

I really like how the grass is still green underneath all of those leaves.

 

 

 

Isaac is checking out a dog in this one -- with molasses cookie crumbs on his face.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

 

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Little Things We're Grateful For

 

The ability to buy little gifts for people.

 

 

 

Flowers from a friend who came over for brunch. Have I mentioned that I have really great girlfriends? I've been reading about the vulnerability required for authentic friendship. I don't think vulnerability comes naturally to people -- definitely not me -- but I'm convinced it flows from a deep-rooted confidence. So  I've been working on vulnerability lately.

 

 

 

This apple pie Rich won at work -- I'm grateful for this! He went to the Thanksgiving gathering for the last 10 minutes, put his name in a hat, and walked away with this pie. Now that was a good use of time! (He's become really good at managing his time since he's been on the billable-hour-plan, a.k.a. The Private Sector.)

 

Pardon the angle. I'm just getting back to this using the GOOD camera thing. :)

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Development

Isaac has several new words in his vocabulary. He's picked these up in the last few weeks: baby, boy, girl, apple, shoes, socks, flower, potty, milk, cracker, mom, Isaac, bird, airplane, leaf. He has to think about them before he says them, and he puts a lot of effort into forming his mouth to make the sounds correctly. Grandpa A picked up a book that seems to have helped quite a bit. He understands many more words than he can speak.

 

Just to prove how smart he really is, Isaac has become a Packer's fan.

 

 

 

He shouted at the tv and at everyone else at the Greene Turtle on Sunday, which was bearable through the third quarter. He also smiled and waved.

 

 

 

He's been really into laundry these days. Normally, he puts underwear on his head. But the other day, he pulled out Rich's A-shirt and carried it around. So I put it on him. Here is little Rich.

 

 

 

He's been discovering different things that his body can do, like walk in circles. Here is his third go-around.

 

 

 

This is his version of jumping, which apparently is hilarious.

 

 

 

And shouting -- he's doing a bit of that, too.

 

 

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Mini Update

There's not much to tell except we've been a little under the weather. Our car was hit but we're fine. We are trying to decide whether to buy a bigger vehicle now or wait. (Current car will require repairs.) And we ordered our Christmas cards via snapfish at 60% off. We also have our stamps, which I like more than the Madonna and Child the post office has had every year prior. Somehow, that part of things is humming along, but I'm quite behind in other areas. I've been on Facebook more lately because it's faster. Also, I've been having a hard time finding nice things to say post-election -- except if Texas secedes, I think we're moving there! ;)

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Grandma Time

My mom was in town for eleven days to help my sister after she had Thomas and to visit with the grandkids. We had a great time with her. She took Isaac out for walks, made my dishes sparkling clean, and watched Isaac while I deep-cleaned our bathroom -- so nice!

 

She also read to Isaac and made him laugh.

 

 

 

And read some more. Isaac really enjoys being read to!

 

 

 

Here she is with all of the grandkids.

 

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Happy Birthday, Hubs!

WCM enjoyed a feast prepared by my mom on Saturday. On the menu:

 

Brie Cheese and French Bread

Fat Tire Beer

Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs and Marinara

Apple, Cherry, and Lemon Meringue Pies

 

 

 

We may have needed a blow torch to light his candles.

 

 

 

Anne Marie insisted on playing "Happy Birthday" on the piano while everyone sang. She also made Rich a bunch of super-cute gifts!

 

 

 

On his birthday, he received lots of calls and gifts. It's kind of fun to look back over the last two birthdays of his we've been married. Things changed a bit once we had Isaac. But, the beauty of it all is that Isaac is becoming a little man with his own personality -- much like his dad!

 

 

 

Happy birthday, Rich!

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