Thanksgiving 2012

We alternate our travel at Thanksgiving and Christmas each year so this year it was Christmas with my (Cathy's) side of the family.  So we spent the morning with Mom and Jim at their home with Jim's side of the family mostly enjoying catching up and quite a tasty meal. Claire enjoyed helping YaYa put together a nativity scene.  Once it hit "nap time" we used that time (despite she didn't nap) to travel over to Starkville to see my dad.  It had been a very long time since we'd seen him on Thanksgiving Day.  We had a little meal and hung out with him until Friday evening when we headed home.  While there we enjoyed family time with him, which always includes a trip up to the playground at the Presbyterian Church and watching a little football.  We got up Saturday morning in our home and prepared to put up Christmas decorations after Claire's nap.  She really got into it this year as you can see the "hands on help" daddy got in putting up the tree and hanging the stockings.  One of her favorite things now is to ask "What's this/that?"...so we went through each ornament and why it's on our tree.  Our ornaments either have significance as it relates to us or is a momento form a trip we have taken as a family.  Each reminds of of God's hand in our lives as we start the celebration of the birth of Christ.

We recounted much to be thankful for this year...Family, friends, our church, work accomplishments and challenges, personal growth that is not without challenge too, blessings of Claire and baby Brother on the way.  I am posting a "Belly Shot" for those requesting to see the progress of growth!  At 24 week appt just before Thankgiving, all is looking good. Strong steady heartbeat and my growth is right on track.  Gained about 14 pounds and I'm in the awkward stage of none of my clothes fit but maternity stuff is too big!  Petite women have babies too :))

Thought also, I'd give you a "State of Claire" update.  At this point she is 2 years and 3 months old.  She has been out of diapers during the day now for almost 3 months with about 3-4 accidents throughout a week but I"m very proud of her.  Her consistent statements are, "Me do it", "What's this?"  "Let's go to McWane!"  "I want booster seat, no high chair", "I need put-put"  (that's her word for paci...she still has it for nap and bedtime and I don't see that addiction changing for some time), ...she still loves Kindermusik, going to Sunday School, trying to dress herself and wanting to get herself in/out of the tub (she is now lying on her tummy and flipping to her back in the tub acting as if swimming...)...She is repeating what others say and clear on what she wants to do or doesn't want to do.  She loves books and her "buddies" (stuffed animals) and singing as you have seen in the recent posts.

So here's a few pix from our Thanksgiving weekend: