A Big Yummy Thanksgiving Day.

It was a long, busy, relaxing, joyful, funny kind of a day.

Thanksgiving, of course... the holiday that warms your soul.

And my thanksgiving started with coming downstairs way too early in the morning to see these two snuggled up on the couch. And by way too early, I really mean way-too-freaking-early. Little man has figured out how to jump out of his crib. And in and out and in and out he goes all night long.

Good day, 5:30 in the morning. Hello, momma needs to find time to buy a big-boy bed. Immediately. And get her child off the bottle... but that's another post.



And since I was not a prepared momma that cooks and prepares her contribution to turkey day dinner before the day of, 5:30 a.m. was a surprisingly good time to get cookin'. [And thank you, Sarah, for the very sweet gift and lovely apron you gave me... I loved meeting and photographing your little ones.]


(Come on, you'd think I'd show you my face at 5:30 in the morning!?)

And once things got moving, we moved on to important things of the day...

... like admiring our turkey created from Jacob's hand.



.... and soaking up every bit of the fifteen minute snow we had.





And when the time was ready, over the hill and through the woods... to Yaya's (and Pops') house we go....



And guess who surprised us all? Our little brother... that arrived on our front steps only ten minutes after my mom scolded my dad for not convincing and forcing him to come in town because, "Brett, families should be together for this holiday.. how is he not in town?!"



And there the four of us were.... looking more grown-up then I think we'd all like to think.



And with the dinner preparations continuing, with the little ones scattering all throughout the house, with the first cheers being toasted, I couldn't imagine any other place I'd rather be.



And cheers to you, Mr. Man-of-the-house-in-charge-of-the-slicing-of-the-turkey. You make our turkey dinner complete.



Ok, that was funny. To my momma, to the woman, the mother, the friend, the sister, the yaya, the one that never fails to love, to understand, to cherish... thank you for always, always bringing it all together.



It's not a formal affair.... we eat, we drink, and we are really quite merry...



... we celebrate with the ones we love.



(and Justin really loves Ellie)









.... and when everyone agrees that there is absolutely no way to eat another piece of stuffing or turkey, we do what every family does: Listen to their dad play Adam Sandler's The Thanksgiving Song.




Ok, you caught me... that was a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

And when our bellies are ready for a little bit of sweetness, we give in to temptation because, after all, isn't that what the holidays are about?

Welcome, mint chocolate chip cookies... my own creation. A secret? They are even good when prepared with year old sugar cookie mix. I'm not proud of it but, like I said, momma started cookin' Thursday morning and, after cursing the lovely business (target) that sold me year-old mix, I said the hell with it and cooked it up anyway.



.... and we had everything sweet and more.



Goodbye, Baby's Second Thanksgiving. So very much to be thankful for...



... and while I'm still yearning for more, for another little one next Thanksgiving, I can't help but think how lucky I am to have everything that I do.



Happy Thanksgivings to you.

Life Right Now.

We're only 48 hours away from one of the greatest holidays of the year. A holiday that requires no presents, no money spent, no expectations of what to give and receive. It's a holiday about families and friends and being okay with being lazy for twenty-four hours to just think, "man, I have good people in my life."

November 23. I would be 17 weeks along right now. In three weeks, we would be finding out if we would be welcoming into our lives a baby girl or boy. But we will not. Weeks have passed since that horrible day in our lives and to the outside world, I'm moving along just fine.

We're going about our daily routines, waking up on the weekends together and sitting back to enjoy a Sunday paper.



But I'd be lying if I tell you that I didn't think about it everyday. I think about how I would be unpacking my box in the basement labeled "maternity," joking with Philip about my rapidly expanding belly. Instead, the box is still taped up and I do my very best to not comment on the situation. Because sometimes, sometimes I think the less I talk about it, the less it will hurt. Will time heal things? Perhaps. But I know I won't feel truly back to myself until a new little one is on the way.

So what do I do now? I laugh when there's something to laugh about, smile when I look at our precious twenty-one month old, and cry when I just can't hold it all together. And if that all fails? We play.



Gymboree style, of course.



Because who wouldn't have fun at a place that makes you smile this big?



And the bubbles.... oh, those bubbles.



One of the greatest things about kids is that they just go for it. They dive right in.



Every little thing that comes into life is new and exciting and they just eat it right up.



Life, that is. They don't know anyway else to live, but to just eat every good thing up.



And that's what helps heal my soul. Because how can I let this go by and now want to jump right in and celebrate life with him.



And in other news, we have big things to celebrate. Hello, our first successful visit to the potty.



It took five times reading our potty book, but Little Man did it.



Went potty in his potty and then wiped it all up.



And, oh my, we cheered. We ran around the house, clapping and dancing and calling Yaya and celebrating a very big-boy thing my little one did.



And today, we began our celebration. Packed up and headed out to the crafts store and brainstormed about what we would make. We were very, very busy.



We cut and glued, and cut and glued some more... and we ended up gluing a whole lot because Jacob really was intrigued by the bottle of glue. And when he was sick of gluing, he ran and tossed a whole pile of our felt into the toilet. And momma did everything to keep from laughing as she put him timeout because our arts and crafts do not go in the toilet, Little One.



And when the finishing touches were being put on, a few pieces of Great Grandma Rose's lace that she used to use....



....when everything was all glued up and together....



....when we observed that Momma is not the best cutter in the world but, hey, no one's perfect....



We stood back and celebrated again. Our project. Our preparation for the greatest holiday this year.



And while our days aren't always peachy perfect, we get by. Because when it's all said and done, we have each other and that, my friends, is something to be so thankful about.

Happy November

In the past week, I have had several moments where I have constructed the most perfectly worded posts in my head and by the time I have made it to this little page, after playing or reading or photographing or editing or cooking (yes, cooking!), I have completely forgotten it all... And all I have left are these unorganized little bits of phrases and photographs that make me smile.

And so, my friends, that's what you get right now... because I don't have time at this moment to remember my perfectly crafted stories and thoughts and some of you are getting quite restless with the lack of posts... and no, I'm not making that up... see below:



So what are we loving today?

We are so loving our grandmas. And Grandma and Grandpa Cotta have decided on Mima and Poppa for their real names. Jacob decided he liked Mimi much better and so that is what she has become. And let me tell you how much he loves his Mimi and Poppa.



... and I'm pretty sure she loves her littlest grandson almost as much as she loves her littlest child.



We are so loving this huge, loud laugh that never ends. Last night, while putting Jacob to bed, he started up again... was still laughing that big belly laugh after we had closed the door and said good night.



I am always amazed at the little things Jacob picks up on... the way he said "broccoli" at dinner tonight even though I don't think that is a thing I have previously identified with him, the way he knows and sings all of the words to "Pop, Pop, Pop the Bubbles" (that's all the words in the song), and the way he has picked up one of the ways I pose the newborns. Yep, now when you ask him to pose for a picture, up goes those arms right under the chin just like mommy does with the seven pound babies.



Short sleeves in the middle of November? Crazy, indeed. But we are soaking up every minute of being outside while we can. And I love this time of year.... thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday of the year and all the good things that come with it.



Twenty-one months. My goodness, where did the time go? I'd like to tell that we are doing everything we are supposed to be doing at this time. I could, actually... tell you that we are doing so. But, hmmmm, why lie?

#1. Still on the bottle before bedtime.
#2. Binky. No, actually 8 binkies in the crib at once. But only at nap time. And in the car.
#3. Jacob dropped a big poop in the bathtub yesterday evening. I heard Philip calling my name and I ran upstairs to find the two of them (out of the tub) laughing hysterically and pointing to the big plopper laying in the tub. Not quite sure if that fits here but I told you I was a little unorganized this evening. And that's funny.

Be shocked if you must. Shake those fingers at me and tell me I'm doing it all wrong. But here in this little household, we just have to move at our own pace sometimes.


Love those crazy old trees that tower over my little man.



Yes, there are so many things going on right now. Holiday shopping, thanksgiving preparations, and holiday card creations....Before you know it, we will be kissing 2010 goodbye... Another update is promised before then. :)