Thanksgiving antics

Learning the etiquette of dipping - "no double dips Emery!"

Riding horsie with Grandpa

Trying out seats ...

Yes, this one is just right!

Time to eat yet?

Peek-a-boo!

 Peek-a-boo again!

Thankfully Emery kept us very entertained while the turkey took longer than anticipated. Her antics were also interspersed with a few mishaps, including one broken serving platter, but I think (and hope!) we will all remember the day as one of fellowship, feasting and definitely more than enough football.

The dish I can't wait to make again, but on a weeknight?  Brussels Sprouts with Fig and Bacon - so simple, and best eaten right away, which didn't exactly happen yesterday. So all the more reason to give it another try soon!

Thankful in all things

For a long time now, I've been trying to practice the discipline of giving thanks in all things, even when circumstances don't make sense or are unpleasant. In things big and small and in between.

Well, I'm tired today and have lots of Thanksgiving tasks in front of me, plus a wiggly, whiny, 20-month who isn't as happy to just watch me cook and putter around the house as she was last year.

This morning I was holding her in the kitchen, along with a container of oats and probably a few other things and boom, there went the oats, all over the kitchen floor. My first reaction was "Ughh, what a pain! I do not feel like cleaning those up."

So I didn't, and I kept getting ready for the day ... while lo and behold Emery fell strangely silent and self-sufficient as she busied herself in the pile of oats for just enough time for me to finish getting ready and get us out the door.

So today I am reminded, again, of why we are to be thankful in all things - in part because much of the time, the things we don't feel grateful for right away, actually wind up being unexpected blessings.

Emery and baby (bump)

Emery is beginning to point to my tummy and say "baby." What that indicates she really understands, who's to say, but it's a start! The scab on her nose is sadly not the result of walking, but of her many dining room chair climbing endeavors.

A "closet" walker?

Many of you know that Emery is 19 months old and still. not. walking. Fear not, we've had progress along the way and things aren't hopeless, at least according to our pediatrician, but nevertheless this mama is ready to get the show on the road. Walk, Emery, walk!

On Friday, she amazed us all with a feat of standing, unsupported, for 48 seconds. Oh the applause, the accolades she received! As if she had actually walked on water or something.

But as Friday turned into Saturday and then Sunday and so on, Emery's interest in standing waned and by this morning, I was met with repeated "No want to's" whenever I asked her if she wanted to practice standing.

Fine. Whatever. I committed to not ask her too much anymore.

Well, fast forward a few hours later and I was picking her up from the Bible study nursery, where I got the report that she was "Great! So happy. She was talking and walking and really having fun."

EXCUSE ME? Walking? I begged them to clarify. Did they mean cruising while holding onto furniture, or standing up in the middle of the room near nothing waist-high or higher and taking steps all by her sweet little self?

They meant the latter and didn't seem surprised in the slightest at her accomplishment of multiple baby steps. As if she's been doing it all along. (Has she???)

So now I'm a little perplexed, wondering if these were Emery's virgin steps or if she's been doing this all along, whenever I'm out of sight?

All I know is that it's time to get real with the YMCA ladies tomorrow who watch Emery every morning while I work out - if she's been walking for them, too, then Emery, you have some explaining to do!