November 2015

November was another full month!  We started out the month with Robert having his fall retreat for the youth.  Sarah and I weren't up for the weekend trip, so we went to stay with my parents.  The retreat went well, and we enjoyed our time with my parents.  This was Robert's first time to be away from Sarah overnight. :(

Going to Grandma and Grandpa's house means lots of fun activities!

I've started running.  Eek!  I meet with a group of ladies from church as well as some of their friends on Saturday mornings at 8:00, and then I also run a few times with my friend Madison during the week.  I use the word run loosely.  Right nose it's more walking than running, but the end goal is a 5k.  I've lost the baby weight but haven't lost the flabby belly.  It's time for this mommy to work it!

Robert and I got new phones this month.  I've had a cell phone for nearly a decade now, and I still don't understand why it can't take less than two hours to activate a new phone in Verizon.  Ugh.

Sarah and I started going to story time at the public library on Monday mornings.  It's so great!  It's for birth through 18 months.  The director reads a story, we sing songs with actions, she recites some rhymes, and then we just hang out and talk with each other.  I love giving Sarah opportunities to make learning fun, and I don't mind the interaction with humans who can actually talk.

We enjoyed celebrating Sarah's first Thanksgiving.  We started out by volunteering to serve at our church's preschool party for families.  Sarah and I were in charge of monitoring desserts. Ha!  We spent Thanksgiving with my family.  Sarah got to meet Great Uncle Nelson and first cousin once removed Michael.  This was a topic of discussion, and we established that he isn't her second cousin.  Why was this so funny to me?  We got to spend so much time with dear friends this week!  Again, more laughing and talking than I could handle.  It was awesome!  Grant, Michael, Keegan, and Monica got to meet Sarah for the first time.  It's weird seeing people who you haven't seen since before having a baby.  It feels like a lifetime ago.

This month we started Parents As Teachers.  The public school district offers this service.  I school employee comes to our house once a month to check in on Sarah, give me ways to challenge her, and talk with me.  Our first appointment was mostly just a time to get to know each other, but I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next appointment.  Sarah showed off, of course.

Elise, Leigha, and Tarah came to town for a girls' night out.  This was awesome.  My only question is why on earth did we not start doing this months ago???  The next night is already scheduled.  Tarah's husband, James, hung out with Sarah and Robert.  It was so perfect!  I hadn't laughed that much or talked that quickly in way to long, and I know Robert enjoyed spending time with James.  He didn't have too bad of a deal since Sarah went to sleep shortly after I left.

Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving was so much fun!  Robert and I recounted our previous Thanksgivings from our married years: a meal with another newlywed couple (2012), Alabama with R's dad's side of the family (2013), and church friends (2014).  This was our first Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family.  We were so thrilled to see the usual crew of my parents, Memaw and Pepaw, and Jim and Taylor, but it was also great to have my aunt, uncle, and cousin in town.  Sarah's first Thanksgiving was a success!

Robert, Sarah, and I headed to town Tuesday after work to have a meal with friends.  This was Michael, Keegan, and Monica's first time to meet Sarah.  It's weird to see friends that you haven't seen since before you became a parent.  The circle of life, man.  It's weird.  Time marches on.  The plan was for Sarah and me to spend the night with my parents and for Robert to go back home so he could work on Wednesday.  Robert got back home only to realize that he had forgotten his house key.  Wah wah wah.  I met him halfway and gave him his key.  Since I was already out late I decided to stop by Leigha and Elise's duplex to hang out more with Keegan and Michael and to see Grant for the first time.  It was such a great time!  I can't say that I've stayed out til midnight since Sarah was born, and I probably won't be doing it again until the same crew is in town for Christmas, but it was so great!

Sarah, Mom, Dad and I hung out Wednesday morning, and we girls ran some errands to Walgreen's, Wal-Mart, and a flea market.  Fun!  Robert got to the house in the late afternoon, and we enjoyed a trip to the park to see our friends.  Emily had gotten in late the night before and was able to join us.  I'm so so so thankful for faithful friendships that have lasted decades.  I fully recognize how rare that is and don't take it for granted.  There's just something to be said for having such a rich history...and being able to tease each other for something funny that happened in 4th grade.

Meeting a Barbie for the first time

The rest of the family crew got in Wednesday evening, and it was another late night of chit chatting.  I'm not sure I've talked or laughed this much in months!  Daily conversation with Sarah is somewhat (completely) one-sided.

First cousin once removed, Michael

Thanksgiving was a day of family time.  Sarah and I joined the boys for frisbee golf at the park.  After that, Sarah and I went over to Memaw and Pepaw's house to hang out and eat lunch.  The big Thanksgiving feast was held at my parents' house.  The food was delicious, and the house and decor looked great!  We played a few rounds of the traditional family game: Catch Phrase.  Still note tired of it!  Watched some football and had another late night.  That seems to be a theme here.  It's worth it when you're getting to spend time with people you rarely see!  Sarah is such a great sleeper that we knew we'd be able to sleep in.  She's been clocking 12 consecutive hours lately.

Reading about Noah with Grandma

Today was full of more friend time.  We saw the regular crew as well as Jen and her husband, Garner.  We wrapped up friend time by singing about 50 Christmas songs around the piano.  This is weird, I know.  It's also totally awesome.  Robert's dear friend, Josh, and his wife, Christina, stopped by to meet Sarah on their way home to Oklahoma from Illinois.  Another friendship for which to be thankful!  The whole fam (minus Michael) ate pizza and played spoons at Memaw and Pepaw's house.  We wrapped up the visit and enjoyed a quiet, rainy drive back home while Sarah slept the whole time.  I'm thankful for so many things - a healthy baby, the opportunity to watch my daughter grow, a husband to share my days with, living close to family, food and home, laughter, faithful friends - but most importantly I am thankful for God's never-ending, unchangeable love and that He loves me enough to send His only Son to die for my sins so I can live eternally and have a personal relationship with the Father.

Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving, friends and family!  This year we are thankful to celebrate this holiday with several friends from church.  Robert and I will be contributing mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and stuffing - gotta make sure you have enough carbs present.  We really enjoy cooking, and it’s fun using family recipes.  The stuffing recipe comes courtesy of Memaw, creamed corn comes from Robert’s Aunt Barb, and the mashed potatoes come from Robert’s mom.  Yum!  

Let's reflect on Thanksgivings past:

Thanksgiving 2011

Our first Thanksgiving in Wake Forest - Apparently I didn't feel the need to blog about this one, but I remember feeling sad about spending our first major holiday away from family.

Last Thanksgiving in Alabama

Growing up, my family seemed to vary on what we did for Thanksgiving.  I remember Thanksgivings celebrated at home, in Jefferson City, and even in Dallas.  The least fun Thanksgiving was the year I had my wisdom teeth taken out.  You can’t exactly eat turkey like that.  I remember loading up on mashed potatoes and jello though.

I wanted to take a minute to list a few things for which I’m thankful:

Robert will be graduating in two short works

I’ve gained a sister, and my brother has gained a wonderful wife since last Thanksgiving

Robert and I both have jobs that we really feel blessed to have

We have a church family that truly has become family

Mittens...duh

The King of kings who abundantly provides for us in ways that we don’t expect

What are you thankful for?