Our American Tale

Thanksgiving

We were thankful to spend this year's Turkey Day with the Portland Nelsons. It was great to host a feast for the whole gang and I loved spending the day surrounded by family.

This was the first big holiday I've hosted since we got the formal dining room. I had dreamt for so long about playing hostess with my crystal and china and linens at a proper table, so I was really looking forward to the holiday.

I had a busy week of planning, making lists, running errands, and prepping food for the big day, and I enjoyed every second of it!

Also, apparently, I am either the most difficult woman to please or stores just suck because I could not find a simple, high quality white tablecloth to save my life! After running all over town, it was decided that if I couldn't find the PERFECT tablecloth, I wouldn't have ANY AT ALL! (I purchased eight full sets of curtains before finding ones I liked in the formal space...perhaps I'm the problem.)

So there was no tablecloth.

My parents sent a beautiful floral arrangement, and I found some crafty gear to make napkin rings to match, so it ended up looking very nice, even if it wasn't complete with the perfect tablecloth. Everything was set the night before and ready for the big day.

On Thanksgiving morning, Lucas and I got up early to finish getting the house ready and prep the brined turkey for the oven. While we did, we started our Thanksgiving morning tradition as a family.

Lucas' first time watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Sweet baby.

This year, I tried a new project for the appetizer spread - a bread cornucopia! The nephews had a blast demolishing it!

I attempted a floral arrangement in the crystal cornucopia we got the first Thanksgiving we were married. Hopefully it'll get better each year as I practice.

Thank goodness I had so much help throughout the day. Gillian brought most of the sides and an amazing layered pumpkin pie and cheesecake. I loved going around the dinner table as we all listed what we were thankful for. Every one of us said "family" and I can honestly say that I couldn't have been blessed with a better one.

It was a beautiful day hanging out with Steve and Gillian and the kids. I adore seeing the kids interact with their little cousin. They are so enthralled with him and dote on him in the sweetest ways. Lucas is lucky to have such wonderful cousins!

The Nelson boys.

I was playing with my sister-in-law's camera toys (and mentally making a wish list) when I took this photo. It's not a great shot, but I love Kyle's face and the fact that Sammy looks like he is photobombing.

My little turkey, who was teething, dreaming of the day he can put those teeth (and his stretchy pants) to good use!

November 24, 2011

Quick Nelson Visit

The night that we returned home from Vancouver, the Parents Nelson arrived for a little visit. As always, it was a great time just hanging out and the grandparents had a blast watching Lucas on my day in the office and for a couple of appointments.

Lucas lounging with Grandma while we watched a little TV

November 14, 2011

Trip to Vancouver

Dan had a surgical conference in Vancouver to present his research that he's been working on. Lucas and I were only too happy to join him for a little four-day vacation.

We hit the road on Thursday with a car FULL of baby gear and a brand new tiny person passport.

Lucas' first road trip!

We stayed right on the water at the beautiful Pan Pacific Hotel. We got in later than we had planned since traffic was bad, but enjoyed a little late night room service: a forty dollar turkey sandwich! I had to work on Friday while Dan was at the conference, but enjoyed a gorgeous view during the day... after the clouds and fog cleared and I could actually see.

Lucas was enjoying the view, also.

Friday night, we went out to a great sushi place downtown Vancouver and Lucas did great. He started to get a little owly midway through the meal, but an empty edamame pod clutched tightly in his little mit kept him happy the rest of the night.

Saturday was our day we had set aside to really explore the town. Unfortunately, it was rainy and very cold. The city was beautiful, but with the weather being so icky, I only ended up getting one picture on our outing.

Of Lucas in his Bugaboo bubble, of course.

We had a great lunch and wondered around until our feet were frozen and wet. As we headed back to the hotel, it seemed the temperature dropped ten degrees in an instant and it started pouring. Thank goodness I had discovered an underground route from the Convention Center to our hotel the day before!

Back at the hotel while we defrosted and made dinner reservations, I got some more photos of the main attraction in Vancouver...

It's a traveling attraction.

Baby Polar Bear!

Watch out kids, he's on the prowl!

And then we headed out for dinner at a beautiful Italian restaurant... Of course, more photos of the baby.

We had a great time in Vancouver, even if the only photos we have to show from our trip are of our son and mostly from the hotel.

We've already discussed going back this summer when the weather is better so we can explore some more and get some photos beyond our little bundle. Though, I'm not complaining. He's certainly fun to look at!

November 10-13, 2011

Finger Painting!

Lucas was not interested in eating his dinner the other night, so I decided to just let him go to town playing with his mashers instead.

He had an absolute blast!

Sticky little fingers

He was a mess! We went straight to the tubby after this meal.

Obviously, he was quite pleased with his adventure.

November 7, 2011

Lazy Saturday

Though there's always a big to do list for the weekends, sometimes it's great to just lounge with my boys in our pajamas all day.

November 5, 2011

Playing Dolly

While the grandparents were here, grandma and I enjoyed a little time at the mall buying Lucas al kinds of new clothes for winter and Christmas. We might have gone a bit overboard at Gymboree and Baby Gap, but we had a great time doing it.

Having such a cute little baby to dress up is a lot of temptation, ya know!

Sitting amongst the piles as we sorted

Really, mom?

Oh this is so much more fun with a real baby than it ever was when I was a little girl!

November 1, 2011

Baby Firsts: Halloween

I came from a house where Halloween costumes were a big deal. Adorable or scary, it was something we looked forward to picking each year. I remember joining my mom at the fabric store as we decided on a costume and fabric. Even at a young age, I knew I would be making costumes for my kids one day. I started sewing when I was in fifth grade and though I'm nowhere near as masterful as my mom, I wanted Halloween to be just as special for my children.

And me.

Of course, this Halloween was more for us than Lucas.He really didn't care about dressing up.

I ended up making the cap a little bit too small, and the goggles were not a big hit, but I think he made the most adorable owl ever!

He looks so proud of himself!

Lucas waiting for trick or treaters to arrive. They all thought he was adorable!

He didn't have much patience for posing and was doing his unhappy hum before long.

"Just a couple more, baby!"

My little cherub

Lucas' pumpkin

After an eventful first Halloween, Lucas got suited up in his skeleton jammies and headed off to bed to dream of a day when he has enough teeth to rot out with candy.

October 31, 2011

The First Thing

Lucas wearing the very first thing Dan and I bought for him the day after our ultrasound!

Even with the excitement of finally knowing we were getting a baby boy, we had no clue the measure of joy this bright little soul would bring into our lives once he was finally here.

October 29, 2011

Holiday Photo Shoot with the Grandparents

While my parents were here to visit, they had one request on their agenda outside of baby snuggling: Christmas cards!

The first Christmas to show off their new grand baby called for a proper photo session. Thank goodness we have a beautiful landscape to take advantage of just a quarter mile from our house...

... and one of the cutest, subjects around!

Grandma and grandpa bought this little overall outfit for Lucas last year for Christmas while he was still in my belly. Grandma loved us in our Oshkosh when we were babes, so it seemed fitting to have Lucas dressed in his.

I adore this shot of Little Buddy with grandma and grandpa.

Sweet boy.

On our way home, I got a few shots of Lucas as the daylight faded. Oh I love that boy!

And, because Grandma and I were getting such a big kick out of Lucas' chubby little legs in his button up onesie...

October 29, 2011

My First Birthday as a Mama

This year is my last birthday in my twenties.

Twenty nine.

Twenty nine birthdays and here, this year as I welcomed 29 and said goodbye to the last decade of my "youth", all I can think is... my thirties are going to be so much fun!

This year it seems like all my dreams came true. Until this year, I really had everything I needed and wanted... except my baby. And now, my sweet boy is here, giving me the greatest gift every day for the rest of my existence. There is nothing that compares to this new life as a mommy and I look forward to each birthday spent with my beautiful family as I relish the awesomeness that is life after my twenties.

My birthday present all wrapped up and ready for dinner.

October 28, 2011