I love Thanksgiving.  I normally enjoy planning the menu, doing the shopping, doing the prep work on Wednesday, getting up early on Thursday, cooking all day, and then giving thanks and eating with my family.  Tom called me a few weeks ago and asked how Thanksgiving was going to work this year and I asked "can you just tell us where to be at what time" and left it at that.  We have nothing to do this year but show up at my father in law's house.  It's so nice.  We'll have a mid afternoon meal there with the family and then head over to Jeff and Sandi's with some Irish Coffee fixings and friend time. 

I have a lot to be thankful for overall and this year is especially a good one.  I certainly remained hopeful that we would have a child, but it was getting harder and harder to see how or if it would play out.  Showing Steve the positive pregnancy test on St. Patrick's Day and feeling that this time was "different" was the start of some crazy times.  Even with the severe exhaustion and morning sickness, I loved being pregnant.  I think that June-October will be etched in my mind as one of the best periods of my life. While Nola's birth wasn't the story that I had written in my mind, it worked out okay and I'm coming to terms with a lot of it and admitting that it was pretty rough emotionally. The past 7 weeks have gone by so, so quickly and I just can't wrap my head around Nola being here yet.  It's wonderful and tiring and I'm just so elated with her.  Watching Steve with her is one of the highlights of my day.  It's one of the most romantic things ever, this having a child together.  Nola is a bit fussy, a lot cute, and melts me all of the time.  This year has been so excellent and I love that I will get to end it while still being on maternity leave and getting to meet Nola's needs and continuing getting to know one another.  

We have a lot coming up in 2009 and it's nice to just enjoy this time. 

Here is Nola making noises and funny faces when I put her elephant in front of her

She's getting so much longer now.  At her last appointment she was 5 lb 11 oz and 19.5 inches long.  She's not on the charts for her weight yet, but finally in the 1% for height and 10% for head.  I think that she looks like a little gnome here.

Nola had to go home from the hospital in a car bed, as she wasn't heavy enough for a carseat.  Our carseat starts at 4 lbs.  She had to go back and pass a carseat "challenge" and here she is arriving home.  It's amazing just HOW TINY she is in the seat!  

Happy Thanksgiving!