Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving last year...

...and Thanksgiving this year!!! What a difference a year makes!

Lucy looking adorable in her dark purple party dress

Lucy and Daddy snuggling on Friday morning. Gee, I wonder who she gets her coloring from?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We actually got to have two celebrations because we went to Jeff's parents' house last Sunday for dinner (see video below) and then we went to my parents' house on Cape Cod for dinner on Thursday. As many people know, Jeff and I are "mostly" vegetarian -- I eat fish but never eat meat, and Jeff occasionally eats meat when he is traveling. Both of us eat dairy and eggs. Anyway this means that on Thanksgiving...you guessed it...we eat Tofurkey! This was the second year that we have had it and we think it's pretty good. Maybe it's just because I haven't had meat in well over two years, but I really do think it tastes like turkey. At the very least, it is a decent substitute and it allows us to participate in the dinner without having to eat just mashed potatoes and green beans. Both our moms cooked the stuffing outside the turkey so we were able to eat that as well. We even had vegetarian gravy! After two meals and leftovers, though, I am ok with saying bye-bye to Tofurkey until next Thanksgiving. Maybe Lucy will try some then. This is not to say that she did not participate in the meals this year, though -- she LOVED stuffing and ate all the little stuffing balls that I put on her tray. I joked that I should start making her Stovetop stuffing for dinner -- pretty funny in light of the fact that most of her food is homemade and organic. For now it is, anyway!

Lucy looked soooo pretty in the "party dress" I bought for her to wear on Thanksgiving day. It is dark purple velvet on the top and a lighter purple taffeta on the bottom, with some flowers at the waist. It came with velvet bloomers as well. The dress is size 12 months so it was a little big on her but it looked fine -- except for the bloomers, which were WAY too big and as a result were quite visible under the hemline of the dress. Her new patent leather mary janes were also a bit big, as were her coordinating tights. Oh, well! She looked adorable anyway. I will have her pictures taken wearing this dress when she turns one, though I think I will dispense with the bloomers, tights, and shoes and opt for just Lucy and the dress and her bare little legs...oh and maybe a hair bow :)

I cannot help but think of all the things I am thankful for this year...there are so many! Actually, the things I am most thanful for are not "things" at all.

I am thankful, most of all, for my wonderful family...

For my beautiful daughter, who is truly a miraculous gift from God

For my amazing and loving husband, who is the best companion for me and THE BEST father to Lucy that I ever could have hoped for

For my parents and Jeff's parents, who showed us how to be marvelous parents and who shower Lucy with their affections

For my grandparents, who are experiencing so much joy in being a part of their great-granddaughter's life

For the rest of our families and friends...for our health...

We are truly blessed!