Thanksgiving

Tuesday, Bella turned 15 months old! Her third tooth finally broke through the gums, after a week of troubled sleep. Wednesday at her well check-up, Bella weighed exactly 20 pounds (10th percentile, with a diaper), measured 28 ¾ inches (20%), and her head circumference was 19 inches (95%, although her head doesn't appear abnormally large, so they measured it twice). Bella is a tiny baby, but she is growing and healthy. When she entered the room, the doctor heard Annabelle's laryngomalacia (breathing noises from an immature airway) and was concerned that it had not disappeared yet, so she is referring Bella to an ENT. She wants Bella to continue the Prevacid, so I need to call the insurance company because they refused to pay for it last time. (Since we switched insurance companies when we moved and Michael changed jobs, our current health insurance doesn't recognize the fact that we already tried whatever other, cheaper medicine that didn't work.) The doctor also started Bella on allergy eye drops to see if that will clear up the drainage from her left eye.

Thanksgiving Feast at School
The parents were invited for a potluck Thanksgiving feast after school on Tuesday. The kids were all dressed as Native Americans!


Gabi dressed as a Native American


Gabi, Ava, Grant, Nathan, Grey, and Isaac


Ms. Laura's class


Annabelle exploring Gabi's classroom


Reading like a big kid

Grey and Ava on the courtyard playground (left);	Nathan begging to have his picture taken (right)
Grant and his mom

Bella found the marbles in the Proud Jar


Gabi's Indian drum

We checked out two Thanksgiving books from the library to read this holiday weekend.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell: An elderly couple who is alone for Thanksgiving is frustrated when their dinner is burnt, so they decide to try out the new restaurant down the street. The door is open, so they enter; however, the immigrant family who is busily preparing their first Thanksgiving celebration did not expect visitors, as the restaurant was not open yet. Grandmother insists that they have plenty of food and should share, so the family welcomes the unexpected guests. This is a wonderful story about the essence of Thanksgiving even in a non-traditional setting.

Thanksgiving is... by Gail Gibbons: Explores various aspects of Thanksgiving with illustrations of historical harvest celebrations in other cultures, the story of the pilgrims and the Native Americans who helped them, modern Thanksgiving traditions, and the thankful spirit of this holiday.

Thanksgiving preparation

Sisters playing in the stuffed animal corner


Gabi mixing sweet potatoes


Crushing corn flakes


Reading Mirror Me
"Look at Frog stick out his long, pink tongue!"


Finding our tongues


Gabi


Gabi and Mama

Thanksgiving dinner
We went to Ninong Edward, Ninang Sylvia, and Cousin Steven's house for Thanksgiving dinner with many family and friends.


I think this group shot includes everyone except Lolo and Lola,
who had to leave early to go back to work.


Gabi, Bella, and Abby


Bella and Mama


Caitlin and Bella


Gabi playing upstairs


Gabi, Julienne, and Jaymie played together all evening


Hide-and-Seek


Bella and Daddy


Bella on the stairs


Climbing


Reaching the top

I have the most wonderful husband. I haven't been feeling well for a few days, and Thanksgiving night, I was up all night being sick. Yuck! Michael got up with the girls the next morning, got them ready for the day, and played with them for a few hours. Then he took them to Lola's house so she could watch them while he returned home to take care of me. He also washed the laundry and cleaned the house. Thank you, my love!