Giving Thanks for our Blessings

The day after Turkey Day and Brigid did very well. She even ate squash, although it was Gerber's version of the real thing. She and I had a lazy morning together, waking up and hanging out in bed while Daddy and Margaret and Patricia went on a hike. It was actually a glorious Thanksgiving Day weather-wise, sunny, highs in the 40s, so it was a good day to go outside. But Baby B and I hung out inside. Once we decided to rise, I gave her some Cheerios in the high chair while I read the paper and looked at the fliers announcing the insane 4 a.m. sales. We laughed together at the thought of someone camping out for a Playstation. We then watched some of the soggy Macys Parade and cuddled together, being thankful it wasn't like that in Plattsburgh. BB then fell asleep for an hour nap, which gave me the chance to do some dishes and make the bed. When she woke up, we watched some of the dog show. Brigid gets very excited when she sees dogs or cats, even on TV or in print. She jumps up and down, does her growly noises and laughs (squeals, actually), so we had lots of growls, squeals and laughs at the dogs on screen.

We were playing on the floor when Daddy and the big girls came home. Brigid was cruising along the outside of the playpen. When we heard the door open out in the dining room, she looked at me, then out toward the sound and started squealing and jumping up and down. She knew they were home and was very excited. When the girls came in she started her usual excited routine, but when Daddy came in she just about burst she was so happy. She sure knows her family.

She also knows a lot of other things, too, and I'm finding out all the time how smart this baby is. She was in the playpen the other night and I was working on the computer. I had given her a bottle of juice -- you can put the nipple can cap right on the Gerber juice bottles -- and she had some of it in the playpen but eventually just dropped the bottle. I looked at her and said, "Where's your juice?" She considered it a moment, looked around the playpen and crawled over and picked up the juice. A few minutes later, I asked it again, and she did the same thing. She is definitely aware of her things.

We went over to Grandma and Granddad Downs' house for dinner about 4 p.m. and Brigid was excited to see them (or at least to see Uncle Tom's dog, Zoe). We visited and Brigid chatted away, delighting Grandma with her squealy sounds. Uncle Tom and Uncle Matt showed up, and Uncle Matt, with his booming voice and huge presence, scared our Baby B and she turned her lip up and cried. I held her and she started at him, with suspicious red-rimmed eyes. But it didn't last too long. Soon she was herself again, squealing and laughing. She grew accustomed to his loud voice and only occasionally was startled. (He's been my brother-in-law for 17 years and he can still startle me, so Brigid did pretty well). She hunkered down and feasted on her squash and peaches and I treated her to some banana in the fruit salad. We all played a game after dinner and Brigid let us know with some fussiness that it was time to end early. We got home about 8 p.m. and she took a nap for a short time, but slept on me the rest of the evening. Not a bad way to end Turkey Day. Jenny comes today (first time in a long time, so it will be interesting to see how BB does). Margaret and Patricia are looking forward to a day with Jenny, even if they have to share it with Brigid.