Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year, especially as we anticipate the arrival of the newest little French!  We're also thankful I was not too big to travel down to see family in Houston over the break.  (But the car trip did take longer because I require tinkle breaks at least once an hour!)  Before we left, we tried to see what Reid had celebrated and eaten at his Thanksgiving feast at school.  We are grateful for the little paper updates each day, because Reid doesn't tell us much on his own.  The report said that he loved all the Thanksgiving foods at their feast and even asked for seconds on the turkey. 

I was excited to see the Frenches' new house, which was just beautiful and in such a nice neighborhood.  Jason had dropped by to see it when he went down to see some friends a couple of months earlier.  Reid was more excited to see Papa, Mamere, and Aunt Kristen, whom he'd been talking about all week since we'd told him of our trip.   After he'd introduced Papa to each and every Cars car (I'd told Reid to pick what toys he wanted to take, and he very carefully selected every single Cars car he owns) and informed him that Santa is bringing him Snotrod (the only hot rod he doesn't yet have from Cars...and don't you love the name?  He announces everywhere that, "Santa's bringing Snotrod!!"  Nice.) he convinced Papa to read him the books he'd brought. 

Reid loved Papa and Mamere's new bath tub.  Daddy had to bathe him because I couldn't lean over into the tub with my big belly in the way, lol.   Reid also loved the "nap mat" we created out of a camping mat, sleeping bag, and blanket.  I thought there was no way he'd sleep on it, but he conked out each time and it was perfect for him!

Everyone filled up on Mamere's yummy plucky cake the next morning.  I think I might've been the most excited...it's like the monkey bread my mom used to make when we were kids and I haven't eaten it in forever.  Reid ate an entire breakfast first, then basically had a portion and a half of the plucky cake.  But I can't say anything.  Pretty sure I ate more than anyone else!  Baby boy needed some, right?  We enjoyed the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and Reid enjoyed "hiding" in the pillows with Daddy and Aunt Kristen.  He reminds me of my childhood cat, Callie, who thought that if her head was hidden, so was the rest of her. 

He also loved tackling Aunt Kristen and steamrolling her.  She didn't seem to mind the "massage" ;)

This time, Mamere was requested to read books to him.  I did manage to snap a cute picture before carefully being instructed to leave by a little certain someone.  Mamere patiently read his books over and over, then dug out some of her own Christmas books.  Reid ate it right up!

We headed over to the Shepherds' on Thanksgiving Day...but Reid had a terrible coughing fit along the way.  I had Jason pull over because Reid had spit up a tiny bit with all the phlegm.  I asked him if he was going to throw up (which happens when he gets these coughing fits) and he said no...then promptly barfed all over his cute turkey shirt and the carseat.  Let's just say I regretted the recent change to chunky peanut butter.  So we scrambled to clean up Reid, the carseat, and me before making it to my folks' house, where I still had to finish making the stuffing and green bean casserole.  Thankfully, my mom had chopped and prepared all the ingredients beforehand (thanks, Mom!!) because I was still a little gaggy from the car incident.  She and Jason sweetly finished cleaning up the car/carseat while I cooked.  We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner with Francis, one of their very sweet neighbors who was even so thoughtful that she brought Reid some gourmet cookies.  Two of the three cookies made it home...one someone ended up in my tummy, and boy was it good!!

Reid was quite enamored with the toys Grammy and Grumpy had set out, especially this little remote controlled digger.  It was almost as much fun as The Cat's Meow, Abby's new cat toy that Reid may have enjoyed as much as she did!  He insisted on wearing Daddy's socks that morning, for some reason. 

Grammy made breakfast squares for a yummy breakfast treat.  Not sure if Jason or Reid was more excited...and I definitely ate my share, too.  Grammy sent some home with us and Reid has asked for them every day.  We got Grammy and Grumpy to help us out with a photo shoot (or an attempt at one...best you can do with a three year old who just wants to play!) at the park, then I got to head down to The Woodlands to see a sweet student from my first year of teaching, Carly.  We've kept in touch for 15 years and it was wonderful to see her and catch up.  Grumpy and Jason watched the LSU game, then took Reid outside for a trike ride at halftime.  He also collected an entire bucket of acorns.

Reid was so odd and "ignored" both Aunt Kristen and Grammy at each respective house when they requested a hug/kiss.  He is so funny about that...and it's only people he loves that he does it to, so I guess in an odd sort of way, it's a compliment.  Grammy was requested to read stories to him on Friday night.

 "Pete the Cat stepped in WHAT?"

 Then Abby had to join in for the second reading of Reid's current fave, Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes.

Saturday morning dawned warmer and humid, and it was time for our voyage home.  Reid got some pretty acorns from Grumpy, which entertained him for the first hour of the trip. 

It was so fun to see family...just wish we could've seen everyone.  Aunt Lala and family went to Alabama, their Thanksgiving tradition, Uncle Steve and family were in New Orleans, and Grandma Penny is far away in San Diego.  But we were thankful for the fun times we had, and for a safe trip there and back.  Now, if we could just get Reid to join in on the Bucc-ee's game Jason and I love to play...  And yes, I'm thankful for their pristine bathrooms, too ;)