Home With Mommy: Thankful for Christmas Lights

Zach was a ham at thanksgiving. We started having dinner at my parent's house with about 12 people there. He was the only kid. He hated that we kept him away from the appetizers but get the tv remove and said "football" so we put the game on. He ate a lot of dinner including trying my mom's stuffed mushrooms. After eating, he ran around. I spent a lot of time talking to a family friend. Umang has a 2 and a half year old daughter who was napping at home with her grandma so we were able to chat a lot.

I also hit a milestone. My mom is a wonderful and loving woman but when she doesn't understand something about me she gets very critical. One thing I have been open about with other family, friends, and strangers that I have kept from my parents and brother is my wardrobe. Most people have general seasonal clothing. I'm very literal. On seasonal decorating days, like yesterday, I change my shirts, sweaters, necklaces, dress clothing, shoes, coats/jackets. Josh loves that I'm not boring to look at. Socks are a monthly change. I look completely different in each season. I'll do a decorating day post in a few days but this is about thanksgiving. I have spent a few years collecting these cloths and a proud of it. Even if it means three everyday sandals (one for spring, summer, and fall). I finally told her with Umang there. She hasn't talked about it but I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. She's an intelligent and observant woman so she probably suspected but hated that I felt I had to keep it from her. No criticism yet but I'll keep you posted.

After dinner we went to Josh's parent's house for dessert and to celebrate my sister-in-law, Lisa's, birthday. Zach met family friends for the first time. They had moved to Florida hoping the warm air would help an injury stop hurting, it didn't so they came back. Zach also helped Lisa open her gifts and ate some of Grandma's pumpkin pie (no sugar after 6pm though). We all had a great day.

Friday was decorating day and today we put up the Christmas tree. Josh and I both used to work in retail so we don't shop during black weekend. This is a tradition from seven years ago, our first black weekend together. Zach was in his High Chair while daddy assembled the tree. As expected he kept wanting the ornaments and things. We kept the lower foot for Zach safe ornaments. That part is bare while the top is full but not overcrowded. He keeps taking the NY Giants and NY Yankee candy cane ornaments off and saying "Giants". Actually, he has said "Giants" a whole lot today. We have a replay of the 2008 NFC championship game on in the background now (DVD it's Favre's last Packer game).

His favorite part was a few minutes ago when we turned on the lights. He has barely stopped looking at the tree ever since. He was stunned. Just like yesterday when he saw my lit Snowflakes outside (of which he said "Mama" knowing who decorates). They used to be pumpkins. All the presents are wrapped and in tubs behind the tree. It's going to be a long month. Last year he was 6 months old and that's when he started the first stage of crawling (pushing himself backwards), the day we put the tree up. Tomorrow we do an Amazon order with my family, it's a tradition, for Christmas presents. Zach will participate for the first time getting a couple of books.