Why I love cooking the Thanksgiving meal

When I'm the cook:

Other people drive on the oppressive Routes 95 and 64. People bring desserts (I hate to bake). People play with Amy for hours, allowing me to open and close the oven without placing her in her high chair. I get to use olive oil as my main fat source in all the dishes. I get to put garlic in everything. Everyone else cleans up. I get to go to bed by 9:00.

Scenes from the day:

9 month anniversary of Gotcha Day

Nine months ago, this week, we were united with Amy. I'm posting this photo just to show how much she has grown since we've been together. A few milestones: No more restaurant high chairs. She will not have it. She says "Amy" very clearly and proudly. She says "bubble" real well. She is getting more discerning with her choices of foods, and is not as consistent with quantity. She has actually gone to bed without crying once this month, and the period of crying when we leave her in the crib has significantly decreased.

Today is Saturday, and I have had a mostly responsibility-of-Amy free-day. I went to my favorite yoga class this morning while Don and Amy hung out. Then I did errands and we all went out for lunch. Then Don and Amy did a 5K at Azalea Gardens. Amy didn't have time to take a nap because it was over in 25:10! Look at the wonderful picture of Amy with Tia Maggie and the other with Don, Julie and Jenny. I went to school and did some more errands. It seemed like I got so much done.

One year reunion

Thanks Karin, Bill and Maya for schlepping in the storm to meet Don, Amy, Sharon, Abby and I, since we each only had a mere hour drive. Our visit was brief but sweet. How special it was to meet in Williamsburg with our bunnies, after having met about a year ago in the same place, during the tail end of our never-ending wait. Our girls are so beautiful and healthy. How lucky we are, and how superb it is to meet again on this end of the adoption!

Indian Summer

What a fun little girl we have. Amy and I went to the oceanfront for my exercise. We started as usual at Starbuck's on 32nd, and walked to Rudee Inlet and back. It was sunny and mild, and devoid of touristas. Amy seemed to have a grand time watching the birds, boats and people, and eating copious amounts of cheerios and raisins. By coincidence we were able to walk alongside a Veteran's Day Parade. It was lovely.

Then we met Judy, Jaedyn and Naomi for Dim Sum. Amy's favorite little dish is this soggy, bland noodly thing with shrimp in the middle. She eats it like there is no tomorrow. My favorite is the sesame bun. It is a round, deep fried sesame coated ball made from rice I think, with Lotus seed paste I think on the inside. It is fattening and sweet and dim-sumlicious.

Last night we went out to Macaroni Grill and Amy grooved on her spagetti and meatballs. Ahhhh, exercise, sunshine and good eating. Life is fantastic.

Walk for Diabetes

Amy and I raised money (from Haygood Physical Therapy) and did the Diabetes walk in Memory of Daddy and in Honor of Melanie. I walked on a team coordinated by my vivacious blond friend, Leslie (left), her gorgeous son, Justin, and Karen (center), a real diabetes guru.

Complete cuteness!

Remember Amy went to her first birthday party not too long ago? This is a picture of us at the party. Isn't she beautiful? And the other picture is of the birthday girl and her sister. Jaedyn on the right, turned five. Naomi, on the left is her mei mei (little sister). Amy gave them the adorable kitty headbands.

Welcome back, Alicia!

Amy's first Halloween: The suspense is over!

There are a lot of people wanting to know if Amy finally would warm up to her Halloween costume. I bought it in mid-September, thinking she'd see what I saw in it, but she sees something totally different. No luck before Halloween. They had a costume day at school on Halloween, and I asked them to work on it. I love Amy's school and I love her teachers. But I think they lie! They say she wore it around school and I don't believe them. Do they have pictures to prove it? No!!

So, as you can see, we had to settle for Amy being a darling little ipod. She quickly got in the spirit of trick or treating, though. She energetically ran up the sidewalk of our neighbors home, trailing a group of kids. She reveled in eating a whole rice crispy/marshmallow bar before dinner. She was very selective then at dinner, eating only rice, cheese and raisins. And we completed her dinner with a bag of peanut m&m's (cut in half of course), which put her in a mild sugar stupor.

Isn't she beautiful?