Thanksgiving 2012

This year for Thanksgiving we went down to visit Ben's sister and her family near Savannah, GA.  It's a 4 1/2 hour drive and Lydia was perfectly content on the drive as long as she was watching her "princess videos".  In fact, she was SO content that she peed in her carseat ... twice.  Needless to say, we arrived damp and smelly and I was a little stressed out, but we had such a great time over the next few days that it was totally worth it!  I got practically zero pictures (blame it on the placenta brain) but I did get one of our excursion to Jesup where Ben's bro-in-law was on call all day Friday.  We gathered at the place where he stays while he's on call and had some awesome pizza and then we went to a drive-in movie. We saw "Rise of the Guardians".  It was pretty cute, but it was cold!  Lydia, unluckily, had also started coming down with a cold so she was getting pretty stuffy nosed on the drive home, but she had a BLAST.  She and her girl cousins hung out in the back of the suburban while the rest of us watched from the other two cars.

It was so weird having all those cousins around over Thanksgiving because Lydia COMPLETELY ignored me and played with them the whole time.  I didn't know what to do with myself because normally I am THE entertainment (until Lydia begs enough for me to put on a movie, that is).  It is going to be so much fun for her to have a sister.  I'm so excited!!! Eight more weeks!

Sewing projects

Ok, so I know Halloween was almost a month ago, but I worked hard on our Halloween costumes this year and I'm going to share them!  Ben was the one who came up with the idea of being "Angry Birds" and I was the one who made all the costumes.  In fact, I had SO much fun sewing that I've been on kind-of a sewing blitz ever since.  But first, the big reveal, our Halloween costumes:

Lydia is the only one who looks truly "angry".  Don't worry, she's not sour like that all the time, or even most of the time.  Only for pictures ...

I've also done some other sewing projects, namely a nursing shawl, and a moby wrap, but I am perhaps the most proud of my pre-Thanksgiving sewing project: a new purse! I had a great time making this and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  It is the perfect size and since I only have one coat (black) it matches perfectly with whatever I'm wearing :)  I know, ya'll are so jealous.

New York Trip

A little last minute, I decided to take Lydia to New York in October to spend some time with my parents.  I say last minute, because usually we have these things planned out a few months in advance, but it was only about a month this time.  We were there for 9 days which went by SOOOO fast.  The time is extra precious right now because my dad's cancer is not responding to any treatment right now and the future is very uncertain.

Still a bit of fall color left in places

Reading books with (mommy's cousin) Janelle and Lydia's second cousin Capri

Lydia and Capri had so much fun playing together!

Photo shoot with Lydia and mommy at the park

I ended up making my own birthday cake because my mom was working all day and I thought she wouldn't have time.  Little did I know how disappointed she would be that she didn't get to do it herself! Her contribution: The Halloween sprinkles on top of the cake.  My brother declared it was the best cake he'd ever eaten.  (The secret is the mayonnaise, yogurt and applesauce--Makes it super moist ;)

Can you see everyone behind me patiently waiting for cake?

Went out to dinner for my actual birthday to the fabulous Pita Gourmet in Cortland.

I would definitely go back here.  Delicious!

We tried the hummus appetizer for dessert with the flatbread.  Delish!!

My mom and dad :)

I had the gyro for dinner.  Sooooo good :)

Me and my girl

This is where Lydia spent a good deal of her time in NY--on Grandpa's lap--either watching TV or having Grandpa read books to her.  So sweet.

Lydia really enjoyed walking on Grandma's treadmill in her spare time.

The last day in NY, before my mom drove us to the airport, we went up to Skaneateles for lunch at the Sherwood Inn (tradition), dessert at La Patisserie, and a quick walk down the pier.  

There were about a billion seagulls and they got really upset and flew away as you approached them.  We had a blast chasing them off both on the way down and back on the pier.

Lydia and I with Skaneateles Lake in the background :)

Lydia had a really great time and I'm so glad that she got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Owens.  I'm so grateful for my parents and for the way that they raised me.  I only hope I can be half as good at parenting my children!