Thanksgiving

Eventhough I'm WAY behind the following post will be about our week-long vacation in Great Mills, Maryland where Christopher's parents live. This week was important for many reasons, so it must be discussed.

Our first "real" car trip with a child went amazingly well. Yes, we had to drive 12 hours through the night for it to go well, but well it went. We had an early dinner on Sunday before Thanksgiving and with Cooper decked out in cozy pjs headed out of Nashville. We made 3 stops along the way and woke Cooper up for all three to give him a break from the carseat and to change him and give him a bottle at the half-way mark. With tired eyes, an about-to-wake baby, and a stuffed SUV we pulled into their driveway exactly 12 hours after we left Nashville. Best. time. ever.

The week was fun of fun and firsts. First time to Grandma and Grandpa's house, first time to meet his cousins (Lelany, Nicky, Samantha and Emily), first STEPS, first 1st birthday party, etc. It was all very fun. Cooper really blossomed on that trip. I don't know if it was from being surrounded by people who were smitten with him or getting loved on so much or all the new things Grandma had waiting for him, but he really thrived there. I went with a baby and came home with a toddler!

Cooper's first 1st Birthday party.

He was definitely freaked out by all the people standing around singing, but once people slowly lost interest in his stunned state he started to dig into his cake. It took forever to clean him, his outfit, his highchair and the dropcloth we had beneath him.

This is pretty much what we did all week... took turns driving Cooper around the house. He absolutely loves that car. Since we've been home he's mastered how to get in and out on his own, walk it around by himself and even stand on the seat and give Mom a heart attack.

Stairs... the final frontier. I was worried once we got home he'd be all over our stairs, but he rarely goes up there. Thank goodness.

My very own crib at Grandma's! Yay!

I don't care how tired I am Mom, I need to drive my new car! Grandma got it for me!

It was an awesome week. Just to be together with all of Christopher's immediate family at once was a blessing. It's the first time we've all been together since our wedding and it was so much fun. Now that Christopher's brother Craig and his family have relocated to the DC area from San Diego we will be sure to see each other as much as schedules allow. Eventhough Cooper had hung out with his grandparents and Aunt Rebecca before, he was thrilled to have 24/7 access to them. He would crawl up to them, put his arms up and laugh/squeal which of course got him hugs and kisses. Who could resist such a cute boy!

We were sad to head home, but are making plans to be with everyone again very, very soon.