the boy turns ONE!!

 well, it has finally happened, despite my best efforts to turn back time, little mister O turned 1 year old on Dec 1st.  i can't believe this year has gone by so fast, when i think back on the teeny tiny baby i brought home last january it just doesn't seem like this could be the same one.  he is crawling, standing up, drinking from a sippy cup, tearing up paper and getting into all sorts of innocent mischief!  he can clap, babble in nonsense syllables, play peek-a-boo, bob his head up and down in time to the music and give super slobbery kisses!  for all these things i am truly grateful.

 happy birthday little ollie!  (as you can see he was NOT crazy about that chocolate cupcake... i didn't even change his shirt because i knew he would barely touch the thing and i was right)

Thanksgiving 2011

 although this is a little late, i still wanted to post our thanksgiving day meal!!  maybe not as elaborate as some of our other years, but leaps and bounds better than last year (since i was on bedrest and no cooking was done!)  we made our favorite sage-roasted turkey (see below) as well as roasted garlic mashed potatoes, candied ginger and orange cranberry sauce, brown butter green beans with toasted almonds and maple-glazed carrots!  delicious!

i have so much to be thankful for this year.  i can't begin to name all of the blessings in our lives, but at the top of the list is my healthy, beautiful little family and dear friends near and far.  what else matters right?  so here's to another thanksgiving day here and gone.