Straggler's Thanksgiving

The folks at our table for Turkey Day this year all had to choose between travelling home for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Kelley, Dex and Iris (pictured below) hail from Indiana.

Brian and Jim moved from Pennsylvania. Drew moved from Colorado just a few months ago. We were happy to have them all at our table. There was more food than necessary, adult beverages and naps for some ( Booker not included, unfortunately!). We are so thankful to have shared our day with great friends while still missing those far away. I hope your day was delicious!

I love Fall!

Turtlenecks and corduroy...ahh!

Here's Booker playing in "his" cabinet. All the plastic containers and baking pans a boy could want!

A Belated Birthday Party...with a surprise!

We had a great belated birthday party for the big boy earlier this evening. Booker himself started things off with a terrific surprise...

We are so lucky that Grandpa Booker and Granny Melody were here to see it!

We a had a great party as well with lots of friends, presents and cake!

Brusha, brusha, brusha!

Booker now has 6 teeth; two on the bottom and 4 on the top. So the toothbrushing has begun! He actually doesn't seem to mind it. I brush first with a bit of non-fluoride Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste and then he gets to hold the toothbrush and chew on it a bit.

I love these new PJ's! Aunt Hannah commented via web cam last night that they remind her of a pair my Dad has...which makes me like them even more. In case your wondering, that tummy sticking out is full of pot roast. He couldn't get enough!

Belated b-day gifts

Grandma sends the best presents! Booker had a lot of fun unwrapping them as well. The stripped hoodie sweatshirt is my fav and Dad really likes the little vest. We're all set for the cool weather this weekend!

We had our 1 year doctor's appointment this morning. All is well and Booker is growing like a weed! He is 29 inches long and 22 pounds 9 ounces. We're off formula and on to milk! Good thing we have a great eater! After the shots (no fun), we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Booker scarfed down biscuits with gravy, turkey sausage, grits and sipped on a carton of milk.

On the move!

This video was taken moments after Booker figured out how to walk behind this toy we've had since he was born. It converts from a rider to walker and until now, he could only manage to go backwards while sitting on it. I fear we will be up all night turning him around!

Happy Birthday Booker!!!

At 4:09am on November 6th, 2007, this boisterous bundle of joy was born 8 weeks early . I barely remember seeing his little face for the first time before they whisked him away to the Neonatal ICU. About 8 hours later, I was wheeled down to to find my tiny 4 pound 12 ounce boy in a incubator, tubes everywhere. The doctor and nurse explained that he was doing very well and was already off oxygen. It was all a fog. I couldn't take my eyes off this perfect little being. Ed and I spend every moment we could next to his bedside during the next 22 days. He was 6 pounds 6 ounces on November 28th when we finally took him home where he has continued to grow and thrive.

Booker now weighs almost 24 pounds. He can crawl very fast and will be walking soon. He is a very happy boy, smiling and laughing most of the time. He continues to be a terrfic eater, plowing down anything you put in front of him. He loves to clap along with us and is starting to kind of "dance" to music. He waves to Aunt Hannah via webcam on most nights. "Momma" is the word of his days but his heart belongs to Daddy.

I had several people ask me today if I was sad to see my boy growing up. I enjoy him more every minute I spend with him. I love to see him getting more independent every day. His early arrival into this world left us with doubt for his future but now we see all the possibilities.

Happy Birthday, Andrzej Booker Cherry! Keep growing and learning and doing things your own way!

1st trip to Dallas

We took our first trip to Aunt Hannah's new house in Rowlett, Texas, a suburb Northeast of Dallas. Uncle Reagan flew in from San Antonio and Grandma & Grandpa Barabasz flew in from Delaware. In the Barabasz tradition, we spent the whole weekend cooking, eating, shopping and playing Scrabble. Ed and I were glad to have extra diaper changers and bottle holders. We even got 3 good nights sleep!


We took the train downtown and visited the flagship Neiman Marcus store near Hannah's new office. Booker got to "drive" a $675 toy Ferrari! By the look on his face, I think I'll start hiding my keys now.

Grandma and Aunt Hannah took Booker trick or treating for the first time. Hannah' took the opportunity to meet her new neighbors. The weather was terrific as it was for our whole trip.