Thanksgiving

Today is technically Oliver's second Thanksgiving, but in some ways it feels like his first. Only two months old last year, Oliver didn't do much more than sleep and eat. As the new parent of a newborn, the round-the-clock care of a baby overshadowed some of the excitement of any of "baby's first [insert holiday]," especially when the notions of holiday and family tradition were completely lost on him. Even though planning was more complicated this year since the big meal was scheduled to start directly in the middle of what is now one nap a day for Oliver, seeing him participate in this year's Thanksgiving outweighted the preparations. Oliver ate turkey and pumpkin pie for the first time, played with his grandparents and dad's cousins, giggled at receiving kisses from the two little dogs in attendance and challenged his Great-Grandma Bea to a race: he with his cart against she with her walker. (The winner was too close to call.) Frankly, Oliver was more fun as a 14-month-old than a two-month-old.

As we start another holiday season, Thanksgiving was a reminder that with each year that passes, we'll get many more holiday "firsts." And a lot more fun that goes with it.