Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It is Thanksgiving morning, and our little family of 3 has enjoyed it by lounging and recalling our favorite Thanksgiving memories. So many special times... from traveling to Dallas for my first NFL game (don't ask me the score but I can tell you all about the cheerleaders outfits) to the first time we hosted at our house (not too difficult since it was a party of 4) to the ways we celebrated as kids (including LiteHouse Pre-Thanksgiving dinners from college years till now). Incredible.

Later this afternoon we will be traveling to Illinois to celebrate the holiday with Michael's family. We already enjoyed a great turkey dinner with friends last night... but I still have room for broccoli casserole and more! Usually it is tradition for our friends to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. This year we are grateful for a countless number of things- our wonderful supportive families, enthusiastic & loving friends, good health (except for that cough that keeps traveling between the 3 of us), safe travels that allowed us get half way around the world, incredible caretakers that helped mold Mehandis into the happy little boy he is, technology which makes the world seem a little smaller, and of course our wonderful son.

Thanks also goes to my friend Jamie who came over this week to "level" Mehandis in order to find out how his fine and gross motor skills are developing. She was so helpful in giving great suggestions, wrote down "goals" for us and gave us good news overall. Looks like Mehandis fine motor skills (upper body and hand usage) are average for his age. His gross motor movement skills are delayed... but definitely emerging! Amongst other things, we will keep practicing pulling to standing and walking along furniture. Fortunately, Mehandis loves moving and is easily motivated to do his "exercises"!

These pictures show Mehandis's determined spirit when I was working with him on Monday.