Happy Thanksgiving!

 Alma waiting patiently for her first Thanksgiving feasting to begin.

 Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday around the Thompson household.  And now with grandchildren it is even more exciting!

While the weather was rather cold, we were able to get outside a bit and enjoy the sunshine. 

We are thankful for so many things this year.  Here's hoping that we can keep that thankfulness in our hearts throughout the year!

Hand-Made and Hand-Me-Down

Maybe this isn't the most polite thing to admit, but since becoming a mother, I've started lumping other mothers into sub-categories: All-Naturals, Hand-Me-Downers, and GearHeads.  Basically, All-Naturals only want organics, good-for-the-environment products for their babes; Hand-Me-Downers only want free stuff regardless of quality; and GearHeads want it all or want the best of everything.  Mothers seem to fall into some level of each of these categories, with most landing in one or more category. 

I'm a Hand-Me-Downer for sure.  Don't get me wrong, I have some GearHead in me all well (I lust after the more expensive strollers and definitely spurge on some toys) and a good bit of All-Natural (mostly organic food, wooden/cloth toys).  However, for the most part, I'm all about free or handmade stuff.  Here's Alma out for a typical walk -- handmade pumpkin hat, hand-me-down jacket (with faux fur on the hood!), covered in an awesome handmade quilt, riding in a great stroller that a friend found in the trash -- my ideal! 

However, since I attended to so many Mommy&Me yoga classes when Alma was a babe and gained most of my momma friends from those classes, I've been mostly surrounded by All-Naturals.  Well, they finally got to me ... we've switched to cloth diapers.  Now that we have a decent washing machine and a yard to hang laundry I've run out of excuses and have joined their ranks.  I thought I wouldn't like it, but I kind of love it.  Odd, I know, but there is something wonderful about putting such comfy diapers on your babe.  And look how cute they are on the clothes line! 

Jumping Dog School

When I started at Mooreland Elementary school in kindergarten, my parents proudly pointed to the name of the school which was posted in the lobby above a life sized version of the school's mascot of a greyhound and said, "That's the name of your school."  So when someone asked me the name of my school, I proudly declared, "JUMPING DOG SCHOOL!" 

Obviously this was the wrong answer. 

Oddly enough, I ended up going to Jumping Dog College (Loyola's mascot was the greyhound) and now we live near Moravian College, who also boasts of a greyhound as their mascot.  So hooray for our new JUMPING DOG HOUSE!

First Povitica

Alma watching the first povitica of this house bake.  She will get her first official taste on Thanksgiving.

Work

You may have noticed a decrease in the number of postings recently.  This is both because we are busy -- running after Alma + being in random places while Alma snoozes because her crib is no longer a fun place to snooze these days (according to her, not me!) -- and because I keep adding things to our full plate of activities.  Like jobs.  Yes, plural.  Because spinning plates is fun!

For awhile now I've been working as a GIS consultant for a few non-profits.  That work comes and goes in fits and starts, which is great for me.  But now I've added a more steady position with the University of Pennsylvania's National Resource Centers.  I'm working as a evaluation coordinator making sure that they gauge their success so that their work continues to get refunded.  So far, it has been interesting and my work is valued.  Couldn't ask for more.  Moreover, I'm able to do all of this work from home (besides a few odd meetings in Philadelphia that will creep into our lives about once a semester) and still take care of Alma full time.  Not a bad deal, right?

It has felt great to make maps and think creatively.  I like remembering that I am more than just a wife, mother and an owner-lady.  Just my sewing room and this blog will have to be ignored on occasion and I think that is an okay trade.

All this being said, I have a bunch of cute photos that I am going to post over the next few days.  So stay tuned!

Garden Pepper

While playing in the backyard, Alma and I often end up in the garden looking for ripe veggies.  We usually take a long time to nibble on our findings as we sit among the plants.  I'm looking forward to teaching Alma where food originates.  I think the lessons have already begun, which makes me unbelievable happy. 

This photo was snapped once we came inside and she wanted to continue eating a green pepper.

First Birthday Gift

Thanks Grandma Chisholm and Grandpa Henry!

Pittsburgh

 Alma and I traveled out to Pittsburgh to visit Kate and Neal for almost a week.  What a fun trip!  Alma enjoyed her first flights by sleeping through them.

Since we were stuck in the Philadelphia airport for a bit, we got to play in the Please Touch Museum's airport for kids.  Alma was tempted to take our flights into her own hands.  She's pretty good at slapping buttons.  I'm such just a proud mama!

 We had a great time at the zoo...

... and Alma LOVED the aquarium!  But more than the fish, Alma loves her Auntie Kate.  She even said "Hi Kate" one day.  And Kate tried and tried to get her to say "VERDE" (green, in Spanish) in an operatic voice.  Alma would respond "ahh-YA!" which Kate counted as a win.

 And, as always, Kate had lots of fun touches during the weekend. Like champagne on the front porch!

 Unfortunately, Alma's seventh tooth came in (again -- her teeth seem to come, disappear and then come again), she had an awful bruise on her forehead from dropping a kitchen stool on her right before we left for our trip, she has a sty in her eye which makes it look puffy/red and she had (and then gave me) a yucky cold.  It was tiring to deal with a fussy baby.  But, heck, we were visiting a pediatrician so we were in good hands!

 We walked and enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves for several hours each day.  Walks are the perfect vacation activity.

 Alma (with crazy hat hair) enjoyed some kale.  Who knew roasted kale was so tasty?!

 Another great trip.  Thanks Kate and Neal!

Pumpkin hat!

My friend Meg made Alma the greatest pumpkin hat.  Here she is wearing it while playing with our recycling pile shopping for your Christmas present.  Thanks Meg!

Happy 11 Months, Baby!

• Alma can say lots of words but they are so inconsistent that I have a hard time counting them as first words.  She can do lots of repeating or, for example, she heard me listening to a message from Joshua on speakerphone and said "dada" on her own.  The same is true for signing.  She will sign "more" but not always, "all done" but only after we have started the process of being all done, and "bird" whenever she sees a bird.  And Joshua always points out that she only has two signs which each have multiple meanings: flapping (all done, hello) and clapping (applause, more).  Flapping and clapping, who could ask for more!
• Tooth number 7 (and possibly #8) has peeked through on the bottom next to the two little teeth that get a lot of attention these days.
• Everyone's sneezing (including her own) is always funny.

• While playing, she makes monster/machine noises that remind me of when Hayden was a toddler. She also has a fake laugh that is all her own.
• Saying goodbye as Joshua goes to work is part of the morning routine for Alma, Simon, Shanti and me.
• She walks along furniture, walls, fences at a pretty good speed. Very comfortable on her feet and stands barely holding on these days.  Occasionally, she will let go and stand for half a second on her own.
• Goodbye and hello get immediate waves these days. Usually both hands open and close and wrists twist (similar to her sign for all done).  Even if I say goodbye to someone on the phone, I can see her pause her playing to wave a little at the phone.

• Pointing and saying OOO is both cute and useful for knowing what Alma is interested in exploring. Birds are the big hit these days and we spend a large part of the day in the backyard watching the birds migrate south for the winter.
• Often, Alma will pick up all of the items from her high chair tray before putting them all in her mouth at once.  Especially if it is chicken. It is comical how much she loves chicken.
• Alma's imitations of everything (words, sneezes, dog's bark, trucks passing, garbage disposal) are fascinating and make us all smile.
• Some morning are crawling marathons as she chases the cat around the dining room table again and again.  (Poor kitty.  Although, we just took her to the vet and she had lost weight, which was good!)
• After playing around with the mirror in the car, now she knows "where's your tongue?" It is hilarious! She smiles and then sticks her tongue out immediately.  The day she learned, I showed the neighbors and grocery clerk, who thought it was a little odd but cute.
• Taught Alma giving high fives but now when offer hands to pick her up, she hits them with a big smile!

• At the beginning of last month, Alma was a bit fussy and her slow, moaning crawl with an outreached arm made me feel very in the season of Halloween ...like a zombie moaning and reaching out for me.
• If you are looking for gifts for Alma's first birthday (next month!!), we prefer non-plastic, non-battery operated toys.  We are thinking of making her a play kitchen, so wooden food items would always be appreciated.  Or PJs with feet, those are always handy.  Or wooden puzzles.  No pressure, just want to share in case you are looking for suggestions. 

Happy Halloween!

Hanging out in Joshua's front porch swing (one of his many birthday gifts)

 Saying hello to the neighbor's dog Frizzy the Poodle

 Giving some love to our neighbor Pat and her grandson Cole

Knocking on our front door

Earlier in the day, I got excited for the evening's festivities and dressed the dog and Alma in her costume.  Simon should be used to being dressed in female roles at this point.