The Anderson Family: Thanksgiving 2006

Josephine "driving" with Nathan while we were parked in a driveway.

I've been working on this post for a couple weeks now, but never able to finish it. It may sound a bit awkward because it's been done in pieces.

I had Bronchitis over the past coule weeks. Plus, the Friday before Thanksgiving we had to take Josephine to the emergency room because she had a fever of 105 degrees. They did a couple tests then diagnosed her with a virus and sent her home. She was fine the next day. She was very pitiful there for awhile. The doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital were nice and it didn't take as long as I had expected. Josephine was so lethargic, I don't think she remembered anything about the hospital. She perked up about 3 minutes before we left which was a relief.

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Josephine's first Thanksgiving was a hit. Grannie and Papaw came over for Thanksgiving breakfast and we had pancakes, biscuits, bacon, etc. Cooking breakfast is much easier than dinner. After some naps we went to the Anderson farm for dinner. Josephine got to spend time with her 2-year-old cousin Ryan that she hadn't met. She also got to play with other cousins Naomi and Blair. She and Blair played the drum together. Josephine loved eating the turkey too.

Josephine and her cousin Blair (8 yrs.) at Thanksgiving.

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We (Nathan, me, Grannie, and Papaw) took Josephine to Fantasy of Trees on Friday. She loved it. She's loved lights since birth so we figured this would be a good place to take her. We didn't think about it until we got there that it was kind of mean to take her to see all the lights and not let her touch them. She made it through with no tears, though. Her favorite thing was the carousel. She and Grannie went on it twice. The first time she was really nervous and Grannie held her most of the time, but she wanted back on. We tried to walk around some more, but she kept pointing at the carousel so Grannie took her on it again. Later that evening we went to the lighting of the Christmas tree in Market Square with the Randolph's, but it was so crowded we left. I'm sure we'll go back soon when there are fewer people. The fireworks scared Josephine pretty badly. We didn't know there were going to be fireworks. She hates loud noises.

Elizabeth, Nathan, and Josephine at the Fantasy of Trees.

Josephine and Grannie on the carousel.

Josephine pointing at the polar bear.

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Saturday night Nathan and I actually got to go to a movie!!! Josephine stayed with Grannie and Papaw (I had to twist their arms : ). We saw "Deck the Halls" with Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito. It was pretty funny. Gets you into the Christmas spirit. Josephine did fine at Grannie and Papaw's, but she didn't have to go to bed before we picked her up either.

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Sunday was a big day too. After church and lunch and nap we went to a Lady Vols basketball game. Again, there were fireworks that freaked Josephine out, but by the second half she was enjoying it. Cheerios seemed to be the secret to making her happy. She watched alot of the basketball game. After the game we went to see Jane and Bryan who have finally come home from doing mission work in Kenya! Josephine had never met Jane and Bryan. Even though Josephine was worn out we had a great time. Hopefully we'll be able to see them again next week.

Josephine with "Aunt" Jane.

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Josephine's birthday party is on this Saturday! Her birthday isn't until next Wednesday, though. It's just going to be a family get-together. It was getting way too big once I started adding it all up with her friends. I'll put up a new post next week.

Josephine Update:

Josephine is getting her two top teeth slowly, that will make 4 altogether.
Josephine now says "dada" and "kitty" in addition to "hi" and "yeah". She might be able to say "baby" (sounds like "geegee"), but we're not sure about that. She said "kitty" for her grandparents a couple weeks ago, but she said it for Nathan and me while we were at the zoo. She saw the white tiger and said "kitty". Very cute.
Josephine has been obsessed with books the past couple weeks. She has dozens of books (McKay's is wonderful for that) but she has her favorites. She likes "Little Quack", and other books with animals or babies. Josephine wants to read/look at them over and over again.
Her climbing skills are getting better. She's pulled her book basket off the shelf and used it as a stepping stool. She's also managed to climb onto the top of the automan (ottoman?). She climbs the stairs quicker and quicker.
Josephine can show you where her toes are. She loves playing with her shoes too. Sometimes she'll put her shoes on our toes.
Josephine played house with Elizabeth (5 years old) a couple weekends ago. She followed her around everywhere and did pretty much whatever Elizabeth told her to do. They had a blast. Josephine played well with Drinnen (6 mo.) the other night too.
Josephine is holding her bottle by herself. She spent a few days with my mom while I worked at school before Thanksgiving. Josephine came home holding her bottle. : ) She is also feeding herself cereal with a spoon. She had no trouble getting the spoon to her mouth.
Nathan and I are going to the gym again, but Josephine cries every time we take her to the child care there. She does fine at the church nursery, but the gym scares her.
Three weeks ago at the little gym Josephine walked across the balance beam (I held her up) without any help with her feet then did a somersault on the beam (with help, of course). We were very proud. She has a blast there.
Josephine can show you how old she is. When you ask her she holds up her pointer finger. Another thing Grannnie taught her.