Post-Thanksgiving

"What is Thanksgiving without a side of drama and pie?
Pumpkin, of course." –
Blair, on Gossip Girl tonight

Fortunately there was no drama here. Just the way I like it. I hosted the in-laws in our new home, picked up a delicious turkey dinner from the local Whole Foods (a great value!), and lapped up sweet baby love all weekend long!

I've also been thinking a lot about being thankful, following the holiday this year. Rather than dwell on the things I miss so much about Chicago, here are the things I am thankful for in Maryland, small as they may seem:

- A guaranteed parking spot when I come home.
- Peaceful walks with our dog, FurFur, who isn't scared of anything here in suburbia!
- Max's bedroom being on the basement level (and not across a school) so I don't have to worry about noise.
- Our toasty fireplace.
- Packages don't get stolen when left outside my door.
- Wider stairs, yea!
- The only black rodents here are of the squirrel-kind.
- There is one pan-handler on the major street here. One!
- Our wooden deck, perfect for working on and sipping hot beverages on cold days!

I am thankful that Max finally learned how to sign "Eat" and "Milk"––on Thanksgiving, of all days! Go figure. It's the most amazing thing to see him communicate with me for real!

I am thankful for pretty bowls, like this beautiful set from my girlfriend on my last birthday. Pretty bowls make everything taste better, and I've been using these daily––for homemade cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, lemon slices, spiced nuts, chocolate almonds . . .

I'm also thankful for good, new(to me) tv shows . . . The Mindy Project, Scandal . . .

And on the loftier side, I'm extremely thankful for my wonderful family, for being such all-around good people––I appreciate them now more than ever after becoming a mother to my own little one! Thanksgiving may be over, but I'll be trying to keep in mind the little and big things I am thankful for each day of the year. Hope your Thanksgiving was merry and great, too!