Welcome Sweet Potatoes

We started our third round of solid foods today with the yummy sweet potato - the Japanese sweet potato that is {thank you, Central Market!}. On the outside they look like the common red-skinned vegetable, but upon peeling them we learned they are actually a white-fleshed variety.  Oddly enough, they turn green when pureed.  They are definitely sweet and tasty though, and the boy enjoyed them immensely!  

In the photo below, Reid's laughing at his daddy who's telling him how BIG his poop is going to be. Yes, this is our typical conversation over breakfast nowadays.  Stimulating, I know.

Brrr!

It finally feels like November around here....

Daddy's Pastime

Hang on until the bitter end....

Reid's 1st Christmas Tree

"Look dad.  This one's just my size!"

 Dad & son searching for the perfect 1st Christmas tree

 Dad thinks he found the ONE

 Reid, on the other hand, has his sights set on mom's yummy necklace

 "I got it!"

 We need to work on teaching the boy about a closed-mouth kiss

 Flocked?  No way!

 "How about this one, dad?"

 "Look - it's a nice shape, and it's already in a stand too."

 "And it's the perfect size for eating!"

Reid's 1st Thanksgiving

Dear Reid,

On your very 1st Thanksgiving and on our 1st Thanksgiving as parents, you should know that mommy and daddy are most thankful for your safe and healthy arrival into our lives.  On this day and every day we acknowledge the many blessings God has bestowed upon our family.  As dad summed up on our way home from Arlington last night, "Reid was surrounded by so many of his loving family members today, and that wasn't even half of them!"  We both comment all the time how lucky we each are to have married into such wonderful, loving, supportive families, and now we have the joy of sharing those families with you.  To say we're "thankful" is the understatement of the century. Our cup runneth over and over.

Stay in the Light.

Love,

mommy

You and your great grandfather.  He's a natural.

 As your dad so affectionately calls them - your Gruncle Guy & your Graunt Kathleen

 Mommy, son & Sophie of course!

 Rubbing Poppy's head for good luck

 Learning how to take a self portrait with grandpa's iPhone

 Chatting with grandma

 Relaxing

Grandma couldn't resist breaking out a few early Christmas presents.  Reid loved the stacking cups! 

Before heading back to Dallas, we made a pit stop at the Brazeal's house to visit with their family.  So fun!  Reid and Larkin hadn't played together since their 1st play date. You can read about it and about the Andersen/Brazeal family legacy here. 

Can you guess what {or who} they're looking at?

 Love these sweet boys!

 Larkin & his beautiful mommy

 Justin & Reid

Then There Were Solids

Reid's first journey into the world of big boy food (aka. solids) was with the brightly colored {organic} butternut squash from Central Market.  He had his very first taste this past Monday morning.  We started prepping over the weekend, but we wanted to have quick access to our pediatrician in case he had an allergic reaction so we waited until a weekday.  If there was any worrying going on in the house, it was all for naught though.  Reid loved it!  Aside from a little butternut squash uprising, he did great.  It does seem a bit ironic to call his first real food "solids" though.  I'm pretty sure we pureed it into an oblivion.  He had the squash for four days, and since we appeared to be in the clear with that food, we moved on to yummy avocado today.  We got the same favorable reception: a wide open mouth!

 Think we bought enough?

 Mommy doing what she does best.  Yes, I'm organizing the butternut squash.  Don't judge.

"Are you going to put something on the spoon or am I just supposed to stare at it all day?"

The moment of truth 

 "More please!"

"Must.Eat.More."

 Getting ready for his first taste of avocado this morning

{he's looking at the bowl and spoon in my hand}

 Another success!