Thanksgiving...just a little late

I obviously have a lot of catching up to do and as I read the last post that I wrote, I can't believe how much has changed with Piper. I'll try to go back to 2 months to capture all of her firsts and try not to skip ahead, but it sure is hard. So with that....Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It involves family time and there is no pressure of the presents that have taken over Christmas. But this Thanksgiving was different. I truly sat in one spot with Piper asleep in my arms and literally thought of all of the things I was thankful for. No surprise to anyone, what I am thankful for this year is different than it ever has been. Health. So thankful for the health of all of those around me. I know that may change at any given moment, but for now we are all healthy and I will be thankful.

 Piper's school was closed the day before Thanksgiving so she got to spend the day with GPa while we worked. They both had a great day. Grant and I went out to the lake to spend the night with them and went to Alodia's that night. Piper did great, but hit a wall after staying up way past her bedtime. I loved every minute of her resting on me.





The next morning we woke up after a rough night sleeping in the same room, but she took a nap on me again and I will never forget this moment. Ever. It was the sweetest. Piper never lets me rock her to sleep. She likes to be put down awake which is great on some occasions, but there are some times where I just want her to be sweet in my arms and this was it. On Thanksgiving. The prayers and praises I said in this moment will forever stay with me.

 On Thanksgiving Day we traveled from my Dad's to my Mom's hunting property in Rimini, SC. Grant's mom and Larry joined us down there and we had a great time fishing and relaxing. And eating. There was so much wonderful food. Piper was just starting solids good and she was in heaven. She ate just about everything and appeared to never get full. She is an endless pit. You have to take the food away from her, she doesn't stop eating. It reminds me so much of her cousin, Avery.

Piper rocking in the duck at Rimini, SC. She loved it! 3rd grandchild to rock in this antique. 

We went back to GMa and GPa's house at the lake to watch the USC vs Clemson game on Saturday at Noon. Piper was ready to cheer the Gamecocks on, but I think she got distracted as we lost for the first time in 6 years. I guess that's not too bad. After the football game was over, the infamous three card poker game started in Dad's den. This is a Thanksgiving tradition and  Piper wasn't going to miss out on the fun. She walked a winner, of course. 

Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful for some many reasons. But it was exhausting. Sharing a room with our girl, with G having a hacking cough, didn't allow any of us to get much sleep. These two caught up on sleep while I cooked on Sunday for our Friendsgiving and I couldn't imagine a better site. She is the sweetest and he...he is the best daddy a little girl could ask for. 

Friendsgiving this year was my favorite of our 8 years (I think that's how many we decided we've had). Julie has always been our host but this year it was at her new house and it was over the top. She actually had Friendsgiving in mind when she designed her backyard and it couldn't be more perfect. Our group of 20+ still make me smile and one of my favorite things each year is when we go around and say what we are thankful for. There are lots of laughs but maybe more tears. Life is hard, but it is so much better with each of these friends. Thankful. 

We brought Piper because it was easier and Caroline and Mikey brought their THREE. Mikey was feeding the twins and I think Piper was thinking 'What the heck is going on over there?'

Happy Thanksgiving from the Gillespie family (photo credit to Kayla).

Piper's dress credit to Julie who bought the boy and girl and gave to me at my gender reveal (and let me keep the other to return to get something else-she is ridiculously good to me)

Piper- you are so loved by many. And we are so thankful for you and everything you have brought into our lives. Your smile in the morning remains my favorite part of every day.