First Thanksgiving

1. "Yeah, we're just hanging out over here at Philip A's house"
2. Ana in outfit given by Baba
3. Ron and Margie's grandkids on Thanksgiving Day
4. Leaf pile!
5. Somersaulting with Spott

[Robin]
Ana had a terrific Thanksgiving. Not because she particularly liked turkey (she didn't) nor did the green bean casserole or cranberry relish tempt her. Instead, she had a great time playing at my parents' house with her cousins. In addition, she got to show off her new dress, courtesy of Baba. She pranced around in it like a little queen bee.

We felt a small measure of success when she mimicked her cousin Karsten by eating Cheerios. She wouldn't try them for us, but once she saw him eating them, she tried them and liked them. This and her acceptance of orange juice makes us sure that other items of regular "American" cuisine are just a matter of time. She will be bowed by the inevitability of peer pressure.

She also had a great time at the Williams' and showed off her ability to flip upside down-- over and over. She, Lee, and Isabel happily played outside on their "Indy 500" deck and inside with blocks.

She is adjusting to her preschool, little by little. She still cries when Phil drops her off in the morning (much to his dismay). But they tell us that it eventually stops and that she is actively engaging in their routine and games. She actually tried milk (maybe because it went along with cupcakes) at school. She came home from school today just talking, talking, talking about something (Phil could only understand a few words). We are now displaying the art work that she makes at school on our refrigerator. They really should just fashion holders to the front of these appliances--everyone seems to use this space the same way.

My Russian vocabulary continues to increase in odd ways-- I can now say "wet car" and "ear." Ana on the other hand, isn't really speaking much English, but she can understand "Do you want to feed Lola?" and "It's in your room" and "Papa is sleeping."

Ana got to have her first dim-sum at Alyson's birthday party. She didn't eat much of anything, but really liked the Lazy Susan and the baby doll that Carmen brought for her. She also had her first encounter with a cat that wasn't interested in being her friend (Philip A's cat Oscar). She seemed rather undaunted by the cat hissing and swiping at her. Maybe our "cats are nice" proclamations went a little too far.