Thanksgiving

(So we're finally blogging again. Sorry for the long time between posts!)

After about eight hours on the road to Ohio (it's supposed to take six) we finally made it home for Thanksgiving. It was Tristan's first time in Ohio and everyone was excited.

Tristan had been rolling over some before our trip, but over Thanksgiving he really started rolling, much to the delight of the grandparents.





We were all so glad that Tristan could meet his great-grandfather, Albert Ziegler. We think he was glad to meet the baby as well. It made it all the more important that Great-Grandpa got to meet Tristan at Thanksgiving because he passed away soon afterwards. He died on January 5th. Here's part of his obituary:

Albert D. Ziegler
(September 11, 1917 - January 5, 2009)

On January 5, 2009, Albert D. Ziegler, 91, passed away at Salem Community Hospital following a full life at home in Columbiana. Born on September 11, 1917, a son of Daniel and Mary (Minger) Ziegler, in a Beaver Township log house. He was a lifelong resident and coffee drinker. He attended Fairfield Centralized School. His farm had previous history and he built more buildings for hogs, cows, chickens, grain crops, timber, and field rental with an egg route in Boardman. Albert also retired as a custodian in the Columbiana Exempted Village Schools.

Survivors include daughters, Mildred (Ziegler) Trotter of Columbiana and Wanda Ziegler of New Waterford; son, Sherman A. Ziegler of Columbiana; grandchildren, Trina (Brian) Nussbaum, Travis (Gini) Trotter, and Jonathan Trotter, all of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and one great-grandson, Tristan Nussbaum.

His wife, the former Mabel L. Holloway, whom he married on March 20, 1949, preceded him in death on September 5, 2008. Also preceding him were a sister, Mary Christina Ziegler, and a brother, Melvin Franklin Ziegler.

He died exactly four months after Great-Grandma Ziegler. They would have been married sixty years this year!! I think he missed Mabel so he left this world to be with her again. I have always known him to be a quiet and kind grandfather who liked to be outside and eat McDonald's fish sandwiches. He will be missed.



We're all here. Mom, Dad, Brian, me, Tristan, Jon, Travis, Gini, Uncle Sherman and Great-Grandpa. It had been three years since Travis and Gini were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and it was very nice to have them at the table. Next year our table will be different. Jon's fiance Meredith will be part of the family, as well as a new Trotter baby (Travis & Gini's).

Brian and I were reminded that exactly one year before, we made an announcement at the Thanksgiving table that we were going to be parents. (No such announcement was made this year.) But what a year it's been too. We continue to love being parents to Tristan and watching his development into a sweet little boy.






I was so happy to meet my friend Mary Boggs Crowley's new baby Aine Frances Crowley. Mary and I have known each other since I was like six years old and she was four. (I always forget our exact ages.) Our parents had a mutual interest in collecting and assembling antique cookstoves, and our families met that way, and have known each other ever since. We visited Mary's parents, Danny and Becky, at Thanksgiving and got to meet the newest members of the family. Mary, her husband Rich and their two children Aidan and Aine live in Pittsburgh and we've enjoyed visiting them there.

Our trip from Ohio back to Harrisonburg was in my top ten least favorite trips ever. The traffic was some of the worst we'd ever seen and the weather was just plain awful. The trip took us ten hours with everyone's patience being tested (including Tristan, who more than had his share of the car seat.)

Ready for Thanksgiving

So my first Thanksgiving is near and my parents tell me that we are going to Grandma & Grandpa Trotter's house in Ohio. I've never been to Ohio before (unless you count the Cincinnati airport). They say it is going to be a long car ride. I'm not sure what that means, I just hope I get fed along the way. (My parents say they hope I sleep along the way.)

Here are some pictures of a few of my buddies: Hannah, Lewis & Rylan.



My newest trick is to roll over--from my back to my stomach. My parents get excited, because I do it often. I can't quite figure them out--they get so excited when I do this, but they keep rolling me back onto my back and ask me to do it again. If you want me on my stomach, why do you keep putting me on my back?!? Because they are being so funny about this, I like to keep dad guessing and he has not yet caught it on video.

Auntie & Uncle (Gini & Travis)

Travis and Gini arrived this month. It was good to meet them.



As you can see they are pretty open with their excitement. I'm excited too because people keep saying something about a new cousin on the way... (yippie!)

It's been awhile...

So we hear rumors that there are people who check this blog every week or so. We have not providing many updates recently--it's funny how life tends to get in the way.

Tristan has had quite a few events in the last month.


A couple of weeks before the election our now Prez-Elect Barack Obama came to Harrisonburg on a campaign stop. It was the first time a presidential candidate has come to Harrisonburg since the Civil War. There were so many people waiting to see Obama that we couldn't get in and had to watch him on a big screen. It was so exciting! That's me inside dad's coat!

Note from my parents: Virginia voted Democratic for the first time since 1964. That was unbelievable to watch on election night. And to be able to vote for an African-American in Virginia - the home of the Confederacy - was a real honor and privilege for us. We're so excited about the possibilities that change can bring, and we're praying for President Obama and his administration. No matter what happens now, this country is a different place.



I haven't found my thumb yet, but my fingers and fist sure taste good. My parents think that I am teething already! I am called a "drool monster" on a daily basis, and my mom has to change my outfit at least three times a day (that's a lot of laundry!) I went through a very fussy stage for about two weeks and I know it wore on my mommy, but I'm feeling better now (at least today I was feeling better, who knows about tomorrow...)


No trick-or-treating for me, but Rylan (left), Hazel (right) and I (center) decided to dress up for the holiday. We are too cute!!


Auntie Lynette comes to visit me every once-in-awhile. On this day I was showing her how I like to eat my penguin raw.


I have more playdates during the week as well. My friends Hannah (left) and Lewis (right) play with me and our moms talk about we-don't-know-what. I usually love visiting with my buddies, but I'm not so sure about Hannah--she's got quite a left hook! (Do you think she likes me?) :-)


Some days I just like to play with my toys. Other times my parents think that I am older than I really am and try to get me to sit up. I'm not quite ready for that yet.



Today we went on a short walk. Dad and I wore our matching hats and we met a llama at the top of the hill. Mom was a little nervous, but the llama just sniffed me. I smell like milk.