The Cataliotti Connection: November in a Nutshell!

WOW!!!! November has been a super super busy month! Reaves turned 6 months old on November 2nd. He is now weighing in at 16 lbs 12 oz!!!! Where did my 7lbs 6oz baby go? He is Mr. Personality!!!!!!!! He laughs and smiles like crazy and loves looking in the mirror! He is eating bananas, pears, apples, sweet potatoes, and green beans!!!! This boy likes to eat! He loves everything we've given him so far! Joe's parents just gave us the Baby Bullet so we can't wait to start making foods for him! His eyes have definitely turned brown just like his Daddy's, but believe it or not some people are saying he looks a little like me! I'll take it! I do think he has my nose! He is also starting to cut his first tooth and puts EVERYTHING in his mouth! Needless to say we are loving every minute with out little man!

We went down to Wilmington the second weekend in November to celebrate our good friends Will and Claire at their engagement party! They got engaged in New Orleans at Pat O'Briens so we tried to recreate the magic downtown Wilmington with a Pat O'Briens theme! We had a great time! Claire and Will actually introduced Joe and I in college! We will forever be grateful!

I PASSED my National Boards!!!! I am now a National Board Certified Teacher! National Board Certification is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do. I've spent the last two years along with my good friend Christy working torwards this accomplishment! The word Congratulations has never looked so good! I was a nervous wreck until I checked it the Sunday before Thanksgiving, because the year before I didn't pass. I feel that I am a better teacher for having gone through this process and am looking forward to the 12% pay raise! Yay for teachers and for our students!!!!!

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams

A few teachers decorated my door!

Turkey day was celebrated twice this year! We had lunch at mom's the Sunday before Thanksgiving and then we went down to celebrate with Joe's family in Havelock! We ate and ate and ate and had so much fun with family! We feel especially thankful this year thanks to a sweet baby boy who has blessed our life beyond measure!

Abby, Joey, Reaves, and Kelly

Cousins

The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent up in Woodbridge Virginia to celebrate the Eakes Family Reunion and my great uncle Bob's 80th birthday! We had a blast catching up with all of the relatives! Mom's cousin Sandra and her husband Steve hosted us for a brunch on Saturday and then we enjoyed dinner and dancing later that night at the Country Club! Reaves did really really well and got lots of attention!!!!! I am so thankful to have such a fun and loving extended family! I hope this family tradition goes on indefinitley!