Thanksgiving 2020

Yes, I did it anyway.

The first Thanksgiving after having a newborn can be a unique and exciting experience. With a new addition to the family, there is much to be thankful for, and the holiday can take on a whole new meaning.

Marinated Turkey

Looks Great!

Turkey and Baked Beans

I wish I have another oven during Holiday season

Perfect Juiciness

Homemade cranberry sauce

Boston Baked Beans

Such an underrated Boston’s food. My favorite!

Brussels sprouts

Grilled Asparagus

Cooked Beats

Squash and Pomegranate

Roasted Tri color carrots

Gluten free purple sweet potato pie

I miss everybody

Food for my local friends

The pandemic has made it difficult for many families to gather and celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way. The virus is highly contagious and can spread easily through close contact, making large gatherings a risk for transmission. As a result, many families have had to alter their Thanksgiving plans in order to protect the health and safety of their loved ones.

Many families are opting to have smaller gatherings with only immediate family members or close friends in order to limit the risk of exposure to the virus, but our entire families are in Japan, so I decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner anyway and gave takeout meals for our friends. Some families are choosing to have their Thanksgiving meal delivered or picked up from a restaurant in order to avoid having to cook and prepare food themselves.

While the pandemic has made it difficult to celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way, there are still many ways to connect with loved ones and give thanks for all that we have. I hope future Thanksgiving will be full of the warmth and togetherness that we all look forward to.

We were two last year, but three this year!

The first Thanksgiving with a newborn is a great opportunity to get the whole family involved in the holiday preparations. Assign tasks to my wife and hopefully my daughter in the future, whether it's helping with the cooking, setting the table, or entertaining the little one. This will help to create a sense of togetherness and teamwork. I keep it simple. With a newborn in the house, I did not have the time or energy to prepare an elaborate feast so scaled back my menu and focused on a few key dishes that are easy to prepare and enjoy. Howevr, I ended up with more dishes than last year.

I was mindful of the baby's needs. With a newborn, it's important to be mindful of their needs and schedule. We plan our Thanksgiving meal around baby's feeding and sleeping schedule. With a newborn in the house, things may not always go according to plan. Diapers may need changing, feedings may need to happen at inconvenient times, and there may be some crying and fussiness. Well, I have no idea about how all moms deal with Thanksgiving dinner every year. I embrace the chaos and remember that this is a special time in my family's life. I just focus on the love and joy that my little one brings to the holiday, and the rest will fall into place.

The first Thanksgiving with a newborn is a great time to start my new family tradition. Whether it's taking a family walk after dinner, watching a favorite movie, or playing a board game, find something that everyone enjoys and make it a part of your annual celebration. As of right now, my lovely daughter is not able to tell me what she wants for Thanksgiving, but we will see what Matsuda family’s tradition will be.

The first Thanksgiving after welcoming a newborn is a special time in my family's life. With a little planning and a lot of love, I hope I can make it a memorable and meaningful holiday for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!