2010 has been QUITE a year! The last couple of months, in particular, have been a whirlwind, so as I sit here sick and sleep-deprived at home on New Year's Eve 2010, I thought it might be a good idea to reflect on this year.
Blessings:
It's best to focus on our blessings, so that's where I'll start.
2010 was the year that Jackson Joseph McBride joined our family! What an enormous joy & blessing he has been and will continue to be. I love you Jackson. 2010 was also the year that Noah turned two years old. I love you so very much, sweet Noah Michael. I always have and that will never change! My biggest blessings of the year are my boys: Michael, Noah, & Jackson.
Other blessings & happy memories of 2010:
-Michael- Although we are total opposites, he is my rock. He was my rock when my mom had cancer, and ever since. He is an incredible husband and father. I love that man.
-My dad dressing up as Elmo for Noah's 2nd birthday party. What an incredible Grampa!
-The great snow of 2010. Watching Noah explore the snow, and seeing the lake and trees completely covered in white powder was simply grande!
-How Noah reaches his hands out to me and says, "Hold you." (Which means that he wants me to hold him.)
-Dancing with Noah. Watching him dive into life!
-Grammie giving Noah his first (& 2nd) haircut. I was a nervous wreck but she was so patient and kind throughout it all!
-Hearing Jackson's heartbeat for the first time. Feeling him move for the first time.
-Swimming in the pool with Daddy, the Carliles, Grammie, & Paw Paw
-Fishing with the Carlile Clan
-Noah's hair
-The beautiful views from our home that Michael built.
-Watching Noah really enjoy trick-or-treating.
-Taking walks around the lake.
-My family. My dad is incredible. I adore him. He is my hero. My sisters. Memories of my mother.
-Visiting with Mary Beth at the Cancer Institute. SUCH therapy.
-Watching Noah be so sweet with Jackson. Watching him "grow" as a big brother. Witnessing him put a pacifier in Jackson's mouth because Jackson couldn't hold it. The way every time Noah sees Jackson, he says, "There's baby Jackson!"
-Rebekah & Brian keeping Noah for a few days while Jackson was born was one of the biggest blessings of the year for sure. Only Rebekah understood how hard it would be, and she literally took the weight of the world off my shoulders. BIG BLESSING!
-On the subject of Rebekah---Another huge blessing of 2010 is how much closer I became to my dear sister-in-law. Actually, "in-law," does not apply to her. I've always loved her, but I became so much more connected with her in 2010. She is my sister, my friend, a soft place I can fall when I need. A voice of empathy, compassion, warmth, and strength. 2010 was the year that I began to better understand, appreciate, connect with, and completely fall in love with Rebekah.
-Watching my dad baptize Jackson, who wore the same baptismal gown that my great grandmother made. The same gown I wore. The same gown Noah wore. A definite highlight.
-Having all our family at Jackson's baptism---standing up with us- was such an emotional and memorabe experience.
-Watching Noah & Michael ride around the lake on the "tractor" (the John Deer lawnmower). Everybody in the neighborhood knows who they are and their little ritual. It's so cute!
-Getting Noah enrolled in Oak Tree Academy. It was the PERFECT timing, and we have had the best experience there. It was a God thing. I have no doubt.
-Being blessed to have Grammie come stay with us for a week when Jackson was born. When God takes away angels, he also puts angels back in our lives.
-Having Rose Bailey come into our lives. It may sound silly to some, but she has been there & documented so many precious moments this year...of Noah, our family, Jackson's birth...she's more like an extended family member than a photographer.
-Watching Brian play Santa. Priceless.
-Having a dream delivery of Jackson Joseph McBride. I feared that because my pregnancy was so difficult, delivery might be as well. It couldn't have gone more smoothly. AND my boy is just perfect!
-Feeling that my family is COMPLETE! I love ALL my boys!
BUMPS:
-Being pregnant- Yes, it's a LITERAL bump, but this was a TOUGH pregnancy. I had EVERY symptom/side effect and was in so much pain through it all. I LOVE my baby, but I DON'T like being pregnant...well, I loved feeling the baby move. But the rest, I could totally pass on.
-Not running while pregnant. Total bummer.
-Deaths of my cousin Beth, Helen, & Grace- all to cancer
-Potty training
-Mary Beth moved. Stacy is moving to Georgia. Boo.
-Struggle to manage family/work/house
-Lots of difficulty healing after Jackson was born (but he was worth it!)
-The McDonald's incident. I didn't write about it, but it involved me trying to spend extra time with Noah while Michael took Jackson to get his PKU checked. Noah had a severe meltdown, pooped in his pants in the playground which then required me to go up 2 stories and drag him down...screaming...poop was all over him...then me...I had no wipes or anything...I wasn't at all healed from giving birth...and I had to literally restrain Noah outside of McDonalds and felt like a total failure. THAT, my friends----was the LOW POINT of 2010! Luckily, when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up!
-Jackson's tummy troubles at several weeks old. Listening to him cry and hurt was agonizing. I'm glad we were able to get that under control. It was heartbreaking.
-The adjustment from one child to two. Honestly, the adjustment from 0 kids to 1 was much easier than from 1 to 2 kids. I couldn't have anticipated that, and I don't think I'd believe it if I wasn't living it right now! I'm thankful for my family of 4, but it has had its growing pains.
-Having to concede that my house will NOT be clean/organized the way I want it with a toddler and an infant. Believe it or not, that's actually a tough one for me.
-Trying to find TIME! Time for family! Time to exercise! Time with Michael! Time for Noah! Time for Jackson! Me time (What's that?!) Time to clean! Time to do the daily stuff of life. Oh yeah---TIME for FUN! Struggling to have time and balancing it all is probably the biggest bump so far. Something to continue to learn about & improve upon in 2011. We are all a work in progress.
So, yes, 2010 did have ups & downs, but there were clearly more UPS than downs! I'm excited and hopeful that 2011 will be another great year! I want to remain mindful that "having everything perfect" isn't nearly as important as staying connected with those that I love...and making sure that they know how deeply I love them. If you're reading this, know that you are loved! Goodbye 2010! Welcome 2011!
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