2011: Remembering our Year

As we begin with a fresh new year, I am taking a moment to look back before jumping on in.  2011 was a big year for us.

In January we travelled to TN to spend time with Doug's folks in Gatlinburg for their vacation.  Mom and Dad met up with us as well.  Fun was had by all, and I was just excited that I could eat and not puke it up.

February was fairly quiet, although we did have unseasonably warm weather.  For my hotter-than-normal body temp, this was lovely!

March was a flurry of planning.  I had two baby showers in April, so March involved getting guest lists together and planning for travel for my Aunts, Sis-in-law and niece.  We also celebrated Doug's birthday, entering his last year in his 30's :)

April brought baby showers and visitors.  It was an overwhelming month for me, feeling so much love towards our child yet still desperately scared that she'd never make it here.

My crazy family!

 Kristin and Aimee, two of my wonderful Baby Shower hostesses :)

 At my shower at church

May.  Ahhhh, May.  May brought bedrest and high blood pressure, swelling, pain and finally, labor.  On May 30 at 2:44 am we were blessed by the amazing miracle birth of our daughter and began our daily treks to Northside's NICU to be with her.

June brought the joy of bringing our baby girl home.  Sleepless nights and sleepless days (and whoever had the theory of "nap when the baby naps" clearly has had quite a bit of time lapse since they had a newborn) yet absolute happiness with our child.

July brought family-- and lots of it!  Doug's family all came in from Virginia and England, and my family came in from NC and California.  We all had such a wonderful time visiting and letting Samantha meet all of her cousins.

August brought a quieter month, which was much needed.  Mom and Dad came back to visit often, and our little one grew and grew.

September brought our Birthing class reunion, all of us with healthy little girls. We also enjoyed lots of playtime with Samantha's little buddy, Reagan :)  It was a month filled with getting to know our little one even more.

October brought our anniversary, Samantha's first Halloween, and her first costume!  My first "quiet moment of rememberance" came this month as I remember Hope's EDD.

November brought my birthday (ugh, getting old) and Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed having Patricia and Aunt Debbie with us for a quiet celebration.

December brought Samantha's first Christmas, spent with both sets of grandparents in NC.  It is so wonderful to watch them all with her.  I also observed a quiet moment in memory of little Noah as we past his EDD and what would have been his first birthday.

This year my husband and I have grown closer than I ever imagined, brought together through trial and fear, pain and heartbreak, tears and unimaginable joy.  We have added our beautiful daughter to our family, enjoyed the warmth and love of our friends and family, made new friends and said good-bye to others.  With open hearts, hands held, daughter in tow, pups bounding along, we welcome 2012 and all it has to bring!