Welcome, 2012

Thankfully, 2011 was a quieter year at our house than 2010.

Abigail is on the move--crawling and climbing, but not walking quite yet.  She loves to sing, dance, look through books, pull plastic cups out of the cupboard, smile, and wave.  I can't seem to get enough of this little girl.  I love her smile that scrunches up her whole face and her spontaneous bursts of singing.  She has become my little friend who keeps me company while Joseph is at school. I love this stage where she is able to communicate more and more each day.  I'm looking forward to this year when she'll learn to walk (so her clothes won't keep telling everyone how long it has been since I mopped) and when she'll learn--and want-- to feed herself (I still follow her around the house to spoon feed her babyfood). I've given up hope for sleeping through the night.

Just this month I realized that Joseph has grown into a well-behaved child, not a little kid, but a full fledged boy.  I don't know exactly when it happened.  But somewhere between the stages of spitting in my face, running straight into the street, loud, dramatic, carry-him-flailing-arms-and-legs meltdowns everytime we left the park or library, and epic fights over naps and bedtime--somewhere-- we transitioned into a sweet boy. Now he often comes up and gives me a hug out of the blue, tells me he's tired and goes to get ready for bed, and loves to quietly draw at the kitchen table for hours on end! He is still the tender hearted boy he's always been--always right there to comfort if someone is hurt.  And, he hasn't lost his passion, but I think he's really learning to channel it. (And, lest you worry, he is a normal five-year-old who loves bathroom humor and burping).  

I was heartbroken when Joseph started kindergarten--I mourned the upcoming event all summer. Not that I didn't want him to grow up, but I miss him so much when he is gone. I miss his smile, his unpredictable questions, his excitement for life that just infuses into eveything we do.  But, I sacrificed and let him go, and all of Patrick Henry Elementary is glad I did. He makes friends with everyone from the crossing guard to the 5th grader who reads the morning news.  He is learning Spanish and loving art class.  He loves "chatting and eating" at lunch time and gives me the class discipline report every afternoon. He rides his bike to school as Abigail and I walking along behind.

Marc started a new position with the Navy this year, still at the Navy Yard location so he can continue biking to work. He is still my Renaissance man--constantly with a "hold list" at the library that is miles long. I'll have to ask him to give me a top ten list of books for 2011.    He and I teach Primary at church--and he is the peaceful soul who keeps me from wringing the dear childrens' little necks! 

I finished my coursework for my PhD just a couple weeks ago!  There is so much still to go, but it feels good to hit this mark. I admit I've considered letting this milestone be the end of the road for my PhD path. It has been a great hobby for me, but I have some new things I really want to do--homeschooling, writing, buying a house, travelling--that are time and energy-consuming.  But for now, maybe I'll keep mulling those ideas in my mind while I finish my degree.

I'm grateful for a safe and healthy 2011.  Now, bring on 2012!

How about you?  What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Januay 1, 2012
Outer Banks, North Carolina