Visiting a bit.

Last weekend my dear friend Jaime and her family came down from New Hamphshire to visit...

{Jaime and her 8 month old, Emma}

 

{At the Old Salty Dog in Sarasota}

They had been planning this trip for a little over a month and we were so excited to spend some time with them. We had great intentions for the 5 days to relax and just spend quality time with them, without a lot of plans. Well, the best laid plans can crumble into a weekend of the stomach flu (for me), so needless to say, our visit was cut much too short.

But, in the two healthy days, Jaime and I were able to escape for pedicures and Starbucks, we all went to our community's park, ate some home cooked meals, and went to Sarasota's Mote Marine Aquarium...

{Lily and Ryan at Mote}

{The stroller brigade- Emma, our friend Susie's girl Taylor, and Lily}

It was still a great visit with a beautiful family. 

It's amazing to me that Jaime and I have been friends for 24 years. We met in middle school when we were only 12 years old. We were inseparable throughout most of high school and have always remained close, through thick and thin. 

Being together now as parents and "grown ups" is such a shock to my psyche. It seems like just yesterday that Jaime and I were out every weekend getting drunk on Budweiser and writing "I <3 So and So" on our notebook that we passed back and forth to write one another letters in, (because, you know, we couldn't have possibly been ok with just talking in between classes or after school). We were every sense of the phrase "boy crazy" and were always into some kind of trouble. (Always the fun kind of trouble.)

What was, and still is, magnetic about Jaime is her soul. She is honestly a rare find. Non judgmental, carefree and easy going. She has supported me through some of the most dark portions of my life, when many friends made themselves scarce, and always had a positive spin to put on things for me. 

I'm thankful for the short-but-sweet visits that we're able to have now, although I miss our more intense, crazier times. I am truly blessed to have so many memories with such an amazing person.

Thanks for the visit, Devine Family. Hopefully we'll all be vomit-free next time around :)

So long, 2010.

Another year gone. More memories made.
January:

My little girl was only 8 months old and had just started crawling.
I was at a crossroads with my job, unsure of what I was going to do.
I was just beginning to get the hang of this parenthood thing, as far as coming out of complete and utter shock.

February:

Our best friends, Drew and Nicole, welcomed their son, baby Ty, into the world.
I joined several other FIFs in Milwaukee for a baby shower.
My job worries were alleviated by getting an offer to be a district manager for my old company.
I helped host a baby shower from my beautiful friend, Susie.

March:

We visited with our friends' little girl, Ryleigh.
We got our new Canon (which I still don't know how to use).
We started planning a trip for 18 people, going to Costa Rica in September.

April:

Lily learned to love the beach and started going to library play groups.
I began planning a one year birthday party.
I began really learning the ins and outs of my new position at work.
We put a deposit down on a brand new house.

May:

My Lily turned one.
I started getting serious about losing the baby weight.
I experienced my first Mother's Day.

June:

Dustin and I had a night away at the Ritz.
We got to visit with Anne Marie and James, our dear friends that live in Jacksonville.
We found renters for our old property (might not sound like a big deal but I've never been so relieved in my whole life).

July:

Our house was almost finished.
Lily started walking...a little.
I went to the Warped Tour and figured out how old I actually am.

August:

Dustin and I turned 2.
We painted. A lot.
We moved.
Lily was really walking now.

September:

Costa Rica. That's all that comes to mind.

October:

We took Lily to her first fall fair at Hunsader's Farm.
We got an early dose of Florida fall weather.
We dressed Lily up twice on Halloween weekend.

November:

I lost one of the best friends that I have ever had.
Lily turned a year and a half.
Thanksgiving did not live up to the hype.

December:

It was a blur, it went by so fast.
We had a beautiful Christmas.
I started dreaming of Costa Rica 2011.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, 2010 was a good year in many ways. I never thought we would be able to buy a brand new home or successfully get 18 of us in and out of the country safely, for the second time, and have such a fabulous time doing so. I never thought I would make it through my first year of motherhood unscathed, with nothing but strength coming from it. I never thought I would turn 34...and look half way decent. I never knew I could be so proud of who I am and where I am in life.

There were some definite low points, such as losing Bear and also having some people, that Dustin and I thought were very good friends, shit all over us, but none of which distracted us long enough to scar the entire year.

That all being said, I don't have a significant reason to be glad that 2010 is over, but there is something so refreshing and renewing about a new year. It's a chance to start over, in a sense, and it brings me new found motivation. I never make resolutions, per se, but I certainly have aspirations for the year. I intend on finding a balance in my personal life so I can manage a workout/yoga schedule and find some time for my husband. I hope to budget a bit better and hope to plan for retirement and Lily's future.

I also cannot ignore the excitement of watching this amazing little person in my life grow into a kid. I am hoping for "terrific two's" instead of "terrible two's". I cannot wait for Costa Rica in August, which will just be Dustin and I this year (and perhaps a few friends).

So, bring it on, 2011. I'm ready for more good things, good lessons, and good memories.

Happy New Year, everyone.