Warning: Mushiness Ahead.

The end of the year always makes me reflective and 2009 has given me a lot to think about, remember, and be thankful for.

This New Year will also bring a new decade. The past 10 years will probably go down in my personal history as the most eventful of my life. I graduated from high school and college, survived relationships, found best friends in my mother and my sister, learned some very hard lessons, made tough decisions and career changes, loved and lost pets, loved and lost my Aunt Beth, learned who my true friends are, and so on. 10 years ago I didn't know who I was and I was busy trying to impress whomever happened to be popular in that moment.

Today, I love who I have become and where my life has brought me. I must say that this end-of-year reflection is WAY more enjoyable than some of the past. In fact, I think that it may be my favorite year of my life. That's right! 27 has taken the number one spot and it has bumped 20 years old down to the number two spot! It seems fitting that I will end this year and begin the new decade by marrying the love of my life.

There are times when I just want to tell Lexi, "none of this crappy drama that you are going through right now will mean anything in 10 years. You won't even remember it!" It's true that she may not remember the specifics 10 years from now, but this "crappy drama" is an important part of her life. Learning how to handle mean girls, boy issues, and difficult teachers with grace and honesty NOW is what is going to make her a strong and well-rounded individual in adulthood. The fun times in life are fun, but it's the difficult times that shape who we are.

We're looking forward to Kiera's first Christmas! She loves to stare at the Christmas tree lights and to sit in her new Bumbo Chair (shown in the photo above.) For the 1st year in my life I TRULY just want to share time with my friends and family for Christmas. In fact it's been really difficult to do any Christmas shopping when gifts seem to be pretty meaningless this year.

Being a mother has officially made me selfless. I no longer go into a store and look for a shirt for myself... I look for a warm hat for Kiera, a cute jacket for Lexi, or new socks for Jeff. I don't go out for dinner multiple times/week anymore, I gladly base my schedule around Kiera's feedings and look for Lexi's favorite yogurt at the grocery store. It's been the most natural and enjoyable change of my life. I'm genuinely living for my family. And I guess that I'm just realizing (as I write this) that it's possible for Jeff and I to care so much for the girls because we are also meeting each others needs. I'm always thinking of his needs and he's always thinking of mine.... so we don't need to be selfish anymore.

WOW! I almost gagged myself with all of this mushiness, but I can't help it. It's very overwhelming to have this experience for the first time in my life. So I will spare you all anymore sap and just cut to the photos. Thanks for bearing with me!

Lexi, Jeff, and Kiera in Times Square during our Thanksgiving vacation

The cutest 2 month old in Times Square!

Kiera and Mike at our Bachelor / Bachelorette Party

Erica enjoying some Kiera time at the same party

Kiera is either snuggling or sniffing Daddy's armpits

Belly Time!

Catching Up

So much time has passed since my last post, but it just feels like life has been a little hectic these days. Snow has started falling and Jeff's Birthday, Christmas, our wedding, and year-end taxes are ALL within 3 week away. Strap on a 10 week old baby and a business that needs to be run and you have me..... slightly stressed. Of course, it is 3 pm on a blizzardy day and I am writing from the comfort of my pajamas, so it can't be that bad!

There is over a foot of snow on the ground and Jeff, Kiera, and I spent the day in our PJs taking a family nap by the fire. Lexi had a 1/2 day at school and she just got home to enjoy the laziness with us. I guess that you have to seize these opportunities when they present themselves.

Perhaps our biggest news is that we spent Thanksgiving in Virginia with my mom (or as Kiera calls her: "Memere" - which is the French word for Grandma.) The 4 of us piled into the new Suburban and headed on a "13 hour" trek down South. For the record... a 13 hour trip with a baby ends up being more like 16 or 17 hours. We left at 9 pm Friday night and arrived at Mom's at about 1 pm on Saturday. It was all worth it when we got there. Our trip was a nice balance between relaxing around mom's house and shopping/sightseeing in Washington D.C. We stopped in New York City on the way back home and Kiera got her 1st experience in Central Park and Times Square!

As the end of the year approaches I realize what a turning point it has been in my life. I was looking through my journal and I found an entry from New Year's Day of this year. Jeff, Emily, and I spent New Year's Day lounging around the house just laughing and relaxing. We didn't leave the house once but still had the best time. I wrote, "if the rest of the year is as great as today, I am in for a treat." 16 days later, Jeff and I found out that we were going to have a baby! We also managed to get engaged, start a business, have a baby, take multiple trips, and soon get married! 2009 has been my most eventful year to date.

I had so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for my old family and my new family. Thankful for a stepdaughter I love like my own, so many opportunities to laugh, snowstorms, yummy coffee, sharing a glass of wine with friends, a sister who makes me laugh until I cry, my mom who taught me how to be a mother, everything about Jeff, and every single moment that I have with Kiera. This list could go on for hours, but everything just feels right.

Serena is still living with her mom and isn't interested in seeing us. It makes me so sad that she is missing out on this time with Kiera and the upcoming wedding. It will only happen once in life and it goes by so quickly. I had imagined that our whole family would be present and involved in the wedding, but it doesn't look like that will happen. It isn't easy being a 14 year old girl... I know first hand. We are just trying to trust that it will all work out in the end and that she will get it one day.

Lexi has had a few basketball games and I love to go watch. She is playing on both A team and B team and is doing so well so far. It's so fun to see how she improves from year to year. Kiera also loves to watch her big sister play. I strap her into the front pack for the games, but it isn't long before she makes her way out to play with everyone.

Here are some photos from the past few weeks. As always, I phone pictures come out pretty crappy, but the sentiment behind them is what matters....Enjoy!

Kiera with some of my cousin's children. I guess that makes them 3rd cousins? From left: Ashley, Elijah, Kiera, Caleb

They are trying to look calm but they are terrified of the giant peacock over their heads

Aunt Emo and Kiera - loving life!

Memere has a serious Farmville addiction. This was in the wee hours of the morning when her farm needed emergency fertilization!

Snuggly Snuggly - my favorite part of every day.

Out by the bonfire at Memere's house