An amazing year!

Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! We sure did! Livy got loaded up with presents - for her birthday and Christmas. We had an outstanding turn-out for her first birthday party. Olivia had a blast in the ballpit pool and pigging out on her cake! (See slideshow) Thank you to all that came!

As we approached the “Big One,” I have been going through pictures and reflecting on all that our little Livy has already been through. It’s been a year full of learning accompanied by a year of adventure for our first-time baby. We have encountered our share of bumps along the road, from the crazy ever-lasting flu to pink eye, and learned more than we ever wanted to know about diarrhea and anything else that can come up. With a little time and a lot of perspective, we made it this far. We never hesitated to ask her Pediatrician and other parents for advice.

Before I was a parent, I had an opinion about raising kids. Now, I understand that babies are not so fragile. I have also learned that parents have to get out and enjoy adult life. Oh, and sleeping in until 6, much less 7? Not even on weekends! I understood before I became a mom that houses would be cluttered, but I figured that baby’s nap time and after she went to bed would be when all of the toys would get picked up and the dishes would get washed. Now, I understand that the only way that will happen is when the house cleaning fairy frees up some time and makes a special visit. Oh, and speaking of clean, I have come to understand that I cannot change her clothes all of the times throughout the day that they get dirtied up, and if it can’t be tossed into the laundry with all of the other colors and cleaned in warm water, then don’t get it. I have learned that Momnesia is a real thing, and have had to make several trips to the grocery store forgetting one or more items, and have repeatedly left my wallet in her diaper bag at daycare. I guess the biggest lesson I have learned through Year One has been to just take everything, like my daughter, one step at a time, and laugh as we go. This first year has not just gone by fast - it has evaporated. We have made it through this year with smiles on our faces, smudged with mystery goo, and I know that this is just the first loop in the learning adventure called growing up.

Our wish for you is to have an exciting, healthy, and fruitful New Year! We love each and every one of you!!!

Brandon, Jennifer, & Olivia