Hope everyone had a wonderful end to 2011, and a positive beginning to 2012. I realize I’m a bit late posting a new year’s post, but when have I ever been on time for anything?
Never. {Ok, not completely true. Last weekend I worked in nursery at church and was there 2 minutes before the recommended time!}
I think I’ll go out on a limb and say that 2011 was my most favorite year of life to date.
Yes, there have been great years before—2008 comes to mind, since we got married and all that jazz—but the year our first child was born trumps them all. In fact, I think it was a little over a year ago that we announced to the world {i.e.: Facebook} that we were expecting. So, basically the entire year was spent preparing for and caring for little Elise, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Each month in 2011 had its very own ‘favorite’ event that I will always look back on fondly:
january
baby makes first official appearance…{via bump}.
february
enjoyed a ‘babymoon’ in Hawaii, including hiking up Diamond Head….{exhausting}.
march
apparently a pretty uneventful month as we have few pictures….ooh, but I did get my favorite childhood book sent to me!
april
baby shower in KC with some of my best friends….{and babies!}
may
2nd baby shower that both Grandmas attended.
june
we waited ever so (im)patiently for baby to arrive…{and waited…and waited…}
july
best. day. of. my. life.
august
took the wee one on a very memorable {and long} road trip.
september
met my tiny nephew for the very first time.
october
visits from lovely ladies.
november
Thanksgiving on Orcas Island with friends.
december
our first Christmas as a family of three.
So much has changed over the past year, it’s actually kind of difficult for me to remember what life was like when I had all that free time to do whatever I wanted to do.
I’m not a resolution person, but I do like to have things to aim for in life, so here’s what I’m hoping 2012 brings:
1. Help Elise learn to crawl, walk, and talk.
2. A vacation for just the hubby and I. {Somewhere warm, perhaps? And somewhere I can just relax. We’ve gone on vacations this year, but not a single one has been relaxing for me. 
}
3. More visits to see Grandpa & Grandma H in Idaho.
4. Spend some quality time with Grandpa & Grandma S, my brother, sis-in-law & nephew. And have Elise meet the rest of her great aunts & uncles at some point.
—possibly take Elise to spend a week on the farm during the summer.
5. Run {at least one each of} a 5K, 10K & half marathon.
6. Read the bible more and get back into a SHARE group.
7. Learn how to do something new {and do it well}:
—sign language, French/German/Russian, sewing with a machine, and/or yoga.
8. Develop the perfect quiche recipe.
9. Start up my design biz, for real this time. (http://www.etsy.com/people/sweetonedesigns …..sitting idle for 3 years)
10. Turn 30 with a smile on my face.
Yeah, I think that’s a solid starting point for me. At some point I’ll merge these with my ’30 before 30′ list.
Thank you for letting me share 2011 with you. Cheers to 2012, and all that lies ahead!
