2009 in Review

2009 was a very difficult year for our family, but from this past year I have learned a lot.

I thought last New Years eve that I was on top of the world. I have the perfect family and great friends. I was so excited to see what the new year would bring us. I wish I could have seen into a crystal ball....this past year was very difficult. It all started when my Brother-in-law left for Afghanistan in January. My sister and I drifted apart during his deployment..which I regret deeply. I went back to school in February to a complete mess! "My" room was not mine. I spent the most part of my February break trying to make it mine. In April, I lost a very dear friendship. It was the most difficult time in my life and I made it through it with flying colors but many of my relationships with people have been strained. Summertime was great. We spent most of the summer as a family. We did many activities and we always looked forward to spending our days with the kids. It was a great summer. In September, Justin got injured in Afghanistan and when we heard he a traumatic brain injury we were very worried. He still have the TBI but is working hard to get back to himself. During his recovery, they suffered a great loss. They had a fire in their apartment and lost most of their personal belongings. It was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed. Things have started to look up for our whole family in December when we celebrated Brady's 1st birthday and our whole family was able to get together on Christmas to celebrate the holidays. It was one of the greatest days of this entire year.

2009 has taught me many things. One thing I have learned is that my family is the most important thing in my life. Everyone has rallied together and been a great support system for us. I learned that my daughter has the greatest eyes and when I see them they tell me that everything is going to be ok. I learned that my son has the greatest smile, when I see it I know that everything is going to be ok. I learned that people are not always what they appear to be and that is ok because as long as I am true to myself and my family that is all that matters in this world.

I am ready to see what 2010 brings us. I am excited to see what it brings us! Bring on 2010!!! WE are ready!

Pre-New Years Party

Since Eric has to work tonight, we decided to invite the Mandigo's over for a pre-New Years celebration. It was a great night filled with lots of laughs and great food! The kids all played great together. We played some Wii and it was the first time either Jeff or Tresea had ever played Wii. We had a lot of fun creating Tresea's Mii. (See Pic above!) Happy New Years Everyone!

Christmas Favs!

Christmas 2009 In Pics!

Brady's First Birthday Party

We had Brady's first birthday party here at our house with our family and a few friends. It was a great day! He wasn't so sure about opening presents...He would rip a piece of paper off and then throw it, but then be distracted by a toy and walk away. I ended up opening most of his gifts for him.

The cake was the best part though as it usually is. When we started singning to him he got all big eyed and then sat back in his chair and stared at everyone. When we put the cake in front of him he dug in and he kept saying, "MMMMMM" It was priceless!When he was all done I had to carry him into the bathroom and strip him and I threw him into the bath. He got cake EVERYWHERE!! When his bath was done, he got to play with Thatcher for a bit and then it was time for a nap! We all had a great time!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Hope its a good one!

Morgin Vrs. Brady

Brady had his 1 year appointment the other day. He weighed 22lbs 15 oz. and was 31 3/4 inches long. So that got me curious as to Morgin's stats and how much bigger Brady is than Morgin and I was shocked when I looked in her baby book. Morgin was 8lbs 3oz when she was born and at her 12 month appointment she was 21 lbs 5 oz and 30 1/2 inches long. Even though Brady was a whole pound and a half more than Morgin...he is not as big as I would have expected him to be! He is just really tall!

Happy First Birthday Brady Boy!

My Favorite Picture!
Morgin's First Time Meeting You!
You and Morgin on Your First Christmas
Your First Valentine's Day
First Time in the Jumperoo
Your First Easter
Handsome Mets Fan!



Dear Brady,
A year ago today you entered our family. It was the greatest day of my life. When I found out I was pregnant for you I was over the moon. I knew from that moment that this is what I put on Earth to do, to be yours and Morgin's Mommy. When you were born, you looked exactly like your sister and after a very long day I was very relieved to finally meet you...my boy! Morgin has been a very good sister to you and you are very lucky to have her! You fit into our family so well and it feels like you have always been here. This has the fastest year of my life. I have watched you grow from an infant completely dependent upon us to a little toddler that can get and do what he wants to do. Your smile brightens my day. When I come get you from Lori's and I hear you yell MaMa from across the room, I melt. You are the missing puzzle piece to our family and now we are complete. I love you with all of my heart and soul, My baby boy! I thank God everyday for you and I am so glad that you joined our small quaint little family. We all love you! Have a great day!
Love,
Mommy

Brave Girl

Today Morgin had her second set of tubes put in and her adenoids removed. She was very brave! I was really worried that she would have a hard time being taken away from us. She surprised us and walked right back to the OR with no problems! I guess once she got into the room is when that changed. But the surgery went off with a hitch and she was brought back into the 1st recovery room, where she was so upset that they called me back to calm her down. She did not like having the IV in her arm what so ever! She was more upset about the IV than she was about anything else. I got her calmed down and then she was transferred to the 2nd recovery room, which is where Eric joined us. In the second recovery room she did well until she started to get sick. So we had to stay a bit longer to make sure she was ok. We were eventually discharged! We are so proud of her and how brave she was! It has to be really scary to go to sleep and wake up in a strange place with strangers all around you. Way to go Morgs! Hopefully this is the last time she needs tubes! or any other surgery as well!

Gingerbread Men

Morgin got a box of Gingerbread men for her birthday and so today we pulled them out and decorated them. It was great to do a Mommy and Morgin project. She had a blast adding teeth to the men's mouth and I think she ate more of the candies than she put on the gengerbread men!She even came to me afterwards and put her head on my shoulder and told me "I love you Mommy!" I am so glad that we can spend a lot of time together. She is growing into such a smart and fun little girl! She is growing so fast!

Breakfast with Santa

This morning we went to Breakfast with Santa at Applebee's. Morgin was so excited! She told me in the car that she was going to be good because she didn't want Santa to take her presents away! It was super cute! We got pancakes and bacon and juice. Morgin really enjoyed looking all around trying to find Santa and I am pretty sure she ate NOTHING! but that is OK because she had such a great time. Brady would not go anywhere near Santa but was completely mesmerized by him. He would stare at him from a great distance but the second he got close Brady would start crying. It was a great family outing...minus one important person...We missed you Eric! It really sucks that you have to work on Christmas this year...but like everything else we will make it through and make the best of it!

Mean Mommy!

Brady has been really cute lately. When ever he gets upset, he lays down on the floor and rolls around in slow motion and cries! It is so funny to watch because he looks like a really bad actor trying to recreate a sad scene. So I thought I would document it in picture form so that someday I can be reminded of him acting at such young age.