Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning's End

Wow – it’s 2012.  I think I’ve been avoiding this post for a bit, not because we didn’t have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s (which we did!), but because I really feel like we’re closing one of the most crucial, pivotal, significant, thrilling, anxious and magnificent chapters (at least so far) we’ve written in our lives.  2011 brought a second splendid little baby into our lives who completed our family.  It was most likely the last year I’ll ever be pregnant.  We put 0-3 month baby clothes away for the last time. We setup a crib, saw our first smile, cut our first tooth and heard our first laugh for the last time. I guess we always thought (hoped and prayed) that we would have another child after Sean so, although I was teary at times, putting his “baby” things away and transitioning him into new stages was exciting for us and we couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next.  This time around though, it’s like you want to freeze time.  Sean is almost two-and-a-half.  He’s talking up a storm, already has (many of) his own thoughts, ideas and opinions.  He already tries to get away with calling me “Mom” (not to fear, I told him he was waaayyy too young not to call me Mommy).  He is growing up so fast and you realize how precious each day is and how quickly it passes.  Now I don’t want to get all dreary here, I mean the post title does talk about New Beginnings, right? So, although 2011 held a lot of magic, I think 2012 will hold equally as much, just in different ways.  We’ll get to see our first sitting alone (soon.very very soon….), our first crawl, a first airplane ride and maybe even a first step or a first word.  Sean will probably go to his first preschool class, ride on the boat alone with his daddy and catch his first crab.  So although I’m sad to see 2011 go, I’m excited for all of the new beginnings 2012 has in store for us.  “Here’s to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here’s to the things that are yet to come, and the memories that we hold.”

Ok, so let’s see some pictures!!  Christmas kicked off in Charlotte with Emmi!

Then we made cookies (and yes, my chocolate chip cookies were made from store-bought cookie dough this year… but I promise the crinkles were homemade!) and set them out for Santa along with a letter asking for a few special things.

Afterwards we drove up to Richmond for the week with Grandaddy, Grandma, Aunt ‘Chelle, Uncle Marshall and Aunt Megan. We were fortunate to see a lot of John’s family, too, who made trips to Richmond to see all of us!

Finally, Pop Pop and GG were in Charlotte waiting for us with a stocked wine fridge and Polly picked up from daycare.  Score! We had a great time playing with new toys, celebrating  the new year and hanging out in our almost-finished backyard project!

Our love to family and friends we couldn’t be with over the holiday season. Let 2012 begin!