Early 2010 started off with a bang as 2 days into the New Year we celebrated a 2nd birthday of our favorite little girl. It's hard to believe that this time last year we were getting ready to celebrate with a 2 yr old and in 2 days we will be ringing in the New Year with a 3 YR OLD!
The late spring/early summer brought us on our first out of the country trip for us as a family of 3. We visited Turks and Caicos. After a fiasco getting there due to a delayed flight we found out several things:
1) My child rocks and hung in there for a total of 20 hrs between getting up in Dallas and hitting the sack in Beaches.
2) Beaches is by far one of the best places to take children of young ages. Lexie had an absolute BLAST!
3) We hung out, ate and did whatever we wanted to do at our own place without cell phones, internet, computers or any other distractions for an entire week.
This was by far an experience we will never forget. We all 3 had a good time!
The middle of 2010 brought some major changes in our house. After several months of "discussions" I decided to quit my job and stay at home with Lexie. My heart was just no longer in my job. I went to work b/c that's what I DID not b/c that's what I wanted to do. This was a major decision as we were not only cutting back to one income in our household but Lexie was accustomed to being around tons of kids all day everyday. She and I both adjusted pretty easily and I wouldn't give the world for the last 6 months that I've had with her. We went in playdates, to movies, to the park, to zoos etc. You name it and we did it. Lexie and I grew to know each other in a way that I never would have imagined. We often napped together in her cool (dark!) room and as I laid there listening to her snoring (like her daddy) I thought to myself "Thank you God for allowing me this opportunity". We have had the best time together.
Towards the end of 2010 Ryan and I started discussing something that we have talked about on and off for about 8 yrs (since we graduated from college). I have always wanted to go back to school to become an RN. I briefly met someone at Tech one day and we discussed me doing this before we even got married. However, Ryan moved over here and then we got married and had Lexie and it just wasn't an option at that time. After reviewing all of our finances, daycare, etc and spending lots of time talking and praying about it, we decided that I would be able to return back to school this spring. I spent the last 1/2 of the summer/early fall getting all of my info together (shot records, transcripts etc). I have a couple of pre-requisite classes to take in the Spring and will hopefully be applying to Nursing school in the Fall 2010. Lexie will start back full time in preschool/daycare on Monday and as excited as I am about school I'm sad to see her go back. Of course on the days that I don't have late classes I will be picking her up early (you know right after naptime/snack) and hanging out with her. I want to be able to use my mornings for studying/classes and all the time I possibly can to devote to her in the afternoons. She is so excited to go back to daycare. All last week she talked and talked about how she was now going to get to see her friends "all day long" and not just in the mornings at preschool. I know she has missed her friends!
The end of 2010 has brought some sadness to our life. My mom's brother passed away on Christmas Eve and we attended the funeral this past Tuesday. While my brain knows that he is in a better place and not hurting, my heart doesn't feel the same way. My heart is broken for my Aunt, cousin and my "niece". On the way home from the funeral my mom was very emotional as this makes the 2nd sibling that she has lost in the last 2 1/2 yrs in addition to my grandmother that we lost 7 yrs ago. As we drove back and listened to her tell me how much she missed her mother and sister and would miss her brother my heart was literally breaking. I hated not being able to "fix" the pain that she was experiencing.
With the final day of 2010 drawing to a close I am thankful for so many things. I'm thankful for the wonderful friends and family that I have. I am thankful for the awesome husband that I have that constantly tells me that his one goal in life is to make sure that Lexie and I are happy. Human nature in general is selfish and I am proud to say that my husband is awesome and not selfish at all. I am so thankful that not only is my mom still with us but she is still thriving in a way I would have never imagined.
All 3 of us have grown so much in the last year. Lexie has gone from a toddler in diapers to a full grown 3 yr old that is in a constant state of learning. She continues to amaze us on a daily basis. I have discovered so much about myself and have made the time to take care of myself and my family and to actually sit down and enjoy life and those around me. Ryan has continued to amaze me with his never ending patience with a growing (sometimes disobedient and defiant) child and continues to love us unconditionally. He is also thriving at his job and I am so proud of all the hard work he does to provide for our family.
Today on the last day of the year and as we celebrate many ups and downs I look forward to what 2011 will bring us! I didn't include any pics in this post so I'll leave you with this cute picture. This is Lexie styling in her new present that Santa brought her!
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