First of all, if you’re weak willed, scare easily and tend to believe in superstitions (like me) then it’s a bad idea watching a show about the world ending in 2012 during History Channel’s “Armageddon Week”.

Second of all, this was a tough way to end the year- with a funeral. I haven’t ended a year like this since 1996, let’s hope the next time is a lot farther away.

This year has been good to us. We didn’t have much to complain about, we had few sicknesses and spent so much time with family and friends. Speaking of friends, this year I met my first mom friend who wasn’t a friend first. I’ve never really had a relationship like that, where the first thing we had in common was children- something that forever changes. So it’ll be interesting to see where this one goes, since it’s unlikely they’ll end up in the same preschool (but we hope the friendship continues!).

This year we got to really know Piper, to recognize the little girl she is growing to be. Just ten minutes ago my Dad was asking if we wake her up to wish her happy new year (which I was totally like, “WHAT? YOU CRAZY, NO.”, and he realized this isn’t just her second year passing by. Nope, she spent New Years in 2009 wide awake with no idea what was going on. Last year she had just gotten sleep trained and there was no way in her she was going to be awake, this year it was routine as usual, and bedtime a little later. Just today she counted to ten (minus four and seven, many many times), and it’s like, whoa, our baby isn’t just saying words, she’s COUNTING. She was counting her blueberries at dinnertime, after stacking them. Yesterday, no joke, we were getting her out of the car at the memorial and she counted to five (WITH the four included). Then, today, we get to ten (almost)? What??

This year we’ve said goodbye to family members we cherished, grew closer as a family, and got to know ourselves a little better, too. I got my learner’s permit, and went driving, and I hope to be a fully licensed citizen by next May (hopefully before that). This year things changed a bit, Piper stopped coming to work with me as much, and as much as it hurt me I saw it for the great thing it was for all involved. I am so thankful we cruised through 2011 without many tears and pain, and I am hopeful 2012 brings the same.

I hope 2012 has a baby in the works for us, I hope it’s more prosperous, and I hope our love is multiplied. I wish for peace and health for all our loved ones, and I hope their dreams are fulfilled and/or realized.

I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!

My Family