2008 in 450 words

1.  Single best thing that happened this year: Growing as a family

2.  Unexpected Joy: Watching AJ's independence grow exponentially

3.  Unexpected obstacle: AJ's independence grow exponentially

4.  Three words to describe 2008: Blessed, Busy, Fertile

5.  How Andy would describe our 08: high-maintenance, hormonal, rewarding

6.  How Andy would describe his 08: intense, fulfilling, exhausting

7.  Best books of the year: Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer 

8.  Most valuable relationships: Jess, Andy, AJ, Kate, all family, my teammates, my students

9.  Biggest personal change: more emphasis on being mommy, not career woman

10.  Emotional Growth: 

• AJ has taught me to be more humble as the sporadically tantrums flailing wildly on the floor in public places or screams, "I POOP!" in the grocery line
  
• AJ has taught me to appreciate the little things in life as he squeals with joy at watching the trash truck load our weekly trash or leaps to the doors screaming with happiness as daddy gets home...my students have taught me to remain passionate about small moments that create our strongest memories like sounds of laughter and smell of cupcakes at a birthday party
• AJ has taught me to love more unconditionally as he always offers his hand to hold or comes running enthusiastically arms open for a hug and lips puckered up for a kiss-kiss
• AJ and Abby have taught be to never take our health for granted

11.  Spiritual Growth:  Expressing more gratitude

12.  Growth  in relationships: being a better listener

13.  Most enjoyable moments at home:

• Walking down the stairs with AJ's soft hand wrapped tightly around my finger
• Eating breakfast with AJ in our pj's eagerly awaiting the day's adventures
• Laughing with Andy as we watch AJ develop and express his opinion and passions about his perceptions of the world
• That split second that AJ squeezes his little arms a little tighter around me right before he lets go from his hug
• AJ's kiss on the lips, followed by an Eskimo kiss as he excitedly says, "noses!" and then turns his head to get his kiss on the check before running off
• Reading stories snuggled up in AJ's toddler bed with five blankets and eight stuffed animals as he rests his head on my shoulder
• Getting my last peek at AJ asleep like an angel right before going to bed...everything in the world aligns for perfect night's sleep

14.  Best use of time in 08:  playing with little dude as a family

15.  Biggest realization this year:  It doesn't matter how much you think you have prepared...kids are just unpredictable.

16.  To sum up 2008: Another year of amazing and abundant blessings