2017 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

This year, if I am really honest, was about keeping my head above water.  LX started Kindergarten, both kids started a new daycare, and we took some time to get adjusted in our new (August 2016) home.  I guess I can't really remember a year when I was quite this busy.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I didn't really make any last year, but I still need to work on my diet and exercise.  I did read a decent amount, but I did not maintain my blog for the last 2 years.

My resolution for 2018 (as in all years prior) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve.  I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year.  I have some really great women in my life, and they are all just as busy as I am.  I hope to log more hours laughing and connecting with them this year.  And as always, spend more time with my wonderful husband. 

3. What places did you visit? 

Vermont, North Carolina and Maine

4. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

I have said this before, but I would really like to have traveled more. The year LX was born, I travelled every month but two. While I know that is not realistic, travel truly feeds my soul and I need it. 

***I would like us to move a bit further south so that we can be closer to family and friends, but for now, we will see what the future holds.*** We did this! My commute is pretty long, but I am so happy in our home.

5. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?
9/6:  LX began Kindergarten

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 
Staying sane?  Between world events and being a working mom, stress was high this year.  I am hoping for a more Zen 2018.

7. What were your biggest failures?

 Blogging and reading! There just isn't time. By the end of the day, I just crash on the couch with lame TV.  

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No :-)

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

LX and I took a solo trip to NC, I saw my sisters a fair amount, having 2 kids who sleep, etc.

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

poorer

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish Dave and I took more time together as date nights.  I miss my hubs sometimes as we are in the throes of parenting.  

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

Gossip Girl
Friends
Game of Thrones
Transparent
NFL

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2017?

My in-laws were here for the weekend working on the house, so we spent time with them and ordered in.  On Sunday, Dave, the kids, and I went for lunch at my favorite local pub for wings.

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017?

To try to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are with.  I am someone who is always chasing the next big thing, but there is a lot to be said for accepting where I am, especially since it is pretty great.

16.  My goals for 2018:   

Be present, say thank you, love more!

Happy New Year!

2017 in Books

So it has been 2 years...Ha!

2017 in Books:

Pretty Girls, Karen Slaughter (re-read)

Small Great Things, Jodi Piccoult

Lies and Other Acts of Love, Kristy Woodson Harvey

The Storied Life of AJ Fickery, Gabrielle Zevin

In the Unlikely Event, Judy Bloom

Lyddie, Katherine Patterson (re-read)

Bullseye, James Patterson

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman

Never, Never James Patterson

Guest Room, Chris Bohjalian

Invisible, James Patterson

The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson

Most Dangerous Place, James Grippando

The Call of the Wild, Jack London

Wonder, RJ Palacio

Run Alex Cross, James Patterson

French Kiss, James Patterson

Behind Closed Doors, B.A. Paris

First to Die, James Patterson

2015 Year in Review

2015 Year in Review (only months late!)

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?

This year I became a mother to our Cecilia!  Having two kids has been zany and amazing at the same time.  Lucas is just the best big brother, and I love these two so much more than I ever imagined.

Also, I ran 175 miles!  I started getting serious about running in May, and I just kept at it.  I really found peace while running, and it got me through some anxious times this year.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I didn't really make any last year, but I still need to work on my diet and exercise.  I did read a decent amount, but I did not really maintain my blog.

My resolution for 2016 (as in 2013, 2014 and 2015) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve.  And also to not let the decisions of others make me angry.  I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year. 

3. What places did you visit? 

North Carolina, Maine, Vermont, Florida (Disney!!!!), Pennsylvania (Sesame Street Place)

4. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

I have said this before, but I would really like to have traveled more. The year LX was born, I travelled every month but two. While I know that is not realistic, travel truly feeds my soul and I need it. 

I am so happy to be a family of four.  Having our daughter join us was the absolute highlight of our year!

I would like us to move a bit further south so that we can be closer to family and friends, but for now, we will see what the future holds.

5. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory?
Summer: Amanda moved to Raleigh

8/5: We got THE CALL
8/9: Cecilia was born
8/22: LX turned 3
12/15: Cecilia's adoption was finalized

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 

First, we as a family have adjusted pretty well to our newest addition.  I can say that the first 6 months were nightmarish at times, but life has really settled into a nice routine.  Lucas has grown in his role as "big brother," and Dave and I still like each other!  Kidding aside, the transition from one child to two was much more difficult than I expected, even though everyone warned me.

I have been lucky to take the school year off to be home with both kids as I did when Lucas came home.  It has been such a great bonding experience, and most days are a lot of fun.

  
7. What were your biggest failures?

 Blogging and reading! There just isn't time. By the end of the day, I just crash on the couch with lame TV.  

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No :-)

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

SO many new firsts with Cecilia.  While we are STILL waiting for her to sleep through the night, it has been so fun having a baby again.  The gummy grins are the best. 

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

poorer

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish Dave and I took more time together as date nights.  I miss my hubs sometimes as we are in the throes of parenting.  

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

House of Cards
The Wire
Game of Thrones
Transparent
The Good Wife
NFL

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2015?

On my actual birthday, I went on a field trip to an apple orchard with Lucas!  It was so much fun.  It was his first one, and he was so excited.  Honestly, I can't say who was more excited between the two of us.  I also bought a new car the week of my birthday.  Like last year, we went to Naturefest, and my parents joined us.

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015?

To try to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are with.  I am someone who is always chasing the next big thing, but there is a lot to be said for accepting where I am, especially since it is pretty great.

16.  My goals for 2016:   

Be present, say thank you, love more!

Happy New Year!

2015 in Books

• Pretty Girls, Karin Slaughter
• Second Life, S. J. Watson
• We Were Liars, E. Lockhart
• Murder at Beechwood, Alyssa Maxwell
• Leaving Time, Jodi Piccoult
• The First Wife, Erica Spindler
• The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan
• Mindset, Carol Dweck
• The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
• Bright Young Things, Anna Godberson
• Blood on the River: James Town, 1607, Elisa Carbone
• The Lost Wife, Alyson Richman
• The Winter People, Jennifer McMahon
• The Tragedy Paper, Elizabeth Laban
• Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

LX is 3!

Can you believe he is 3??? We simply cannot.  Lucas is the coolest guy.  He loves telling jokes and calls himself "the joke man." He is getting sillier by the day.  He is also learning so much. He now can play board games; memory is his favorite.  He likes to do "workbooks" for fun, lol. He knows all of his letters and he can recognize most of them by sight. He is asking really good questions and is quite the conversationalist. He loves to know why about everything, and his memory is amazing. He is especially good at location memory. He was able to tell Dave's dad how to drive to his day care! 

For his birthday this year, we did a few neat things.  We took him to an airplane museum where you can go in the old war planes. He was in heaven. He is really into all modes of transportation, but especially planes and helicopters. On his birthday, he was invited to a school friend's birthday party so we did that.  Both sets of grandparents came to see him also. His Mickey Mouse party was today at a local park. We had our families and about 6 of his friends there. He picked out the cupcakes, and he was SO excited about eating them. He was so excited about all of his presents too. He said "cupcakes" were his favorite part of the party.

Lucas, you are one in a million. I am so lucky to be your mommy.

We have a daughter!

This post is nearly 4 months late, but we have a daughter!  She is the absolute joy of our day and the perfect addition to our family.  We learned about her, and one week later we brought her home.

We got THE CALL on a Wednesday.  We set up a phone call with her sweet birth mom for Friday.  We met both of her birth parents on Saturday. She was born at 5:55 am on Sunday.  It happened so fast that there was barely time to think or process any of it.  It wasn't until we were home (heck, sometimes I still can't believe that she is here) that it started to set in.

Here is our sweet girl, Cecilia Kate:

Maine Vacation

Sorry I have been so delinquent. I plan to get back here this summer.  We spent almost a week in Maine, and it was great!  We had some beach time, some family time, and some down time.

Here are some photos from our trip.

Lucas at the York Zoo with his favorite animal.

Love this guy

Being silly in the hotel courtyard

Beach time!

This is his "cheese" face.  It is cheesy.