Every year, we celebrate the end of the year with the birth of our beautiful Miss B. It's a beautiful way to end the year and begin the new one. Motherhood wasn't something we planned. Infact it was quite a shock to us, but when M and I look back at our 4 years together, we can't imagine life any other way.
2010 was a year that at times, felt to drag on. But we spent it all together, in good company and with great friends and family. So there can't be too much to complain about.
Katie, over at Sluiter Nation, does awesome Top Ten Tuesday posts that model David Letterman's top ten list. I love it and love reading her ideas and lists. She also gives her readers the opportunity to link up and write their own top ten lists. What a great idea. I've been wanting to join in on the fun for awhile and today seems like a good week to do it.
So here it is...
Mama Heada's Top 10 of 2010
10. I became a Blogger
I kickstarted January 1st, 2010 off by once again entering the blogging world. In what feels like another life, years ago, I had various blogs that documented the daily sagas and dramas of my life. This time around I decided my blog needed to be my sanctuary. A place for me to get out my thoughts and feelings and just write. It's evolved over the year and I've linked up with some pretty cool ladies because of it. Some posts have been drama. Some I can't post because they aren't very nice. Some have been huge hits. It's a great place for me to "get away" to and I love all those that comment and follow along. Thanks for joining me for the sometimes bumpy, but fun ride!
9. We almost bought a house
We signed and and sent over an offer letter in the last days of December 2009 on a cute little three bedroom, 2 bath condo. We got the ball rolling, got into escrow and BOOM! Got slammed from the left and right with all sorts of drama from the sellers. We stayed in escrow for almost 6 months before finally canceling our offer, dropping out of escrow and instead moving out of my grandparent's home and renting a little house of our own. Everything turned out perfect. As it always does. And I learned that buying a house is a headache!
8. We rescued a new puppy
One of our dreams pups has always been a black lab. I would love to have two if I could. I imagine them galloping around playfully in our yard and letting Miss B and any other future children pull, tug, poke them without a care in the world. So one day while pursuing the thrifty girl's dream website (aka Craigslist), I just so happened to open up the Pet section to find an ad for a black lab puppies that were rescued from a litter of 10 before being dropped off at the shelter. The dad had accidentally impregnated the mom before they could get him neutered. The entire situation seemed like it may be too good to believe. I got in contact with the lady and low and behold, the dog was infact real and we could adopt her or her sister anytime. We would have taken them both if we could have but chose the spunky dog with the pink color and white patch of hair on her chest. And life as pet owners, has never been the same. We love her and are lucky to have her in our family. Not to mention is amazing with B.
7. Miss B started walking
It was St. Patrick's Day. After months of standing and teasing us with the idea of walking, the princess, at almost 15 months, got up and took off. And I've been trying to catch up ever since. Walking sure does make parenting a whole new ball game. Fun but oh, so tiring.
6. I lost my GG and watched other family's members health decline
Our biggest loss of 2010 was the loss of my Great Grandma Dorothy. We knew it was coming and even though we got to say our goodbyes, getting the text, processing the death and attending the funeral was difficult. I don't know that anyone is ever fully prepared to lose someone. And that loss made us realize that we are all surely getting older, including those that have been influential in both mine and M's lives. It's definitely been a process as we prepare that time is precious and if not a visit, then just even a phone call is important. Life is short. Time is fleeting.
5. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety
Likely caused by the wave of hormones after pregnancy and decreases in breastfeeding, I began battling high anxiety in late 2009. It didn't take me long to realize, this was a problem. What I didn't realize was that it was going to be a longterm problem. With the anxiety came depression. And when the depression subsided the anxiety would come back. It seems like a neverending cycle. Will it ever end? I don't know. I can only take one day at a time. (Currently working on this)
4. My best friend's getting married!
He was the one. The proposal was imminent. I knew it. I could just feel it. So it was no surprise when my dearest and oldest friend called me at 1A to excitedly spill the news. I didn't answer that night but when I called her back the next day, the first words out of my mouth were, "You're engaged aren't you?!?!" And indeed she was. Tears flowed down my face and continued to roll down my face when she asked me to be her Matron of Honor and for Miss B to be her flower girl. I couldn't imagine supporting her in any other way. And wedding planning got into full swing.
And not only her, but we celebrated other friends and family members weddings, pregnancies, graduations, promotions, births, job changes, moves, etc with many other friends as well. Sometimes it's just as joyous to watch your dearest friends live their life and support them through it all as it is to live it yourself.
3. We went to the Happiest Place on Earth
For the second year in a row, we were lucky enough to be able to visit the happiest place on Earth; Disneyland. We packed in everything we could, rode all the rides, got to see the Christmas parade and the park lit up and decorated for the holidays. What a fun family day. And even better, my mom and brother joined us as well.
Other fun memories of the year, trips to the aquarium, bike rides around the park and along the Santa Ana river, park picnics, afternoons spent swinging in the swings, a day at the zoo, etc. We have a million fun memories.
2. Celebrating M's new job
After almost a year and a half of searching high and low for a job with a little more stability, the job market and opportunities were looking bleak. We decided there was nothing to do but go with the flow. Until one day I found a company online. It was a huge company about 15 miles from home (compared to his 100+ mile a day commute) that would be an amazing opportunity for M. I had my fingers crossed when I submitted the resume for M, not even telling him about it. Low and behold, a little over a week later we found out the person hiring for the position was actually someone we were acquainted with. The interview process was short and sweet and a few weeks later, M was blessed with an amazing senior position, with a short commute, great benefits and a 20% pay raise. Life has a great way of always working it self out I guess.
1. Our first family trip to Hawaii
When M and I started dating and eventually got married, we weren't faced with the dilemma of how to divide our holidays equally with our family. Infact it was more like, how are we going to afford to go see the other family at all? It was a difficult and being in Hawaii didn't make it much easier. Airfare was expensive and the outlook was bleak. We were close to M's family and mine was 2500+ miles away. The fact was that we were divided. Life changed quickly and a year after we had started dating, 6 months after we got married, we were 6 wks pregnant, packed up and shipping out to CA, where we'd be closer to my family. We planned to visit when we could. But realistically, it never worked out. Until this year. When I finally told M, it's time to use the money we have and go. We'll have a great time and it's time. And you know what, it was an amazing vacation and it was great to visit with everyone and introduce B to our other home.
Honorable Mention:
1. My baby turned 1
We kicked off 2010 as we leave and kickstart every year with the celebration of B's birthday. One of the funnest things about 2010 was the journey into toddlerhood. Talking, tantrums, baby giggles, independence, etc. Life is never dull, that's to say the least.
And there you have it. My top 10 of 2010. Now time to go snuggle up with my love, enjoy my glass of bubbly and take a shower at midnight to cleanse myself and start my year off so fresh and so clean.
Happy New Year my friends!
Much love,
I LOVE it, LOVE IT!
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