Well, I'll get onto my post. I'm going to fill you all in (or just remind myself, seeing as I don't think many people read this!) of the highs from this past year. In all honesty, it was a tough year, but reflecting on all the wonderful high points we had reminds me of just how many sweet, sweet moments we experienced. We are indeed a very blessed family. Here goes!
1) Our "Little Girl" turned 1!
This is obviously an exciting, proud moment for any parent, but this celebration meant a lot to me for more than just the usual reasons. The first year was hard for me. Like really hard. Many people told me before having Felicity that the first few months are difficult. Yes, the first few months were really difficult, but so were the 9 others that followed. I struggled with blues and some serious physical pain (thus creating a lot of grumpiness and anxiety!) for quite some time. Her birthday seemed to be a turning point for me. She started walking around the time she turned 1 and that meant she didn't need to be carried anymore. I love (almost more than anything) to hold and squeeze and carry that girl, but my back needed a break and finally got one when she started walking. Walking for her also meant that she was discharged from Physical Therapy! After about 10 months of hard work from her and us on her neck (she had torticollis!), she was finally discharged and has done great ever since! Thank you, Lord! I am seriously grateful for every second (even the most difficult ones) I have with this little gift. Words just can't describe my love for her!
Practicing walking in the back yard! I just can't get enough of that face!
2) We Bought a House!
After many months of searching, we were so blessed to find that a house I'd been admiring for almost a year had brought down its price multiple times! It thus became a great deal for us, and it was in the same neighborhood that we'd been living in and had come to love so much. Daniel works about 1 mile from home and gets to come home to eat, play, and rest with us during most of his lunch breaks! We love getting to see him in the middle of the day and I especially love when our schedules allow us to all share lunch together.
We love our little home and feel it is perfect for us. Little and quaint, just like we've always wanted! I love the big windows, hardwood floors, high ceilings, big back yard, and the little towns and BIG city that are so close. I love that our house is newer, yet looks like an older home. We're surrounded by a mix of newer houses and houses that were built almost 100 years ago, and I love being by all those older homes! Daniel never wanted an old house due to the upkeep, but I always wanted one because they are just so cute and charming! This house is a perfect compromise!
Kind of a weird picture, but it was hard to find one where our address wasn't shown!
Front porch picture on closing day
July 7 of 2011 marked 5 years of marriage for us! Words can't express just how special this day was to me. I loved reflecting on what the Lord has gotten us through and the fun times we've had. Daniel is SO FUN and I am so glad that he is my best friend who's stuck with me through these last several years. Thank you, Lord, for such a wonderful husband!
On our actual anniversary, we were preparing to leave for a trip to Chattanooga and then the beach, so we didn't really get to celebrate, so we made sure to celebrate at a later date....we had our first trip away from Felicity in October! This will totally sound like we copped out, but we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast in Atlanta, while she stayed with my parents in Marietta. It's not how it seems though! We did want to be somewhat close to her (no more than 2-3 hours away), but we had long talked about having a weekend for further enjoying and exploring our city. Daniel surprised me with a stay in a B&B in Midtown and it was just perfect. Such a good time together.
Taking a break from packing to enjoy Centennial Park as a family on our anniversary!
Walking back to our cute room at the B&B in October. We didn't stay in the cottage but in the room off the back of the house. Daniel picked a perfect place for us to stay!
Painting pottery together in the Highlands!
Antico pizza and cannolis in Piedmont Park? Yes, please!
Bike riding in Piedmont Park! Loving Atlanta!
4) We got to travel as a family! I love that Daniel's job allows him a 4-day weekend every month because that allows us to take trips together (and rest occasionally)! We took several trips this year starting in January- actually the day I came down with a double ear infection on top of a sinus infection and strep yikes!- when we went on a little family retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We stayed at a cabin for 3 nights and enjoyed a little bit of snow, the hot tub, lots of sleep, exploring and eating in Ellijay, journaling and prayer time, and good conversation. We really did do all of those wonderful things, but most of the time I was just sitting around resting and trying to recover while Daniel cooked some great comfort food and took care of the Little One. We didn't get many good pictures, but here are a couple:
Daddy and Baby cooking breakfast
Family photo as LG tried to get away!
Hammock time! Felicity hated the cold... we didn't stay out there for long!
Next up, we got to take 2 beach trips over the summer, and hardly had to pay a thing! We had a family reunion with my Dad's family in May or June (don't remember!) in Destin, FL. and then in July we went with Daniel's family (plus Millicent!) to um...another beach. Clearly I did not drive or I'd probably have a better idea of where we were (: I think it was a little bit outside of Destin??? It was fun to see how Felicity's development over the months in between changed how she enjoyed the beach. She was still learning to walk alone on the first trip and was much more independent on the second trip.
Family Reunion in Destin:
Checking out the ocean (I love the bright colors- we didn't plan that!)
Kiddos
Napping on G-Paw on the beach (:
And now some pictures from our trip with Daniel's family:
Behind a gas station on the way down there! We really enjoyed looking at the alligators during snack time!
Being independent after leaving the pool!
This cutie loved digging in the sand!
I just put this up because I totally feel like it looks I am acting like a celebrity trying to hide my face from the paparazzi. It cracks me up!
Outside of the reception
Giggles (:
Mommy and Daddy all dressed up and the little one in her jammies (Thanks Aunt Kristin for babysitting!)
And of course we can't forget our annual trip to Mountain Day at Berry! We have really come to cherish this trip at the beginning of each October. We love visiting and staying with old friends, exploring the campus, enjoying the outdoors, and of course the Brunswick stew (I so look forward to that every year!). Here are some pictures from our weekend with Martha:
Taking it all in
At the Old Mill
Well I'm going to have to leave it at that for now, because this post is getting out of control! I still have a couple more REALLY high points for 2011, so I'll have to find time to get to them soon!
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