The end of a Year

2010 comes to an end in one day. I cannot believe that a whole year has gone by. It has literally felt like I blinked and it was over. So many things have happened this year. So many emotions and events have taken place in these 365 days.

January was a sad month. Andy's mom, a wonderful, loving and hilarious woman, was very ill. She had been sick for much of the latter part of 2009. On January 27 Virginia Ann passed away. It was a very hard month for Andy and his family and the days since then have been met with a silent sadness. I miss her very much and wish so much that Ann could have met Ava. I will make sure to tell her stories of her Grandma Ann with the huge heart and hilarious sense of humor. I'm glad Ava's daddy has her Grandma's sense of humor.

February was met with birth and new life. One week from Ann's passing my niece, Hazel Jane Anderson was brought into this world. A beautiful magnificent gift.
12 days later I found out I was pregnant. Wha?
That was quite the Valentine's Day gift. Surprise! Who would have ever thought?!
It was a very overwhelming couple of months here at the Dolwick house.

March brought the Michigan Haidle's. It's always so great to see them. I wish we could see them more often than once a year. That trip was met with celebrations and introductions. Kelli certainly has a way with babies...Hazel was as happy as she could be in her Aunt Kelli's arms.

April. I turned 37. Big Whoop. Next.

May. I started my babysitting job with Hazel. This was the beginning of a 3 month period in my life that I will cherish forever. I am so very thankful for those days and the time that I got with just Hazel. It was helpful, educational, magical, hilarious and it made me happy that I could help Katie and Dave. May also brought the end of my working for the next 4 months. I was put on "bed rest" because I have aa short cervix. They thought I might go into premature labor. BWHAAAHAHAHAHA! Whatever.
So that will take care of June, July and August. Not much going on those months. Just spending time with Hazel, progressively getting bigger and bigger and being broke as a joke. (whatever that saying means)

September. Aaaah. The beautiful month of September. Great songs about September. Great people born in September. One in particular...Ava Virginia Dolwick. 9/29/2010. 7.15 lbs. 21 inches. Born at 1:15 on a Tuesday afternoon. Man. What a day that was.
Ouch.

November. MOM MOVED DOWN!!!!! What a great early Christmas present. Mom moved down the week after Thanksgiving. I know it was a hard move for her. She has been with Sam and Kelli for 9 years. It was a very emotional time for all of them but I am so thankful and so happy to have her here. I love love love that Ava will be able to grow up around Grandma and Grampa. It makes my heart smile! Also in November Drew became a teenager. She had her 13th birthday!!!! Scott and Tina came down to see Ava and celebrate with Drew. I can't believe she is 13. She is so mature. She is such a funny girl. She is very witty and very smart.

And now......the end of a year. My baby is 3 months! 3 MONTHS!!!! My darling little niece is going to be 11 months in 2 days! What in tarnation?! Drew is 13! She is a teenager. She has a boyfriend, for like 6 months now?! Christmas was a blast. It was a strange holiday season....it just never felt like Christmas until Christmas Day. We were all sick for most of the month, Andy and I never got a tree, I had to work on Christmas Eve, Drew was sick and none of us spent the night at Katie's. So strange. Babies sure do take up alot of your time. We broke a family record and opened presents until 10:03.... broke the record by 3 minutes. Not really because of all the gifts but because we took about 25 "breaks". Drew was beside herself. She was quite the trooper. She was a pretty patient 13 year old.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I am not working for the first time in 10 years. I'm in unfamiliar territory. I'm not sure what we will do but what ever it is it will be perfect because I will be with the people I love.