One last Monday

The last Monday of 2010 made its big debut today. I can’t help but feel a little upset that this year is almost over. How is it that 361 days have flown by so quickly? I can think back to this time last year and remember the pure excitement I was feeling looking forward to ringing in the New Year with my husband and best friends. I was ready to have a few drinks, dance, laugh, and steal lots of sugar from my love. I knew that 2010 would be the best year of my life. There was absolutely no question about it. I would be marrying the love of my life, traveling to Alaska, and embarking on a wonderfully scary world of a newlywed. There was so much to look forward to…and so much that I couldn’t even begin to plan for.

Each year of my life has only gotten better. My friendships that I have maintained for 10+ years continue to flourish. I am so very lucky to have the girlfriends that I do. I don’t talk to them every single day (very, very close), but I know that if I ever needed anything all I would have to do is pick up the phone. Ryan and I have learned a lot about friendships and relationships during this year---whose matters, whose doesn’t, whose exceed all expectations, and whose will always fall short. I love knowing that if we need something or help with anything we know who to count on.

Our families have continued as well to bless us, care for us, and support us in ways we didn’t think possible. From giving away a daughter and gaining a son my parents graciously accepted Ryan into our family and have always treated him like their own. They shoot the bull with him, laugh at and with him, and make him feel like another child. They have 100% faith in Ryan’s ability to take care of me, provide for me, and treat me the way a husband is suppose to treat his wife. (I like to think my poor dad was ready to give me away. Not because he wanted to, but mostly his checkbook needed a break!) Ryan’s dad has done a wonderful job embarking on something that was completely foreign to him- gaining a daughter. He knows that I will do anything and everything in my power to “take care” of Ryan but most importantly to “keep him in line.” He honestly treats me like his own daughter. Ryan’s mother and step-dad have also done a great job in accepting me into their big family. Gaining another daughter, especially when you have one already, I think would prove to be a more challenging endeavor. However, my mother-in-law has done a great job in making me always feel welcome, giving me advice regarding her son, and understanding how matter-of-fact I am and that I times I can be the dreaded b-word. (I think a lot of this comes from the fact that my sister-in-law and I are pretty similar. What can I say? We are both Scorpios!)

As the last few days of 2010 fly by, I have a constant reminder of just how wonderful 2011 is going to be. I’ve got a precious little boy growing inside of me, giving me pure joy each day as I feel him move. This upcoming year will be huge. We are going to take on yet another challenge that will prove to be even harder than the one we tackled this year. Married life proved easier that I thought…and even though I am 3 months shy of a year, I can say that our future is very promising. I firmly believe that we can mark this year with a W. Parenthood, on the other hand, is a bit more scary…I am so ready to take on the challenge and I am very lucky to have a husband who is just as eager…