2008 Recap

I'm going to steal an idea from Sarah and do a 2008 recap post.



Unlike some of my friends, 2008 was a very good year for my family. Nothing too exciting, but nothing horrible either. 2008 also marked a year that I got to know my blogger friends even better. I can't even begin to explain how happy I am that I have been able to "meet" so many of you. I don't consider myself to be a very good writer - I'm a much better talker (just ask anyone who knows me in real life!!) but I can't imagine what my life would be like without all of you in it.



January



January continued my bout with being sick constantly. This was also the month that we decided that I would have surgery. Alex went pee pee on the potty for the first time and he started his love of all things pink and princess.



February



February was practically consumed with getting ready for surgery - having surgery - and recovering from surgery. This is the month that Alex's language EXPLODED as well as his imaginative play. I also started my new job as our church's music director.



March



This had to be the most pivotal month of the year for us. March was when Jay and I learned about Baby Alex and decided to be his foster parents. What a month!!! We also got a big, late snow storm and had a fun Latin Family Connection event.



April

April brought on some complications with getting Baby Alex to the United States. I also got my new car and enjoyed a visit from my parents as they were one their way back to Ohio from their three month stay in Florida. Alex said his second and third full sentences (Mama, I like Dora and Mama, I like Geigo). We took a long weekend trip to St. Louis where we were going to buy a horse but ended up just bringing one home for Jay to train. I also got to spend some time with my former boss who now lives in St. Louis. We also discovered that Alex could count to 11 and was starting to learn his colors.

May

What a BIG month!!! Alex turned two. His language, play and independence started to blossom. This is also the month that Baby Alex came to our house. What a life changing month for us.

June

June brought Baby Alex's surgery being delayed because of his illness and then finally happening on my 13th wedding anniversary. Big Alex really blossomed as a "big" brother. And I discovered that I don't handle little sleep and high stress very well.

July

We had fun with both boys this month. Jay took them both to a Day out with Thomas, I took Big Alex to my aunt and uncle's Fourth of July party and we took the boys to a petting zoo. Baby Alex also started healing really well and crawling. We also started getting more and more attached to this little guy. This is also the month that I traveled back to Guatemala to take Baby Alex back to his parents. Words can not express how much I changed during June and July. What a lucky person I am to have experienced everything I did this summer. Life changing - never the same again - and so grateful for it.

August

August was a hard month and mostly a blur. Looking back on it now, I think I may have been in a slight depression for most of the month. Jay and I also took a mini-vacation with just the two of us. Alex got to spend a few days with my parents and it was the first time that we left him overnight like that. Jay and I had a great time in Chicago, and it was a much needed trip for both of us. (I actually just spend some time re-reading my trip posts from August.)

September

Still a blur. Alex was going through a stage in August and September. I now see it was a stage - but I was worried at the time. He was just horrible most of the time - but I think he was just trying out more of his independence. I was also changing blood pressure medicine - and not successfully, so I wasn't feeling well for much of September

October

What a great month - Guatoberfest, 2nd Forever Family Day, Jay's Birthday, hayrides and Halloween. Alex was still a handful this month, but it was getting better. He also went pee pee on the potty for the first time in a LONG time.

November

We had a great November. Alex's behavior started improving and we had our annual vacation to Sanibel Island. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it there, and I'm already looking forward to next year's (or I guess this year's!!) trip.

December

Christmas was so much fun with Alex this year (and yes, I know I haven't blogged about it yet). Potty training really started taking off this month, and Alex is becoming more and more like a little man.