2011, in review.

I always love looking back to see how our years go by! This one was harder because to be honest, our sweet little girl made the first half of the year a total blur. She became more manageable somewhere around June, but to that point it was pure survival mode.

January:

Lucy rolls over, Theo sings ABCs, we join Marbles Kid Museum, we get a dusting of snow.

February:

I joined Weight Watchers (didn't last), we had a Valentine's date at home, Gran and Grandad visit Raleigh, we visit Gramma and Papa in Richmond, Theo gets promoted from his high chair to a booster seat at the table, Lucy starts "talking."

March:

Susan's grandad dies, we see lots of family for the funeral (many of whom meet Lucy for the first time), Theo gets a tricycle (he still can't ride it!), we get a new rug, Gramma visits and we play at Marbles, Lucy's first trip to the zoo.

April:

Lucy and I begin a swimming class, we narrowly miss being hit by a tornado and are without power for days (so we packed it in and went to Richmond), our friend Sarah saves gallons of my breast milk from certain demise, we go back to Richmond for Easter, Lucy begins eating solids.

May:

Lucy gets her ears pierced, we go strawberry picking, Susan turns 30-something, Lucy and I fly to Atlanta and back in a day to meet friends and see Aunt Sammy's new house, Lucy sits up, Theo finishes his first year of preschool with flying colors, Gramma visits and we take her to an outdoor concert, Theo begins potty training.

June:

Theo is potty trained, hallelujah!, Lucy pulls to stand, swimming playdate, we visit our friend Kelsi and meet chickens, we visit Richmond and have fun in the fountains, we visit friends in Charlottesville and Melissa weeps all the way home because she wants to move back, Lucy begins to turn a corner towards being a bit easier.

July:

4th of July event in Rolesville (which Theo still talks about), Theo takes a tumbling class, we go on vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge during which Theo gets a terrible burn on his finger.

August:

Theo plays in the rain, Gran and Grandad come to visit, Lucy gets promoted to a big girl carseat, we go to a birthday party at Hillridge Farms, Lucy begins crawling, Gramma visits.

September:

We visit Richmond (twice), Melissa runs (ok, walks) the Charlottesville 4 Miler, Theo starts his second year of preschool, Lucy begins standing unassisted, we fail at apple picking (AGAIN).

October (look out!):

The kids and I attend Heritage Festival in Raleigh, we visit Richmond and NoVA for Alex's birthday party, Lucy takes her last bottle, Melissa turns 30-something, our family visits for Lucy's birthday, we go to the state fair, we go to the pumpkin patch, Lucy turns ONE!, Lucy takes steps, Susan saves Halloween.

November:

Theo turns THREE!, Theo's birthday party at Marbles, we visit Richmond for Thanksgiving, we go to Maymont Park.

December:

Stomach flu 2011, we visit Richmond to celebrate an early Christmas, we meet Legendary Santa, an elf comes to our house, we make many crafts, we have Christmas at home as a family, Lucy takes 10 steps but still won't walk!, we celebrate the New Year with friends and their kids at an early potluck.

WHEW. Are you tired? We didn't even really do much of anything and I'm tired just thinking of it. Writing this taught me three things: 1) I should not neglect the blog, because that makes writing this harder; 2) I visit Richmond a LOT. There is to be no complaining from grandparents about lack of face time with the kids; 3) Our kids were in summer clothes beginning in March. I can't believe they will be back in shorts in three months when I am still taking tags off of winter clothes. Ugh.

We have a lot to look forward to in this new year. A little bit of traveling (but hopefully less, because I am sick of traveling), Theo and I will see The Lion King together in March, Lucy will begin her first year of school this fall and the kids will turn yet another year older. I've said it before, but it's so, so true: the days are long, but the years are so short.

Happy New Year!