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| From Christmas 2010 |
I'm doing our 2010 retrospective post a bit early; looking at our schedule over the next week or so, I'm not sure when I'll be able to sit down and ponder what this year has meant to us. So, now is as good a time as any.
- Of course, Eli Hecker Genisio's arrival at 5:04 AM on August 7th was the biggest moment of change for our whole family. It's a joy to know him--he's got a huge personality and a lot to say, and I think that the world is lucky to have him. :)
- Maia began preschool, where she gets twice-weekly opportunities to learn from the wonderful Ms. Mariann.
- Maia's writing her name and working on sounding out other words (both in reading and writing). She's been through an explosion of literacy skill development this year.
- Maia's happily drawing people, animals, nature scenes, and buildings; the easel in our playroom is getting some excellent use.
- Potty training: ugh, thank goodness it's over. What a milestone!
- Brian and Maia read the following books together over a year's worth of evenings: Stuart Little, Mary Poppins, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Beezus and Ramona, Ramona the Pest, Junie B. Jones, Winnie the Pooh, and a whole bunch of others.
- Brian began working at SRT Solutions early this year. This seems like "home" for him professionally, and he truly is kicking butt and taking names.
- Along the same lines: Brian wrote and will soon have published his first technical article.
- Brian and Cara both ran 5Ks this year--Brian in the first half of the year, and Cara in the second.
- Cara earned certification as a DONA doula. Accordingly, she's searchable on a national website and was able to raise her fee. Woot!
- Cara attended the births of six babies this year (other than Eli's).
- Cara attended a professional conference in Milwaukee and proudly represented the Lamaze Family Center at a meeting at U of M Hospital, where she got to stand up in front of a room full of labor nurses and answer the question "What do you guys teach about epidural?" on the spur of the moment. (Gulp.)
- Cara prepared for and achieved an un-medicated, medical-intervention-free birth. This achievement should also be listed under the category of "huge achievements by Cara's labor support team"--Jo, Stephanie, Brian, Chyrisha, et al.
- Cara is exclusively breastfeeding a 22-pound boy. Not a drop of formula.
- Our family got to spend hours upon hours of wonderful time with our amazing friends Jen and Steve I, Jen and Steve II, Stephanie, Julie, Marybeth, Meredith, Rich, Kathleen, Charlie, Katherine, Drew, Stephanie, Aaron, Harper, Esme, Rachel, Maeve, Katie, Allison, Sam, Charley, Isabel ... and that doesn't even include preschool friends! Phew!
- Family. Sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. We can't put into adequate words how much our extended family means to us.
- Health. We've had a couple of colds this year ... and that's it.
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