2011: A Year in Review

2011 was a great year at our house! When I look back on the year it is hard to believe everything that happened. I have been so busy I haven't really been able to write everything down as it happens, so I was thinking I could just write a blog and try to include everything I can remember.

• January 
•  Ringing in 2011 with some very dear friends and getting news that one of our close friends was also expecting her first child.
• February 
•  Celebrating my sister's birthday. I was so uncomfortably pregnant at the time I requested no pictures. (My mom, of course, didn't listen.)
• March
• The birth of our first child. Dylan has made our family seem more complete. I love my husband and seeing him become such a wonderful father has only made that love grow exponentially.
• April
• My 32nd birthday. Michael planned an evening out with many of our friends who didn't mind that I didn't want to leave my 1 month old with a sitter yet.
• May 
•  Celebrating my first ever Mother's Day. A nice quiet brunch with my family at Champp's and some sweet gifts; my favorite was a chain with 2 silver discs (one said Dylan and the other had little foot prints) and Dylan's birthstone.
• June 
•  Celebrating Michael's first Father's Day. Dylan and I tried to spoil Michael since he is so great to both of us. We went took him to Puccini's for lunch with my family and then played miniature golf. My sister carried Dylan in the baby carrier (like a backpack in the front) while she played. It was a funny sight!
• July
• Dylan's first 4th of July. We went to several parties/cookouts, but couldn't stay too late. Dylan wasn't up for parties at this time.
• My cousin's wedding. We drove for 5 hours (both ways) to celebrate my cousin Mike's nuptials. Dylan didn't enjoy the car ride he wouldn't let us watch the wedding sitting down, but it was a nice time anyway.
• Grad school. I was accepted into Ball State's Graduate program for Curriculum and Technology. It has been a lot of work so far, but hopefully it will be worth it.
• Swimming. I took Dylan swimming a few times. He started to enjoy the water.
• 2nd Anniversary. My sister watched the little man so Michael and I could celebrate 2 wonderful years of marriage. We stuck with the traditional gifts (we have fun trying to be creative). This year it was cotton. I got Michael some polos from Banana Republic and a book by one of his favorite authors (not cotton, but oh well), and I got a new fluffy robe and warm, fuzzy blanket to cuddle on the couch in.
• August
• School begins. I went back to teaching after a nice long maternity leave. It was very difficult to leave my little guy (still is), but I know he's in good hands.
• Another wedding. We took another long road trip to celebrate my cousin Joe's wedding. Dylan was slightly better in the car and actually let us enjoy the ceremony, but we had to leave the reception earlier than we wanted. Dylan likes to remind us he's in control.
• And yet another wedding. One of my dear friends got married and this one was in town! Dylan did great through the whole service and we even enjoyed our dinners, but once the major partying began we had to leave.
• September
• Labor day cookout. Fun times with our wonderful friends. Dylan wasn't the only spitting up that day!
• October
• Dylan's first Halloween. We dressed our little man up in the cutest monkey costume. We didn't go trick or treating, but he did help pass out candy. He loved watching everyone come to our house.
• Halloween Party. My mom stayed the night at our house so I could enjoy my first "real" night out. The party was a blast (as usual) and Dylan did great for his GiGi!
• Fall Break. I had 2 glorious weeks off from school. I spent this time enjoying my family. One day we met my sister and her boyfriend at the pumpkin patch...on a whim.
• November
• Thanksgiving. I cooked my very first turkey ever! And it turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself.
• December
• The month of traditions and festivities! We took Dylan to see Santa (twice) and he did great. We took him to ride the train at the State Museum. We had him "help" decorate the house.
• CHRISTMAS! Dylan's first Christmas. Michael and I were very excited to start new traditions at our house. Waking up Christmas morning so your kids can open presents is even better than opening presents yourself.
• New Year's Eve Party at our friends' house. Dylan was a rock star. I tried to put him to bed but he just screamed. He was perfectly happy partying with everyone until the ball dropped. Then we hurried out of there.

I know I may have forgotten some things, but I am a busy momma. I will need to find time to blog more in depth about Dylan's first Christmas; it was such a good time for us! I hope everyone had a wonderful 2011. Here's to a new year!