Decade in review!

As the year comes to a close, and we all reflect on 2009, I also find myself reflecting on the past decade as it too comes to a close.  I cannot believe how much my life has changed over the past 10 years.. take a look!

2000 – Actually slept through the ball drop, I didn’t understand all the Y2K fear. Helped welcome my nephew Lucas into the world. Planned and successfully pulled off an awesome Junior/Senior prom, with the help of many other people. Started looking at and touring colleges. Began my senior year in high school. Lost a dear friend in a tragic car accident, our school was different after that. Decided to attend Methodist College – now Methodist University.

2001 – Don’t remember where I rang in the New Year. Marched with our high school marching band in a parade in Magic Kingdom, Disney World. Graduated high school. Had a super lame senior year (completely my fault.) Began my freshman year in college. Worked as a campus tour guide. Broke up with my boyfriend of 3+ years. September 11, 2001. Had a blast being out on my own. Began gaining the freshman 15.

2002 – Rang in the New Year with my friend Abby and some of her guy friends.  Met  boy, who would end up being my boyfriend for 3 years. Decided to transfer schools to be closer to family and boy. Applied to and got accepted at WVU. Left all my friends at Methodist College and headed to WVU. (still don’t know if this was the right decision or not..) Began working at the WalMart photo lab over the summer and during school breaks. Worked in the basement of a library at WVU. Changed my major from psychology to elementary education.

2003 – Rang in the New Year with boy and a bunch of his friends. Finished my sophomore year and began my junior year. Went back to Methodist College to help my best friend celebrate her 21^st birthday and to visit friends. Moved into my first apartment. Changed my major back to psychology. Began working at Sbarro.

2004 – Rang in the New Year with boy and a bunch of his friends, again. Completed my junior year and began my senior year. Decided that it was time to get serious about losing weight and getting into shape. Got a Mitsubishi Eclipse (I miss that car!) Turned 21! Traveled to Traverse City, Michigan with my Grammie, my Mom and my Aunt. Began looking into graduate schools. Watched the Red Sox win the World Series! Took the GRE’s in preparation for graduate school.

2005 – Rang in the New Year at WVU with friends. Broke things off with boy after 3+ years. Began my almost daily trips to the gym. Completed an internship as a “junior” guidance counselor at Cass Elementary School. Decided that I really was not ready for graduate school. Took part in my first Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk in honor of my Grammie. Learned a lot about myself in a few short months. Graduated college! A co-worker set me up on a blind date on June 11^th. Fell head over heals in love with Steven, very quickly! Began working at Devereux as a residential counselor (very very tough job!) Got engaged on July 31^st. Started reconnecting with old friends and planning my wedding. Bought a puppy I named Lucy.

2006 – Rang in the New Year with Steven (New Years Eve is also his birthday!) Got a surprise positive pregnancy test on January 27^th. Decided to cancel our “big” wedding and travel to Hawaii and get married there. Got married in Honolulu on March 28^th in the rain. Steven got a new job. Watched my tummy grow. Gave birth to Gavin Arthur on October 2^nd and my whole world changed! Became a full time stay-at-home mommy.

2007 – Rang in the New Year with my hubby and son. Began jogging to lose the baby weight. Started working full time as a pregnancy counselor with Bethany Christian Services. Took Gavin on his first beach vacation. Participated in my 2^nd Memory Walk in honor of my Grammie. Gavin turned 1 year old! Earned the Best Mother of the Year award when I let Gav burn his hand on his birthday cake candle.

2008 – Rang in the New Year with my hubby and my son. Continued my work as a pregnancy counselor. Participated in my 3^rd Memory Walk in honor of my Grammie. Got my first tattoo in honor of my Grammie. Started blogging. Ran my first 5K. Started trying for baby #2 in June. Celebrated Gavin’s 2^nd birthday! Watched my best friend get married!

2009 – Rang in the New Year with my hubby, my son, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend and my mother-in-law. Continued to be inspired by my clients. Steven and I enjoyed a special trip to Washington DC for our 3^rd wedding anniversary. Peed on a stick on April 6^th and saw 2 lines! Stopped jogging. Found out on August 11^th that we would be having a baby GIRL!  Watched my belly grow and grow and grow. Steven got moved to 3^rd shift. Went to Creation for the first time and slept in a tent for the first time. Participated in my 4^th Memory Walk in honor of my Grammie.  Helped raise almost $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association since 2007. Gavin turned 3 years old! Gave birth to Gabrielle Louise on December 5^th and fell madly in love instantly!

My oh my how my life has changed over the past 10 years!!  I am so incredibly blessed to have all that I have and so very thankful.  I look forward to the next 10 years – continuing on this amazing journey of motherhood and growing with my family.  I do have tons of photos from the years where none are posted but don't have them on my computer.  Maybe I will load some eventually and update this post.. maybe! I, like many others, have resolutions and goals for 2010 - maybe I will post them tomorrow.  It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of 2009.. AND it's also my hubby's 32nd birthday =) Love you babe!