I can’t believe another year has come and gone.  So much has changed and continues to change.  I have never been much of a New Year’s Eve big hoopla fan.  I prefer to spend the night with close friends and/or family.  That has been how some of my best New Year’s have been spent.  I am happy that 2008 is over.  It has been an amazing and tough year.  But, I look forward to what 2009 will bring.

Yearly recap is short sentences–

January: Noah saw Sesame Street live and was mesmerized and got to experience the joy of collecting beads at his first Mardi Gras Dog Parade. 

February: I got to meet the most amazing families at our first annual Wannafest.  We also got Zoë’s referral.  It was great.

March:  Noah’s first Easter egg hunt–hung out with the Easter bunny and he turned 2.

April:  Celebrated my 8th anniversary.  Watched my brother run his first Ultra Marathon.  Zoë’s case was filed in court in Ethiopia.  Went to New Orleans with my best friend and had a blast.

May: I graduated with my MA in English and Zoë’s case passed court and she was officially our daughter. 

June:  Hubby ran his first 5k and I went to Ethiopia to meet my daughter and brought her home.  My dad traveled to Ethiopia with me–making his first trip out of the country.

July:  Noah got to set off his first bunch of fire works on the 4th and got to have birthday cake with his daddy.  We spent a lot of time getting to be a family of 4. 

August:  Noah had his first dentist appointment and we made our first futile attempt to get rid of his binky(he still has it).  My brother Jeff attempted a 100 mile run–he dropped out with an injury after 50+ miles in the snow and sleet at 12,000 feet.  We celebrated our second Family Day with Noah.  I had a birthday (not a big fan of birthday’s anymore).

September:   Noah started attending a Mom’s Day Out program–loved it.  Started my PhD program.  Remodeled our bathroom and Noah got his first stamp in his US Passport.

October:  Halloween–Noah went trick or treating for the first time.  Hubby and I left the kids for the first time for a great weekend in San Francisco.

November:  Voted for the first African American president of the US.  Zoë turned 1.  EOR had it’s first Art for Ethiopia sale and it was a smashing success.

December:  Zoë has been home for 6 months.  Noah had his first Santa Christmas. 

It’s been a pretty good year and is going to end great.  Hubby just called–he spent the morning calling local spas to try and get me a massage and a pedicure.  He’s on his way home so I can make a 12:30 massage appointment and a 2pm pedicure.  I am so in love with him at the moment. 

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year’s celebration.  See you next year.