What I'm Looking Forward To

I feel good about 2009. I don't know why. Maybe partially because I'm not pregnant. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my babies, and I actually am sad about not having a new baby to look forward to, but at the same time it feels kind of freeing to have a break. Like I can go on a roller coaster if I want to this summer. And I can enjoy the development of the children I already have without being self-absorbed or pushing them ahead to make way for a new one. And Hubby can take vacation time to actually relax instead of just helping out while I recover from giving birth. And MAYBE I can get my body back (we'll see...). Right now I feel really content about where we are. Here are some things I'm looking forward to in 2009.


1. Big Sissy starting school in the fall. I don't know if this will be preschool or what. I just think she's ready for some sort of formal education.


2. Little Sissy getting potty trained. Don't hold me to this one. It could take a while.


3. Little Buddy learning to walk and start to talk. He's already pulling up on everything and pulling things off shelves, opening cabinets, etc. Yikes. We're in a whole new world.


4. Our Simmons family weekend in January and a trip to the Smokey Mountains with the Brimm family in October.


5. Taking the kids to the pool this summer. I was too scared to take them all by myself last summer. I was surprised how much we missed it. I think this year we'll be ready.


6. Big Sissy has grown out of her tantrums (for the most part), and I look forward to spending time with her on a new level. She is becoming such a great helper and loves doing things with us. She always comes up with new and interesting ideas, and I love hanging out with her.


7. Little Sissy is 2 now, so who knows what the year will hold for her. She is gaining independence--learning to dress herself, use her stepstool to turn on lights, wash her hands, get things out of the cabinets, etc. I am enjoying watching that aspect of her development (while I am a little nervous about the tantrums starting again). Maybe I've learned a little and will handle it better this time around when/if it comes.


8. The unknowns. I look forward to the things that will take me totally by surprise. I love that I can't plan everything. And I'm glad to have my friends and family that I can share those things with as they come.


Thanks for joining me in the journey and reading along as I share. I love having you all as part of my pilgrimage through life.