New Year, New Life

I am sitting here, about 640 miles away from the place that I have always called home. Between the time of my last post and now, hubby has taken a job in South Carolina, and will be beginning work next week! We are scrambling around looking for a place to live, but in the meantime, I will head home to start packing, and he will be staying with our good friends who live in the same town where his new job takes us - a girl I've known since 2nd grade, and her husband and little girl (who is 9mos older than my lil' bit). We actually came to visit her when she had just had her baby (not knowing that I was pregnant at that time!). Funny thing is, she & I grew up together and always planned on living near one another, though we haven't even lived in the same state since high school. Her mom still has a paper she wrote in elementary school where she states that her plans for adulthood were to "be a mom and go on picnics with my best friend, Erin". So, that is the plan!

It has all happened so fast though. Driving around looking for a home in the hills and woods that are so different from Florida is a bit surreal. It is also bittersweet. While I am excited, I am also sad... I feel like I have finally found my niche where I have been living, and I now have to start over again. Also, Kalina is at such a fun age right now, doing so many things - it will be hard to be so far away from all of our family & friends during this time.

But Alas, it is a NEW YEAR beginning tomorrow.
We welcome 2009 and everything it brings us!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace,
to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

~ William Arthur Ward

How did I get here?!

So, here I am. Blogging...

I admit, I am a closet blog-reader. I have thought of starting my own before, but always told myself it was a waste of time (guess I wasn't listening to that little voice when I signed up for Myspace/Facebook!). Honestly though, I'm just a tad jealous. I read about all the things people do, check out photos of places they've been, drool over the handiwork of other mommas, and wonder how people do so much and have time to blog about it!

But then, I was sitting here thinking. The house is finally quiet after a long day of Christmas, and an even longer week of preparations. Baby Girl is in bed, and Baby Daddy is snoozing on the sofa. I should really be cleaning up the explosion that the house has become after weeks of baking and crafting and wrapping and running. But, instead I am sitting here reflecting and feeling nostalgic.

One year ago today I was holding a one month old newborn - a ragdoll in my arms, in awe of the twinking lights of the tree. Today, that same little girl was running, opening presents, rearranging everything in her new play kitchen, and squealing at her beloved wooden rocking horse. I now wish I had a blog I could look back at to jog my memory of the past year's events, and maybe I could be a bit jealous of myself!

I know that a lot must have happened in the past year, but on a day to day basis, I really don't feel like I get anything done! It's a constant cycle of making food/doing dishes, getting dirty/doing laundry, pulling everything out to entertain the little one/putting it all away (ok, that last part doesn't happen as often as I'd like...). Anyway, I know I have have accomplished a lot of things (I may have even finished one or two of the many projects I seem to be continually starting. ha!) But, due to a severe case of mommy brain, I can't recall much. (I have decided that breastmilk is called the best brainfood because the baby is actually sucking your brains right through your nipples!)

Anyway, back to what I was saying... I am a LIST person. If I want to actually complete a project, I need to write it down and tape it to my forhead. If I want to celebrate the completion of a project, I must write it down just so I can cross it off the list. Such a good feeling. So, I think that in this day of blogging, my love of journaling and photography will finally serve a purpose - self-gratification! I am envisioning photos of folded laundry mountains and hand crocheted spacesuits. Ahhhh...

Speaking of pics, I've got some cute ones from the day, but I have no idea how to post them, so that will have to come later. For now, I must surrender to the dishes.