2010

Do you try to do New Year's resolutions? I gave them up a long time ago... about the time I became a mom, actually. Motherhood hit me like an 18-wheeler and I still haven't recovered. Being a mom is hard for me. I don't seem to carry the "Motherhood Is A Breeze" gene. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a mom and I LOVE my kids. But each day I wake up, I have to give myself a little pep talk to get going. There's work involved.

I remember the year we adopted Carver, I think my new resolution was to "not kill anyone." That was a rough year. Carver had colic and I spent most of my waking and sleeping hours bouncing him in my arms. I recall holding him--as a brand new mom--and trying to sing lullabies to him. I didn't know any lullabies. At that point in my life I was a huge Pixies fan and I didn't think Frank Black songs were the way to go with an 8 week old infant who needed to settle down. Why don't they put "Top 10 Lullabies to Practice" in baby information books?

So since then, I start each new year the same way. Survive. That being said, I love to look back. Here are some of my favorite photos from 2009.

The giant hamster ball.

A lot of what Lily and Zinabu do together. Play with stuffed animals and giggle.

Lily seeing Buddy for the first time.

Any photo of my 3 kids together is precious!

Awaiting the renovation of the house.

Just... so... them.

Burying their sister in the sand.

Carver and the New Moon crown. We like to wear it when we listen to the soundtrack.

Zinabu and his friend, Frehiwot. She is also from Ethiopia and they are in the same kindergarten class. The coolest thing ever. She likes to chase him.

If I recall, he was trying to have a conversation with me. He cracks me up.

Jump rope contest!

Lily creating. She does it all the time. I walk into a room and often find her like this. I look at this picture and it just sums up who she is.