The Year in Review.

Wow, I seriously cannot believe that 2010 is almost over. I know it is so cliche and people say it all the time, but it just flew by.

Here's a recap of what 2010 held for us.

January
We returned from our "babymoon" to Jamaica and were welcomed into Baltimore with some blustery 4 degree temperatures. I was also over 23 weeks pregnant with Carter and we had created our baby registry. Good times, I tell you, good times. January also brought the random foot pain/swelling that lead me to need to have a leg ultrasound to test for deep vein thrombosis which I, of course, did not end up having.

February
This is approximately when my intense pregnancy cravings had begun and I craved all things cereal. I was then into my third trimester and had passed my glucose test with flying colors. Woo hoo. We were also the lucky recipients of some serious central PA snow - two major storms in a one-week time frame. This is also approximately the time that the pregnancy must have really kicked into overdrive...because I got asked if I was having twins and if I was due soon. Yeah, not so much on both accounts. My New Jersey baby shower was also held in February - it was certainly the beginning of everything feeling more and more "real!" Oh, and if the baby shower didn't help things feel more deal, perhaps my rings getting stuck on my fingers did the trick. :)

March
We began to prepare a bit more for Carter's arrival this month. My mom and grandma came to help me clean, and I began to make meals for storing in the freezer, knowing that life was going to hectic really soon. I also began to experience the phenomenon that is extremely puffy pregnancy ankles and legs. It was a joy. We were also blessed with baby shower #2 in Pennsylvania, and it was a lot of fun. Carter was definitely spoiled! We got his room mostly set up too!

April
Ok, by now, I was tired of being pregnant. it was evident in my weekly recap. :) We celebrated Easter. I was told at my 37 week appointment that I was beginning to dilate. That had me excited that he would come soon. Not so much. The nursery was completely ready though, bags in the car, new batteries in the camera. We were certainly in baby preparation mood and very excited! We celebrated my dad's birthday at our house with homemade pizzas on the grill and I began to worry every time Seth was out of my sight (i.e. driving, etc.) for more than a few minutes.

May
First and foremost, May marks the month of the arrival of our precious little boy. He was born at 4:10 a.m. on May 6. I went to the hospital on May 5 at about 2:30 a.m. with contractions that were about 4-5 minutes apart, but mood-killer resident lady sent me home. I told her we'd be back, and we were....we arrived after 9:30 p.m. on May 5, and had him several hours later. The whole story about his birth is here. I learned this month how much I love/need my husband, how hard being a mom is, and what the baby blues are all about. Good grief, I was emotional and TIRED.

June
Carter and I experienced our very first earthquake! Carter also turned one month. June was Father's Day, which we celebrated in Baltimore with family. We had a lot of fun! It was also my birthday, which we celebrated as our first date night away from the little man. Cousin Heidi watched him for us while we had dinner at a nice Seafood restaurant.

July
Carter turned two months old, we hit up some seriously good yard sales, and celebrated Independence Day! I also prepared to go back to work from maternity leave and traveled to the family cabin with Carter without Seth for a whole weekend. Brave.

August
Seth and I snuck away for a weekend to go camping with friends. Oma and Opa willingly came to spend the weekend at our house with Carter and Bentley. Camping was glorious and it felt nice to experience a full night of sleep again. We also went on a hike that nearly killed me. Carter started daycare, and 2 weeks later contracted his very first sickness-bronchiolitis. The little guy also turned three months old. (Time is really beginning to fly here.)

September
Carter slept through the night one night this month. Amen. And Amen again. It was this month in 2009 that we heard his heartbeat for the first time! He turned four months old and then got pinkeye. Good grief. Seth and I also got sick.

October
I made cupcakes for my very first paid order, and it was a smashing success! We were also becoming confident enough in parenthood to develop some of our own thoughts on the whole thing. Carter's Fall Fest was held for his daycare. He also had his very first overnight sleepover somewhere other than our house - he went to gramma and grampa Lauver's while Seth and I went to see Jeff Dunham's comedy tour and go for dinner. So nice to have a date night! :) This was also Carter's first trick-or-treat. He was a monkey and a darn cute one if I might add. And that little monkey turned five months old! Sheesh!

November
Time, please stop. I'm pretty sure just yesterday I was just preparing to hurt the doctor who sent me home and said I wasn't in enough pain to be in "real labor." And now, Carter is SIX months old?!?!? We decided to sleep train him this month because it's pretty much been six months without normal sleep for us. It worked for the most part! We also celebrated Thanksgiving, and Carter's dedication at church with a luncheon back at our house afterwards. We cut down Carter's first tree (which he slept through the whole experience anyway!) and prepared the house for his first Christmas!

December
The little babykins turned seven months old. Though the month isn't over yet, we have many things planned - Breakfast with Santa for Carter to meet the big guy for the first time, celebrating Christmas with my mom's side of the family, Carter's first Christmas, and a trip to New Jersey.

Wow, such a year. We are blessed, humbled, tired, excited, and so much more. Our little boy has changed our lives so incredibly much for the better...everyone is right; it is almost hard to remember ALREADY what life was like before him. We're excited to see what the future holds for our family!