Wow...thank God for Facebook, because seriously? This is really going to test my memory! Ahh well...maybe I'll rely heavily on pictures to tell the story...
January
Stella had just wrapped up her first Christmas and was mastering that thing called sitting. I somehow got the stomach flu for the first time in years...which had unfortunate timing since my dear husband had to stay home with baby rather than out with friends watching his college football team win the national championship. Stella was also not a fan of sleeping all night yet. Getting there...but not quite. She was, however, already becoming the master of total cuteness.
February
Stella was working on the teeth thing. I believe she had gotten two of them. I was also gearing up for mass Girl Scout Cookie consumption and trying to figure out how soon I could get Stella into that so i had an in-house supplier. The husband spoiled me by sending a dozen roses, chocolate and a big ol' monkey balloon (that lasted months) to work for Valentine's Day. My grandmother and her twin brother celebrated their 80th birthday the end of February (or, I guess you could say their 20th, since they were leap year/leap day babies). We also joined the Y...and I resumed spin classes. Stella was not a fan of the Kid Zone there. Maybe one of these days.
March
Getting close to baseball season! I was also finally getting serious about returning to school to work on a MBA. I went and visiting UT, found out what I needed to do and everything. That was March. We are now in the closing hours of 2012 and i haven't done anything more with that. Decided that I need to take a much bigger chunk out of my current student loan debt rather than add to it. Very unseasonably warm in March. Matter of fact, we didn't get much of a winter at all (not that I was disappointed...at least not on a personal level). Stella and I took advantage of the nice weather and started walking to the park on a regular basis. My job responsibilities were changing a bit...the company I work for was (and still is) growing a lot. Stella had also mastered the army crawl.
April
Ahh...April...baseball has arrived! And, of course, that particular month is always closed out with my birthday. April of 2012 marked the last time I 'celebrated' turning 30 something. I have been through a lot of changes on a lot of levels the last few years and was feeling rather down about my birthday. My husband, being the awesome guy he is, had sent me a few deliveries that day - flowers and an 'Edible Arrangement' (yum)! A couple of my 'newer' friends took it upon themselves to take me out for my birthday...a wonderful time! I also flew out to Arizona for a long weekend to see a good friend as well as see my favorite band! That also marked the first time I had been away from Stella overnight...since she was born. She was 10 months old by then. I don't think she was too thrilled with me when I returned, but quickly forgave.
May
May was a combination of things. Early on in the month...Stella ended up staying home from daycare for just over a week thanks to hand foot and mouth disease. Good times (not). Gotta love the daycare germs. It was also around that time that I had an 'official' diagnosis of ADD (that took about 30 years to diagnose). And finally, I got that 'kick in the pants' I needed to finally do something about my body. It was as simple as trying on bathing suits at Target one afternoon. And really, it wasn't that traumatic of an experience...but something in me just clicked. It was also my first Mother's Day! Stella got to go to her first baseball game (Verlander pitched, but the Tigers lost to the Yankees)! By this time, Stella has gotten pretty good at the crawling thing and pulling herself up and cruising...but no walking.
June
Stella turns one! We also starting planning for the husband's retirement from the national guard (when just months ago, we were planning for his deployment that was supposed to happen in July)! Still no walking. No hurry for that...but no walking. Body transformation is slowly but surely gaining steam. Summer is about to be in full swing. Life is good.
July
Seems like so long ago! Unfortunately, my little peanut had to have tubes put in her ears...but ended up being a good thing...ear infections have pretty much become a thing of the past. Shawn is officially retired form the national guard. Definitely starting to show some real progress with the body transformation. Still no walking...but Stella has now been to a second baseball game (this time a minor league game...and she got to meet Muddy)!
August
Out with the old, in with the new (traded in the '08 Jeep for a '12)! Surprise party for Shawn to celebrate his retirement from the national guard! We celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary (and this time, I had my new bluetooth earbuds waiting for me when I arrived at work, and an Edible Arrangement delivered a bit later...yep, he spoils me)! Stella still has no interest in walking...but getting there...and the curls! She is turning into the cutest little girl! And my transformation is starting to become noticeable to others. I also took Stella up to one of the lakes in Michigan where her grandmother was saying. Peanut really wasn't to enthused about the water, but was definitely the center of attention!
September
Started off the month with another trip to the zoo (I think by the time all is said and done, we took at least four trips there this year). And...She walks! Finally, she walks! And in hindsight...oh how I miss the days she was barely mobile! And the early days of walking, it was more like 'Frankenbaby'. Made an attempt at getting Stella in gymnastics. Didn't work out...planning on trying again soon. On a side note...I bought my first pair of 'skinny' jeans. Real ones. Not the 'skinny' jeans for fat girls or the 'skinny' jeans for pregnant chicks...but honest to goodness real skinny jeans! And rocked them!
October
Ahh...post-season baseball (and let's go right ahead and choke in the World Series). Took a road trip to see one of my besties with my other bestie. And took my handy dandy fancy camera to take some awesome pictures of Stella! One more trip to the zoo. And Stella transformed into Minnie Mouse for Halloween!
November
My favorite place for burgers has closed. My favorite morning show is off the air. The dryer died. Starting to gear up for Christmas. Peanut starts preparing to transition into her third room (her first toddler room) at daycare. Sad. She is growing up so fast! And the first two molars made their appearance. On a side note...suddenly I am in a size 4...how did that happen???
December
Crap. Christmas. 18 months old. Christmas shopping. Weekend in Frankenmuth with my two best friends. Work Christmas party. Under 140 lbs. New title at work. Setting goals for next year. Work, personal, fitness. Looking forward to the year ahead. Vacation?
And there you have it...that was my year. It's done. 28 more minutes and it is in the books. Looking forward to next year.
