This year has been one of firsts in this supposed last of its kind. I suppose, too, it had been one of lasts as well, as lasts usually segue into some type of firsts. I must say that each last has left me increasingly hopeful as each has led to an incredible virgin experience. Whether you see this year as a beautiful beginning to an end, or a fantastic end to a beginning, at last for me, this year will go down in my history books as the best of my first 22 years.
I started off the year as a first-time Mommy, and o, what a wonderful joy that has been. There has not been a day that has gone by that I can not wait to see what my beautiful angel of a daughter is going to surprise me with. She is crawling, toddling, "talking", eating "real" food; she laughs at anything and everything and loves spending time with her Mommy, Gamma and Auntee Becca. She started out her life looking like a smitten image of her biological father and brother, but now has quite softened, and her features are beginning to take on that of myself, while still becoming uniquely her own. She is quite the character!
I spent New Year's Eve out with friends for the first time, and had a blast hangin' with the boys. My dear friend Mike took me out with him and our mutual friend, Jakub. It was a night that began a few months of wonderful memories.
In March, I received my first car, still unnamed to this day. I have "owned" two previous vehicles, but neither were ever registered or insured to me, and the full process was never completed, so to finally be able to fully, legally, own a car in my name was a great thrill and an even greater blessing. I no longer had to walk all over town pushing J.R. in her stroller. We could get from point A to point B efficiently and safely and I did not have to show up to work interviews a sweaty mess!! Gas, however... that is another story.
In April, J.R. and I moved into our first HOME :) It is just a little one bedroom/one bathroom home, but it is still our own, at least until we move in October. We are quickly outgrowing the space, as J.R. is becoming increasingly mobile and is getting into everything! Not to mention, not having a dishwasher, or a washing machine while trying to take care of an infant makes everything ten times more difficult than it ever should be!
The summer continued to bring us all kinds of firsts, as J.R. went to her first rodeo, spoke her first word (which was "Mama"!), swam in her first pool, and began to crawl. Mommy went on her first camping trip with friends, instead of just family, and took a trip to Tahoe and got to go to the Nevada County Fair with those same friends. We had BBQ's and swim parties and all sorts of fun!
Being a parent, I have experienced my own firsts, as well as my daughter's. My life is so fulfilling, and it only gets increasingly so with every day that passes. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings us, no matter the ending.
I started off the year as a first-time Mommy, and o, what a wonderful joy that has been. There has not been a day that has gone by that I can not wait to see what my beautiful angel of a daughter is going to surprise me with. She is crawling, toddling, "talking", eating "real" food; she laughs at anything and everything and loves spending time with her Mommy, Gamma and Auntee Becca. She started out her life looking like a smitten image of her biological father and brother, but now has quite softened, and her features are beginning to take on that of myself, while still becoming uniquely her own. She is quite the character!
I spent New Year's Eve out with friends for the first time, and had a blast hangin' with the boys. My dear friend Mike took me out with him and our mutual friend, Jakub. It was a night that began a few months of wonderful memories.
In March, I received my first car, still unnamed to this day. I have "owned" two previous vehicles, but neither were ever registered or insured to me, and the full process was never completed, so to finally be able to fully, legally, own a car in my name was a great thrill and an even greater blessing. I no longer had to walk all over town pushing J.R. in her stroller. We could get from point A to point B efficiently and safely and I did not have to show up to work interviews a sweaty mess!! Gas, however... that is another story.
In April, J.R. and I moved into our first HOME :) It is just a little one bedroom/one bathroom home, but it is still our own, at least until we move in October. We are quickly outgrowing the space, as J.R. is becoming increasingly mobile and is getting into everything! Not to mention, not having a dishwasher, or a washing machine while trying to take care of an infant makes everything ten times more difficult than it ever should be!
The summer continued to bring us all kinds of firsts, as J.R. went to her first rodeo, spoke her first word (which was "Mama"!), swam in her first pool, and began to crawl. Mommy went on her first camping trip with friends, instead of just family, and took a trip to Tahoe and got to go to the Nevada County Fair with those same friends. We had BBQ's and swim parties and all sorts of fun!
Being a parent, I have experienced my own firsts, as well as my daughter's. My life is so fulfilling, and it only gets increasingly so with every day that passes. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings us, no matter the ending.
