Goodbye 2011!

Time to reflect on the past year and move on to the next. 2011 was a year of challenges, blessings, and growth! 2011 was a beautiful one in that I got to see Parker grow fom a 2 week old to a 1 year old and that first year is always magical in it's own way. Not to say i havn't spent many nights up and down feeding a baby and days juggling 3 young kids, but overall it can't be matched as good things add up. I consider myself blessed to have been able to spend time with my kids.
Also, I spent the majority of the year (36 weeks out of 52) without matt. So i've spent a lot of time with just the 3 kiddos. It's not all bad though. For instance, I learned that I can mow the lawn with a baby strapped to my chest...bathe 3 kids at one time, put together an array of furniture and equipment, minor car care, loading a Christmas tree on the roof of a car myself, taking down said tree, cook while having a baby attached to my leg, and i also learned that when I'm in single mom mode i'm also not very tolerant of crappy customer service or people that treat me or my children with less than respect, so i've also told quite a few people off in the past year. Some may not see that as "growth", but i do. (and really, northern virginia is really dissapointing with it's lack of nice people in business places).
Also, thanks to good friends and family, I was able to train for and run a 1/2 marathon which was a much needed stress outlet and "me time" over the past year. I also was able to build upon my photography business a bit, and grow walk n roll. THat is until potomac mills decided to sign stroller strides at the end of december. But i digress.
Colin has grown so much in the past year. He thinks he's a little man now, and often tells me he is apart of the "grown up village" now. While I tell him that in fact he is still just a child, i can see why he may think so as I have depended upon him to do a few more things independantly this past year when i had my hands (or breasts) full with the other kid. Hes really good at feeding the dog and letting him in and out, getting his own drinks and snacks and sometimes breakfast, getting dressed by himself, and getting and grabbing random things i may need around the house (or in my car). He still LOVES his kid stuff though. Very big into everything imaginext and loves pretending with his little action figures. Especialy his castles, batcaves and space ships. lets not forget TV. Yes, he loves the tv what can i say. He even knows what channel he watches and how to get to it (no it's not MTV). I try to limit it when i can. In 2012 colin wants to do gymnastics "so that i can jump over laser beams, and flip over walls". But of course...that's usually why people want to do that right??
Andie has grown into her own fantasy world this year. She has QUITE the vocabulary and sass...but she also just loves to pretend she's surrounded by fairies and princesses and babies. I'd like to just live in her world for 1 minute. She LOOOVES her dance class. She started dance in September and she looks forward to it all week long, and i must say, she's pretty darn good at it for a young 3 year old! She loves all the girls in her class and her teacher.
Parker has gone from a tiny gassy, excema ridden newborn to a walking, babbling, sweet baby boy! He likes his baby toy, but LOVES his brother's toys much better. He likes to hold onto sticks and long spoons far more than any other toys, and second to that is colin's little imaginext figurines. I have a room full of fun, developemental, age appropriate toys for him, but he just wants a spoon and a batman and he's good to go.
We're looking forward to having matt back in 2012, and doing a ton of awesome family oriented things like Disney World in February, trips to the beach, "exploring in the woods" etc. Colin did say that he will be informing daddy that he will now be sleeping downstairs in the basement since I have adjusted to sleeping alone in the king sized bed. I can't say that i'm totally against that...i like where his head is at!
welcome 2012!