We spent the beginning of the New Year home as a family of 3 and enjoyed celebrating quietly.
We thoroughly enjoyed watching a very successful Vikings team nearly go all the way and even though they didn't make it Riley showed an early interest in watching the games and loved our Sunday afternoon ritual of napping and game watching.
Our sweet little Valentine made for some very cute pictures in Feb.
We finally got to meet Little Leah who was a long awaited miracle for Sorin and Rach and had no idea that our own little miracle would be scheduled to appear in just a short year from Leah's arrival.
We said a very sad goodbye to Papa Bob, Derrick's Dad in Feb also.
...and not a day goes by that we don't think of him and miss his presence here.
We celebrated Ben and Katie's marriage in Mexico for what will surely be one of the best vacations ever with all the family and many friends in attendance.
and we rounded out March with 2 of my most favorite pictures of our litte.
The end of March got us outside to enjoy some warmer temps and the great outdoors.
April was busy.
We celebrated Easter.
Took in our first Twins game at the new Target Field.
Really got into taking bike rides.
Took in many of Daddy's s-ball games.
Celebrated Ben and Katie's marriage in MN.
And finally started wondering/worrying about when #2 would finally make that stick turn pink.
May brought beautiful weather and we enjoyed life outdoors, the start of potty training, Mother's Day and my budding 'shooting in manual mode' success. Not to mention we finally saw the much anticipated dark pink line on May 30th nearly 14 months after we started trying for it.
June brought anticipation, excitement, Father's Day, our 5th wedding anniversary, The Walk for Life and many more evenings spent outside exploring.
July started with a celebration as we silently gasped that our baby was 2, spent a gorgeous day outside for the 4th and threw Riley a farm party to remember even sneaking our secret news that a new baby was on the way.
August was all about fishing, exploring and enjoying the view from Riley's perspective.
September was the first of many belly pics, the State Fair X 2 and an ever expanding vocab for Riley.
September was busy with baby pics for a friend, my parents celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and us kids throwing a surprise party, Riley started school, we found out we were having a girl and Riley started sleeping in his big boy bed!
oh yeah, and it was the start of football season
October came and went quickly with fall fun, fall colors, Halloween parades, harvest fests, a new truck purchase and Riley's open house at school...not to mention getting to see our girl in 3D on my 28th b-day weekend!
November welcomed the arrival (actually she debuted the end of October) of Mila and more practice taking baby pics. Many fall sunsets enjoyed at the river, getting the babies room ready and Riley's first dentist visit.
December is still here and I am reflecting on how much change 2011 will bring. A new baby girl, a big brother, another year older for Derrick right away on Sunday, 12 weeks of maternity leave, 3 year old preschool for Riley this fall, and all the firsts that come along with a new baby. This has been a kick butt year and it can only get better with her arrival in just 5 weeks. We are so blessed and will continue to be thankful and grateful all the more this next year. Happy New Year to you all!
Enjoying the big, small and every size in between things that life brings our way.
