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Monday, December 31, 2012

2012: A year in review!

2011 was great, but 2012 was even better! Here is a recap of the most important events in my life over the past year!

January 3, 2012
I started teaching! I know, can you believe I have only been in Billerica for a year?! Technically not even a year yet but I feel so at home here I couldn't imagine working elsewhere. (not to mention the great restaurant fallout of 2011 leading to this new job :/  oh well...)

Some of my students were accepted to districts and my male student even got the solo! It was a great experience to not only have students accepted but have one of my kids get the solo! I was more than proud!

Feb. 11 was my birthday of course! Even though I couldn't go out per say I still had fun!

In April I went to Akron, Ohio to visit my good friend Betsy and met her then 10 week old baby Xavier!  It was great seeing Betsy and meeting her fiancĂ© Nick and her little babe! Xavier was the best baby ever! Hardly cried, slept through the night, and cute as could be! I was so relieved that Xavier was good and it made me hope and pray Cailin would be just as easy. Then I got nervous because I thought there was no way in hell my kid would be well behaved! We also got to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was on my bucket list! It was even more fun that I could have imagined, even though I walked around pregnant as hell!




My chorus had its first concert in May in conjunction with the other middle school. Everyone did such a great job and the concert was well received by all! I was definitely nervous because I thought we would never get there but everything came together and we pulled off an amazing show!

Dan and I also took a few daycations in May. First, we went to Newport, Rhode Island. Even though I live in a neighboring state, I had never really been to RI, especially Newport. We went out for lunch and cruised the beaches. It was a nice sunny day out so we took a long walk too. We really wanted to do the cliff walk but I was way too pregnant to put up with it haha




We also climbed Mt. Washington which was a lot more fun that I expected. Driving up and down that winding road and stopping at all the vistas was relaxing and adventurous at the same time. We didn't do much walking since I was ready to pop.





June 18, at 8:50 am we welcomed our pride and joy, Cailin Bonnie, into the world! After a relatively easy pregnancy, easy labor, but horrendously awful delivery Cailin was born. I think back to this moment almost everyday and think about how blessed we are to have such a precious little baby in our lives. Cailin is the best baby I have ever seen. She has been sleeping through the night since 6-8 weeks old, hardly ever cries, has motor skills that are advanced for her age, and is the cutest little girl I have ever seen! She also has just as much hair as I do! This was by far the most important thing to happen in 2012. We love our little cutie more than words can describe!



P.S. Thank God for this bouncy seat since Cailin slept in it for 2 months until the doc reprimanded us and told me she had to be in her crib. She took to it well though!


I started working again right when the school year commenced in September. It was great to go back although one of my good friends left and started teaching at the high school. I have met some great people since starting in Billerica and we continue to have a blast every day even when work can get stressful, and it can. I do teach middle school ya know! (I remember being a complete asshole in middle school, and thankfully none of my students are as big a jerk as I was!)

The three of us headed to Plattsburgh, NY to visit my cousin and Grandparents. I wanted everyone to meet baby Cailin and I really wanted to see everyone as well. I can honestly say we had a great time but I can't say I will be making a 5 hour drive with an infant anytime soon. Even the best babies can reach the end of their rope, and Cailin's was when we reached White River Junction and continued until we made it to Belmont. FML that was bad.

Halloween was super fun this year. Cailin had a little party at daycare and she dressed up as a little kitty. She struggled to stay awake past 6 though. She partied harddddd!


We also had a great Thanksgiving. Cailin tried Turkey and gagged. Someone does not like meat yet. My dad came over and I made a nice meal. 



Christmas was also amazing but we havent uploaded those pics yet... Cailin got lots of gifts from everyone.

Also my good friend Tracy got married two days ago. It was one of the best weddings I have ever been to. I am so glad she had so much fun and got to marry her perfect someone! Congrats Brett and Tracy!!


So what will 2013 bring? More vacations? a new car? another baby M? a house? We can dream of these things and whether they happen or not will not deter us from having an even more surprising and amazing year in 2013. Cailin is more than enough to make this year special and I am so excited to see what awesome things she accomplishes this year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!!!






Saturday, December 29, 2012

Tracy's Wedding

Last night one of my best friends, Tracy, got married. I can honestly say it was probably one of the best weddings I have ever been to! I loved everything about it and it was so personalized I could tell Tracy spent lots of time thinking every detail trough. I LOOOOOOOVED her ceremony music, especially the song she walked down the aisle to! TEARS! SHe looked absolutely gorgeous too!

She also chose Monponsett Inn in Halifax as her reception venue. Dan and I had our reception there and they did an amazing job with ours, and now Tracy and Brett's wedding as well. I highly recommend them! While we were wedding dress shopping for me we stumbled accross this little place in New Bedford called Julie's Bridal. They are phenomenal! My dress was exactly what I was looking for at a great price and Tracy also found her dress there!

I had a fun time connecting with some long lost friends: Kathleen, Jenny, Dave, Mike, and DY! It was great to see these people and it definitley makes me miss the SS and my college buds!

The best part of it all was I could tell Tracy and Brett were having the time of their lives! Every moment seemed laid back and fun. Not one moment seemed stressed which I can't stand. Some people get really stressed about everything in a wedding but it is meant to be more than fun! I am so happy for them both!

We were baby free for the evening of course and had a great time!


Have a great honeymoon!! Don't do anything I would do ;)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Christmas Lists

Many of our family and friends have been asking what we (mostly Cailin) want for Christmas this year. Here is a list of our wants...

Cailin

3-pack Avent bottles, 9 ounce size
2 packs of Avent size 3 nipples
Long sleeve white undershirts 9 month size
enfamil gentlease formula
Nuk silicone 6 month binkies
A stacking toy
6-12 month sleepsack
9 month cold weather clothes
Knit tights, black and cream ( not microfiber)
Babies r us gift cards


Dan
Dress socks
Abercrombie or jcrew jeans


Jen
Marshall's, Macy's, target, cvs, or market basket gift card