The end of '08

Christmas Eve, 2008. Luke 22 months, Julia 9 mos.
Longwood Gardens, Nov 2008
Kisses from Luke to Jules in our freakish pre Thanksgiving week snowstorm
The Phillies win the World Series. (THE PHILLIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!)

Nate par's17 at Sawgrass (I don't) :)

Julia gets baptized

Julia, 2 weeks old
Julia, 2 hours old

Luke, loving on his unborn sister

These pics may be a little mixed up in order, but in the 10 minutes Nate gave me to blog they were the ones which I felt (quickly) summed up my memories of our year. I am again sitting home, with my husband, with my kid (s) on New Years Eve. This marks our fourth year in a row of staying in.......and I love it. The whole babysitter/prepare pumped milk/driving with the crazies or else get a hotel room/party thing just is not for us at this particular juncture in our lives. The kids are in bed, we again went to the Farmers Market in Sub Sq to purchase another feast of food, and another year has passed. I had to look back at last years post, from this same night, which is here http://natesbear.blogspot.com/2007/12/end-of-07.html. (For the record, this whole link stuff is clearly totally beyond me....I try, and try again, and it still does not work).

It's New Years Eve, 2008. My sweet Julia Elise has joined our family. Luke is an utter joy. We celebrated our son's first birthday, had a VBAC, Jules has been nursing for almost 10 months now, created great memories on the beach this summer, Nate and I played Sawgrass, had countless Zoo/Park/Museum trips, our children are healthy, Nate and I still love each other (even more), our parents and siblings and nieces and nephews are healthy and happy, we welcomed a new member to our family (Rich) with an engagement, and another (Samantha) with a birth. It has been a wonderful year. There have been trials along the way. There have been losses. There has been pain and mourning and sorrow.........

But as I look forward to 2009, I count my blessings. I am so thankful for our families, for our/my friends, and for our health. I am grateful for our country, and hope for positive change in 2009.
There is much to eat and much to celebrate, tonight. I feel no sense of sadness like I did last NY's. I don't mourn the passing of my daughters birth year ~ as I know what is to come. I savor each day of learning just who these children of mine are, of seeing their personalities grow and shape, and of getting to love the people that they are becoming.

As Luke says, "Happy Nu Nus!" Thank all who read this or who love us for making our world a better place. We love you.