My little guy is asleep napping and my two big guys are out shopping in the rain and I'm sitting here pondering this year... It's been a roller coaster year for the Stearle family, and I am, honestly, quite happy it's over! It's been such a busy, hectic, long year and I am grateful for what 2013 has to offer. Just a little reflection....
To start 2012, Ryan had just accepted a big promotion at a new company - warning me that with this promotion came a much greater level of stress on his part. That proved to be very very true. And for those of you who don't know Ryan - it takes a LOT to stress him out. He has done remarkably well at this job - that was not unexpected at all. He always rocks at anything he does. Unlike last year when Ryan went on THREE boys-only trips, this year he only went on the one week-long trip to Michigan with his buddy Mike. He did travel a ton throughout the year - mostly to St. Louis but some to Orlando, Vegas, San Francisco - but for the most part, he wasn't gone more than a few days, thankfully! My boys are all daddy's boys. Ethan really spent most of the year belonging to me, but on my first trip to leave him with Daddy - for 2 nights in November - I came home to a boy who only wanted daddy and that hasn't changed. I don't blame them. :) In more Ryan news - Ryan was baptized in November!! He was raised in a Catholic church and was "baptized" as a baby but not as a free willing adult - so that was such an incredible blessing and answered prayer for our family. I'm really proud of him!!
Jackson - what an awesome AWESOME kid he is. My big 4 1/2 yr old started the year attending Mother's Day Out twice a week and curious about everything - talking nonstop, always wanting attention, absolutely adoring his friends and little brother. He is fiesty and rowdy and a total boy. In August, he started attending preschool - 4 days a week and he absolutely loves it. He does really well in school and most of his troubles involve his wild side - getting way too hyper sometimes. He has really improved his writing skills and coloring - and loves anything involving art. He is really really into superheroes right now - which is a welcome relief from Thomas the Train. He is a huge helper for our family. He is sensitive and caring and loves to give hugs/kisses. He says grace before all of our meals and some of the things he prays for make my heart melt. He's just precious. I'm definitely his #1 fan.
Ethan - holy smokes! Talk about a boy with some personality. This goofy 2 1/2 yr old never ceases to amaze me with his cleverness and quirkiness and humor. He is extremely strong willed and ... well.. STRONG! Everything about this boy's personality is strong. He is passionate about everything he does. Unlike his brother, he doesn't enjoy being the center of attention though - he's much more reserved when it comes to crowds - preferring the bonding he can have with just a few people. Jackson is the first person he asks for when he wakes up every morning... He wants his "bubba." He isn't a follower though - he is a copycat, but not a follower. Ethan's definitely got his own ways of doing things. He wants things to flow in his way, all the time, or he'll let you hear about it. He's a screamer and still to this day, that's how he gets his point across most of the time. He talks like crazy - and says the funniest things - "What the heck is going on?" is his latest.... He wants to read everything he sees and he's in LOVE with Thomas the train... (at least all of our stuff gets to be passed down.). He's so so soooooo funny. His little laugh and smile would make even Scrooge giggle. He is tough.... and I am crazy about him. He's hit all his milestones so easily - starting the year with giving up his paci, then moving to the big boy bed and recently attempted becoming potty trained! He still carries his "blankey" and prefers to be held than to walk, but I adore him and that will never change. :)
Me - Well, as you know, I'm housing a big huge bump right now. I know it's not ideal to complain about being pregnant, so I won't. I'll just say that in 3 more months when baby boy #3 makes his entrance, the Stearle family will all breathe a big sigh of relief.
I'm grateful for so many things in 2012. Ryan and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary and that makes me smile - it's been the best 10 years of my life and that's because of him. I know God must have pointed at me as a baby and said "I'm going to give her her prince charming one day" and He certainly did. I'm beyond blessed by having him in my life. In celebration of our 10 year anniversary, we got to go spend 10 days in Hawaii - where we had our honeymoon! It was the trip of a lifetime. Something I'll never forget and will also want to repeat. It was magical and perfect in every way. We also spent a lot of time in zoos this year.... Kansas City, St Louis, Gulf Shores, a safari in Stafford MO.... We traveled to Milwaukee for Thanksgiving to visit family.... It's been a great year for traveling fun. On the other hand, we have also had our share of medical 'fun' this year. Ethan's tubes fell out early in the year and he suffered 2 instant ear infections and we discovered he was deficient in iron. His skin had a pretty horrible case of eczema so we were treating that as well. In June, shortly after his 4th birthday, Jackson got his tonsils and adenoids removed. To be frank, that whole thing SUCKED. I'm so happy it's over though and we all survived and now Jackson sleeps so much more soundly and without any gargling, snoring or choking sounds. Me - I conceived baby boy #3 in June/July and at our first visit, the doc saw a blood pocket on the ultrasound that was concerning. For the next 1 1/2 months, I was in the office every 2 wks getting another ultrasound to make sure it hadn't grown or moved. By 12 weeks, it was gone! Praise God! That was definitely stressful! In early October, Ethan got his tubes put in the 2nd time and his adenoids removed. This was the first pregnancy where I felt sick in the first trimester - so sadly, my boy and I were feeling yucky together. Ethan and I spent a week laying on the couch together resting and moaning - all while he had the worst breath anyone could ever imagine!! Ryan was the only one to stay somewhat healthy this year. He started the year with pretty bad back pain but Temperpedic fixed that in May and he's been happy ever since!
What I'm looking forward to in 2013 - so many things. It's really a blessing that every single day, I get to watch my boys grow up. I love that I get to be so hands-on in their lives and I'm looking forward to continuing to watch their journey through life. I am very excited about meeting my new little guy in March. He's making his impact already - and I can't wait to hold and kiss on him! I am really stoked about getting my body in shape again. I do this after every pregnancy - I get super focused on exercise and my motivation is at an all time high.... I want to run a few 10k's in 2013 and just work slowly and safely at putting this body back together. Ryan and I are hoping to pay off some stuff next year - which will be hugely rewarding in our overall goal of getting out of debt completely. Also, we'll be adjusting to having 3 kids! It will be really fun to watch how my big boys react to having a baby in the house! I'm excited about Jackson being a big 5 year old - either starting Kindergarten or Bridge, but either way, watching him learn how to read and write... Ethan - being a big 3 year old and starting preschool! Wow... Just doesn't seem right how fast it's gone by when it comes to my kids. I'm excited about having a year of good health - (I'm creating positive expectations!) and lots and lots of fun family time!
For the most part, I want to try to take it easy in 2013. I want to re-focus our priorities - God being the center - and everything else falling around that. I have a bad habit of over planning my life... I tend to get caught up utilizing my time to where every second has to be spent being productive on something... and while that's a good problem to have, I want to really try to sit down and watch the world around me... to just sit still. Obviously, the exercise thing isn't me sitting still, but it is something that relaxes me and makes me in overall better spirits - as well as better health. I want to really think about the person that I am, and the person I want to be...trying to blend those two closer together. I have so many things to be thankful for.... and I want my attitude to be a better reflection of that.
So having written a book here - that wasn't my intention! - I already feel like I've stepped into 2013 as the improved me! Here's to a GREAT 2013!!! Happy New Year friends!! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment