Thankful

The end of every year always makes me feel like something is about to happen or change. It makes me reflect on the past year and what I've done (or haven't done). This is the time when people make New Year resolutions. I resolved once upon a time not to make New Year resolutions because I never follow through. That feeling I described always fades; it can't be sustained. There was a study on New Year resolutions of going to the gym. By April 80% of those who said they would go the gym regularly stopped going altogether. So I think if it's the time of the year that is inspiring you to want to make a change, it most likely won't stick. When I decided I wanted to do something serious about losing weight, it was July. There wasn't anything special about that month in particular. I didn't have a wedding to go to or a reunion or anything else to motivate me besides me. Just me. I knew then it was something I really wanted and not for a time or date in the future but for me for my life. I wasn't waiting for a number on the scale or waiting to fit into a special dress. I wasn't waiting for people to notice if I looked better. It was about me, for me. I think, despite the date on the calendar, that I'm nearing that mental state.
This past year:

• I turned 27
• My niece, Jelly Bean, was born (on my birthday!)
• I waited impatiently for Jr. to be born
• My daughter was born
• We survived sleepless nights and what must have been colic
• We had our very first family photo taken
• I went to baby yoga with my sister and Jelly Bean
• Jr. was baptized
• We went to hubby's cousin's wedding
• I went to child development classes
• Hubby and I went to see our first movie since before Jr. was born
• We celebrated A&A's wedding; hubby was best man; it was our first evening away from Jr.
• I lost my job as a TA
• We celebrated 10 years together, 5 of those as a married couple
• Granddad passed away
• Hubby turned 28
• Went to Aqua Stroller classes with Malt_Soda and Jelly Bean
• Hosted Christmas dinner for the first time
• Jr. slept through the entire night

In some ways 2011 passed by quickly but in other ways it passed slowly. Sometimes the days were long but the months were short.

I'm thankful we made it.

I'm thankful.