Decker Chronicles: Ahhh, what a year! NYE & New Resolutions

Looking forward; looking back.

This time last year we were still battling morning sickness, had just found a midwife, made our announcements at work, and were preparing for our first cruise on the Caribbean with the Nesses and Colacchis. We were so excited to bring James into the world and were eagerly anticipating feeling the first flutters of activity from him in my belly. And we discovered so many neighbors and friends who were expecting little ones in 2009 and could share in our excitement! A whole slew of babes were due in March, May, June and July.

The first half of 2009 ticked by as we made preparations, large and small, for James' arrival. We went to an April wedding in San Diego, a May wedding in New Jersey, and then settled in for the final stretch at home in DC...just in case James decided to come early - Hah! Mark strung me along through the springtime with ever more romantic dates, culminating with dinner at the infamous Inn at Little Washington - perhaps the best meal ever! Mark and his father and sister worked tirelessly to implement my decorating plans for the nursery while I attended a baby shower in Virginia. July was intense - first with the heat of the summer and the torturous waiting as James held off day after day, then with the longest labor in the history of the world, and finally with those first awkward days of adjusting to being new parents. The second half of 2009 was filled with ever-increasing love and awe for the little life we brought into being. (And is documented in detail on this blog :)

So it was, that, despite some very tempting invitations, we finally settled on having a quiet NYE evening at home, just the three of us. But by mid-afternoon, a plan was forming for some fellow neighbors to come over for a baby-friendly meal and celebration. We had three young families to our house for pasta and sauce, garlic bread, and drinks. Though the grown-ups were enjoying the visit, the little ones started to cry for their beds by 9:00. On our own again, Mark and I shared a bottle of champagne and watched the ball drop on TV.

At last, the Decker family resolutions for 2010: