What a year!! :-)

Last year, I put together a recap of highlights throughout the year, and thought it would be fun to do it again for 2010! This year has been life changing for sure, and such an adventure. Here we go... (and, in case you didn't guess, Taylor will be the major theme of this recap :o))

January

* Baby showers
* BIG baby bump

* Getting ready for maternity leave
* Packing the hospital bag
* Wonder every morning how many more days until baby Slagh will arrive
* Ryan starts two classes for his master's

February

* Taylor Leigh is born!! February 17, 2010

* Find out what it is like to function with little sleep, have someone very tiny completely rely on you, and experience the overwhelming feelings of being a parent, and feel amazed and blessed by Taylor more and more each day

March

* First overnight trip to B.C. with the little girl

* Start final project/thesis for my master's degree

April

* Took Taylor to church for the first time for Easter Sunday

* Taylor's first cold

May

* Tulip Time celebration!

* Taylor is dedicated at church on Mother's Day
* I get to celebrate my first Mother's day!! :-D
* I go back to work (one of the hardest days I can remember)
* Celebrate Memorial Day weekend up north (Taylor's first long road trip - side note: she does not enjoy the car)
* Start my last year in my 20's

June

* Summer break starts!

* Ryan celebrates his first Father's Day
* Taylor watches daddy play softball and goes to the zoo and takes a dip in Lake Charlevoix for the first time
* I finish my final project!

July

* Parker family reunion up north for Papa's 80th birthday

* Visit the Slagh side at the campground
* Taylor tries eating solid food for the first time, and also rolls over and sits up by herself

August

* Find out I have a part-time position for the fall (huge praise!)
* Spend a whole week up north
* Taylor is half a year old

* Taylor gets HFM disease...poor little thing
* Start setting up my classroom

September

* School starts
* Ryan starts his final two master's classes
* Football season starts - collegiate, professional, and flag :-)

* Taylor goes apple picking

October

* Up north trip for the apple festival
* School is cancelled because of a tornado watch
* Taylor dresses up as the cutest little duck for Halloween

November

* Taylor crawls!
* First Thanksgiving dinners with family
* We cut down our first family Christmas tree and decorate for Christmas

* Ryan starts his last year in his 20's

December

* Ryan graduates with his master's degree
* CHRISTMAS

* Taylor has her first ear infection and first tooth poke through
* We celebrate 4 years of marriage :-)


It was fun to think back over the past year together, and to anticipate what fun this next year will hold!!

Bring on 2011!! :-D

And the celebration continues, Christmas Day!!

We woke up Christmas morning at my parent's house (and Taylor had a pretty good night, which I was very thankful for after a later night on the road). We started with a tasty breakfast, exchanged some gifts, and had fun with puzzles, games, and watching Taylor play with new toys the rest of the day. It was a relaxed Christmas day, no agendas, just hanging out with family - perfect!

Taylor wore the same little dress I wore for my first Christmas!

The tree - and outside you can see that we had a white Christmas! :-)

Getting ready for breakfast

Taylor got tired of waiting for her uncle Jeff to wake up :-)

Taylor's gift for Ryan - a calendar for his desk

Opening her gift from grandma mem and grandpa Randy

Reading with grandma mem during the gift opening

Taylor got a little snow globe for her first Christmas from uncle Jeff and aunt Jen

Speedo found a place to hide out during all the fun

It wouldn't be Christmas without Jeff getting a guinea pig calendar :-) (you're welcome, Jeff) :-)

Taylor had a LOT of fun!!

This was how I found Taylor when she was supposed to be taking her morning nap...silly girl

We are truly blessed, and had a wonderful Christmas Day!!

 

I can only imagine what next year will be like... :-)

Let the fun begin! Christmas Eve....

As we have each year together, we started the celebration by spending Christmas Eve with Ryan's family. We always enjoy a meal together then exchange gifts. It was a fun evening full of food, treats, laughs, and surprises. Taylor was very interested in the bows at first, and by the end of the evening, seemed to figure out the gift opening a little bit better.

Here are some fun pictures of the evening!!

Opening her gift from Uncle Jon - probably the most creative gift of the night. :-)

A new toy from grandma and grandpa Slagh

Ellie the elephant, handmade by Aunt Jan

Pillow pet from uncle Jason

Part of her gift from aunt Liz and uncle Chris - a CUTE puffy vest!!!!

Checking out all the pretty paper and bows

It was a great beginning to our Christmas celebration!! We couldn't ask for anything more than this little girl!!

Ornaments that tell a story

These are ornaments that now hang on our tree, and tell a little story of how our family has grown...

First Christmas married

Expecting :-)

Taylor!

And, now that Taylor and I have full days home together over break, I can't help but to capture her many sweet moments on camera. Here are some random ones from the last couple days!

Her favorite spot to sit - right next to the tree

Dressed and ready to go out Christmas shopping

She was done having her picture taken, but I had to include this one because you may be able to see a glimpse of her first little tooth on the bottom (click on the picture to zoom in and make it bigger)

Her "school picture" from daycare...such a little sweetie

We borrowed this jumparoo because Taylor likes to jump, jump jump, but really her favorite way to play with this is to pull up and stand next to it as she plays with the toys

This is how I found her sleeping during her nap one day, at the bottom of her crib, on top of her blankets, with a foot stuck through the slates...sleepy girl, she LOVES to snuggle with a blanket at naptime!

Sharing an apple with mom... yum, yum!

Only 3 days until Christmas!!