Continuing the Journey

The Year in Review...

As we all sit here on the couch (Daddy, Mommy, The Teenager, and The Little Man), watching a DVD double-header ("Monsters, Inc." and "Bruce Almighty"), Meggie suggested I blog about our year. Does she realize what she's asking me to do? She's asking me to take 366 blog-worthy days (yep, it was a leap year!) and condense 'em into one blog post.

You know what?! I'm up for that challenge! Put on your seatbelts, folks, 'cause it's time for the year in review post...

January brought a goal I had been waiting months for...Carson finally allowed me to read him a bedtime story!
We also took Carson to the dentist for the first time in January. (He did great!)
In February, Carson had to have an EMG on his arms and legs. Remember the wonderful doctor who did this procedure? The one who made me take my turn getting zapped since it was "Mommy's fault" (in the doctor's words) that Carson had to endure the EMG?!?! (We have since dumped that doctor, by the way.)
February brought an awesome package in the mail from Lotus' Daddy, Kevin...from one Ultraman lover to another!
We attended our first Chinese New Year celebration...
...Meggie's first dance competition of the season...
...and Carson's first indoor soccer class in February, too. Busy month, huh?!In early March, Carson got to meet his new cousin, Sophia. He absolutely ADORES this baby!
March also brought Carson's MRI...the day we learned that our Little Man and oral Versed are NOT a good combination...
We had a crazy weather year in 2008, starting with the mid-March blizzard.
Meggie and Carson colored eggs...
...for Carson's first celebration of Easter in March.
In April, I decided it was time to introduce Carson to the indoor pool at the YMCA. He has been a "water bug" ever since.
My friend, Gina, and I were inducted into the International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau) in April and attended the ceremony together. We (thankfully) spared both of our families the boredom that this ceremony brought and let 'em all stay home.
Carson had his first outing without Mommy or Daddy in April, when he spent the day at the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa B.
In May, Carson gave our adoption application a kiss for good luck, when we decided to jump back in and pursue another adoption...
...after he, Meggie, and Sarah redecorated the nursery for Baby Sister!
May also brought Carson's first Mother's Day with a Mommy...and Grandmas!
Meggie looked like a "pwin-sess" at the Freshman Semi-Formal in May.
May was also when we discovered the "nap wean" wasn't working. When timeout becomes a nap on the stairs, we know we've got troubles...
I also got to meet Sara, one of my many Yahoo friends, in May. She and her family were coming through town and we met for lunch...
...Carson really liked Punky Pie, but actually seemed scared of Moonface and Buddy Boy.
The last day of May brought the end of the school year and a goodbye hug for Miss Tracy, Carson's beloved preschool teacher.
In June, we had our first tornado warning in this house (we've been here three years). Meggie was a bit freaked out.
June brought Carson's first Father's Day with a Daddy...and Grandpas!
In June, we attended Meggie's dance recital...
...and Meggie had her 15th birthday, where the show-stopping gift was her first cell phone!
The end of June brought our first family vacation (not counting China, which I don't...) as we headed to Destin, Florida for a week at a condo on the beach.
On the way home from Destin we headed to Ocala to visit our friends, Trish and Buck, and their kids (we met them in China while they were adopting their adorable Izzy)...
...had dinner with Carrie and Aaron and their kids......then swung through Tennessee to visit with Sara and her children. Talk about a whirlwind China reunion tour!
July brought Daddy's birthday...
...and the Pinning Ceremony that marked the end of my Bachelor's program!!
In August, the preschool kids sang in big Church. Carson just stood there, scowling and tapping his toe.
What I thought was the best day of August...my graduation, Magna Cum Laude.
Carson had a muscle biopsy two days after my graduation. Thankfully, the results showed no progressive muscle disease!
August 19th proved to be the BEST day of August (yes, even better than my graduation)...the day we got a referral for our spunky little Molly Jayne YuHan, currently living in LuoHe in Henan Province!
September brought back-to-school for the kids...
...Carson's 5th birthday...
...his first real soccer game (on his 5th birthday)...
...and Carson's first birthday party ever!
We attended our first Autumn Moon Festival in September...
...and the next day had another crazy weather event...hurricane winds in the Midwest! (Sadly, the trampoline did NOT survive...)
September also brought Carson's readoption in our home state...
...and Meggie's All Star Jazz team competed in their first competition of the season, resulting in a Grand Champion win!
In October, Meggie's All Star Hip Hop team competed in their first ever hip hop competition...and brought the studio another Grand Champion win!
Carson started taking karate in October...
...we celebrated Molly's 4th birthday on October 21st (without her, of course)...
...and Carson carved his first pumpkin (with Daddy's help).
We celebrated Carson's Gotcha Anniversary on October 29th (with China food, of course!)...
...while halfway around the world on that same day, Molly was having a celebration with her friends as they enjoyed the birthday cake we sent her.Batman helped us close out the month of October.
In November, the Teenager suffered a dance injury and ended up on crutches for a bit (and they say dance isn't a sport)...
...we got our annual family picture taken......and Carson got to help decorate the Christmas tree for the first time!December brought Carson's first visit to Santa...
...Mommy's 40th birthday...
...Mommy's first day on the job as a Clinical Instructor at the College of Nursing...
...Carson's first Christmas pageant...
...and the event of the year in Meggie's mind...the Teenager got her temps and has started driving lessons with Mom! (Pray for us, people...)
We know for sure we can look forward to meeting our Molly Jayne in 2009. Can't wait to see what else the year brings.

Here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!