A Year Gone By

So I've been cleaning up the house and still recovering from Annsley's 1st birthday party on Saturday. Whew! We had a ton of people here and what felt like a million kids!! It was so much fun, but I was definitely wiped out after the front door finally shut for the day.

As I've been putting together new toys, trying to find space for them!, and deflating sinking balloons, I've actually found myself getting a little sad. Maybe it's not sad, just sentimental. I mean, my baby is one. And technically, she's now a toddler, not a baby, but as they say, she'll always be MY baby. But I feel like she was just born yesterday. I can't believe it, but I really do believe I've done everything I could to preserve and enjoy every moment of this first year. I considered her party also a party for me and Bobby, celebrating our first year of parenthood. It's a big job, and I know we've just begun, but I feel very proud of our accomplishment.

I also realized at Annsley's one-year check-up this morning that this next year will probably be even more challenging, as we're heading into no bottles and disciplining. Yikes.

But as I sit here, I feel like this is a bittersweet moment. She's growing up so fast. And I can see already that I have a very independent child on my hands, which in so many ways is such a good thing, except in those moments when I just want to snuggle with her. In some ways I miss her being a brand new baby, and today was especially sentimental because this was the exact day last year that we brought her home from the hospital and experienced our first night at home with our new member of the family. But a bigger part of me really enjoys the age she is now, exploring everything around her, learning new words and finding her sense of humor :0)

I'm very much looking forward to what this next year will hold. I'm really excited to watch Annsley continue to grow, and everyday I love her more. I love watching Bobby fall more and more in love with his little girl, and I love his face when she squeals as he walks through the door. Our baby is one lucky little lady. I love you, Annsley. I'm so thankful for this love-packed year, and I'll never take for granted every day we get to watch you grow.

Drawing the Curtains

Yes, it may seem as though I dropped off the face of the earth lately, but I think maybe I've just been hiding out. Lately I've had this desire to be a little more secretive...not sure why...I guess I haven't liked the idea of my personal stuff floating all over cyber space. I cancelled my MySpace and Facebook accounts, maybe because I've been watching one too many morning talk shows about stolen identities...or maybe because every once in a while I don't want people to "watch" me.

I feel like Bobby is always in the spotlight and, therefore, so am I. Not that I'm trying to sound negative...it's just how our lives are. I have a weird dichotomy to my personality...I really love people, love being around new and different people, love working in customer service and sales, enjoy being out and about. But a lot of times I just like being invisible, lost in my own little world where I'm not a pastor's wife or the "hostess with the mostess" or even an "example" for people to model things after. I like being JUST a normal, everyday wife and a mom, tripping over laundry and flicking wet Cheerios off my feet. I like to be a kid who enjoys smelling pretty flowers outside, and I like sometimes feeling a little naughty while I'm reading cheesy romance novels. I like to play around with new shimmery eye shadow colors and getting excited about the new series of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

And yes, I guess I'm just a homebody, and while Bobby likes all the attention that is poured over him constantly, that's not what drives me. I'm the definition of an introvert, even though I never realized that until just a few years ago. I always gave the idea of being an introvert a negative glance, but I've realized that there's nothing wrong with me, just different in the ways that I get "fueled." And a lot of times my thoughts are processed simply in my mind, instead of over the internet. This blog was never meant for people to "look in" on my life and be impressed with how many "hits" I've gotten. No, this was meant for me, to download things in my life and stuff I'd like to remember.

So, if you're keeping up with my little blog for whatever reason, don't be disappointed if you haven't gotten a newsflash in a while or the latest picture. I'm probably somewhere with my baby, or reading, or doing laundry, or playing outside, somewhere that doesn't involve being glued to my laptop, you know, spending time with the things I love most. I like being a little private with myself and my family because so much of our lives are "looked in on." Not that I mind those parts either. I guess I'm just drawing a few curtains these days.