What a remarkable year for our little family. It brought many challenges, but also the greatest joy I've ever known.
January:
I wrapped up my job as the Development Director at Jabbok Family Services. Allie made her arrival on January 22 at 11:25 PM. What joy to finally meet our little girl!
Allie day 1
Bella meets Allie
February:
Allie was baptized, I turned 31, and Bella turned 2!
Allie's baptism
Allie's Godparents, Uncle Tim and Aunt Deanna
Mommy is 31
Bella is 2
March:
Dan started working in Canada and I gained a whole new perspective (and admiration) for single moms and military wives! We flew to Canada to pick out a house and Allie got to visit Sanibel for the first time.
Allie's first plane ride (6.5 weeks)
Sanibel (lots of walks with pappee and mommy)
April:
Our last month in Minnesota. Our house sold after two weeks, we bought a new car, and said goodbye to lots of friends and family.
Going away family party
May:
We arrived in Canada, got settled, and Bella accidentally got shaved during her first Canadian haircut. Poor puppy!
Allie was exhausted after helping us unpack
Bella was not happy with her haircut
June:
Pappee and Gagu came to visit Canada and were our first official visitors. We took our first Canadian vacation with the Christensens to Prince Albert National Park and Allie started eating solid foods.
The Berry Barn with Pappee and Gagu
Allie's first boat ride on Hanging Hearts Lake in Prince Albert National Park
Yum! Rice cereal
July:
Allie and I returned to Minnesota to spend the 4th of July at Love Lake and we spent some time at Dead Lake. We said goodbye to Dan's grandma, Joan Lano, and Allie started sitting up on her own.
Home in Minnesota
Love Lake boat ride
4th of July at Love Lake
Sitting up!
August:
Nana and Boppa came to visit, we went to Jackson Hole with the March/Raisbeck side of the family for Bill's wedding to Laura, and Allie and Bella solidified their relationship as best friends.
Nana and Boppa on our new deck
The Ex Fair with Nana and Boppa
Bill and Laura's wedding
Outside our "cabin" in Jackson
Gagu and Allie
September:
We said goodbye to new, but good, friends (the Christensens) as they moved back to WI. We still miss them every day! We realized a bad hair day could turn into a bad hair month as Allie's hair was never quite right this month, we enjoyed the last of the warm weather, and teething was in full swing!
Allie's bad hair
Soaking up the last of the Canadian warm sunshine
She will chew on ANYTHING!
October:
We celebrated our first Canadian Thanksgiving and our little pumpkin was a pumpkin for her first Halloween. Our life forever changed when Allie started crawling. It's a whole new world with a mobile baby!
Allie's teether
My first turkey
First Halloween
She's on the move
November:
I left Allie for the first time for my annual girls' trip with my college friends. We were sick for the entire month, flew to Minnesota, and experienced FREEZING temperatures in Canada.
Mommy's girls' weekend at Love Lake
Because of illness, Allie stayed in her PJ's many days this month
December:
We flew to Minnesota again, said goodbye to Lisa's grandfather, W.B. Saunders, and met our new nephew, Daniel Walter March. Allie celebrated her first Christmas with family in Minnesota, was completely terrified of Santa the two times she met him, and decorated (ate) Christmas cookies for the first time. Allie also started walking along furniture and "talking" nonstop.
Daniel Walter March
Santa still brought Allie presents! :)
"Decorating" cookies
As I reflect upon 2010 I think it will be a marking year in our lives. We welcomed little Allie and were brought even closer as we branched out on our own by moving to Canada. We also said goodbye to two very loved grandparents and one of Dan's cousins. These goodbyes are a reminder to enjoy each and every day and to be thankful for the families that we have. From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy and healthy new year!
