The End...

...of not only a year, but a decade..

I'm not the biggest fan of New Year's Eve, but I do look forward to what the next year is going to bring, and I have a lot to look forward to this year...

On the 1st January 2000, I was a very different person to who I am now... and over the last 10 years I have gone through a fair few changes, and experienced a lot...

10 years ago I was a 13 year old schoolgirl, who knew next to nothing about how the world worked...
7 years ago I was a 16 year old college student, who only wanted to have fun, and didn't care about the consequences.
6 years ago I was a 17 year old college student, in a (what I thought was) serious relationship with someone I was going to marry.  (How wrong I was!) And my Dad was in Iraq.
4 years ago I had experienced the most amazing experience of my entire life, and had become a Mother, and celebrated my Son's first Christmas.
2 years ago I was going through my second party animal phase, and was busy planning my NYE party.
1 year ago, I had entered into a relationship, which was stable, and we spent a wonderful and quiet NYE together.

And now, I am a Mammy to TWO wonderful children, and I have a brilliant fiance.. and I've just celebrated my daughter's first Christmas. :)

I can't believe how far I've come.  The last year has been a whirlwind. :) I've moved 35 miles away from where I spent almost 23 years growing up. 
I've lost a best friend, but I've realised the value of a loving and supportive family, and now my Mum is my best friend..
I've realised I can love two children as much, if not more, than one!  I look at my little family of 4 and want to burst with love and pride... I've really never been happier... 

I do know I have to treasure these times though, because I know I can never have them back... 

My housework never stays 'done', my floor is constantly littered with toys, and crumbs... and I always have dishes to do and bottles to sterilise, but I don't care, because I love my children, and they will never be as they are now, again. 


2010, however, does promise to be as action-packed as 2009.... 
I have a lot to look forward to... 
Little Man will continue to grow, and learn.. he is already learning so much.. and he will be 5 in August. 
Dot will start to learn and develop into a toddler. She will say her first word.. cut her first tooth... sit up unaided... crawl.... and learn how to eat by herself. 
I am embarking on earning a degree... and it's hopefully going to be great! 
And, we are considering trying for another baby later in the year! :) 

So, another year over, but so many more experiences to be had.. 

Happy New Year! 

Beth