January
Jeff and I were still living in Asheville, struggling to make ends meet. We got online and looked for jobs and found one advertised for a couple. Even though it meant another move, we jumped in headfirst to a whole new world of parenting and being with each other 24/7.
February
We took a short trip to Pittsburgh to visit with friends before we started our new adventure. Training for our new job at Barium Springs Home for Children started on February 9.
March
We learned more about what we had ourselves gotten into… Sometime this month I got bit, my cell phone was stolen, and we had many restraints (holding a kid down)… but there are good moments too!
April
Jeff and I took a two-day getaway to Boston to attend Opening Day for the Red Sox. It was the best splurge ever! I finished my thesis after a four year struggle.
May
We celebrated our first anniversary and had a visit from Mom and Dad.
June
Jeff and I were pleased to discover we were expecting our first child! We started summer vacation with the kids and while it was busy, we got to do things like go fishing, go to Carowinds (a local theme park), and a NASCAR event.
July
Our job took us took us on a week long vacation to Boone, NC. We thoroughly enjoyed Boone, but learned what life is like on vacation with six children, some of whom struggled greatly with the change of schedule! We also spent a few days in Indianapolis while I defended my thesis and presented my paper at a workshop.
August
Jeff and I were able to take a personal vacation to Boston, MA. It was our first time to vacation together so we learned lots about each other and how to improve our next vacation by planning ahead! We spent also spent a day in Philadelphia and New York City.
September
We found out our baby was a girl! We celebrated by buying frilly dresses!
October
Jeff took me to the Biltmore Estate for my birthday. It was a beautiful day! We also went to Indianapolis to visit family.
November
Another trip to Indianapolis for a weekend of Boston Celtics and New England Patriots vs. the home teams! The ladies of my Indy church family gave me a shower. We survived our first Thanksgiving without family and I (barely) survived my first turkey cooking experience.
December
Christmas with kids! It was a very busy month of mixing holidays with behavior so it didn’t go as expected but was a celebration still. We were able to include Jeff’s brother, Adam, in our Christmas and it was very exciting to have family there!
It was a very busy and challenging year. When we sought counsel about changing jobs, we were warned about the stress of taking on a group home of behavior kids. They were right! It has been very stressful … physically, emotionally, spiritually, and in our marriage, but we have learned so much about each other and have grown more than we ever imagined. We look forward to 2010 and baby girl and all the new adventures that parenting will bring!


















