Of Adventures Ahead

Our farewell to 2012 looks to be a quiet one too. I'm not moaning, just stating facts. Yes I would have preferred to have something to look forward to, but that's just the way this holiday season was going to have to be, seeing as how we scheduled our move right after it. Not to mention the fact that Emily and I are now both unwell anyway - even if we did have somewhere to go, we probably wouldn't have made it!

The Amazing Frannie (because she is) listed her 5 awesome things about 2012 on her blog. She then asked us, her friends, to list our own 5 awesome things. I turned into a whimpering, hormonal mess because I couldn't think of anything. I said to her that I feel numb, that the last 6 months seem to be a complete blur in my mind. I guess that's why they list moving house (country!!) as one of the most stressful things a person can do in life.

But she calmed me down, as did David, and eventually I came up with a list. Realistically, 2012 was a full year, and a meaningful year. In many ways it was the year I really grew up and sorted out my priorities. Perhaps many things cannot be listed, they're lessons rather than events or occasions - but they don't count any less.

My List
- I helped Emily grow into a beautiful, caring toddler
- We created a new addition to our little family
- I became very close to a few particular friends whom I couldn't have made it through the year without
- The huge decision to move back to Malta was taken
- David and I became closer, and saw a return to the carefree relationship we had before we moved to England

2013 will be an exciting year. Not an easy one by any means, but an exciting one. A whole new life to build, three house moves, resettling into a country I don't particularly like (I may or may not go into this in a future post), reigniting bonds with family and friends, less feelings of loneliness, hopefully a fuller and happier life, not to mention a special little arrival sometime in March or April! So much to look forward to and nurture. Let the adventure begin!

[image credit]

Recently

Part of the reason I haven't blogged much this past month is that we spent two weeks of it in Malta. While we were there, we found a place to live, bought a car, chose a school for Emily, and a gynaecologist for me (to anyone thinking about it, I do not recommend switching health providers mid-pregnancy), and opened bank accounts. I think there was more, but it's like a small whirlwind in my head at the moment. Suffice it to say, we've been busy.

But here are a few snapshots from the last few weeks.

We've had little pampering sessions. Can't get over how long her hair is. She loved swishing it around.

We did the cool sunglasses thing whilst in Malta...

...Everywhere we went!

No comment (I couldn't resist).

Her eggbox is now her "compter." She turns it around and types emails on it

and informs me she is "bizzy emails compter, Mommay" I wouldn't dare disturb.

Meanwhile, as if I didn't have enough to do already, I am also planning her 2nd birthday party!

(I'm loving it really!!)

Happy Chrikras!

Because it's not too early...



(What she's asking at the end is to "see it" [the video]. She will happily perform but then expects to be able to watch the video of herself over and over and over again. She will watch it with a look of pure pride and satisfaction on her face.)

I digress. It's just 5 sleeps away... Merry Christmas!

A Year Ago

A year ago, Emily had just worked out how to crawl, backwards mostly. The Christmas tree was up and in some danger. This year, everything is different. All memory of last Christmas is understandably gone, but this is where the real memories begin.

She loves Christmas, and the lights, and the tree. She has a few favourite tree decorations which she understands she is not allowed to take off the tree, but she can touch them as much as she likes so long as she is gentle. She is very gentle. She kisses them, because she loves them so much.

This year, there are no presents yet under the tree. I have introduced the concept of Father Christmas and told her that presents will magically appear under the tree on Christmas Eve. She thought that was really funny. "Silly Mummy!" she said.