2008 in Review - a Stolen Post

2008 in Review

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Got married and had a son!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. I'm working on something for this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Eryn and myself

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
None but we had visitors from Norway and Germany

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More sleep, less stress and hurt

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 5 - our wedding
March 29 - My mom decided to abandon our family
April 12 - Lindsey and Russ get married
November 3- Breck is born

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a wife and mother

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting the divorce rule my mind and life

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Six-ish months of morning sickness

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pictures - so many memories captured

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Everyone how has been supportive through the highs and lows this past year

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mom

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, Breck, and bills

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting married, finding out we were pregnant, Breck's birth.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Like Red On A Rose" - our first dance

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? Honestly about the same
c) richer or poorer? Again about the same thanks to a recent pay increase

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more time focusing on the happy and positive

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Dwell on the negative, think about divorce and failure

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Went to my Dad's in the morning to open gifts with Dad, Heather, Nate and Breck. Then went home to change and to Aunt Debbie, Uncle C.J. and Andrea's to spend time with them and Dawn, Eric, Samantha and Jonathan.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes - Breck

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Private Practice

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Well hate might be to strong for it….

24. What was the best book you read?
It was a re-read but "Tending Roses"

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That Breck likes me singing to him, even though I am an awful, horrible singer

26. What did you want and get?
A new sewing machine!!

27. What did you want and not get?
A jacuzzi tub to soak my WHOLE pregnant body in (yes not a reality I understand)

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sex and the City

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked and I met up with the girls in Novi. I turned 27.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not dealing with divorce, not having to worry about money.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Maternity = comfort!

32. What kept you sane?
My family and friends, my dogs

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hilary Clinton

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The state budget - maybe not an issue, but what I spent the most time on

35. Who did you miss?
Friends and family I've not seen in a long time

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Breck!!!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I can be stronger than I thought. (and I think a lot of other people thought)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"What do you say in a moment like this?"

Eight Things

Eight things

Eight Shows I watch:
1. Beverly Hills 90210 - reruns of the old one
2. What Not to Wear
3. Flip That House
4. The Hills
5. Biggest Loser
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. Private Practice
8. America's Next Top Model

Eight Favorite Resturants:
1. El AzTeco
2. Mr. Pauls
3. Applebees
4. Panera Bread
5. PF Changs
6. Chinese Buffett - downtown Lansing
7. Jimmy Johns
8. Arbys

Eight Things that I did so far today:
1. Went to work
2. Updated blog - twice
3. Loaded bookcases and a desk from the old district office
4. Saw Jarolsalv for hopefully the last time EVER!
5. Helped Heather with her apartment
6. Arranged to see 2 new district offices
7. Hugged Z
8. Kissed Nate and Breck and told them I loved them

Eight Things I Look Forward to:
1. My house being clean
2. A new year
3. Heather starting her new job and visiting her in DC
4. Breck sleeping through the night
5. Andy and Erin becoming parents and visiting them in CO
6. Attending Russell's birthday party
7. Continuing to grow a positive relationship with my Dad
8. All the milestones that Breck is starting to hit

Eight Things I Wish:
1. That I could provide more for my family
2. That I could be more like Heather
3. That I will be the best mother possible to Breck
4. That I will be great in my new office
5. That I was better at keeping in touch with family and friends who are far away
6. That I could decide what I really want to do with my life
7. That I was not so judgemental
8. For a happy and healthy family because that is all that is really important

Christmas

Breck's first Christmas was a flurry of fun and travel. On Christmas Eve we went to my cousin Dawn's house for dinner and after that it was off to the Whitenight's. Then on Christmas morning we went to my Dad's house.





We put our tree up at his house, since we don't have room right now at ours. We then went to my Aunt Debbie, Uncle C.J. and Andrea's house for lunch/dinner. Dawn, Eric, Sam and John were also there. It was so nice seeing them 2 days in a row!!




Cort and Jay hosted the MSU family Christmas this year. It was so nice of them, especially with how busy they have been getting married and all - LOL! All the MI girls were in attendance and well and the CO girls. Also, all the boys and kids were able to be there. It was so fun and so great seeing everyone. We did our ornament exchange. It is one of my favorite holiday traditions. I love when I decorate our tree with an ornament that was given to me and I can reflect on who gave it and some of the great memories I have had with them.



I am back to work for a couple days...then off for a couple days...then I start working for my new boss - Jennifer Haase. I am very excited. Nate is laid off right now, but he is really enjoying getting to be home with Breck.

We hope everyone had a great holiday and we look forward to a wonderful new year!!!!

Growing Boy!!

We went to the Dr. today for a check-up. Breck weighed 12.5 pounds and was 23.5 inches long. I cannot believe how much he has grown and changed in just 7 weeks.

Breck went to Lansing with me on my first day back. Frank's step-grandson, Colton, was also there. Colton is from California and is 5 months old. We put them in the chair together and Colton was all about snacking on Breck's head.

Bert, Bella and Breck

Happy boy in his swing.

So long...so sorry!

Yes, it has been ages since I have posted. Being home on maternity leave with a laptop that will not get online does that to ya! My trips to Panera and Tim Hortons have been short lived and filled with work, so no posts then either. But, have no fear, I am back.

First, Breck William Putney-Ernst was born on November 3, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. He weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was 22 inches long. We had gone into the hospital at 11 p.m. the night before, and were admitted at 2 (or 3) a.m.

After 2 hours of pushing he finally arrived. I could have never done it without Nate and our nurse, Marissa. I did give them grief and desperatly wanted a c-section, however they were both so determined and got me through it.

Grammpy (my dad) was at the hospital before Breck was bron and then came back that night to see him. It was so nice to have him be there! Gramma Bessie, Aunt Rachel (Nate's twin sister) and cousin Andrew came to visit the next day, along with my Aunt Debbie and Uncle C.J. It was so nice of all of them to visit. We are so lucky to have such wonderful, caring families!

The recovery was not too bad at all (with the exception of the lovely lack of bladder control - why do they never tell you about these things????) We got into a routine pretty quickly and I think that made all the difference. Aunt Heather was able to fly home the next weekend to help me out with Breck. It was so nice having her home. I wish she could have moved back here. I think now more than ever, I am realizing the power of family (blood and otherwise), and it makes it even harder to have her away.

Breck is a joy and a very easy baby. He has had great check ups and is growing like a champ. He loves to eat and sleep, but has started interacting more. He has always been very alert, but has started "talking" a ton and smiling and making all sorts of silly faces.

He loves his swing and has slept in the bassinet and his crib. He is very good in the car and usually falls right asleep.

Breck has also met many of his MSU Aunts - Lindsey, Cortney, Michelle, Eryn, Misty and Erin. He also got to meet Eryn's daughters - Alexis, Logan and London. London is only 2 weeks older than him, and I hope they have as much fun together as Eryn and I do. Erin is also expecting and due in May with a little boy. I am sure they will be trouble together!! LOL! Aunt Rachel is also expecting a boy in mid-April, so Breck will have a cousin only 6 months younger.

Ashley and Bryant (Whitenight-Sebastian) came over when Breck was about a week old. They brought over delicious chicken fajitas and we had some adult time - with drinks and cards. Breck slept like a champ in his swing almost the whole time. Lindsey and my dad had also made us some soups and chili for our freezer. These were also so great and handy. We really appreicate how thoughful they are!!

We had a great first Thanksgiving with Breck. We went to my Aunt Debbie, Uncle C.J. and Aundrea's house. Aunt Debbie's side of the family was also present, along with my cousin Dawn and her daughter Samantha. Samantha was so great with Breck! We really wish she lived closer so we could employ her as our babysitter!! Dinner was delicious as always!!

Congrats are in order to Cortney and Jay - who just tied the knot in the Dominican Republic at the end of November!!! The pictures I have seen are so beautiful! We attened a open house for them this past weekend here at home. Cort made the most beautiful bride and Jay was as handsome as ever!! It was also great seeing the other MSU girls!!

We are getting ready for Christmas. I only have a couple more gifts to purchase. We just put up a small tree at our house b/c it is filled with baby stuff. We put our big tree up at my dad's house as a surpise for him while he was visiting Heather. Hopefully one day we will have a big enough place for a big tree again!!

Heather will be home soon - she is actually driving here right now from New Orleans. Hopefully she won't get caught in the glorious snow we are having! I do love it, but it is not fun to drive in. She accepted a job in Alexandria (just outside of Washington DC). I know she really wanted to go to the West Coast but we are so excited she will only be a car ride away!!!

I know I am skimping on photos, but I promise I will put a ton on next time.