so long 2010..

I'm not one for deep and thought-provoking blogs- I prefer these conversations in person- but with the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, like so many people, I'm reflective.

This past year was a doozie.  I can't think of another word that so accurately describes it.  I loved it: so much happened, both good and bad, and I have hopefully grown and matured through it.  Blah blah blah, it was busy, to say the least!  Let's see if I can highlight some of it..

-January- began the New Year on the right foot: in PA with Jesse's family.  We went to Philly and saw the Liberty Bell and stuff there (I didn't lick The Bell though [shout out to the tv show How I Met Your Mother]).  Found out at the end of the month that I was pregnant *bombshell explosion sound effect* and began training for a half marathon.

-February- began to tell people that I was pregnant and made it official by putting it on Facebook.  Jesse celebrated his 25th birthday and nothing else happened.
-March- my 23rd birthday month!!  I don't remember March..I think I slept through most of it.  My identical twin, Emily, came to visit..and I think Joel and Kimmy did also?
-April- buuuuuuuuuusy month!  Easter in Findlay, half marathon in St. Louis, visit to Michigan to help Matt and Erin move from an apartment to their first home.  Also, began working at the Y for some fun and a little extra money.

-May- found out we were having a little girl.  I think Joel, Kimmy, Mom and Dad visited.

-June- travelling for weddings, spent a week in Oberlin, OH with the worst case of poison ivy ever known to man and decided on the name Lily Anne for our little girl.
-July- took a deep breath and relaxed for a few weeks.  Had a fun 4th of July celebration with our good friends, Jen and Chris.

-August- PAGANOFEST '10.  Traveled to Marble Head, OH for a Pagano family reunion and to visit Aunt Karen before she passed away.  What a wonderful weekend of fun and love.  Was told by a co-worker that I was starting to waddle (thanks, Whitney).

-September- nothing exciting happened in this month.  Just kidding.  Lily Anne Hildebrand joined the world on 9/24 after a super fun 2 days of labor and no sleep.  Thanks to Betsy for sacrificing sleep and being there for the whole thing and helping Jesse and me out through it all.  I also have a new definition of the word "pain," and all pain from this day forward is related to what 12 hours of hard labor with no medications and natural childbirth feels like.  I could write a book on this month.  Next.

-October- lots of visits from family, which I loved.  Moved into a new house 3 (?) weeks after Lily was born. Stupid idea.  But, this house is so much better, so I suppose it was worth it.  Also, cut the grass with a baby in a front pack for the first time ever.  She slept like a champ and I realized then she sleeps like her mama.
-November- the year is winding down, and we went to Toledo, OH for the wedding of Nikki and Rick Brennan, which I was in, 6 weeks after I had Lily.  I somehow fit into my bridesmaid dress and was ecstatic, although not so much about leaving my little girl with  my parents for a full day.  Lily met two of her great-grandparents, and spent some quality time with my family.  I somehow being away from her survived without tears, but just barely.  Thanksgiving with Hildebrand's, who volunteered to babysit their grandbaby for a few hours while Jesse and I went on a date to see a movie.

-December- signed up for a half marathon in April.  Started working again.  Christmas in Findlay, New Years in PA.  Jesse and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary.

It was a great year, for sure.  Upon reflection, I can honestly say Jesse and I are continuing to live by our motto of "go big or go home." whether that's good or not, I'm not really sure.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what 2011 will have in store for us.  As of right now, the only plans we have consist of a trip to Nashville, TN at the end of April for my half marathon, and a trip to Montana in early June for a week-ish.  I'm looking forward to watching Lily continue to develop.  

Off topic- but New Years was a blast.  As usual.  We were missing some family members this year, which was a bummer, but we (quietly, because of a sleeping baby) brought in the New Year just the same.  I actually almost missed it because some of us were playing a pretty intense game of Ticket to Ride and didn't know what time it was.  I guess the year would have ended whether I was paying attention or not..but I had fun :) Jesse got to play lots of computer games with his cousins while I went out shopping with Nikki and two aunts.

That's about it!  Welcome 2011!