In lieu of doing a more detailed overview of the year, I decided to take a cue from the lovely Laura and post the first sentence of the first blog entry for each month of 2009. So here goes!

January: I thought I’d kick off 2009 on a positive note with a few small things that brought me peace this week! 2008 ended on a sad note with the second of two miscarriages, but I was trying really hard not to lose hope.

February: Some of you already know this from Twitter, but the results from my thrombophilia panel (the blood tests which my doctor recommended after having two miscarriages in a row last year) are in: I’m normal! This was such good news. After ruling out a blood clotting disorder, my doctor attributed my miscarriages to random bad luck and said it was unlikely to happen again.

March: Huh. So apparently this situation is still, sort of, you know… REAL. I was still completely shocked that I was pregnant again, without even trying—but happy, of course!

April: My OB’s office had to reschedule my April 6 appointment, so I got in today instead. I was about 9 weeks pregnant, and we had seen the baby’s heartbeat on ultrasound two weeks earlier. I was still worried, but hopeful we’d finally make it through the first trimester.

May: What a weekend!! Jen and I drove to Washington, DC, to visit our other bloggie friend, Janet. So much fun!

June: Some of you may have read my Tweet last week about big wet spots that appeared on our kitchen ceiling after a strong thunderstorm/downpour. GRR. We ended up getting a new roof.

July: I’ve been tagged by the ever-awesome Jen for “Honest Scrap.” Ten random things about yours truly.

August: I’ve been reading a lot of labor-related blog posts recently (such as Dooce, Sundry, A Little Pregnant) and it got me thinking about my first labor experience and what I hope will be the same or different about my second. As it turned out, I was INCREDIBLY LUCKY to get EVERYTHING on my list: a healthy baby, same doctor, same hospital, easy postpartum, going into labor two days before my EDD, no pain, no Pitocin, and no stress on the baby! Woo!!!

September: A year ago Wednesday was the most devastating day of my life: September 9, 2008. I still vividly remember every detail of the ultrasound at which I was told my baby had no heartbeat.

October: As of Thursday, I will be 37 weeks. FULL TERM. Those were magic words! I was so grateful to make it smoothly through my pregnancy and couldn’t wait to meet my baby boy!

November: Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend! Thankfully, Andrew waited a couple more days so I was able to be with Oliver for Trick or Treating.

December: I felt this way with my first little guy, but it’s the same with the second: Was there really a time I didn’t know this face?

I love him so much! And I thank God every day for both of my beautiful, healthy boys.

2009 certainly kicked 2008′s butt in every way possible. It was definitely the best year of my life so far and I have so much to be grateful for. Looking ahead, 2010 promises to be an exciting year as well: a new job for me (I need to start looking in a couple weeks), a new career opportunity for George (finally!), a family road trip to Boston (May), visits with family and friends, selling our house this summer in order to save money for a year before moving to Boston (!!!), Oliver will start preschool in the fall (*cry*), Andrew will start walking and talking by this time next year, and after losing the remainder of this post-baby weight (25 lb to go, ugh), I plan to reward myself with a small tattoo (probably on the back of one shoulder)! Lots to look forward to—and I’m so blessed to have George, Oliver, and Andrew to share it with.

I wish all of you and your families a healthy, happy New Year! Cheers!