timandfee

And so we say goodbye to a decade.    As is my way, I feel the need to share some of memories that come to mind from the 2000´s:

• New Years Eve 1999 - 2000.  A feeling of wow.  Feeling young and excited about a new century.  First time i was hanging out with so many of my family.  I also remember it as the last major party with the old crew, Dave, Matt, Lorraine and more.
• Tim and I moving in together
• The move to Barcelona ( Aug 2001)
• Rabipelao - the place where we hung out so much to begin with and where so many friendships and great night started
• Getting a job, and meeting the girls
• Trips to Ireland, where meeting with family and friends was nearly always a big night
• Buying our home (2004)
• Going back to Ireland for 6 months - reconnecting.  Helping dad.  Living with my folks.  All in all a fantastic experience
• Weddings…Dave and Niamh, Lorraine and Steve, Laura and Heiko starting it off and then babies popping out
• Getting married to the man I love (July 2006) with all my friends and family around.
• Dad´s accident - may not be a pleasant memory but it is a powerful one
• Deciding to stay in Barcelona having been at a cross roads….realizing i had made wonderful friends here
• 5 week honeymoon in South America (July 2007) and traveling to new places - we go to at least one new country a year which is cool
• Getting pregnant and during this time, feeling more special and loved then ever
• Having Alina, my greatest achievement and biggest gift
• Friends - feeling very lucky to be surrounded by so many fantastic people
• Christmas´s in Ballyhard - I grew to love Christmas and going home so much over this decade.   Wonderful family time.  And now Alina adds to that
• Getting pregnant with no 2

Thinking just about 2009, I would describe it as  a year of growth. Seeing Alina grow.  Seeing so many of my friends get married or get pregnant or change something significant in their lives.  Seeing tim amd I grow as parents,  and find our new balance moving from a family of 2 to 3 and then a family of 3.5.  I had a great, if busy, year.

On this the first day of 2010 I feel very lucky.   All of my family were together for a great Christmas.  Everyone in tim and my families are healthy.  We all love being around each other.    We dont have money or work worries like so many have.  Of course we have stress, but we have jobs that by and large we enjoy, and that gives us a very comfortable life.  Alina is a joy for us, her grandparents and even her aunts and uncles.  She is a beautiful,  happy and has the world at her feet.  I am still madly in love with my husband.  I have wonderful friends.   And we have a new very special gift coming in just 4 weeks - my pregnancy has been great, and I am so looking forward to meeting this new life, although i would be lying if i did not add i think 2010 will be quite challenging with 2 little ones!  I feel more balanced as a person - aware more of how to manage my stress, less unsure about my path, happy to live more in the moment.  I feel older, but not necessarily in a bad way, i feel wiser and more fulfilled.  Thinking about it, despite being a bit or a hormonal wreck currently, I am very happy. And yes lucky.

Looking forward, I am excited.  There are of course uncertainties - am i having a boy or girl is a big one!!! Will we have any names decided? Will i (we) be able to manage well when we have 2 little ones? Will Alina adjust to the new arrival easily?Where will we be living this time next year?  Will i ever get my boobs back? :-)  Will everyone be together again in Ballyhard next year?  Will i be able to live more in the now and develop more as a person for me? Will everyone i love have a healthy and happy 2010?  But excitement, not uncertainty,  is the key emotion i feel right now.

So hello 2010¨s.  I look back at a decade where i had a lot of fun, freedom and adventure.  I loved the last decade.  But i am not lonely for those years.  I look forward with positivity, and excitement.  And i have a really good feeling that 2010 will be a great year.