For Auld Lang Syne

Another year has come and gone and 2012 is well on its way. Despite all the challenges and tribulations of 2011, in hindsight it was a very good year to us. Here are few highlights:

• Tom started his new job with OneSource - It’s much the same as his previous position, but he gets to fly solo working from home primarily. He seems to enjoy it and it’s been a good move for him.
• We gained two new nephews –Ryan Sackett in March and Leo Ayala in December. Baby James Pruett also made his way into the world on Thanksgiving day. We are blessed to have so many beautiful, healthy baby boys in our lives.
• I completed the Santa Cruz Half Marathon in April – This was my 2nd half marathon and I was able to beat my personal record by 2 minutes.
• My cousin Mackenzie got married to her college sweetheart. They had a beautiful wedding at Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos.
• Our first trip to Hawaii – In August we took a family vacation to Maui with most of my immediate family. We enjoyed it to the fullest and spent our days scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking and eating as much fresh fruit as possible.
• Tom and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary.
• And last but not least, Baby J came into existence!

The fam in Maui

Rather than make any New Year’s Resolutions (which are destined to be broken), I’d rather focus on the things I want to accomplish in the coming year. Perhaps that’s a resolution of sorts, but it doesn’t seem quite so unrealistic. Since I realize that not all desires can come true, here is my wish list for 2012:

• Pay off the remainder of my student loan debt (die already, will you!?)
• Spend more time with family and friends and to nurture relationships that may have fallen wayward.
• That I will be able to embrace the challenges and joys of motherhood with as much grace as possible.
• That I will find balance between motherhood and maintaining my life and my own needs.
• Tom and I will find our “final resting place” where we can lay down roots, both literally and figuratively.
• I have been away from the kitchen far too much and I need to start cooking and blogging more on Cocina Jauregui.
• Yoga – I want to make it a way of life, not just something to squeeze in when I feel up to it.
• Volunteering – I know I have the time and I’m ridiculous for not doing it. I want to find a good cause that I really can be excited about and volunteer on a weekly basis, or at the very minimum, a semi-monthly basis.

That seems like a pretty good start for 2012. This is going to be a big year for us as we become new parents and seek balance with a third person in the mix. I can’t say it enough, but we are really looking forward to the arrival of Baby J. I had my 10 week OB visit the day before Christmas Eve and everything looked good.  We were able to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time which was amazing and overwhelming.  During the ultrasound the doctor was having a hard time trying to pin point the heartbeat because the baby was moving around so much.  It looked like he or she was rolling downhill!  The blood tests came back with great news - no cystic fibrosis or other diseases. We will have another diagnostic ultrasound NT scan next week to determine if the baby is predisposed to Down Syndrome, so let's hope we get good news there as well. 

Happy New Year to all my family and friends.  I hope this year brings joy, peace and happiness to you all.