Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you enjoyed it with the ones you love the most!I was supposed to post this before the year was over, 2009 that is, talk about procrastination. Anyway, here goes...
So, I was watching The Martha Stewart Show about two weeks ago and she had a segment called Baking and Rapping with Snoop Dogg. It was quite entertaining to say the least. They were making brownies with green sprinkles! Coincidence? I don't think so.
Later on in the show someone from Yahoo! came on and revealed the Top 10 search queries for their 2009 Year in Review. The list consisted of everything from pop culture, celebrity gossip, and of course politics. It was no surprise that Michael Jackson was #1 on the list!
Anyway, after watching the show I started thinking about my year in review...What events changed my life? What stayed the same? What kind of searching have I done within myself? You know, those questions we all tend to ask ourselves at the end of each year...
This lead me to mentally make my own Year in Review! However; instead of making a list of my Internet search queries, I developed a list of my highlights for 2009! Don't get me wrong, although my list is not extensive, I am very grateful for everything that happened in 09. The following are the big events that changed my life forever!
- Getting Pregnant and Being Pregnant: And I'm still pregnant so far. We found out on May 2, 2009. We made our announcement to our families on Mother's Day! It was an unexpected surprise for the both of us. It was funny actually. I randomly took a home pregnancy test before attending a my Cousin Mike's Birthday Shindig and Fight Night (Pacquiao vs. Hatton) - I wanted to have a few drinks but I wanted to make sure I wasn't pregnant or anything so I took the test, expecting it to be negative. I didn't even tell Ryan about it. The interesting thing is that we were just discussing what kind of car we wanted to get when we did have a baby among other things. Anyway, I peed on the stick, set it down, and while finishing my business I watched as the "+" sign formed. I was amazed, excited and speechless. I pulled up my pants, washed my hands and ran to Ryan. I said guess what...I must have been glowing with excitement because apparently he thought we had won the lottery. I said no, revealed the pregnancy test from behind me and he says, "what does this mean?" and I say, "we're pregnant!" I had always thought about how I would react and I never thought I'd be walking and pacing around the house like a chicken with it's head cut off. I was overwhelmed with joy, I had so many questions, I wanted to tell my family, I didn't want to tell them, I was so happy and I still am. I thank God for giving us the opportunity to start our own family and for trusting Ryan and I with a little life that came from our love! We decided together that we were going to let nature take its course in late 2008. When people asked when we were going to have kids, I would always be the first to speak up and say, "oh in 3-5 years." I never gave Ryan a chance to say anything and we just never sat down and had a real conversation about it. I always assumed we were on the same page. I wanted to have a career and be financially stable. He in fact wanted a child as he was approaching his 30's soon. I realized this one day in November 2008...I could tell he wanted to start a family. We finally talked about it and made the decision that we would. We tried in the sense that we stopped all forms of protection...no ovulation calendars here...I wanted it to happen naturally and it did, five months later! Now, nine months later I am about to give birth to our first child...our baby girl, Alana Rae! I cannot wait!
- Abuelita's Homecoming: This was a difficult time for me and my family. I remember the morning my sister called...they were trying to keep it from me because I was only few weeks pregnant but she was on speaker phone. My sister started talking and I immediately knew something was wrong. When the words Abuelita and hospital were used in the same sentence I started crying and something told me it was not going to be good. I got ready praying that everything was going to be okay, but in my heart knowing that she was already gone. I had the song, The Climb by Miley Cyrus stuck in my head on the ride to the hospital. I cried as Ryan held my hand and comforted me. We got to the hospital and I could see my family sitting on the bench outside...it is still difficult for me to write this as I remember it so clearly...we walked up to them and as I got closer, my dad grabbed me, held me tight and said the words I did not want to ever hear, "she's gone." All I remember is breaking down into massive tears, almost falling, kicking and screaming like a child throwing a tantrum saying and thinking NO! At first I was upset that they didn't tell me sooner. Then I realized they were just looking out for me and the baby. I was able to go in and see her...but it was so surreal. She was so strong, I never thought she'd die. Surely she was going to make it to see her first great grandchild. That wasn't the case and she knew already because when I gave her her card on Mother's Day that read, " Feliz Dia de los Madres Visa Abuelita" meaning Happy Mother's Day Great Grandma in Spanish, she said, "we'll see if I get to know the baby." I told her, not to talk like that. I have to admit that the first thing I thought of when I saw my pregnancy test turn positive was who's life will be taken to make room for my baby. I'm not usually superstitious, but I've noticed the patterns of life and death. When one life ends another begins and vice versa. This was definitely the most difficult event this year for me. Although I know she will live on through us, I just wish she were here with us. God has given me peace and I know she is walking the streets of gold along side Him.
- Graduating with my Masters Degree: I almost didn't even attempt to do this until I got laid off from my job early in 2008 right after we purchased our condo. This was more of a personal goal for me rather than a professional goal. Education is important to me and I always wanted to obtain a Masters Degree. It's never too late to achieve your goals no matter how big, small, or expensive. Anyway, I received my Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. Every time Ryan sees my writing he says that my degree came in handy! I hope he's right! I really need that piece of paper to work in my favor this year when applying for a new job. Some people tell me I'm a professional student. It used to bother me, but now I say, "so what...what happened to knowledge being power?" Just because I have a degree doesn't make me better...but it might give me an advantage over someone who doesn't. I simply enjoy learning.
- My first experience in the East Coast: This was an interesting trip to say the least. Ryan and I have vowed to take at least one big trip a year and 2009 happened to be a trip to Virginia and Washington, D.C. We originally went for Cousin Bryan's wedding, but we also used the time to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We spent a lot of time with family and we got to do some site seeing. Ryan also showed me his old stomping grounds - his high school, his first job and the old house he used to live in. At first I thought we could move there, but then I realized when we came home that there is absolutely nothing like San Diego! We are so blessed to be natives!
- Celebrating 3 years of marriage and 9 years of dating: Yes, we are happily married! I can't believe it's already been three years and then nine years altogether. They say time flies when you're having fun. Aint that the truth! WOW - is all I can say. I married my best friend. Ryan is truly God's gift to me. I can't ask for anything or anyone more! We celebrated locally and had a staycation/babymoon in Point Loma. We both treated each other to Cohen Restaurants, no theme, just a coincidence. We stayed at the Island Palm in Shelter Island, enjoyed Cold Stone ice cream, apple cider and chocolate covered strawberries! We also walked around the Cabrillo National Monument and The Point Loma Lighthouse...it was actually my first time there after being a native all my life. Ryan was pretty excited to take me there for the first time...it was so cute and it kind of felt like a first date! We kept it simple and really focused on what was important - US!
May the Lord Bless you all this coming year! I'm excited for what is in store...
