This has been a year of firsts for us, for instance, this the first year we have written a Holiday Letter.  To truly understand why we’ve had so many firsts this year we’ll need to start back at last year.

Christmas Eve day in 2011 was the day that we got a very big gift in such a tiny box – – a little pink bow signifying that we would be having a girl.  Laura was about 20 weeks pregnant and had just had her ultrasound done a week earlier.  The sonographer had kindly obliged her request to put either a pink or blue bow in the box and seal it, indicating whether we could expect a girl or boy in just a few more months.  We were absolutely thrilled to be awaiting a little girl!  Now came the hard part of picking a name.

The next several months were spent getting ready for our little girl, but we managed to take some time and relax as well.  Laura’s parents visited us before Christmas and AJ’s parents visited us over the New Year, both admiring how strong their first granddaughter was at kicking already – right into Laura’s ribs.  Heather and Sarah, two of Laura’s friends, gave Laura a great baby shower that Laura’s mom was able to attend.  We also got out-of-town, making our way back to Arizona for a baby shower with friends and family in Tucson. We spent a week there between Tucson and Phoenix visiting with family, friends, and going to friends Sonny and Amanda’s wedding.  Just before our new bundle of joy arrived we also took a “ baby-moon” to the Outer Banks, NC.  

Around town we visited the Norfolk Botanical Gardens often this year, seeing the newly bloomed cherry trees, azaleas, and roses in the spring, and trying to get the obligatory pregnancy pose just right.  Also, many might not know this, but Laura was in a local band called the Hampton Roads Metro Band, and throughout the last two years has had the opportunity to play her clarinet with them at many locales.  The coolest place by far that they have played has to have been aboard the deck of the USS Wisconsin which is permanently docked in downtown Norfolk.  She played her last concert for the time being with them in April, 8 months pregnant.

One of AJ’s big projects leading up to the due date, other than getting the nursery put together, was documenting Laura’s changes through pregnancy with a daily photo, from the beginning.  He couldn’t have completed it without Laura’s assistance though, as his schedule can be hectic at times and keep him from home for over 24 hours at a time.  So when he was at work Laura would fill in and set the camera to the timer to take her picture.  It created an impressive time-lapse video of her metamorphosis.  

Then in May, two days late, Brooke Veronica was born on May 14th, 2012 weighing 9 lbs even and at 21 ½ inches tall.  Our lives were forever changed for the better.

Brooke’s delivery was nothing like we planned. – – Laura labored for nearly 20 hours, pushing for the last several, but Brooke didn’t budge.  Her head was just too big.  Finally she did come out by c-section, very healthy and with quite the set of lungs in her.  We’ve been fortunate though that she only uses them to talk with us and rarely cries.

The next several months we adjusted to our new roles as Mom and Dad, and Brooke continued to grow… and grow… and grow.  She’s now just over 6 months old and fitting into 18 month’s clothes.  We’re pretty sure that we are going to need a bigger house.  We have also had several visitors come and spend time with us and Brooke. Laura’s and AJ’s parents both came in June, along with Christine, Laura’s sister.  Followed by Allison and Austin, AJ’s sister and her boyfriend, in July.  Laura’s and AJ’s moms both came out again in separate trips to see Brooke around 5 months as well; she is learning their faces and liking the company.

The three of us have taken a couple of family trips already this year.  The first was a weekend trip to Washington DC for Brooke to ‘Lobby for Ladybugs’.  The other family trip was several days to the George Washington National Forest in VA where we rented a cabin and got to spend some quality time together.  

Over the last few months Brooke has grown accustomed to going to the pool, walks around the neighborhood or our local parks, along with going almost every morning to Stroller Strides with Laura for an hour-long baby friendly workout with other moms and their children.  AJ even joins in on the Family Saturday’s that he is off from work.  Brooke got her first two teeth recently, and is now starting to eat solid foods as well.

Laura has kept busy over the past year.  Shortly after she found out she was pregnant last year she joined a walking group of girls who all had due dates around the same.  Carla and Marcella have both been great friends to Laura over this past year, sharing in experiences and having play dates with all four girls (Carla has twins).  Laura worked as a nurse up until the end of March this year, then took some time to herself before Brooke was born.  She’s enjoying being a mom and couldn’t see herself doing anything other than taking care of Brooke.  Laura does get out though for some baby free times – – going to book club, date nights with AJ, and occasionally treating herself to getting a pedicure or just grabbing a hot chocolate while perusing the local Target without a baby (though usually she is there to buy diapers anyway).

AJ has been working as usual.  He is now in his last year of his Emergency Medicine residency, and very much looking forward to being done this coming June.  He was honored to be selected as one of the Chief Residents this year, but is still not sure if all the extra stress is worth it.  Priorities have definitely changed for him since Brooke was born – – all his free time goes to spending time with Laura and Brooke, nothing makes him happier than an afternoon with his two girls.  As for what next year holds after residency, well, we’re still trying to decide, but we’ll be sure to let you know what happens next year.

It has been a busy year for us.  Brooke is now sitting up, and has her parents scared that she’ll soon be crawling, which just means that we will be even busier chasing after her; but we wouldn’t change it for the world.  We hope that you and your family have had just as good of a year as we have, and we hope 2013 treats you even better.

Happy Holidays,